[2] Parks studied for his BA in political science at Berea College, Kentucky, graduating in 1937.

He worked in research and administration with the U.S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics from 1940 - 1948, and became a Lieutenant of the United States Navy during World War II.

He was Dean of Instruction at ISU from 1958 - 1961, and was named Vice President of Academic Affairs (1961 - 1965).

Parks married Ellen Sorge (1914–1999) and had two daughters: Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton).

Ellen was the first woman to receive a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.