Parker Julian Bennett 1911-1955

BENNETT, STARK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/11/2010 at 22:37:50

Parker J. Bennett Rites Are Thursday
Funeral services for Parker J. Bennett, 43, a native of Estherville and a long-time resident here, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Fort Dodge at the First Presbyterian church. Graveside services will be held here at 3 p.m. at Oak Hill cemetery where the body will be buried.

Mr. Bennett was manager of the Estherville yards of Northern Lumber Co. before moving to Fort Dodge in 1949 where he was a lumber company executive. Educated in Estherville schools where he graduated from high school and attended junior college and was a star athlete, Mr. Bennett later became a member of the University of Iowa basketball and track teams. He was voted all Big Ten conference center for the 1930-31 season. He competed in the weights and high jump on the S.U.I. track team. Following graduation he played professional basketball for two years.

Survivors include his widow, one son, Barry, in high school at Fort Dodge; and a sister, Mrs. Marvin Stark of Louisville.

While in Estherville, Mr. Bennett was active in community affairs serving as president of the Golf and Country club and Quarterback club and exalted ruler of the Elks lodge. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, May 17, 1955)

Athlete Dies
Fort Dodge – Funeral services will be Thursday in Fort Dodge for 43-year-old Parker J. Bennett, former University of Iowa basketball and track star. Bennett died Monday [May 16, 1955] after a long illness. Bennett, Fort Dodge lumber company executive, was an all-Big Ten conference cage player in 1931 and played professional basketball for two years after graduation. (Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, IA, May 17, 1955)