R. Irving Parkes, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetR. Irving Parkes
Canadian athlete
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
About R. Irving Parkes
- Robert Irving Parkes (Born July 8, 1886 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada-died September 23, 1964 in Manhattan, New York City) was a Canadian athlete.
- He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. Parkes placed third in his semifinal heat of the 800 metres, not advancing to the final.
- He was also part of the Canadian 4 x 400 metres relay which placed 3rd in their heat and did not advance to the final. In 1908, only the winners of the heats advanced to the final race.
- Parkes had the unfortunate draw to run in the second semifinal with the eventual champion and world record setter Mel Sheppard, who dominated the race.
- His personal record in the 800 metres was 1.57.1 and could have been sufficient to qualify him to the final. As a boy, he played hockey, lacrosse, basketball and tennis and track.
- He set the Canadian record for the 880 and this record stood for 36 years.
- In later years Parkes became a golfer and enjoyed fishing.
- Parkes worked as art director for an advertising agency, McCann Erickson, in NYC.
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