Longtime football coach Jimmy "Red" Parker dies at 84

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Longtime football coach Jimmy "Red" Parker dies at 84

Photographs by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK McFARLAND

Benton Harmony Grove head coach Jimmy "Red" Parker in 2013.

Story by John Moritz

Originally published January 4, 2016 at 09:30a.m., updated January 4, 2016 at 02:53p.m.

Jimmy "Red" Parker, a football coach at the high school and college levels for more than 60 years in Arkansas, died Monday morning, the superintendent of the Harmony Grove School District said.

Parker, 84, died from complications from heart disease, family members said.

In October, Parker resigned his job as head coach of Benton Harmony Grove after six seasons with the high school. His career as a college head coach included stints at Clemson and The Citadel.

Superintendent Daniel Henley said Parker had been sick and that his death "was not unexpected."

"He was a great person and we're all going to miss him," Henley said.

Visitation is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home in Benton. Parker's funeral will be 1 p.m. at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock.

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