DALLAS (SMU) - Jim Parr, who served as the SMU men's track and field head coach from 1967-1979, will be remembered with a memorial service on Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. in Perkins Chapel. Under Parr's tenure on the Hilltop, the Mustangs won four Southwest Conference cross country titles and established itself as a top track program in the conference. 

Before his decorated coaching career, Parr was a standout athlete at SMU. The Abilene, Texas native signed a scholarship with the Mustangs following his graduation from Amarillo High School in 1956 and went on to earn SWC titles in the mile in 1960 and the 880 meters in 1961. He served as a track and cross country team captain, setting a school and conference record in the half mile with a time of 1:49.9. During his time competing on the Hilltop, Parr helped establish school records in four relays: the mile, the sprint medley, distance medley and two mile. He ran as the anchor on each team.

Following his graduation from SMU, Parr earned a commission as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He competed in track while in the Marines and was a member of both the East and West Marine Track teams. He also spent one summer competing in Europe. Parr's first coaching assignment was at Fallbrook High School in California.

During Parr's tenure at SMU, 18 school records were broken, 19 SWC event championships were won and seven of his athletes earned All-America honors.

The Parr family has a rich SMU background. Lona Parr, Jim's wife, received her Master's from SMU in 1977 and their son, Tyler, graduated from SMU in 2004.

Memorial donations can be made to the SMU Fund for Scholarships.  Please include information on the check that this is a memorial gift for Jim Parr.
Please mail to:
Southern Methodist University
Gift Administration
PO Box 750402
Dallas, TX, 75275-0402
Or visit
www.smu.edu/giving