Lamar University Athletics

The last male athlete at Lamar University to letter in three sports in one academic year, Wes Parma accomplished the feat twice, in 1952-53 and 1953-54.

As a student-athlete during Lamar’s first years as a senior college, Parma lettered in baseball, football and track and field.

Parma earned three baseball letters and collected two All-Lone Star Conference baseball decorations as a hard-hitting outfielder in 1953 and 1954. In 1953, he batted .318 and tied a school record with four hits in one game. He ran the short dashes and on relay teams in track.

In football, the product of St. Anthony’s High School in Beaumont lettered four years as a running back, pass receiver, defensive back and kick returner. He was a second-team all-conference running back in 1953. West Parma was an all-around athlete, a rarity in modern day intercollegiate athletics.