Family Honors Patriarch with Scholarship

      Generous, friendly, loved and down-to-earth --- that's how friends and family remember Warren W. Parke. Born in 1924 in Spurgeon, Parke was one of thirteen children and lived most of his life in the Oakland City area. He owned and operated Parke Coal from 1959 to 1989 and was co-founder of the Touch of Class stores based in Huntingburg. Giving back to his community, without hesitation, was always a part of his life.

 

      That's why Mr. Parke's family decided after his death in 2003 to honor his memory with an endowed scholarship through the Gibson County Community Foundation. The scholarship is a tribute to his contributions to the community, passion for sports, and commitment to education and rewards students who possess the same qualities. Students at Wood Memorial High School are eligible for the scholarship, which will be awarded for the first time this fall. "It is such a wonderful thing when members of the community form together to reward such deserving students for their hard work and perserverance throughout their high school years," said Kelly Hill, guidance counselor at Wood Memorial High School.

 

      "The administration, faculty [and] staff," she added, "have one common desire in that we want to see our students graduate, become successes, and one day give back to our community as graciously as Mr. Parke has done."