Corky Parrott

Lt. Col. Eugene H. (Corky) Parrott (USAF-Ret.) of Signal Mountain, passed away quietly on April 5, 2020, at the age of 91. He was born on June 19, 1928, in Soddy, Tennessee, the oldest son of James T. and Beulah Parrott.
Corky graduated from Soddy-Daisy High School in 1946. During his high school days he was active in many clubs and activities. He was an outstanding basketball, baseball and football player. He was co-captain of the 1946 Soddy-Daisy H.S. basketball team that advanced to the state finals (East Tennessee Regional Tournament). In 2018, he was inducted into the Soddy-Daisy Hall of Fame as a three letter athlete for his superior accomplishments representing early Hamilton County Department of Education. In 1948 he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet program. Upon successful completion of flight training he was offered a commission as a second lieutenant. Subsequently, he went on to advanced fighter pilot training and became one of the first pilots to be trained in jet aircraft. When the Korean War broke out in 1950 he volunteered for combat duty and was sent overseas. He successfully performed 104 combat missions as a F-80C jet fighter pilot and upon completion of his tour of duty he was promoted to first lieutenant and sent to Westover AFB (in Massachusetts) for advanced fighter training. It was while he was stationed at Westover AFB that he met and would later marry Mary Ella Jones, who was very active in local veteran service organizations, in Massachusetts. On December 7, 1953, (having fulfilled his active duty obligation) Lt. Parrott was released from active duty. Subsequently, he and his new bride removed to Chattanooga where he accepted a position as a senior salesman with the Signal Mountain Portland Cement Company. However, motivated by his passion for flying, soon thereafter, he was accepted as a member of the Georgia Air National Guard (stationed at Dobbins AFB) and continued his service in defense of America.
It should be noted, on Sunday, September 21, 1958, during a training exercise, over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Georgia, his aircraft suffered an in-flight incident that required him to eject form his aircraft. Which, qualified him to become a member of the “Caterpillar Club” (reserved for those active duty military personnel who had to parachute from a disable aircraft). Corky continued his service with the Georgia Air National Guard until 1966 when he accepted a position with the Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle, Washington, as an instructor and production test pilot (for 727 and 737 airplanes). In 1968 (still as an instructor pilot for Boeing) he was offered a Captain’s position with Trans-International Airlines (later to become Trans-American Airlines), he accepted, and the family moved to California. He would serve with this airlines for over 20 years and retire in 1988. It should be noted, Corky was qualified (in civilian aircraft) - 707, 727, 737, 747 & DC-10, and various military aircraft. He had over 20,000 hours of flight time and the majority of his pilotage was over-seas (he had been everywhere in the world – twice !!). Additionally, all during this time, he continued to serve as a member of the USAF Reserves (at McChord AFB and Hamilton AFB), accumulating over 20 years of service. As a member of the US Air Force, he qualified for (but not limited to) the following awards: Air Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, etc.).Upon retirement, he and his wife retired to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the ancestral home of his wife. She passed away in 2002 and he remained there until 2006, when he returned to Tennessee (his ancestral home). Corky made his home on Signal Mountain (where he had, previously, lived with his family in the 1950s & 1960s) until moving into Morning Pointe Assisted Living in 2019. A very special thanks to the staff at Morning Pointe Assisted Living, Hearth Hospice and Heavenly Home Care of East Tennessee (especially Minnie) for there assistance. Corky was preceded in death by his Father, Mother and wife (Mary Ella). He is survived by three sons, Gary (Lori), Grand Junction, Colorado, Michael (Stephanie) and Eugene (Pete), Jr., Soddy Daisy. Additionally, he is survived by a sister, Betty Minnis, Knoxville, Tennessee and two brothers Paul (Suzanne), Soddy Daisy and Sidney (Vivian), Hixson, Tennessee. And, he is survived by three grandchildren : Lane Mitchell, Lera Leigh and Christopher M.; and several nieces and nephews. Interment will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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