John Parks, whose baritone voice had been a mainstay on Gainesville radio for two decades, died Wednesday. He was 61.

Parks, a Gainesville native, held a number of programming and news positions for WDUN, WGGA and WMJE-FM during a 14-year span.

"He was the best radio guy I've ever known in my life," said Joel Williams, general manager of WDUN. "He could do it all. He could do news, sports play-by-play and engineer and produce programs."

Parks held an overnight news position for much of his tenure with the stations.

Parks was born in Hall County to the late Perry and Martha Harmon Parks. He was a 1964 graduate of Gainesville High School and a 1968 graduate of the University of Georgia.

After graduation, he lived in Athens and worked at WGAU-AM, WDOL and in public relations for the University of Georgia.

He returned to Gainesville, where he held a management post at WLBA-AM, then a country music station, before joining WDUN.

Parks was the recipient of numerous awards for his work from the Associated Press.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn T. Parks; a son, Brendon Parks of Loganville; a daughter, Meredith Westbrook of Flowery Branch; a brother, Perry Parks Jr. of Silver City, N.M.; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services are set for 3 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Little-Davenport Funeral Home.