Francis George Parks (March 1875 – 22 May 1945) was a British amateur
heavyweight boxer.
[Sources tend to confuse and conflate the two brothers. There is a "Frederick Mostyn Parks" listed in Sports Reference as the Olympic medalist. There is "F. Parks" and "Frank Parks" listed in '']The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' for the exhibition matches in the US. The obituary by the Polytechnic Boxing Club
The Polytechnic Boxing Club for amateur boxing was formed in 1888 and located at 309 Regent Street in London. The name "Polytechnic" comes from the Royal Polytechnic Institute having been formerly at that address which would later become the home ...
is about "Frank Parks". Other sources use a pastiche of information on each in their records. On January 2, 2011, Elaine Penn, the University Archivist for the University of Westminster wrote: "I have just discovered that Fred and Frank Parks are brothers. I quote from the Poly Boxing Club report in the Polytechnic Magazine for December 1908 (page 173), regarding an Open Competition promoted by the City Police AC: 'Fred. Parks (Frank’s brother) was our other member who showed up most conspicuously, as he beat three men in the earlier bouts and succumbed in the final only through not having enough physical strength to meet a comparatively fresh man who had just had the benefit of a bye. We must say that we were delighted with the manner in which Fred boxed during the whole of the evening, and we feel certain that before long he will become a boxer with reputation very little short of that held by his brother Frank.' " He joined the
Polytechnic Boxing Club
The Polytechnic Boxing Club for amateur boxing was formed in 1888 and located at 309 Regent Street in London. The name "Polytechnic" comes from the Royal Polytechnic Institute having been formerly at that address which would later become the home ...
in 1892, and won the
Studd Trophy in 1902.
[ He also won a bronze medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics.
]
Biography
He was born in March 1875 in London, England
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...
, to George Parks and Eliza Ann Barrington. Around 1896 he married Ada Sarah Waller in London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
and they had the following children: Maud Lilian Parks (1897–1983), Francis George Parks (1898–?); Rose Gladys Parks (1900–?), Ivy Mary Parks (1904–?), and Olive Eva Parks (1907–1991). He was the ABA Heavyweight Champion in 1899, 1901, 1902, 1905 and 1906.[
In 1911 he and Reuben Charles Warnes went to the ]United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
with the Amateur Boxing Association of England to fight in Madison Square Garden in a series of exhibition bouts. In one of the 1911 matches in the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
he lost to William Spengler in three rounds on a referee's decision.
He died on 22 May 1945 in Hampstead, in a car crash.
Championships
* Amateur Boxing Association of England heavyweight championships in 1899, 1901, 1902, 1905 and 1906.[
*French Boxing Championship in 1905.][
]
Legacy
A plaque in the shape of a laurel wreath was dedicated to Frank Parks by the Polytechnic Boxing Club
The Polytechnic Boxing Club for amateur boxing was formed in 1888 and located at 309 Regent Street in London. The name "Polytechnic" comes from the Royal Polytechnic Institute having been formerly at that address which would later become the home ...
"as a token of admiration by his many friends for his high example and untiring effort for the welfare of club for 52 years". The plaque is dated 7 November 1946.
See also
* Manifest with Frank Parks arriving in United States
* Back of manifest with Frank Parks arriving in United States
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parks, Frank
Heavyweight boxers
1875 births
Polytechnic Boxing Club
1945 deaths
England Boxing champions
Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain
Boxers at the 1908 Summer Olympics
English male boxers
Road incident deaths in London