Peggy Sue Murphy Parks was born in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, on November 12, 1927.
Parks attended the University of Arkansas in 1945 before transferring to Arkansas College in Batesville on a full scholarship. In 1957 she was recruited to teach at Prairie Grove Elementary School, where she remained until her retirement from teaching in 1988. The same year, Governor Bill Clinton appointed Parks to the Arkansas Democratic Committee where she served for ten years.
Parks was inducted into the Fayetteville High School Hall of Fame in 2003. The Parks family was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2007. In 2012, the University of Arkansas recognized Parks as a lead donor for the construction of the Epley Center for Health Professions. She has served on the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park Advisory Commission, as well as on the boards of the Washington Regional Medical Foundation, the Arts Center of the Ozarks, the Mashburn Scholarship Foundation, and the Ozark Guidance Foundation.
Parks passed away on July 17, 2017.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Peggy Murphy Parks and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Peggy Murphy Parks's paternal grandfather, Marion Murphy, who was born on October 8, 1843, and died on January 17, 1917
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy (standing), with his parents, Marion and Martha Murphy, and siblings (left to right), Clara "TZ," Nell, and Joe
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy (upper left) with his mother, Martha Murphy, and his siblings (clockwise from upper right): Nell, Clara "TZ," and Joe
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy, in his World War I uniform
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy (left), with two fellow soldiers during World War I
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Peggy Murphy (Parks) (front row, left) with her cousins: David Kelly, Natalie Murphy, and Joe Martin Murphy (far right); and her siblings: (back row, left to right) Mary Ellen Murphy, James "Jimmy" Ellis Murphy, and Jeanne Marie Murphy
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Peggy Murphy (Parks) and her younger sister, Betty Jane (right)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Peggy Murphy (Parks), ca. 1941
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Peggy Parks's brother, James "Jimmy" Ellis Murphy, in his World War II flight jacket
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Western Union telegram from Adjutant General J. A. Ulio informing the family that Peggy Murphy Parks's brother, Technical Sergeant James E. Murphy, was missing in action as of October 13, 1944, during a flight over Yugoslavia
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Donald Parks (left), future husband of Peggy Murphy, in his World War II United States Army Air Corps uniform
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Donald Parks, future husband of Peggy Murphy, in his World War II United States Army Air Corps uniform
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Peggy Murphy (Parks) and her sister, Mary (left)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Peggy Murphy (Parks), on the right, and Ada Lee Smith at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Peggy Murphy Parks (front row, 3rd from right) at church camp
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Peggy and Donald Parks on their wedding day
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Peggy and Donald Parks on their wedding day
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Peggy Murphy Parks (far left) and her parents, Eugene and Emelia Murphy (center), at "Murphy Day," Lake Wedington, Fayetteville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Peggy Murphy Parks (center, back to camera) with her parents, Eugene and Emelia Murphy, at "Murphy Day," Lake Wedington, Fayetteville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Peggy Murphy Parks's father, Eugene Murphy, honored during "Gene Murphy Day," while working at the Northwest Arkansas Times
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Peggy Murphy Parks and her son, David
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Peggy and Donald Parks (back row, left) at a family reunion with her parents, Eugene and Emelia Murphy (second couple from right), 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Peggy Parks's husband, Donald (center), and their son, David, with Senator J. William Fulbright at a Fulbright campaign event, August 1968
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Peggy Murphy Parks and her son, David
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Peggy Murphy Parks's son, David (3rd from left) with members of his high school basketball team, the Prairie Grove Tigers
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Peggy Murphy Parks and Senator Dale Bumpers
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Peggy Murphy Parks's mother, Emelia Murphy, and Bill Clinton
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Peggy Parks with her husband, Donald, and their son, David
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Peggy Murphy Parks (top left) with her fourth-grade students at Prairie Grove Elementary School; Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 1982
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Peggy Murphy Parks and Arkansas senator Morriss Henry with her fourth-grade students at Prairie Grove Elementary School; Prairie Grove, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Peggy Murphy Parks (front row, left) with her mother, Emelia Murphy, and her siblings (clockwise from left): Mary Ellen Clark, June Rooney Giles, Jeanne Marie Hicks, James "Jimmy" Ellis Murphy, and Betty Jane George
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Peggy Murphy Parks (right) with Barbara Pryor
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Peggy Murphy Parks's husband, Donald (right), campaigning with Senator David Pryor
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Peggy Murphy Parks, Arkansas Democratic State Committee delegate, 3rd Congressional District; Little Rock, Arkansas, August 1992
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#38: Peggy Murphy Parks with Governor Bill Clinton at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, Little Rock, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#39: Peggy Murphy Parks with Senator Al Gore
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#40: Peggy Murphy Parks with Senator Dale Bumpers and John Yates, a former student
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#41: Peggy and Donald Parks
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#42: Donald and Peggy Parks with Jim Guy Tucker, former Arkansas governor, July 1996
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#43: Peggy Murphy Parks with Senator David Pryor at the Arts Center of the Ozarks; Springdale, Arkansas, 1997
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#44: Peggy Parks with her husband, Donald (center), and President Bill Clinton, 1998
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#45: Peggy Murphy Parks, grand marshal of the Prairie Grove High School homecoming parade; Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 1998
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#46: Peggy Murphy Parks (3rd from right) with Chelsea Clinton, President Bill Clinton, and First Lady Hillary Clinton (center), and the Barbara Mashburn Scholarship Foundation Singers
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#47: Donald and Peggy Parks with President Bill Clinton
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#48: Donald, David, and Peggy Parks, when she was honored at the Fayetteville High School Hall of Fame banquet, 2003
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#49: Peggy Parks, honoree of the Fayetteville High School Hall of Fame banquet, 2003
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#50: Peggy and Donald Parks on their 50th wedding anniversary
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#51: Peggy Murphy Parks with G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#52: Peggy Murphy Parks and John Williams (left) with Bill Clinton
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#53: Peggy Murphy Parks and her dog
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#54: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Peggy Murphy Parks; Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#55: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Peggy Murphy Parks; Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#56: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Peggy Murphy Parks; Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
