Paul Parks
American civil engineer and civic leader (1923-2009) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Paul Parks (May 7, 1923 – August 1, 2009) was an American civil engineer. Parks became the first African American Secretary of Education for Massachusetts, and was appointed by Governor Michael Dukakis to serve from 1975 until 1979. Mayor Raymond Flynn appointed Parks to the Boston School Committee, where he was also the first African American.
Paul Parks | |
---|---|
Massachusetts Secretary of Education | |
In office 1975–1979 | |
Governor | Michael Dukakis |
Preceded by | Joseph M. Cronin |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | (1923-05-07)May 7, 1923 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
Died | August 1, 2009(2009-08-01) (aged 86) Mattapan, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
Nationality | American |
Spouse(s) | Dorothy Alexander (m. 1947) Virginia Loftman (1972-2009) |
Children | 3 |
Parent(s) | Cleab (father) Hazel (mother) |
Alma mater | Purdue University Northeastern University |
Occupation | Civil engineer |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1943-1945 |
Rank | Combat Engineer |
Unit | 365th Quartermaster Corps |
Parks fought as a combat engineer for the U.S. Military and took part in the Normandy landings on Omaha Beach.[1][2] Following his service in World War II, Parks was renowned for his work and dedication to desegregating Boston public schools through his role in the execution of the Boston Model City program, a program designed to use federal funding to develop selected areas in Boston and achieve economic stability.[3] Parks was also a member of the Massachusetts State Advisory Committee to the U.S. 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.[4]