McMurry University Athletics

Elliot Park spent four years each competing for McMurry’s men’s basketball and track and field teams. As a junior, he was a second team All-TIAA selection in basketball. While he had a creditable career on the hardwood, Park made a name for himself in track and field. He twice earned honors as the top field event performer and was the track team’s MVP as a junior and senior, as well. He was also the team’s “Most Inspirational” award winner as a senior. Park was a three-time NAIA national qualifier, earning All-America accolades in both 1990 and 1991. As a senior in 1991, he earned the bronze medal in the grueling decathlon at the NAIA Championships…after taking up the decathlon just a year prior…and set personal records in nine of the 10 events! Park set a McMurry school record of 6,858 points at those NAIA Championships…a mark that still stands today. Additionally, at that same meet he set the NAIA national record for the discus in the decathlon competition. The native of Clyde, Texas, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Graphics/Painting in 1992. After graduation, Park went on to an illustrious career in graphic design, having done work for such notable clients as the American Airlines, Chili’s, Dale Ernhardt Foundation, Major League Baseball, Hasbro and Dr. Pepper. While that list of accomplishments is impressive on its own, Park decided to also pursue a career as a songwriter and owns a recording studio, having taken up playing the piano while a student at McMurry. Park’s special musical gifts came to fruition when the very first song he ever co-wrote – “I Loved Her First” – went on to become a #1 hit on both the Billboard and R&R charts in October of 2006! Since then, Aaron Watson recorded his song “The Road” and Josh Turner performed his tune “Your Smile” on Late Night With David Letterman. In 2007, he was awarded the coveted “Top Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” from the National Songwriter’s Association and is a member of the Academy of Country Music.