Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697646737108.pdf (Bahamas)
Keith Holland Parker Member of the National Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Keith Holland Parker truly earned the title, “a man for all seasons”, for as a world class coach and athlete, edu- cator and mentor, he well represented the words of Gary R. Blair that “teaching young people how they can create their own future is a most powerful and character building attribute.
Goals such education gives them are the tools needed for a productive a life, of benefit to themselves, our country and its future generations.” In that regard he personified the successful sportsman, musician, businessman, family man and role model, quali- ties any civilized society should value most highly.

Parker came to The Bahamas in 1959 to teach Math, Physical Education and Science at Government High School, then located in Queen’s Court opposite British Colonial Hotel.
Holding a diploma from famous Loughborough College and a certificate in advanced education from the University of Nottingham, he already had an outstanding record of multi-sport participation.
He represented Eng- land and Great Britain in the Decathlon and Long Jump in Athletics; played Soccer for 3rd Division Team Bury; Cricket for his home town of More- cambe; Rugby for the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, and during his national service in the Royal Air Force (RAF) competed in the RAF Championships in Athletics, Tennis and Badminton.
In The Bahamas he represented his adopted country in Athletics in the West Indies Federation Games and was The Bahamas’ record holder in the Javelin and Long Jump events.

He also represented The Bahamas in Field Hockey, Badminton, Darts, and Squash, Rackets.

In Squash, he was twice national Champions; 3 times National Veterans Champions; Caribbean Veterans Champion; semi-finalist in the 1977 World Squash Veter- ans championships, and twice runner–up in the US Open Age Group Championships.
He also played in the local cricket league for the Common- wealth Wanders and Westerns teams and raced in the popular Speed Weeks at the old Oakes Field airport, now the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center.

Keith Parker was winning decathlons before he even knew what one was.

In one high school event in his town he won the long jump, hurdles, high jump, discus, pole vault and was second in the 400, 200 and 100.
He developed those talents to represent England and Great Britain as a national track team member in 1957 and 1958.

He met Tommy Robinson in Cardiff and they both competed at the British Empire and Common- wealth Games (1958) where Parker was a finalist in the long jump and Tommy became a legend.

Tommy also helped convince him to choose The Bahamas as his next teaching location.
So it was that he became a Bahamas National team member in the 1960’s holding the Bahamas Record in Long Jump and javelin in 1960.
Keith Parker is internationally recognized as a world class track and field coach, serving the Bahamas National Teams at Four Olympic Games from 1984 in Los Angeles, USA, to 2008 in Beijing, China ; at Five IAAF World Championships from 1983 to 2005; at Six Pan American Games from 1975 in Mexico to 2007 in Brazil; at Four Commonwealth Games from 1978 in Edmonton, Canada, to 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, (including the “Magnificent Seven” team which won 5 medals in 1982 in Brisbane including two gold medals and two games records…with only 6 athletes); at Six Central American and Caribbean Championships/Games (CAC); and at CARIFTA Championships on numerous occasions since 1975.
He is still active as the personal coach for former Commonwealth Gold Medalist Lavern Eve (Javelin), Trevor Barry (High Jump) and An- dretti Bain (Hurdles) and donates an afternoon or more each week to coaching aspiring young athletes, aged 10 to 17 at Queens College.

While obtaining his Masters Degree at the University of Florida, Keith served as Asst.

Track and Field Coach (1968-69) under the legendary Jimmy Carnes, who also served as an Olympic Coach and headed the USA Track and Field Federation.
Keith is an AAA (UK) Certified coach in jumps, throws, sprints and hurdles.

He was a United States Track and Field Lecturer for College and High School coaches in 1969 and 1983 and was featured lecturer for the Athletics Congress (TAC) Partners International Athletics Conference in 1983 in Miami.

His lecture on Long Jump featured World Record Holder Bob Beamon as demonstrator.

He was CAC Jumps lecturer for Regional Courses in BVI, Curacao and Puerto Rico.
After teaching at Government High, Parker served the Ministry of Education as a School Inspector from 1963-1985, travelling to all but one of the inhabited Bahamas Islands.

He became a citizen of the Bahamas in 1984.

He was honoured by the Queen in 1978 as a member of the British Empire (MBE) for Service to the Community.

He was inducted in to the BAAA Hall of Fame in 1997, received the International Olympic Com- mittee Diploma in 2001 and, in 2010 was inducted into the CAC Hall of Fame.
Of all his achievements, Parker says he is proudest of helping produce athletes such as Shonell Ferguson, Bradley Cooper, Laverne Eve, Steve Hanna and the late Stephen Wray, all of whom he coached from adolescence though University and on to top 10 positions or better in the World.

He adds “Seeing them come home and return the favour to upcoming youngsters is the jewel in the crown.” It is therefore obvious that Parker exemplified truth in the aforementioned notion by Blair.