November 6, 2007

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--The University of West Alabama inducted the 2007 Class of the UWA Athletic Hall of Fame at Homecoming. Danny Parker, a former baseball star, and Jackie O’Neal, a former football standout, had their names inscribed into UWA athletic history when they joined 50 other UWA Hall-of-Fame members displayed in the James P. Homer Field House. Their official induction ceremony took place at the UWA National Alumni Association meeting on November 3, and they were recognized as honorary game captains for the Homecoming contest.

Parker, a native of East Brewton, Ala., was a star pitcher for the Tigers from 1970-72. He had a 24-6 record and still holds the school record for career strikeouts, 247, career earned run average, 1.72, strikeouts in a season, 101, and is tied for the most wins in a season with 11 in 1970.

He hurled a perfect game against Alabama State on April 6, 1972, and retired 33 consecutive batters during that season. He was named All-Alabama Collegiate Conference and All-NAIA District 27.

Parker helped guide the Tigers to the NAIA World Series in 1970, where they finished third in the nation. He also helped the team to playoff berths in 1971 and 1972. He was 11-4 with a 1.82 ERA in 1970, 5-1 with a 2.18 ERA in 1971, and 8-1 with a 1.37 ERA in 1972.

He is retired from teaching and coaching at W.S. Neal High School, his alma mater, in East Brewton.

O’Neal, a native of Reeltown, Ala., is the fourth leading rusher in UWA history with 1,873 yards from 1973-76. A devastating blocker in the Tigers’ wishbone attack, O’Neal also scored 18 touchdowns in his career and still owns the record for the longest touchdown reception, 94 yards against Southeastern Louisiana in 1974. He helped guide UWA to a third place finish in the nation in 1975.

He has had an outstanding coaching career at Reeltown, owning a 156-81 record over 18 seasons with one state championship and three runner-up trophies. He was an assistant coach at Reeltown for ten seasons prior to taking over as head coach. He has made the state playoffs 17 times and was the Coach of the Year in 1991, 1992, 2000, and 2001. He was also an assistant coach on Reeltown’s 1987 state championship team.

O’Neal was honored by his peers recently when he was selected to be the Head Coach of the Alabama team in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game in Mobile in December.