USD Magazine, Summer-Fall 1993

Irving Parker remembers purchasing USD's very first paper cutter. "It's still in use, in the registrar's office," the 65-year– old professor notes with pride. When Parker retired this summer, 39 years of interesting historical details like that one also walked away from Alcala Park. "I don't know what we're going to do without Irving," says Religious Studies Professor Gary Macy. "He's a walking encyclopedia of this place." As a 26-year-old instructor at what was then San Diego State College, Parker had no way of knowing that a phone call from his friend Monsignor John Storm would set his future on a path that was often bumpy, but never dull. "Monsignor Storm asked if I'd be interested in teaching at this new Catholic college, the San Diego College for Men, being started by Bishop Charles F. Buddy," Parker remem– bers. "It was located in an area where my brother and I used to hunt rabbits as kids, and the only other things around were a slaughter house and what we called 'The Pest House,' where people with infectious diseases were housed," he says. "At the time, I was young and enthusiastic, and none of that really bothered me. I thought it seemed like quite an adventure." Parker remembers registering the first 39 students in the College for Men, and teaching in a lecture hall in what is now University of San Diego High School. "I think I realized early on that my future depended on the future of the college," he notes. "I know that sounds selfish, but I was bound and deter– mined to do what I could to make the school a success, because if the school was successful, then I would be, too." That determination prompted Parker to accept whatever challenge he was given. He served as registrar, dean of admis– sions, professor of English, assistant to the president, coordi– nator of the interdepartmental honors program, director of the undergraduate writing program, chair of the humanities divi– sion and chair of the department of fine arts. In addition, he served on no fewer than 46 committees, often serving as chair, vice chair or secretary. Parker says he's perhaps proudest of his work on the university committee on educational review, a committee charged with the task of ham– mering out a single university curriculum for the merged San Diego College for Women and San Diego College for Men. "At the time, we had two somewhat different curricula, and really two different philosophies of academics," Parker remembers. "Finally, after a year of meeting at least once a week, we had our curriculum." The professor also helped create the Office of Financial Aid, the guidelines for faculty committee structure and the incorporation of college boards in the university's admission policy. Parker's extensive contributions did not go unnoticed over the years. His list of honors include the Lowell P. Davies Annual Faculty Achievement Award, the Diocese of San Diego Citation of Honor, the establishment of the "Irving Award" given each year to the outstanding theater arts stu– dent, and an honorary membership in the Alumni Associa– tion. In addition, Parker was invested with a knighthood in the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great by decree of Pope John Paul II. Parker says although he never made a lot of money at the university, his life was made richer because he was part of a dream. "This university has been so good to me. There were rough times, of course, and sometimes I felt like throwing in the towel. But looking back, I wouldn't have done it any dif– ferently."

IRVING PARKER Professor of English and Chair, Department of Fine Arts Years at USD: 39

Some of Parker's fondest USD memories are of the early years and life with the irrepressible Bishop Buddy. "He was a man of great vision who saw the need for leadership in San Diego's Catholic community. He felt the best way to create that leadership was by establishing a Catholic university," Parker explains. "He was always quoting Nehemiah: 'I am about a great work, and I can not come down.' We all felt that, too-that building the university was a great work." The bishop's vision, combined with his unbounded enthu– siasm, were hard to resist. "You could go in to see the bishop about a project, with a list of 10 reasons why it wouldn't work. After 15 minutes you'd walk out of his office, banging the drum for the idea and telling everybody how wonderful it was," Parker laughs. "That was his talent. He could get people caught up in the dream." Sometimes, however, people took the bishop too literally. "I remember once he went to the mail center and was really

upset about the cost of postage. He told the staff there to take the metering machine and 'throw it off the hill. ' Well, about 15 minutes later, they were carrying that big machine toward the canyon to throw it off the hill, just like the bishop said. Fortunately, someone stopped them." Parker's decision to retire was largely influenced by his desire to spend more time with his wife of 26 years, Rita, who he says has been a "patient, patient woman." They both are looking forward to enjoying their Palm Springs home and trav– eling throughout California. Although USD has been an ingrained part of Parker's life for so many years, he says it is time to part ways with the uni– versity. "There comes a time when it's important for things to end," he says quietly. "This is one of those times."

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