WDUN broadcaster John Parks dies at 61

GAINESVILLE - Veteran broadcaster John Parks died Wednesday in his Gainesville home.

Over the span of his 30-plus year career, John Parks owned an ad agency, wrote for magazines and worked at several radio stations in Gainesville, Athens and Atlanta.

He spent the last 14 years of his career with Jacobs Media Corp., parent company of WDUN NEWS TALK 550, SPORTS RADIO 1240 THE TICKET, MAJIC 1029, and AccessNorthGa.com. During most of his tenure with Jacobs Media, he served as Overnight Editor, but recently had worked an afternoon-early evening news shift. But, aside from his work in the news department, he was one of the few members of the staff who could be called on to troubleshoot almost any problem that arose.

Parks was a noted high school sports play-by-play man and held a Masters Degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia. Parks was 61 years old and his sudden death was attributed to natural causes.

During his career, Parks had won several awards from the Associated Press Broadcasters Association.

He worked his last shift New Year's Day morning.

Funeral services for Parks will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Little Davenport Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Alta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.