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Gone Racin'…To the Family Celebration of Life for Wally Parks on March 22, 2008
Story by Richard Parks, photographs by Barbara C. Parks, photographic consultant Roger Rohrdanz
A special Celebration of Life was held for Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), by his family and friends on March 22, 2008, at the Claim Jumper Restaurant in Fountain Valley, California. Wally Parks was a pioneer in so many different ways and yet he was truly one of many during the "Greatest Generation that America has ever had." He had two sons, David and Richard Parks and they hosted this event. Dad wouldn't have wanted us to use the term "greatest" to describe him or his friends. He was a humble man in many regards and would have pointed out that our Pilgrim ancestors, or those who fought in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War had every right to be called our "greatest generation." In fact, he would have insisted on it, as he never wanted to draw attention to his achievements. Wally Parks was born only a generation removed from the beginnings of the automotive era. He knew many of the men who created the automobile and set us on a course that changed the world. The automobile became feasible in the 1890's and a decade later the piston engine made flight available. Here's a recap of the excellent pictorial and textual program created by David and Barbara Parks.
"Wallace Gordon Parks, or Wally as the world would come to know him, was born on January 23, 1913, in Goltry, Oklahoma. His family moved to Kansas where he lived as a boy. In 1921 his family came west to California. Dad recalled how they would drive during the day and camp out by the side of the road at night. Dad grew up in Southern California where he fell in love with the new car culture that was developing there. He first went to the dry lakes with his friends in 1931 to watch the land speed time trials and he was hooked. Dad met Mary Mant in 1934 at a diner where she worked. Mom said that she knew that he was the one that she wanted to marry the moment that she saw him and they were married in December of 1935. Still involved with racing, Dad and a group of his friends formed the Road Runners car club and he was one of the founders of the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) in November of 1937. Over the years he served as Secretary, President and General Manager of the SCTA. He also served as the Editor and Cartoonist for the SCTA Times newsletter. He worked for General Motors before the war, and as production shifted from cars to tanks for World War II, he became a tank test driver. In May, 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific where he kept his hand in hot rodding by building a V-8 powered jeep. His first son, Richard, was born in 1944, while he was fighting in the South Pacific theater. Following his return from the war, Dad went back to work at General Motors, but a strike at the plant caused him to go to work elsewhere. He became the first professional editor of Hot Rod Magazine in 1949 and two years later he formed the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), becoming its first President. Illegal street racing was a problem at the time and he felt that he could have an impact by forming an association that offered young people an alternative. He knew how to choose talented and enthusiastic people to help him. His second son, David, was born in 1952. Wally and Mary divorced in 1960. The NHRA now occupied Dad's full attention and he soon left Petersen Publishing Company, where he had risen to the position of Editorial Director. He married for a second time to Barbara Livingston. Barbara was the secretary at NHRA for many years and her efforts helped to ensure the success of that organization. Barbara passed away in 2006. Dad was proud of his achievements in land speed racing and for his successful work to get the Bonneville Salt Flats for the SCTA to race on. He has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame and Honorary Societies. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, in Pomona, California is named in his honor. He also was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He passed away in Burbank, California on September 28, 2007 at the age of 94."
Also in the program were photographs showing a progression from his early childhood through various achievements, professionally and with his family. The back cover showed one of his cartoons, which he drew while fighting in the Philippines during World War II. Gifted as an artist, hot rodder, writer, poet, editor, musician and cartoonist, Dad was self-taught in all of these fields. He could tell a story with his cartoons and get them past the censors in the Army, whose job it was to keep the mail from failing into the hands of the enemy. They are prized possessions today and eagerly sought after. He wrote the following poem that was read by his son David, entitled No Sad Music For Me, by Wally Parks (self obituary 5 February 1970). (Editor's notes - spacing required that I change it from poem to paragraph format)
"Sooner or later all things must die. Only the sun seems invincible. And so it becomes each man's responsibility to garner as much and contribute as much as he can during his indefinite term's existence upon this earth. Some people are fortunate in being able to live a lifetime in a few short years. Others linger on for many years, often failing to realize the rewards they are attaining. As for me, I have lived many lifetimes during the years I have relished on this earth. The friends I have known and the people I have loved (many of them undoubtedly unaware) have been more rewarding, more gratifying than all other things combined. To those who are left behind I would like to express these assurances. We have worked together, fought together, argued, and defended one another. We have shared our misgivings and sorrows just as we have shared our satisfactions when a job was well done. In the many phases of my lifetimes there were many things for which to be thankful. Fortunately, there have been very few times when I didn't look forward to the new day. For this I can only credit the people with whom I was associated. Their tolerance and their forgiveness of my shortcomings was not unnoticed nor unappreciated, although I suspect they too were often unaware. And now, having lived these many years, I can truthfully say that I am satisfied. There will always be new goals one would like to accomplish, but such ambitions only come as a result of the happiness one feels as a result of past achievements. For me, there is no real regret in leaving - only an aching concern about the feelings of those left behind. It would be my wish that instead of traditional sad-sounding music, my services could enjoy a happy, happy note. To me it's a celebration, commemorating the many years I have been fortunate to spend among the greatest people there are. If I could offer but one bit of advice, it would be: Look around you at the good people you know, don't take them for granted as they're most of what makes life worth living. Enjoy each day, despite its discomforts and shortcomings, and take a little time to appreciate even the little things that are good. So join me now in celebration, for I have gained far more than one man could ever contribute. You, my friends, have made it all possible. Let the music have a happy note, and be glad that one's life was so abundantly rewarded as mine has been. I sincerely hope yours will be even richer, in rewards far beyond any monetary equal."
The following family members, friends and guests attended the Celebration of Life for Wally Parks on March 22, 2008, in Fountain Valley, California. Mary Mant Parks was Dad's first wife and they were married in 1935. Dad's two children were Richard and David Parks. Richard's wife is Epi Parks and their children are Scott Gordon Parks, David Kealoha Parks and Michael Parks. Scott is married to Stacy Rauch Parks and they are expecting their first son in July. Stacy's mother, Joyce Rauch also was in attendance. David is married to Michelle Corbin Parks and they have two daughters; Allison Parks and Jennifer Parks. Michael Parks is married to Tara Hafen Parks. Dad's youngest son, David, is married to Barbara Coddington Parks and they have two daughters; Mari Parks Bell and Tamara Parks. Mari attended the Celebration with her husband, Matt Bell. Barbara C. Parks' family were also present and included; Herb and Marion Coddington, Bonnie and Dan Nerison, and Ken Coddington. Dad's sister-in-law, Billie Parks, the widow of Kenny Parks, came with her family; Kathy and Terry Rupple, Terra Rupple Gengo, William and Sharon Parks. Dad's first cousin-in-law, Barbara Parks, the widow of Jack Parks, attended with her family; Craig Parks, Jacqueline and David Nishizawa, and Jonathan Nishizawa. Dad's niece from his sister Clyda Parks was Nancy Desherlia and her husband, Ron Desherlia. Aunt Clyda and her husband Bill Herman are both deceased. Lorraine Olivero Daigneault and her husband, Philip Daigneault represented Dad's sister Nelda Parks Olivero. Aunt Nelda and Uncle Lawrence Olivero have also passed away. Close friends of our father and dear friends of all of us included; Ron and Marilyn Lachman, Leila Livingston, Alex and Helen Xydias, Chick and Lynn Saffell, Joann Brock, Charles and Sara Rollins, Mari Palash, Dick Wells, Shirley Bunce, Ruth and Wayne McMurtry, Steve and Gloria Gibbs. Representing our mother's family were; Linda Ziebarth, Christian Ziebarth, John and Diane Ziebarth, Jana Girard, Norman and Anita Mant, Olga Mant, Russell Teresa, Kim Parker, George and Betty Forteville, and Richard and Sandie Forteville. Those who were invited but couldn't make it to the event included; Michael and Therese Olivero, Maria Olivero, Gina Olivero, Patrick Parks, Robert and Laura Parks, Dallas and Sandi Gardner, Cindy Gibbs, Sherry Teresa, Carol Eves, Kevin Eves, Paul and Lara Eves, Coleen and Jerry Haws, and Roger and Kathleen Eves.
Each of the family members and close friends shared their experiences. Epi Parks spoke fondly about how loving and generous her father-in-law was to his family and friends. Scott and Michael Parks talked about their admiration and respect for their grandfather. Dad's great grandchildren, Allison Parks, said how much she will miss him. Billie Parks spoke about the times she, Kenny and her family spent with Wally and Barbara Parks and how much fun the two brothers had together. She told us about the hilarious times they had with their friends, such as Art Bagnold and the letters and emails that they sent. Barbara Larson Parks told us how close her late husband, Jack Parks, was with Wally. Nancy Desherlia spoke of all the times she shared with Dad and we knew that Dad loved and admired his nieces and nephews too. Lorraine Daigneault told us how lovingly the brothers and sisters were in the Parks family and how much she loved Dad's father, but that she never had the chance to meet her grandmother. Kathy Rupple told those in attendance how much Wally meant to her and what an example he was to everyone. William Parks shared moments that he spent with his dear uncle. Jacqueline Nishizawa remembers the family reunions that we shared. Leila Livingston only met her uncle and Aunt Barbara on a few occasions, but was impressed by their love for each other. John Ziebarth regaled the crowd with stories of Dad's roadster and race car and how he used to drive him around at fast speeds and what a thrill that was for a young kid.
George Forteville is almost Dad's age and he told us about times when Dad would get together with his first wife's family and how much of a gentleman that he was. He told us that if it wasn't for a strike at the General Motors plant in the late 1940's, that Wally might never have started working for HOT ROD Magazine or created the NHRA. Marilyn Lachman and Shirley Bunce told the crowd many stories about working for Wally and Barbara in the early days at NHRA. Mari Palash spoke of being with the finest bunch of people as the early NHRA was growing. Dick Wells told us about working in the media business and then being on the Board of Directors with Dad at the Museum and the NHRA. Ruth and Wayne McMurtry spoke of how it was to start a new racing organization and how their lives were so enriched by the experiences that had with Wally and Barbara Parks. Alex Xydias told us many stories about meeting Wally and Barbara in the late '40's and '50's and that they went out to dinner with them for over 50 years. Alex spoke about Dad's artistic design for his So-Cal Speed Shop signs. Chick Saffell told us about his first meeting with Wally and how he ended up selling T-shirts for the NHRA. Joanne Brock, normally gregariously witty and outgoing, told us how much she and her late husband, Ray Brock, loved and admired Wally and Barbara and then gave the microphone back. Charles Rollins spoke to us about the tremendous heritage that Wally and Barbara gave to all the racing fans and what a great example he was to everyone. The Celebration of Life was a true inspiration to the memory of a great pioneer in auto racing.
Gone Racin' is at RNPARKS1@JUNO.COM.
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