Alec Parker

Born and raised in the mountains of Aspen, Colorado, Alec Parker was destined to become an elite athlete. At 6 foot 6 inches tall and 245 pounds, the mountain of a man became one of the greatest Eagle locks earning 57 caps and playing in three Rugby World Cups. A dedicated and loyal player to his home club and the USA Eagles, Alec gave up a professional rugby career abroad and kept true to his home pitch for 28 years. He stands among the last generation of true American amateur players. Every other “Silver Eagle,” those with fifty or more caps, played professionally abroad.

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Alec did not begin to play rugby until summer break from Colorado’s Mesa State College, where he was a tight end on the school’s football team. Players from the Gentlemen of Aspen convinced him that playing rugby over the summer would be a great way to stay in shape for football. So, that summer of 1995, Alec was introduced to the sport. Once offered this great opportunity, he had made the decision to fully pursue a career playing rugby. The natural-born second row was a fast learner and quickly became one of the best locks in the country, making the first XV on the 1995-96 Western Territorial Mustangs and becoming a first-time Eagle against Hong Kong in 1996 at 22 years-old.

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He joined the perennial champion Gentlemen of Aspen and assisted the Gents in winning seven national club/Super League championships and numerous Aspen Ruggerfest titles over three decades. Alec always worked hard year-round on his conditioning and toughness. Eagles player, coach and manager, Dave Hodges recalls, “Not only did he work outside on a hay farm at 8000 feet year-round, but he also put in time to train in the gym and on the pitch, so that he was always at the peak of fitness.” Alec could play both sides at lock and his agility and speed even saw him at blindside flanker in three World Cup matches.

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Dan Lyle, USA Eagle and current director of AEG Rugby, describes Alec, “A player is either aggressive, athletic, competitive or position specific. Alec, however, was all four and thus was able to show his prowess against seven of the 10 major Tier 1 teams in his career, besting some of the best locks in the world. There was no need to motivate or drive AP as his pride of playing for the Eagles was on display with every performance.” 

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Alec’s Eagles career spanned from 1996 to his last test against Uruguay in 2009. He just got better over the 14 years of international rugby that included playing in three Rugby World Cups (1999, 2003, 2007), starting in all but one of those RWC test matches. HOF Eagles player and coach, Tom Billups, cites one of Alec’s final international plays that is a fitting exclamation mark on his stellar career. “In his final WC test against eventual 2007 champions, South Africa, it was Parker’s assist that sprung Takudzwa Ngwenya’s famous length-of-the-field try running past the ‘World’s Fastest Rugby Player,’ Bryan Habana.” Billups summarizes, “Alec’s contribution to rugby in America is self-evident. He was and remains all that is good and right about our national team players.”

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Alec lives in Basalt, Colorado with his wife Mindy where he owns a truck and trailer repair business and partners in a cattle company. He and his wife annually help with the annual Aspen Ruggerfest Tournament, and they, along with their son, Bailey, are heavily involved as volunteers for the Disabled American Veterans. They annually host disabled veterans to participate in alternate activities of fishing, archery, and cycling. He is extremely dedicated and proud to help the veterans. His truck’s license plate says it all, “THKAVET!”

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