This week in West Central Georgia history.
James Thomas Parker died July 18, 2005
James Thomas Parker, born in Macon, Georgia, died July 18, 2005, in Columbia, Maryland, from congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease. He played college football at Ohio State, helping the team win a national championship in 1954. Parker was a unanimous All-American and won the Outland Trophy in 1956. He played in the NFL from 1957 to 1967 as an offensive tackle and guard for the Baltimore Colts. He was part of the Colts’ 1958 and 1959 NFL championship teams. Parker was selected to nine first-team All-Pro squads and eight Pro Bowls. After retiring, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. He was known for his pass-blocking skills and durability. Parker grew up in Macon, playing high school football there before moving to Ohio.
