Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-10

services. Gen. Parks won the
confidence Of newspapermen by
his repeated demonstration
that he did. indeed, have the
necessary qualifications" &.
A year and q half after he
was first assigned to the Pen
tagon. Gen. Parks was given
an assignment in Hawaii as
deputy commander Of the
Pacific. But Just as he was get
ting settled down there. Gen.
j. Lawton Collins. then Chief
ordered him back to Washing
ton to again run the informa-
ton section.
"Just A Country Boy"
The general insisted to his
friends that he was lust a
country boy and a soldier" who
knew nothing about the art
Of public relations. II he didn't.
he learned fast.
Because he was, at the be-
ginning, a soldier he know
troops. He talked their lang
guage and knew their foibles.
The general was a jovial.
easy-going man. But when the
situation demanded, he could
be tough and was known to
cuss in technicolor.
Rows Of ribbons denoting
high decorations by his own
and foreign governments we're
on the generals blouse-when
protocol demanded that he
wear them.
Medals for Service
There was the Distinguished
Service Medal for his outStand-
ing service as an airborne COM
mander when United States
and British paratroopers
swarmed down in Holland,
along the Rhine. A second such
award was for distinguished
service while secretary OF the
general staff and chief Of staff
at headquarters Of the Army
Ground Forces before he went
overseas with his airborne out
At.
While in command of the
U. S. sector Berlin district. he
made all administrative ar
rangements for this country's
contingent at the Potsdam con-
ference and was commanded by
former President Truman.
And in the early days. before
the cold war. the Communist
countries conferred honors up
on the man with whom they
worked to defeat the common
enemy. He received medals
from Russia and Poland.
He often played golf with his
friend in the White House But
the Presidents score or CONVEX
sation during any game re-
manned a deep secret with Gen.
Parks.
T Aided Junior Golf
One of the top senior golfers
Of this section for several years,
he also worked closely with
junior golf as a director and
promoter.
He was a member Of Column
bia, Burning Tree and Chevy
Chase Clubs and was club
champion at Chevy Chase in
l948 and 1852. In the 1913
tournament he upset Ralph
Bogart, one of the Districts
outstanding amateurs, in the
finals.
Gen. Parks won the Middle
Atlantic senior championship
in 1857 at Virginia Beach, Va.
and last year was medaliSt in
the same tournament and won
the Walter r. McCallum
Memorial trophy, named for
the late golf writer of The Star.
He was president Of the Mid
die Atlantic Golf Association in
1857 and a member of the
United States Golf Associa-
tons Museum and Senior
Championship committees. He
also was president of the In
ter-Club Junior Golf League.
The general won he I'd Army
senior title, and many other
golf titles in the service.
Competed in France
Gen. Parks last competitive
golf was last July when he
competed with a United States
senior championship team in
Deauville, France. He played
his last golf last fall.
The general leaves his wife.
the former Marie Robinson,
and four children, three OF
them boys.
One son, I'd 1t. william r.
Parks, was graduated from
West Point last June and now
is stationed at the Fort Ben
ming (Ga.) Infantry School.
Another. Manley, is now at
West Point.
Floyd, jr.. lives in Hyattsville,
and the daughter. Mrs. Rich
ard c. Strain, lives in Pough-
keepsie, N. Y.
His brother, Col. Lyman L.
Parks, lives in Luray. Va.
A graduate OF Clemson Col
lege. S. c., the general also held
a degree of master of science in
mechanical engineering from
Yale University.