Jimmy Parker has more titles than the Library of Congress. 

He came by it honestly. His parents Ward and Marceina and his younger brother Larry were all elite players and eventual St. Louis Tennis Hall of Famers. He had every advantage. He just didn't want anyone to know it. 

"I didn't want people saying, 'Are you going to be as good as your mom?' " he once told the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

In 1958, he won the National 15 Jaycees Championship, in singles, and doubles with Chuck McKinley. He was awarded the James Bishop Award for outstanding member of the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team. 

He competed at Wimbledon and Forest Hills, earned first-team All-American honors at Rice University, and in 1960 and 1962 won the USTA National Father/Son Championship with his father Ward. 

In 1968, at the inaugural US Open, he faced Ken Rosewall in the first match ever played on Center Court, and lost in straight sets. Parker famously nicknamed himself "the first loser of the Open Era." He even came in first at losing. 

One month later, he was drafted. 

He spent the next five years flying C-130s for the Air Force. While he was flying planes, tennis was taking off. When he came home, he went back to his alma mater. He coached the Rice Owls men's tennis team to winning seasons before joining the Houston Racquet Club in 1976 as head pro. That same year he won his first pro title, the USPTA National Championship. The club wrote a clause into his contract giving him time off to compete. It was a win-win for everyone. Over the next thirty years he became director of tennis, achieved USPTA Master Professional status, and was named national Coach of the Year. He also won about 100 Gold Balls. 

He represented the United States in the Italia Cup and Dubler Cup, winning two world team championships. On the ITF World Senior Rankings, he reached No. 1 five times. In 2003 he won a Gold Slam — national titles on all four surfaces in a single year: hard, clay, indoor and grass. During the 2000s he became the youngest male player in American history to win 100 USTA Gold Balls. 

After more than thirty years in Houston, he relocated to Santa Fe, joined the instructional staff at the Santa Fe Tennis and Swim Club, and co-founded the National Senior Men's Tennis Association. 

Just like his father did with him, Jimmy partnered with his son Chris and did what the Parkers do. Win. They've won 16 Gold Balls together. 

162 Gold Balls. 32 ITF World Championships. 11 USPTA titles. 

In 2025, at age 82, Parker won the doubles title at the Men's 85-and-over World Championships in Bol, Croatia. 

By the time you finish reading this, Jimmy has probably won one more. 

(1993)