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Tom Parr Honored with the Hopkins Medal
In a ceremony on Sunday, June 14, 2015, Thomas A. Parr, who is retiring from his position as Athletic Director, was awarded the Hopkins Medal. Over 400 alumni/ae, family, friends and colleagues gathered under the big tent on Pratt Field for a brunch celebration of his 33-year career at Hopkins.
In a ceremony on Sunday, June 14, 2015, Thomas A. Parr, who is retiring from his position as Athletic Director, was awarded the Hopkins Medal. Over 400 alumni/ae, family, friends and colleagues gathered under the big tent on Pratt Field for a brunch celebration of his 33-year career at Hopkins.
Hopkins bestows its highest honor—the Hopkins Medal—on that person who has shown unparalleled commitment, loyalty, and devotion to Hopkins School. Tom Parr has shown all of this and more during his long history with Hopkins and, for this, he is being honored as this year's recipient.
Raised in Ithaca, New York, Tom earned his A.B. in History in 1974 and M.A.T in 1976 from Colgate University. A star quarterback, Tom was named Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Sophomore of the Year. As a senior he was named to the The New York Times, Associated Press and ECAC All-East teams.
Tom began his coaching career at Colgate as an assistant football coach while he pursued his masters degree. In 1976 Tom was named head football coach at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, CT, where he also taught. In 1982, at the urging of Dale Hurwitz, a colleague and Hopkins parent, Tom interviewed at Hopkins School and was hired to teach history and coach track and football.
When Tom arrived at Hopkins and took over the football program, it wasn’t long before he set the team on a new course of success. Tom’s accomplishments on the football field are well known: 206 wins, four undefeated seasons, seven League Championships, and four New England Championships. In 1987 he was named Director of Athletics, serving in that capacity for 28 years. Over the course of his 33 year career at Hopkins, Tom has taught history, served as a Head Adviser, Summer School Director, and coached track, baseball, basketball, and, of course, football.
Beyond the scores and statistics, Tom has impacted and contributed to raising up more “hopeful youths,” both on and off the field, than anyone can count. Tom Parr personifies the Hopkins model of teacher-coach in its finest form.
Tom and his wife, Debbie, married 40 years, saw all four of their children graduate from Hopkins School: Gary ’01, Dana ’04, Andrew ’05, and Alexis ’11.
During the ceremony, former faculty and friend Dana Blanchard shared recollections of working with Tom. Vince Calarco, President of the Committee of Trustees also shared memories of being a football parent while his children were Hopkins football players. Barbara Riley, Head of School presented Tom with the Hopkins Medal, as well as a number of other gifts for his years of service to the School.
Barbara was also happy to report that over 200 donors contributed over $1.1M to name the Pit, Parr Field, which will be dedicated in the Fall at Homecoming. In addition, the Thomas A. Parr, Jr. Fund for Athletics was named in his honor. Thank you to the numerous alumni/ae, parents, families, faculty, staff, and friends who contributed to this unprecedented effort!
Please see the attached videos to watch these touching speeches, including Tom’s acceptance speech, as well as the attached photo gallery of pictures from Sunday's event. Photos by Harold Shapiro. (Photos can be downloaded from the gallery)
Click here to read the New Haven Register's story: http://www.gametimect.com/football-parr-gets-field-named-after-him-at-hopkins/
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Hopkins bestows its highest honor—the Hopkins Medal—on that person who has shown unparalleled commitment, loyalty, and devotion to Hopkins School. Tom Parr has shown all of this and more during his long history with Hopkins and, for this, he is being honored as this year's recipient.
Raised in Ithaca, New York, Tom earned his A.B. in History in 1974 and M.A.T in 1976 from Colgate University. A star quarterback, Tom was named Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Sophomore of the Year. As a senior he was named to the The New York Times, Associated Press and ECAC All-East teams.
Tom began his coaching career at Colgate as an assistant football coach while he pursued his masters degree. In 1976 Tom was named head football coach at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, CT, where he also taught. In 1982, at the urging of Dale Hurwitz, a colleague and Hopkins parent, Tom interviewed at Hopkins School and was hired to teach history and coach track and football.
When Tom arrived at Hopkins and took over the football program, it wasn’t long before he set the team on a new course of success. Tom’s accomplishments on the football field are well known: 206 wins, four undefeated seasons, seven League Championships, and four New England Championships. In 1987 he was named Director of Athletics, serving in that capacity for 28 years. Over the course of his 33 year career at Hopkins, Tom has taught history, served as a Head Adviser, Summer School Director, and coached track, baseball, basketball, and, of course, football.
Beyond the scores and statistics, Tom has impacted and contributed to raising up more “hopeful youths,” both on and off the field, than anyone can count. Tom Parr personifies the Hopkins model of teacher-coach in its finest form.
Tom and his wife, Debbie, married 40 years, saw all four of their children graduate from Hopkins School: Gary ’01, Dana ’04, Andrew ’05, and Alexis ’11.
During the ceremony, former faculty and friend Dana Blanchard shared recollections of working with Tom. Vince Calarco, President of the Committee of Trustees also shared memories of being a football parent while his children were Hopkins football players. Barbara Riley, Head of School presented Tom with the Hopkins Medal, as well as a number of other gifts for his years of service to the School.
Barbara was also happy to report that over 200 donors contributed over $1.1M to name the Pit, Parr Field, which will be dedicated in the Fall at Homecoming. In addition, the Thomas A. Parr, Jr. Fund for Athletics was named in his honor. Thank you to the numerous alumni/ae, parents, families, faculty, staff, and friends who contributed to this unprecedented effort!
Please see the attached videos to watch these touching speeches, including Tom’s acceptance speech, as well as the attached photo gallery of pictures from Sunday's event. Photos by Harold Shapiro. (Photos can be downloaded from the gallery)
Click here to read the New Haven Register's story: http://www.gametimect.com/football-parr-gets-field-named-after-him-at-hopkins/
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