|
| |
 |
| 2005
Inductee
Betty Booker-Parks
|
|
|
Booker-Parks
is a native of Hampshire, Tennessee. She attended Hampshire
High School where she excelled in basketball and was voted
four
times as a high school MVP.
While
attending Hampshire High School, Booker-Parks was named to
the Tennessee All Star Team in 1976 with a career average
of 30.2 points per game.
Upon graduating
from Hampshire High School, Booker-Parks continued to excel
on the court at Memphis State University where she was named
2nd Team All-American in 1975 and 1976.
|
|
|
During
her collegiate career, Booker-Parks set the record for the
number of games played (137), points scored (2,835), scoring
average (20.7), field goals attempted (2,704), field goals
made (1,203) and number of steals (360).
Her record
for most points scored in a game (41) stood strong for more
than twenty years. Booker-Parks was a first round draft choice
in the Women's Basketball League, where she averaged 10 points
per game. In 1985, she was inducted into the Memphis State
University Athletic Hall of Fame.
After
an outstanding collegiate and professional career, Booker-Parks
coached basketball, volleyball and track for 14 years at White
Station High School in Memphis where she taught physical education.
|
|
 |
During
her tenure at White Station, she was named TSSAA district
coach of the year six times in volleyball and four times in
basketball. Her coaching strategies and diligence led her
teams to compete at the sub-state and state levels. She was
named the Memphis Commercial Appeal's "Best of the Prep's
Coach of theYear" in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
In 1994,
Booker-Parks was selected to play for the newly formed Memphis
Blues professional basketball team. During that same year,
the coach was unable to fulfill his duties, leaving the team
without a coaching staff. Booker-Parks took on the daunting
task of manager and coach. Through her exemplary leadership,
the team went on to finish second in the league.
Today,
Betty Booker-Parks is just as accomplished in the educational
arena as she was on the court. In her current role as assistant
principal for Kirby Middle School, one of the largest middle
schools in West Tennessee, she regularly finds time to work
with student athletes in the gym, helping them improve their
skills.
|
| |