By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
It was like old times on Lady’s Island on Friday night, with relics from the past coming back to The Nest to honor last year’s historic Beaufort High School state championship team along with one of their own from another successful era in a storied program’s history.
“The Ghost” Ron Parker, who rose to stardom at Newberry College and eventually with the Kansas City Chiefs after an arduous journey from St. Helena Island and Beaufort High all the way to the NFL, had his No. 3 retired during a ceremony at halftime of the Eagles’ home opener
Surrounded by friends and family including his wife and children, longtime Beaufort High stalwarts coach Mark Clifford and AD Jerry Linn, and some of the “Big 8 Boys” with whom Parker made the Eagles a contender nearly two decades ago, “The Ghost” lifted a shadowbox containing his No. 3 jersey high above his head as the Beaufort faithful gave him one last well-deserved ovation and his retired number was revealed below the stadium’s scoreboard.
“It was a real cool moment for me, my family, my friends to get to enjoy that special moment with me,” Parker said “It was a dream come true. I’ve been blessed to be able to go out there and be a leader for the community and someone for guys to look up to and give them some inspiration and drive.”
Among those he has tried to inspire to follow in his footsteps is his cousin Alonzo Allen, a junior running back and linebacker at Whale Branch who was able to be on the field with Parker during the ceremony Friday due to the Warriors playing at North Charleston on Thursday.
“That’s a guy who I talk to year-round to try to help him better himself on and off the field,” Parker said. “Zo is a great kid. That’s my little soldier right there.”
Parker has inspired an army of young men and women from the Lowcountry by providing evidence that you can get to the top from here. Many have since followed him, including Whale Branch alums Dee Delaney (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Nick Pringle (Alabama Crimson Tide), and the No. 3 hanging beneath the scoreboard at his alma mater will forever inspire future generations.
