In Honor of Charlie "Sniper" Parks

This past Saturday, March 5th, the wrestling world lost a great person. Charlie "Sniper" Parks was a valuable member of the wrestling family. He always had a way of making everyone feel like family. Charlie was one of the most dedicated/succesful promoters in the area. IWA is proof of that. IWA has been a big success & always a blast to attend. 

Everytime I saw Charlie, he always had a big smile on his face and always so full of life. Charlie and his entire family have always been so kind. Charlie was an inspiration to many in the area. He will be deeply miss, but Charlie's legacy will always remain.

Everyone here at the WrestlingNewsCenter.com would like to send our thoughts and prayers to Malik and the rest of the Parks family.

Charlie Parks was well respected by his family and friends. Here are some tributes to Charlie from his fellow workers.

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Psycho

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Normally I'm one of those people that takes death as a part of life. You can't live without dying. I also am a firm believer in not glorifying someone in death for the sake of death,for example if I don't like you or I think your a bad person I may pay my respects but I'm not gonna talk about how great and wonderful you were when in fact you were the exact opposite.
With that being said, I once heard if you have nothing nice to say it's best to say nothing at all. In the case of Charlie Parks... I will have no problem finding things to say.

When I first met Charlie at a show for Lamarrus I had no idea what to expect.I had heard of Charlie but this was my first meeting. I had several horror stories from the boys and such but I'll give anyone a fair chance. Needless to say my first impression wasn't the best because I had done my best to work with him and in return he pretty much no sold me and treated me with a little less than respect than I had shown him in the ring. So at that point I wasn't a big fan of Charlie.

My second encounter with Charlie was a 4 corner tag match involving asylum and bar none and two other teams. This time Charlie worked alot better with me than before but was a lil bit rougher towards Pappy as he had been with me before. That's when I realized Charlie wasn't a bad guy he was alot like me in the effect that he had been in the business for alot longer than me and to get respect from Charlie you had to earn it. I've have been guilty of the same thing myself from time to time. Needless to say I walked away that day liking Charlie Parks alot better.

IWA started running shows at stateline rd and we weren't even on the card but got booked as a favor to Lamarrus. That was when I crossed paths with Charlie again but this time was different than ever before.

Over the course of more than a year and a half I stepped in the ring against Charlie,beside Charlie and for Charlie (as I'm sure some will understand the meaning of that), Charlie Parks may not have been a saint but as far as I go, Charlie earned total respect from me and in turn I like to think the feeling was mutual. As a promoter, he was the best I have ever worked for. If he said he was going to do something,believe it because he made at least 96% of everything he said happen. I don't know too many promoters that have really done that. Also as a promoter he put his heart into his show and the people in it. He truly made us apart of his family.

As a wrestler, Charlie wasn't the most technical wrestler but dammit he was tough as hell and had so much heart. He was old school and if he didn't believe it how could the people and that is a belief I firmly share.it was a great honor to work against and alongside you Sniper.

And finally....as a friend. There are several people I have met in this business that I consider family but there is a select few that truly are my friend and family. I am proud to count Charlie Parks as one of my best friends in this business and I am gonna miss him more than anyone may ever know. I'm saddened to know I'll never be able to pick up the phone and call just to hear "ello?" or pick up the phone and hear "hello mr Psycho, how are u today?" but the thing i'm gonna miss most is my friend laughin his laugh followed by "Psycho you are crazy" I really wished we could have had the chance to go see that 3D movie with just one time like we planned my brother.

This became alot longer than I intended so I'll end it with...Charlie Parks, I love you brother and will miss you everyday...there will NEVER be another like you and you had better be saving me a spot for when I get there....RIP SNIPER

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Reno Diamond

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11 yrs ago my life change and my dream became true of becoming a professional wrestler and never looked back or regret of becoming a wrestler but I couldn't do it from the help of my father and wrestling trainer/mentor Charlie The Sniper Parks he will be greatly missed and always Loved. 

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Syn 

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Charlie was arguably the wisest man in the business! IWA wouldn't have the success if it wasn’t
for him doing what he can to make the show. Every time I bled, even if it was accidently, or the time Deadly Dale threw me out of the ring and I landed on the announce table, he always smiled and said it was good for the business! I remember all the stories he told when he first broke into the business when I was helping him set up for the fair shows. Much respect was earned! Charlie, you are going to be missed dearly. You taught me so much about the business for the time I've known you. I love u brother and will miss you!

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Rodney Howard

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In just about every wrestling organization in this area Charlie Parks has had an influence. When I think of seeing him on channel 5 and 30 or his trainees such as Precious, Chris Lexx on Saturday morning wrestling, to seeing Malik out at the Res Apple, and having Carnage Antwane, Dre Black and Reno Diamond work for me in the SCWA and TIWF, Charlie's influence was there .

He was from the old school, a rough and tumble guy who truly loved the business. He always wanted it to be tough. I met Charlie through the guys that he trained..It seemed that those guys were extremely loyal to Charlie..Regardless where they were booked when Charlie had a show it was a priority..the first Charlie Parks show that I went to was many years ago at the Armory in Memphis I remember he and V-Man had violent match that nearly scared me out of my boots back in the day.

The wrestling community has lost a jewel in. Harlow Parks but his spirit will love on with all of the people that followed under him.

Charlie Parks may you rest with the angels.

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Pappy

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When I had heard that Charlie had passed, I couldn't believe it. I had just lost a close personal friend. I had allot of respect for Charlie because he never was afraid to speak his mind. he believed in the IWA product and the workers that was on it. Because of his strong faith in everyone it made everyone work harder and we all believed in it too. He made sure that we just wasn't a bunch of guys putting on a good show but that we all were family. If you ever needed to talk with him about business or personal issues his door was always opened. I can remember that we asked Charlie once if he minded that we took other bookings, he replied " no, because wherever we go. we represented the IWA brand and he was proud to call us his boys". a few months had passed and he called not just for a booking but wanted to know when were me returning home to IWA. that always meant alot to me. There will never be a promoter, booker, wrestler, and friend like Charlie. He will be missed dearly. R.I.P CHARLIE "SNIPER" PARKS and thank you for everything you had taught me.

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Suicide

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Charlie Parks was a humble, wise, noble man, that anyone could turn to when you needed a helping hand. He was always cracking jokes in the back with the ''boys'' and always seem to had a good time even when he was extremely busy. I remember the time he had forgotten to make a save for a match and he didn't have the time to put on his wrestling gear and he had ran in his maintenance uniform whooping ass in the ring. It was one my memorable moments of Charlie. The last time i ever spoke with Charlie I got know him as a friend, as the man who honestly cared what was bothering you. I left his office knowing i just made a best friend that i always could come to. I will always remember Charlie ''Sniper'' Parks in his maintenance uniform saying,''How are you, my friend?'' and his meetings where some of his words he pronounce sounded funny. You will be truly missed and never forgotten, i am truly blessed, honored, and privileged to ever gotten to the chance to know you. God bless you Charlie ''Sniper'' Parks

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Jai and Katie Webster

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Charlie was one to believe in what he had and all he asked us to do was to believe with him because once we believed in the product we were putting out we would excel and succeed one of the few workers /promoters that I think believed in me and knew that I was a good worker no one but the IWA guys will understand but no more under armor. A great person and someone who no matter how bad of a day I had would still make me laugh and smile. We will miss you our friend.

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Jimmy Blaylock
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I really enjoyed working at IWA for Charlie Parks. His family was nice to me and when I was there announcing for the IWA show I had fun and that’s what’s it all about. Charlie will be missed and I’m glad I got to know him and he will be missed by all. I will keep his family in my prayers and they go through this difficult time. But I know if there’s wrestling in Heaven he will be involved some way. 

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"The Chosen One' Antwane Wise

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Thanks for being a father to those who didnt have one, a couselor to those who needed guidance and a comedian for those who really needed a laugh!

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Jason the Brain

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I started at IWA in December of 2009 and I have to admit I didn't know what to expect but Mr Charlie and his whole family were nothing but kind to me! He was very serious about his show and always wanted to please the fans! Not one time can I remember him making the show about him in any way. I didn't have the privilege of knowing Mr. Charlie as long as his boys in the back and for that I am sad but I will always remember how much work he put into his company and how much he wanted our goal to be putting on the best show we can for the fans and that is something I will carry with me as long as I am in this business! Saturday night the mid-south wrestling community lost a great promoter, wrestler and friend but heaven gained one heck of a angel! If I could say one last thing to Mr. Charlie it be Thank you!!! I'm sure Kevin will carry on his legacy and do a great job at too! R I P Charlie “Sniper" Parks.

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Jason Hall

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Mr. Parks (or Mr. p as i like to call him) was not only a person that i admired but was a person that i considered to be my wrestling mentor. I loved calling his matches at the same time i loved listening to him teach us how to make our product better! I wish i had more time to learn more from him but i am grateful for what he has shown me. We might have lost a father, a friend, a mentor, a legend in this business but his memories will live on in all of us! Thank you Mr parks

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Stephanie Siggars
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He has taught all of us, even those of us who didn't wrestle in the ring, to fight for what we love and believe in and the world was a better place for having him in it. I know that it hurts for all of us now, but we all know that this isn't the end. We WILL see him again. Staying strong seems so hard right now, but it is what he would have wanted all of us to do. Being part of the IWA family will always be one of the best experiences of my life . THANK YOU MR. PARKS!!!!! MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.
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Precious
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BLOOD, SWEAT, And TEARS

When I met this man back in the summer of '99, he was supposed to teach me how to wrestle. So he walks up with this big grin on his face with a lond sleeve button down shirt, grey khakis, and pink boots on in the middle of the summer. So I lean over and ask Cymba and my brother Joe, "now what can this man teach us"? Little did I know then that he would actually teach me about not only how to wrestle, but many, many life lessons.
So in instructing all of us, he gave his Blood, Sweat, and Tears. But not just for wrestling. He gave us the best of himself....Life Lessons that will be with each of us forever. This was one booking he had to take. No one could stand in his way.

Love,
Martin
Rest In Peace My Best Good Friend, Mentor, Father, Brother

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As you can tell from all the comments and stories, Charlie was well respected and loved by many. He will always remain in our hearts.