Graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1978 and started my career as a Military Police Physical Security Specialist until June of 1981 when I retrained to become a Human Resources Assistant Supervisor with the United States Army. I served for 23 years from July 11, 1978 to September 30, 2001 and retired on October 1, 2001 with the highest award that a solder can received during peace time, the Meritorious Service Medal, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster. Much of my time was spent in Europe, mostly in Germany from Flensburg, Germany on the Denmark border to Stuttgart, Germany near the French border. Most of my service was with the First Personnel Command outside the city of Heidelberg, Germany where I served four years. My other assignments include, Fort Stewart, Georgia, Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, IX Army, Hawaii, Army Reserve Pacific Liaison Unit, Guam, United States Army Reserve Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment, Fort Knox, Kentucky where I retired.
I received a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Leo University with a Major in Human Resource Administration graduating Cum Laude with a 3.7 GPA. I was employed with the United States Department of Agriculture as a Veterinary Program Support Assistant for almost eight years with assignments in Conyers, Georgia and West Lafayette, Indiana receiving a number of awards for my hard work with maintaining 1 $200,000.00 budget for the National Poultry Improvement Plan, monitoring poultry disease outbreaks across the Nation. I am presently employed with the Kentucky Cabinet of Health and Family Services, Community Based Services, as a Administration Specialist II.
I am married with three sons that are men now, Jamal -35, Gregory – 22, and Timothy – 21, and six grandchildren. My beautiful wife, Melinda, and I have moved from the busy city of Atlanta to settle in the Middletown area of Louisville, Kentucky, for now.
I enjoy long walks, Jazz, and the performing arts.
This is only a small piece of my life and there is more to come because I am still living, learning, and looking for new experiences. I am blessed to be able to retire anytime when I am ready, but there is much more work to do.
A special thanks to my Special High Teachers, the Late Mr. Turner, the Late Mrs. Mary Arnold, and Mr. Eddy, who opened my eyes to all possibilities and to love and understand everyone regardless of their race, color, sexual orientation, or religion beliefs, because we are all connected in one way or another, plus God has many faces, names, and not held by any boundaries.

Harold Parks III, AKA, Tracy or Tray
Staff Sergeant, United States Army
Retired