‘The world needs more Jacks’: Family of Paducah firefighter, TTU student who passed away remember his legacy

LUBBOCK, Texas — When 21-year-old Jack Parks’ family talks about him, they always come back to one truth: he had a giving heart. This is one thing the family is holding onto after losing Jack in a car crash on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Jack had traveled to Odessa for the day as part of his first recruiting trip for Agri-Techsans, when the car he was in crashed into a trailer stopped on State Highway 349 in Martin County. Both Jack and another person in the car with him, Shelby Carroll, died from the crash.

“It felt like somebody stepped on me. And I hated that feeling,” Jori Parks, Jack’s mother said about finding out the news that her son passed away.

However, Jori and Jack’s entire family knows Jack left a legacy of kindness, and hope others can remember it.

“Every time he was around, he made me feel like somebody,” Ron Parks, Jack’s father said. “I think that’s the way he made everybody feel.”

A student at Texas Tech University and a member of the Paducah Volunteer Fire Department, Jack’s dream was to be a Texas DPS trooper after graduation. Members of each of these parts of his life came out of the woodworks to honor Jack’s life at a service Monday , resulting in hundreds of stories about how Jack impacted their lives, according to Jori.

“Somebody hugged me, and they said, “The world needs more Jacks and … they’re right. They do need more Jacks,” Jori said.

Jack’s brother, Jett, said he was looking forward to Homecoming this week because he was nominated for Homecoming court and Jack was planning to attend.

“He was supposed to come be in the bleachers, watch me walk the field,” Jett said.

However, the Jett, as well as the entire Parks family knows Jack will always be in their hearts, and want to continue carrying on his giving heart, which is why they invited everyone to come to an upcoming Sleep in Heavenly Peace build in October. Jack was heavily involved in the organization that helps build beds for kids and the build will be in honor of him.

“He would want us to carry on and pick up and go on and we’ll find a way to do that,” Jori said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.