February 9, 2022
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — In honor of sports-legend Eugene Parker, Concordia Lutheran High School is recognizing the 1974 alum with a “Eugene Parker Night” on Feb. 19 during the varsity boys’ basketball game. The night will also kick off the “Parker Friends and Family Campaign” to renovate “The Cage” (gymnasium) in his honor.
Concordia will also recognize Parker’s teammates from the 1971-72, 1972-73, and 1973-74 seasons between the JV and varsity games. Walter Jordan, author and Fort Wayne-native, will speak during halftime of the varsity game in honor of Parker. Jordan was also a teammate at Purdue and a lifelong friend of Parker. The JV game begins at 6 p.m., and the varsity game begins at 7:30 p.m. Following the varsity game, there will be a book signing for Walter Jordan’s book, “Gracefully Broken,” which mentions his journey and relationship with Eugene Parker.
Parker was a standout basketball player at Concordia and then later at Purdue University, and he continued to carry his faith and servant heart into his business and life. He founded a sports agency where he served professional clients in athletics and entertainment, including Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, and Rod Woodson. He was also inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 during its inaugural year and is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Parker passed away in 2016 following a battle with kidney cancer.
“Eugene Parker embodied what we hope all Concordia alumni represent — Christ-centered, servant leaders,” said Jacob Pennekamp, Concordia Head of School. “We are honored to recognize such a distinguished alumnus of the high school.”
The night will also kick off the campaign to rejuvenate the historic “Cage” at Concordia. This effort will bring about a new floor and graphics, new bleachers, new lights, sound system, scoreboards, and funding for a special endowment to provide annual maintenance to sustain the facility for generations to come.
To support this campaign or to learn more, please visit www.clhscadets.com/parker-campaign/.
Concordia Lutheran High School, located at 1601 St. Joe River Drive in Fort Wayne, Ind., was founded in 1935 as a private, co-educational Lutheran high school open to students of all faiths and backgrounds. With Christ at the center, Concordia continues to pursue educational excellence that equips individuals for lifelong learning and service as disciples of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.clhscadets.com.