Limbo Parks was born in Kansas City, Missouri.  The son of two wonderful parents and people, Willard and Lula Parks.  Limbo has an older brother, Willard  Parks Jr. He graduated from Raytown South High School in 1983. While at Raytown South, Parks was a three-sport athlete including football, wrestling and track. Limbo excelled in all three sports being named an All-Conference performer in Football and Wrestling for two years of his three years at Raytown South. In 1983, Limbo was the Missouri State Class 4-A Wrestling Champion with a record of 33-0 and 32 pins. 

 

Limbo played for Coffeyville Community College during the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Out of high school, he was recruited by many Division 2 schools but had dreams of playing Division 1 football. When Coffeyville offered Parks a Scholarship he jumped at the opportunity to prove himself on the football field. The 1983 season remains a special one for Parks.  The Coffeyville Red Raven football team had only eight sophomores returning from the 1982 team with only two being  returning starters. The 1983 Red Raven football team went 11-1 and won the 1983 National Championship.  During that season the Red Ravens beat the defending 1982 National Champion, NEO Golden Norsemen, 21-20 in Miami, Oklahoma. Parks and his teammates won the 1st Jayhawk Bowl avenging the only defeat the team had by beating Dodge City 27-20.

During the 1983 season Parks won 2 Outstanding Offensive Player of the Week awards.  These awards were for the Pratt and Butler County football games.   Parks was Honorable Mention All-Conference for the season and also received the Clarke Bumgarner (Now Pete Peltzer award) Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.

 

In the 1984 season,  the team finished 10-2 and ranked 8th in the nation. Parks again was a standout in many contests and again won 2 Outstanding Offensive Player of the Week awards. These awards were for Independence and Butler County football games. After the 1984 season, Parks was awarded the Wayne Hittle award. This award was given to Parks as the sophomore lineman who demonstrated high moral character and a love and passion of football exemplified by Wayne Hittle”. Parks was also selected as the Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen in the Jayhawk Conference by the coaches in the league.  He was also named second-team All-American and played in the 2nd Jayhawk Classic bowl game.  The Red Ravens defeated Henderson County Community college 35-34 in the contest. 

 

Parks selected the University of Arkansas to continue his education and football career. He rounded out his college playing days as part of a highly successful Razorbacks squad that enjoyed two Top 20 rankings. Those teams participated in the 1985 Holiday Bowl and 1987 Orange Bowl. Individually he was selected to the 1985 UPI All-Southwest Conference first team as an offensive lineman.  Other honors included The Dallas Morning News All-Southwest Conference first team in 1986. Parks was selected to play in the Hula Bowl All-Star game in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1987. Parks moved on to the pro ranks, signing a free-agent contract to play with the San Francisco 49ers for one season.  

Parks Finished his degree at the University of Central Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies. Limbo remains single and has a daughter Savanna Newson who resides in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He continued his passion for football and working with young people by pursuing a career in education.  He began his coaching career at Raymore-Peculiar High School (Mo) as an assistant coach in both football and wrestling.   As part of the Ray-Pec staff, he won a State Championship in 2004 in football and is currently the In-School Suspension Coordinator at Lee’s Summit West High School (Mo) and the Co-Defensive Coordinator for the football program. In his 17 years at Lee’s Summit West High School, the Football program has won 3 State Championships.  Coach Parks would like to thank everyone responsible for this honor and continues to follow Coffeyville Red Raven football.   GO RED RAVENS!!!!