Clarence "Ace" Parker, a three-sport athlete and former All-American at Duke, passed away Wednesday morning in Portsmouth, Va. He was 101 years old.
On the gridiron, Parker was a two-time All-American selection as a halfback for famed Duke head coach Wallace Wade. Playing from 1934-36, Parker rushed for 1,856 yards and 21 touchdowns. Parker's Blue Devils went 24-5 during his collegiate career and won two Southern Conference championships.
In addition to lining up in the backfield, Parker was also a standout punter and still holds Duke's single-game punting record. Parker punted 17 times for 804 yards in a game against Georgia Tech in 1936, a record that will likely never be broken.
On the diamond, Parker also was a standout outfielder for Duke's baseball team, batting .336 in 1935 and .337 in 1937. Taking a year off from baseball, Parker also lettered in basketball for the Blue Devils in 1936.
Parker was a second-round draft pick by the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937. He led the NFL in passing in 1938 and was named the league's MVP in 1940. Parker was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. He was the only Hall of Fame inductee in history to reach 100 years of age.
Playing two MLB seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Parker became the third player in Major League history to homer in his first-career at bat when he did so on April 30, 1937.
Following his professional career, Parker returned to Duke and served as an assistant football coach from 1947-65. He also managed the Blue Devil baseball team from 1953-66, winning one Southern Conference championship and two ACC titles. He led Duke to the College World Series in 1953 and 1961. Parker also managed the minor league's Durham Bulls for four seasons from 1949-52.
Parker was a member of the inaugural class of the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975.
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