SAN ANGELO, Texas — Fess Parker left his mark in San Angelo. In my youth my grand father would tell me stories of running with the likes of Fess Parker and his brother.

Parker, who sparked a wave of popularity for coonskin caps, starred in Disney’s “Davy Crockett” in 1954 and 1955.

He wrote his name in the concrete foundation where a garage used to stand at 417 N. Jackson St.

The house, recently renovated and for sale, was the home of his friend E.W. Whisenand Jr.when both were in the second grade at Stephen F. Austin Elementary School, according to a 1986 story in the Standard-Times.

Parker — TV and movie star, winemaker and real estate developer — died Thursday at age 85 of natural causes. He had moved to California from Texas in 1950 to pursue an acting career, but he never forgot San Angelo, the city where he grew up.

He answered many calls to help.

Parker — TV and movie star, winemaker and real estate developer — died Thursday at age 85 of natural causes. He had moved to California from Texas in 1950 to pursue an acting career, but he never forgot San Angelo, the city where he grew up.

“We invited him here two or three times to participate in a Fort Concho project called Coming Home, which was well-known to people who grew up here and returned for that special celebration,” former fort employee Tilly Chandler said Friday. “And he came.”

She remembers he came early for one of the Coming Home events, which took place in the 1980s.

“He came a couple of days early and I met with him. He was just very approachable, easy to talk to, not impressed with himself at all, kind of humble,” she said.

Chandler said that on one occasion he came to a fundraiser auction at the fort’s stables, donating a case of wine from his vineyards.

On another occasion, she said, he was in town and went out to lunch with her.

“He called and wanted to know how the fort was doing and what new projects we had and an update on the fine arts museum, which at that time was in the Quartermaster Building at the fort before it moved to the river,” Chandler said.

When in town, he often visited friends and former teachers and classmates from San Angelo High School, which is now Central High School. He played football for the Bobcats in 1941 and 1942, records show.

Read Full Story at San Angelo Standard Times

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