Edmonton Remembers Jackie Parker
From the Edmonton Sun's Hicks on Six Column:
GANG IS GONE
They are all gone.
Waldo Ranson at age 68, in May of '03, Gino Prete at 56 in March of '05, Wes Montgomery at 66 just one month later.
And now Jackie Parker, who, remarkably, outlived his hard-working, hard-partying pals. Jackie died yesterday at 74, after years of poor health.
The sports pages will cover Jackie's career, the CFL player of the quarter century, the greatest Eskie ever, from 1954 until traded in 1962 to the Toronto Argonauts for $15,000 and five players.
Jackie came back to live in Edmonton for most of his post-player life, other than wintering in Palm Springs.
The boys - Waldo, Wes, Gino and Jackie - were the core of a crowd who simply loved to hang out, drink and have fun together.
"Since I was a toddler, Jackie, Waldo and Wes would come over to the restaurant (The Italian Gardens, behind the downtown YMCA) after their morning workout," says Phil Prete of the Prete restaurateur family, son of the late Gino, grandson of the famous Sal Prete.
"Jackie would always do the crossword puzzle first.
"When we (the Prete family) moved to the south side and opened Gino's Italian Kitchen, Jackie would arrive by 10:30 a.m.
"He'd have a glass of wine, sometimes a Budweiser, and do the crossword."
Yes, they drank, says Phil.
"They drank a lot. Dad didn't, but he'd sit with them and eat. That's what did my dad in."
Over at Gino's Italian Kitchen, a Jackie memorial has been set up on the lounge bartop - a bust of Jackie, sculpted by Ralph Beerwald, and Jackie's personal "chicken-style''' wine jug with his name on the side.
The memorial Cape Cods (vodka and cranberry juice), red wine and Budweisers are being hoisted in Jackie's name.
Other than Jackie, the rest of the lads died too young.
They burned their candles at both ends. All paid the price, either in later poor health or dying too young.
But oh, my friend, the light they gave off.
I WORSHIPPED HIM
The most vivid memories of Jackie and his era are the boyhood ones.
A generation of Edmontonians, in their late '50s or early '60s, worshipped Jackie when they were adolescents.
He was the Wayne Gretzky of the CFL. Led the Eskimos, after just five years in the league, to the first of three Grey Cups under his watch. The most versatile player the league had seen: A star at everything he did.
"For eight years in a row I was Jackie Parker for Halloween," says Randall Purvis. "Oh my God, I loved him. I worshipped him.
"The era was so much fun.
"Everybody went to the football games at Clarke Stadium, everybody went to every one. In the cold weather, everybody wore those big fur coats. And everybody brought a thermos with a little bit of rye."
Ralph (the sculptor of the bust) was 12, listening to that 1954 Grey Cup on a lake near Stony Plain because he'd gone ice-fishing with his dad.
He was glued to the radio as Jackie picked up the Alouette fumble by Chuck Hunsinger and took it back for the game-winning touchdown.
Ralph was hooked.
"We'd watch Jackie pull games out of the hat like magic. He could just about throw and catch the same ball. He would play quarterback, halfback, receiver, on the defence, kick and return punts."
When Ralph was older, playing for the Edmonton Huskies, the team used old Eskimo jerseys at practice.
"I couldn't believe it. I was given #91, Jackie's jersey. I still remember people stopping as they walked across the High Level Bridge and saw us practising by the Kinsmen Fieldhouse. They thought I was Jackie Parker!"
GANG IS GONE
They are all gone.
Waldo Ranson at age 68, in May of '03, Gino Prete at 56 in March of '05, Wes Montgomery at 66 just one month later.
And now Jackie Parker, who, remarkably, outlived his hard-working, hard-partying pals. Jackie died yesterday at 74, after years of poor health.
The sports pages will cover Jackie's career, the CFL player of the quarter century, the greatest Eskie ever, from 1954 until traded in 1962 to the Toronto Argonauts for $15,000 and five players.
Jackie came back to live in Edmonton for most of his post-player life, other than wintering in Palm Springs.
The boys - Waldo, Wes, Gino and Jackie - were the core of a crowd who simply loved to hang out, drink and have fun together.
"Since I was a toddler, Jackie, Waldo and Wes would come over to the restaurant (The Italian Gardens, behind the downtown YMCA) after their morning workout," says Phil Prete of the Prete restaurateur family, son of the late Gino, grandson of the famous Sal Prete.
"Jackie would always do the crossword puzzle first.
"When we (the Prete family) moved to the south side and opened Gino's Italian Kitchen, Jackie would arrive by 10:30 a.m.
"He'd have a glass of wine, sometimes a Budweiser, and do the crossword."
Yes, they drank, says Phil.
"They drank a lot. Dad didn't, but he'd sit with them and eat. That's what did my dad in."
Over at Gino's Italian Kitchen, a Jackie memorial has been set up on the lounge bartop - a bust of Jackie, sculpted by Ralph Beerwald, and Jackie's personal "chicken-style''' wine jug with his name on the side.
The memorial Cape Cods (vodka and cranberry juice), red wine and Budweisers are being hoisted in Jackie's name.
Other than Jackie, the rest of the lads died too young.
They burned their candles at both ends. All paid the price, either in later poor health or dying too young.
But oh, my friend, the light they gave off.
I WORSHIPPED HIM
The most vivid memories of Jackie and his era are the boyhood ones.
A generation of Edmontonians, in their late '50s or early '60s, worshipped Jackie when they were adolescents.
He was the Wayne Gretzky of the CFL. Led the Eskimos, after just five years in the league, to the first of three Grey Cups under his watch. The most versatile player the league had seen: A star at everything he did.
"For eight years in a row I was Jackie Parker for Halloween," says Randall Purvis. "Oh my God, I loved him. I worshipped him.
"The era was so much fun.
"Everybody went to the football games at Clarke Stadium, everybody went to every one. In the cold weather, everybody wore those big fur coats. And everybody brought a thermos with a little bit of rye."
Ralph (the sculptor of the bust) was 12, listening to that 1954 Grey Cup on a lake near Stony Plain because he'd gone ice-fishing with his dad.
He was glued to the radio as Jackie picked up the Alouette fumble by Chuck Hunsinger and took it back for the game-winning touchdown.
Ralph was hooked.
"We'd watch Jackie pull games out of the hat like magic. He could just about throw and catch the same ball. He would play quarterback, halfback, receiver, on the defence, kick and return punts."
When Ralph was older, playing for the Edmonton Huskies, the team used old Eskimo jerseys at practice.
"I couldn't believe it. I was given #91, Jackie's jersey. I still remember people stopping as they walked across the High Level Bridge and saw us practising by the Kinsmen Fieldhouse. They thought I was Jackie Parker!"
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