Sheridan High School New: August 19, 2018.

Alvin A. Parker

July 27, 1918 - January 4, 1993

 

Alvin "Al" Alexander Parker was born the oldest son of seven children of Lon Alvin Parker and Minnie M. Parker (nee Pruitt) on July 27, 1918 in Tuckaseigee, North Carolina. Alvin's father and grand father were farmers in North Carolina. Alvin received is Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Carolina University in science and math. He then attended the University of Florida on a science scholarship.

 

Alvin enlisted in the Army on February 3, 1943 in South Carolina. He was a corporal in the US Army Air Corps. He worked in the chemical warfare department, in the headquarters office in Alabama, the Air Corp in Florida, and later in the finance department in Denver, Colorado.

 

He married Mabel M. Webb [Taylor] in 1945. In 1949 Alvin received his Masters Degree from the University of Colorado, with his major in education and minor in physics.

 

Before coming to Sheridan, he taught for five years in Fort Lupton and was the Principal of Joes (now Liberty High School) for one year. He was one of the original sixteen Sheridan Union faculty members in 1952.

 

Originally he had intended to become a doctor. "Because education changes all the time and he wanted to be part of this change" he pursued teaching instead. Most students will remember Mr. Parker for teaching biology but he also taught math in the early years at Sheridan. Mr. Parker retired from Sheridan in 1978.

 

Mr. Parker and his wife lived in Franktown. Mr. Parker passed away on January 4, 1993. He was survived by his wife Mabel (whom passed away in 2006), his step-son Carlos Gene Taylor; two brothers Charlie and David; and two sisters Therese Norton and Othelia Stillwell. Mr. Parker and his wife Mabel are buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

 

There was a dedication to Mr. Parker included in the 1974 Rampages (high school annual), where most of this story was obtained.

 

Source Information:

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Rampages, Sheridan High School Annual, 1974.

Obituaries of Alvin Parker in 1993 and Mabel Parker in 2006 as listed in the Denver Post.

Federal censuses of 1900, 1920, 1930, and 1940.

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