Paul Parks

Born to Cleab and Hazel, Parks attended Crispus Attucks High School, an all-black school in Indianapolis. He then entered Purdue University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, and received his Doctor of Philosophy from Northeastern University.[1] There, Parks was part of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

In 1942, Parks was drafted into the United States Army, and was subsequently sent to Europe as a combat engineer in 1943 during World War II, where he served until 1945.[2]

Upon being discharged from the military, Parks initial work experience came in the form of planning and design positions for the Indiana Department of Transportation (1949-1951), Stone & Webster (1951), Fay, Spofford & Thorndike (1951-1952), and Vought (1952-1953). He would later gain employment as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney (1953-1957). In 1957, Parks began his own engineering firm, Paul Parks and Associates, which was in business until 1967.

Parks was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers during his lifetime.

Parks was in the films Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II and The Last Days.[3][4]

Parks died of cancer in 2009.[5]

Parks was of African American, Muscogee, and Seminole ancestry. Parks married Dorothy Alexander on February 2, 1947 with whom he had three children: Paul Jr., Pamela, and Stacy.[6] In 1972, Parks married Virginia Loftman.

• Northeastern interview