Creating a Legacy:
"US is Family"

Although you will never meet a more modest man, Dick Parke '72 has been a US celebrity for decades. This year, US is honored to name Dick as the recipient of the Alumni Graduate Award "Man of the Year" in recognition of his many years of service to US and the community. Dick's association with the school began at birth as the son of alumnus Walder Parke '42. It continued under the tutelage of former US Athletic Director Don Molten Sr., who led the US Day Camp where Dick attended as a Wren, Crow, Falcon, Hawk, and later as a tennis counselor. When Dick got older, he spent his summers working with the US Facilities Department. He matriculated through the school and, later, became one of US's most beloved math teachers.

As a student at US, Dick left his mark. He started at US as a seventh grader, graduated in 1972 and captained both the football and tennis teams. He has been called the "finest place kicker in US football history." In fact, Headmaster Rick Bryan '70 was Dick's practice snap-holder. After earning a BA from Kenyon, an MBA from Case Western Reserve, and working for many years in private business, Dick earned an additional master's degree in education from John Carroll University through the US Teacher Apprentice Program. He then returned to his alma mater and began a storied career as a math teacher guiding countless boys through the intricacies of number operations, algebraic thinking, and geometry.

Dick is an impactful teacher who truly affected his students. However, he may be best known for the amazingly popular Clock Club, and for starting the fashion trend among middle school boys of wearing their converse high-top sneakers to school every Friday. Dick's are always red. Dick officially retired from US in 2016. Even so, he still comes to school on a weekly basis to lead the Clock Club and sport his red converse sneakers. Additionally, Dick is the school's unofficial historian. No one knows more about US history and trivia than Dick Parke.

Not surprisingly, Dick is grateful for the education he received at US, the friends he made, both as a student and teacher, and the great impact US has had on its own community of Shaker Heights. Dick and Jude have been loyal donors to our Annual Fund and have named US a beneficiary in their estate plans. When asked why he supported the school through a bequest, his answer was simple, "Even though Jude and I don't have children, we wanted to leave a legacy gift for our family, and US is our family." He went on to add "a bequest was particularly attractive because the assets will be paid after both Jude and I have passed on. I am a frugal man. It's nice to know that if the worst were to happen, those assets would be available to us if needed."

The Headmaster's Club congratulates Dick on being named "Man of the Year." We are all grateful to the Parkes for the many ways they have given back to US for decades. The school is indeed very fortunate to count Dick and Jude as family.