Posted 12/27/2003 4:35:24 AM by Editor
Milestones from Elmo Gibb viewed 1893 times
Saturday, December 27, 2003 - Tampa, FL
I regretfully report the passing Sunday, December 21 of my good friend, Jim Parker, from heart complications.
I regretfully report the passing Sunday, December 21 of my good friend, Jim Parker, from heart complications. He had been ill for a few days and passed away quietly at the VA Hospital in Tampa. He is survived by his sister, Mrs. Barbara Warner of Waverly, Nebraska. Jimserved 20 years in Naval Intelligence, then worked 22 years as a correctional offcer. His real love was the circus and carnivals. Jim had appeared on many circuses since 1960, where he first worked on the E.K. Fernandez Shows in Hawaii. Some of the other shows he appeared on were:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Clyde Bros. Circus
King Bros. Circus
Rudy Bros. Circus
DeWayne bros. Circus
Wally Yee's Greater European Shows (Hawaii)
American Continental Circus (Circus Gatti)
Circus America (Paul Kaye)
Circus Vargas (clown & secretary to the president)
Bentley Bros. Circus (clown & secretary to Mr. Bentley)
Gibsonton IISA Showmen's Club Circus
Sarasota Circus Festival Parade
Jim was the asistant to the dean (Bill Ballantine) at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College - 1973. He was honored by the Circus Model Builders Assn. by having the Diamond Jim Parker Ring #89 named after him. He wrote many articles for "Circus Report" and was considered a clown/circus historian. His circus collection consisted of a model circus, tons of models, personal wardrobe and props of many famous clowns (his clown mentor was Mark Anthony), and over 20,000 photos! Many of us had the privilege of touring his "museum" and got to hear hours and hours of funny jackpots about old circus clowns from times past that Jim knew.
Jim was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the CFA, CHS, CMB and theISA Showmen's Club of Gibsonton.
I hope he is having a great time cutting jackpots with Mark, Lou, Flo White, Harold Hall and Gene Lewis. I'll bet the angels are splitting their sides laughing!
submitted by ElmoGibb
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