21 Facts About Paul Parks

Paul Parks fought as a combat engineer for the US Military and took part in the Normandy landings on Omaha Beach.

Paul Parks was a member of the Massachusetts State Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights, in which he was involved in the development of METCO, a program dedicated to resolving segregation in Boston public schools through desegregated busing and increased enrollment of black students in predominantly white schools.

Paul Parks's father, Cleab, was a disabled World War I veteran of Seminole descent.

Paul Parks grew up in Indianapolis, which was characterized by its segregated education system at the time.

Paul Parks attended Crispus Attucks High School, an all-black institution in Indianapolis.

Paul Parks was awarded a $4,000 scholarship for winning an oratory contest in high school, and this monetary prize contributed to his college education when he enrolled at Purdue University in 1941.

Paul Parks was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

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

Paul Parks was a member of the 365th Engineer Regiment that sailed out of New York City on September 30,1943 en route to Europe.

On June 6,1944, the Allied Forces invaded the coast of Normandy on D-Day, and Paul Parks was present on Omaha Beach during this invasion.

Paul Parks was involved with the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp in 1945 after being detached from his original engineer unit.

Paul Parks then moved to Boston to join Stone and Webster, where he contributed to the design of dams and hydroelectric powerhouses as a hired engineer.

In 1957, Paul Parks co-founded an architectural firm called Associated Architects and Engineer with fellow African-American Henry Clifford Boles.

Paul Parks was a member of professional organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Paul Parks was well known for his involvement in desegregating public schools in Boston, Massachusetts.

Paul Parks was appointed as Massachusetts's Secretary of Educational Affairs, succeeding Joseph M Cronin, who was the first to ever assume that role.

Paul Parks was the first African American to be selected as a member of Dukakis's cabinet.

Paul Parks formed a council that would frequently report back to Governor Dukakis amidst a host of issues arising from the busing programs.

Paul Parks was able to identify the growing economic issues found within the selected areas the program was in effect, noting that the unemployment rate was four times that of metropolitan Boston.

Paul Parks attributed these economic downfalls to the funding cuts to the program and advocated for it to remain in effect amidst several discussions of its termination.

Additionally, Paul Parks worked on establishing the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, a program that further supported racial desegregation in Boston schools by diversifying the student body and urged black students to enroll in predominantly white schools.