JimBurnell Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 (edited) Jeff Weir of the US Naval Academy D&B Corps just posted on Facebook: "Deepest condolences to the UMass Power and Class, past and present... RIP George Parks" I asked what happened; he replied: "Details still coming in... died suddenly while on the road with the band to Michigan... UMass-Michigan tomorrow at noon... unbelievable..." Edited September 17, 2010 by JimBurnell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jocko the Wonder Llama Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 A major loss to all. Fair winds and following seas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84BDsop Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Ahhh crap. I remember George in 87...a total performer withe the Bucs...and handed a mace like nobody's business...including a sky high toss and catch in the beat....in the rain. RIP George....legions of drum majors owe you....your legacy will live on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigW Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Oh, Dear God... A real KKY Bro who understood the meaning of AEA as well as a real competitor and gentleman. I feel like someone dropped a truck on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boo Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Article about the death. I'm absolutely stunned. I knew George and he was as youthful as the university members he taught. I remember joking with him after seeing him conduct a standstill performance with his band at the BOA Grand Nationals outdoor preview at night. He was in the air, on his knees and whatever else was necessary to extract the emotion from the kids, and when I interviewed him immediately after, he wasn't puffing at all. He was also a true gentleman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idontwan2know Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I never had the pleasure of meeting him personally, but his enthusiasm and charisma were legendary and it seemed like everyone had a story about him. I can still remember reading his book, The Dynamic Drum Major, to prepare for my high school drum major audition long before I had any idea what DCA or the Reading Buccaneers were. Deepest condolences on behalf of the Sun Devils to the thousands affected by this loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomMoore Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 (edited) This is absolutely shocking and horrible news to wake up to. An iconic figure in the marching activity, in drum corps, in DCA and in the Bucs family is gone. He had a huge impact on so many people, and the world is a much poorer place now. I was a college-age student of his Drum Major Academy fifteen years before I was a Buccaneer. It was an honor to be associated with him in both worlds and we will miss him very, very much. One of the last pictures I took in Rochester a couple weeks ago was of George and Jim Gruber sharing an embrace on the field after retreat. I'll treasure that image always, and share it below. As arrangements become available, I'll post them here as necessary. Thank you for everything, Mr. Parks. We love you and we honor you. "We're all good men...." Edited September 22, 2010 by TomMoore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayfallon Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I'm sitting here at work reading this and I can't even think. Maybe no human body could house all that intensity. I was just commenting on George on the DCA personality thread - the most intense performer I ever saw - perhaps not the best conductor - but I think that's a question of taste, but in my opinion going away the best drum major I ever encountered. Man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnZ Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 absolutely stunned. One of the finest individuals that we'd all hoped would be immortal. Godspeed, admiral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted September 17, 2010 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Wow, this certainly is a stunner. I can still see him in the Bucs' 1980 show. Unforgettable. I'm sitting here at work reading this and I can't even think.Maybe no human body could house all that intensity. I was just commenting on George on the DCA personality thread - the most intense performer I ever saw - perhaps not the best conductor - but I think that's a question of taste, but in my opinion going away the best drum major I ever encountered. Man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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