A story of work and success

I am proud of all of the News-Telegram’s publications, and in particular, the recent “Class of 2024” color tabloid, picturing every senior who graduated from public high schools in Hopkins County. At North Hopkins, 35 students crossed the stage for their diplomas, and 27 were in the graduating class at Sulphur Bluff. Como-Pickton CISD had 43 grads, and Cumby Collegiate High honored 23 grads. Miller Grove promoted 25 seniors, 16 picked up diplomas at Saltillo High School, and Sulphur Springs turned out 272 graduates. Congratulations to every student and parent.

90th birthday

I had an interesting story come my way from a retired dentist, who graduated from Talco High School in 1951 among a class of 28 students. You may know retired doctor Robert Parker, who practiced dentistry in Sulphur Springs. His 90th birthday is July 5. A portion of the story of his life and career follows.

When the “oil boom” happened in East Texas in the 1930s, the population of many small communities suddenly swelled. Talco was one of them. Parker’s father was an employee of Humble Oil and Refinery, working at the New London oil field camp. When oil was struck at Talco in February 1937, it became a boomtown and the young Parker family was transferred to Talco. (You may recall the story of the New London School disaster of March 1937.) His parents purchased a comfortable home on Talco’s “Humble Camp,” and Parker grew up there, as did many youngsters over three decades of the oil field industry.

Parker recalled, “Humble was a great company to its employees and families. The camp was a good place to grow up, with over 100 homes on streets that were laid out. The Talco school bus came to pick us up, and in our neighborhood, we all played together.”

After high school, Parker graduated from the University of Texas College of Pharmacy. The woman he would marry in 1955, Gwen Brown, also graduated from UT with an honors degree in home economics. Parker worked as a pharmacist for a decade in the Dallas area, and later Gwen worked for the Wilmer-Hutchins ISD.

Then, for reasons Parker cannot recall, he changed his career path and entered Baylor University College of Dentistry in Dallas. With a young family to raise, he continued working, going to school full time, and passing the state board exams third in his class.

The couple then moved, and Parker began working in the small-town practice of Dr. Maurice Starkey in Sulphur Springs, at the suggestion of Randall Maddox, a local car dealer and family friend.

How Parker served in the military, led Scout troops, and made church and community a part of his life is told by Parker in the Down Home Today Podcast #280, to be aired on Saturday, July 6, on the News-Telegram’s website, free to listeners. Plan to hear the story and share it with your friends.

In the meantime, Parker’s three children, Andy, Julie and Phil, are planning Parker’s 90th birthday party in the Winniford Building of Heritage Park on Friday, July 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. Parker invites everyone to attend.