In 1951, Yale Director of Sports Information Charles Loftus wrote in his oft quoted piece “What is a Football Player,” “Between the innocence of boyhood and the dignity of man, we find a sturdy creature called a football player. Football players come in assorted weights, heights, jersey colors and numbers, but all football players have the same creed: to play every second of every minute of every period of every game to the best of the ability.” In his efforts both on and off the field, Bob Parcells fully embodies Loftus’ ideal of a football player. Parcells was a standout athlete during an era of standout athletes at Naperville Community High School. Long before the age of specialization, he was a four-year, three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball and track. While he was also captain of the ’48-49 basketball team, a two-time “free throw trophy” winner, and varsity broad jumper for the track team, it was on the gridiron where Parcells left his most lasting mark. During the three-year span that Parcells was a member of the varsity football team, the Redskins went a remarkable 23-2-2. Under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach John “Joker” Harshbarger, the Naperville community boasted the Little Seven Conference Champions in both 1947 (8-1) & 1948 (8-0-1). For his efforts, Bob Parcells was named All-Conference as a junior and a senior, and was selected to the All-State team in 1948. Even with these accolades, Parcells’ favorite high school memory remains kicking the extra point to beat Dundee 14-13 in 1947 for the conference championship. The 1948 team, often referred to as “the greatest offensive machine in the history of Naperville football,” gave birth to a post season #1 ranking and was led by what local historians call “Naperville’s Dream Backfield.” Parcells, along with backfield mates Elry Falkenstein, Howard Eby, 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Roger Dornburg, and Paul Schweikart rolled up 302 points on their way to eight straight victories. At the end of that school year, Harshbarger would note, “Bob is probably one of the best all-around athletes we’ve ever had.” It was clear that the respect between coach and athlete was mutual, as Parcells himself would credit his success to Harshbarger’s ability to design a system to suit his players’ skills, as well as coach Orville Welzel for teaching a bunch of farm boys the fundamentals of football. For as focused as he was an athlete, Parcells’ commitment to performing to the best of his ability extended to the classroom where he excelled academically. He was one of fourteen member of his class to be inducted into the National Honor Society, and after graduating ranked 6th in his class, he was awarded an academic scholarship to Yale University where he would continue both his studies and athletic career. After guiding his freshman team to an Ivy League Championship, Parcells was a three-time letter winner on the Bulldogs football team, playing both defensive back and serving as the team’s kicker. During a college career that saw Parcells and his teammates line up against Heisman Trophy winner Dick Kazmeier of Princeton, as well as football powers Michigan, Wisconsin, Army, and Navy, Parcells might be best remembered in New Haven for another extra point that he made, this one on November 24, 1951, when Yale went 65 yards for a touchdown with 1:01 left on the clock and pulled within an extra point of bitter rival Harvard. Newspaper accounts of the game suggest that before the official had even extended his arms to indicate that the kick was good, Parcells was already flat on his back, being mobbed by his teammates. When Parcells graduated from Yale in 1953, he jokingly remembers that he received “two invitations,” one from the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football league, the other from the United States Army. Following a stint in the service from 1953-1955, Bob Parcells went to work for Standard Oil, a company he would lead in a variety of capacities for more than 34 years. Along the way, Bob would also enjoy the successes of his children: Clayton, Brad, and Lindsey. Bob Parcells must have taken Loftus’ observation to heart all those years ago. Through a quick review of his resume and press clippings, one thing becomes obvious: Bob Parcells is one of those sturdy, dignified men who not only competed to the best of his ability every second of every contest but, more importantly, has given all of himself in every life endeavor.