To some, Jacob Rankin Parks III was a skilled hunter. To others, a loving father, brother and grandparent.
Within the Elon community, Parks was known as a proud Phoenix and the university's oldest living alumnus, graduating in '32.
Parks died on Jan. 19, 2015 after a period of declining health from a fall two weeks prior. He was 105 years old.
Parks was born on Dec. 9, 1909 in Asheboro, graduating from Greensboro Senior High (now Grimsley High School). He worked with the Railway Express Agency for more than 30 years and spent time outdoors fishing, hunting and traveling.
Prior to his death, Parks lived in Croasdaile Village retirement community in Durham.
Parks shared Elon with his mother, Lela Moffitt Parks, and his great nephew Jacob-Smallwood Garcia, who was also a graduate. Parks' granddaughter Elizabeth Fisher Goad, an Elon graduate of '95, said that Elon was something they both treasured and "brought an incredible amount of joy to our lives."
Parks returned to his Alma mater with Goad in October of 2013 to participate in the "Long Maroon Line" as Elon celebrated its quasquicentennial.
"I'm quite proud of Elon and the way it turned out," said Parks, while at the event. He was met with a standing ovation as he led the procession into convocation that afternoon.
Parks' legacy will live on at Elon through the Rena Cole and J. Rankin Parks '32 Endowed Scholarship, something Parks created with his wife to aid students with financial needs.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Jan. 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Few Chapel in Croasdaile Village in his honor.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the scholarship.