GREEN BAY (NBC26) — After serving in the U.S. Air Force for the last 31 years, Bob Parker has been a loyal packers fan no matter where he is in the world.
“It can be the best of times and the worst of times," said Parker.
Parker stayed up late and woke up early to watch the team play while he was overseas. His heart has always been in Green Bay, and now, he finally gets to call it home.
Every year since `1998, the Packers induct one devout and longtime fan into the FAN Hall of Fame. Parker, one of the top ten finalists this year, was nominated by his wife.
“I’m retiring from the military," said Parker. "I’m on terminal leave right now, so the first of February I’ll be a no-kidding civilian, and she just thought that would be a great way to transition me out from bouncing all over the world to having Green Bay as as our home.”
As a young enlisted troop in Hawaii, he served on the color guard during the Pro Bowl in 1997.
“I saw Brett Favre," Parker recalled. "I got to actually wave to him, and he waved back. We were in the tunnel, I was doing the color guard, and as he was walking by for practice one day, I hollered out, 'Hey that’s Brett Favre! Hey Mr. Favre!’ And he turned and waved back at me and said, southern drawl kind of, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’”
Years later, he witnessed another one of the former quarterback’s unforgettable moments.
“I was there for Brett Favre’s last pass as a professional athlete, and unfortunately it was an interception," said Parker. "So it was just a horrible gut-wrenching experience.”
Parker is determined to become the fan hall of fame winner, posting on Facebook to share memorable moments and get the word out.
"It’s really exciting," he said. "I'm having a lot of fun putting the stories out on Facebook and trying to generate the votes."
He’s gathered support from people in every state in the U.S., and even more than a dozen countries around the world.
“Some of the things that they’re saying about me, it makes you reflect a little bit on the impact that you’ve made on people’s lives," Parker said. "If half of what they’re saying is true, I’m really humbled and grateful that they’re saying it.”
You can read all of the finalists' stories and cast your vote here. All votes must be submitted before January 31st.
