Austin Parker

Short Biography

Tuesday, 22 Mar 1938. "Austin Parker is Claimed by Death in California City." The Helena Independent (Helena, MT), v. 72, n. 353, p. 10 (online at Ancestry.com):AUSTIN PARKER IS CLAIMED BY DEATH IN CALIFORNIA CITYNOTED AUTHOR; FLYER ONCE EMPLOYED ON INDEPENDENTAustin Parker, 46, noted author and aviator who attended school here and at one time was a news writer for The Independent, died Sunday at Los Angeles, word was received by relatives and friends yesterday.He died in Good Samaritan hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage.During Mr. Parker's colorful career, he was a top-flight newshawk on New York papers, an aviator for America and France during the World war, and the husband of Hollywood's famous Miriam Hopkins.Gained DistinctionIn addition to news writing, Mr. Parker gained distinction for his short stories in the Saturday Evening Post and as a dialoguer and author of original plays.Born in Great Falls, Mr. Parker came to Helena as a small child with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Willis F. Parker. A sister, Mrs. Ted Collins, resides here now.After graduating from the Helena schools, Mr. Parker attended Detroit college and Cornell university. During summer vacations he wrote news for The Independent.When the World war broke out, Mr. Parker enlisted as an aviator in the LaFayette escadrille, where he won distinction. Towards the end of the conflict he flew in Italy as a member of the American naval aviation corps. He also flew for the French in Morocco against the Riffs, winning the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was decorated, as a result of his war experiences, with the croix de guerre, the cross of Savoy, and the American naval war cross.Besides his sister here, Mr. Parker is survived by a daughter, Jane Parker of New York city, by his first wife, who was Phyllis Duganne, the short story writer, and by a niece, Helen Collins Brock of Los Angeles, known in the moving picture industry by the state name of Elsa Christian.