Blue Wahoos Beloved Greeter Josh Parr Impacted Everyone He Met 

The greeting Josh Parr delivered when people reached the concourse at Blue Wahoos Stadium was always the same, always bolstered by genuine enthusiasm and a resounding voice.

“Hi, Welcome to the Wahoos Life!”

Parr would say this, unfailingly, once the gates opened and fans entered the ballpark for home games. As he moved about in his wheelchair, Parr knew strangers like best friends.

He loved his job, his role. And the job loved him.

“He was a Blue Wahoos representative to the core of his being,” said Blue Wahoos vice president Donna Kirby, who first met Parr in 2019 when he was a senior at Tate High and going through mock interviews as part of a course on learning how to get a job.

“He was all in it to win it,” said Kirby, a Blue Wahoos front office executive since the team’s inaugural 2012 season. “He was always in a good mood, always greeting fans exactly how we like it -- with enthusiasm and sincerity.”

In 2021, Parr made his debut, following the cancelled season in 2020 due to the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic. Parr joined with charter Blue Wahoos, part-time employee Travis Presley, known as TJ and also special in maneuvering in a wheelchair and connecting with everyone as a greeter.

“Just an amazing tandem,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, the Blue Wahoos facilities coordinator since the 2022 season. “They were always right there as fans came up (main entrance) stairs.”

Sadly, a void now exists.

Parr, 21, born with cerebral palsy and raised by his grandmother, suddenly passed away earlier this month before the Blue Wahoos began their past home series against the Biloxi Shuckers.

He was dressed in his Blue Wahoos jersey and ready to work that night when his grandmother, Debbie, found him unresponsive.

A memorial service was held August 8 at First Baptist Church of Cantonment. An overflow gathering at the service heard tributes to Josh’s life. People stood in the back of the church to be part of the service.

On the church altar was Parr’s wheelchair, his Blue Wahoos gameday shirt, and the leg braces that he had custom-made by wrapping the braces with a Hawaiian print design Blue Wahoos shirt.

“I learned then he loved faith, food and the Blue Wahoos,” Fitzpatrick said, remembering the eulogy. “Those were his three main loves. The pastor (Dr. Will Stone) said he has never seen someone who passed away touching so many generations of people like Josh did.

“It was a very nice service and tribute…. something where you could feel the love in their air.”

Parr usually worked three to four games during each Blue Wahoos homestand. Along with Travis Presley, they endured this summer’s record heat at the ballpark to make sure each fan felt welcomed when they arrived.

“What was so telling is how many times I saw fans getting pictures taking with Josh. He charmed them,” Kirby said. “When I first met Josh at the mock interviews, I was immediately blown away by his good nature. Just a nice, nice person.

“He told me about his work with the Salvation Army he had done. And then he said, ‘You know, I have always wanted to work for the Blue Wahoos.” I told him we were having an upcoming job fair and he should come interview. So, he went through the steps and he got the job and he was thrilled.”

Parr lost his mother at an early age. He didn’t have a father in his life. He went through school in a wheelchair, unable to enjoy many of the activities his peers did.

“There was just something magnetic about him,” Fitzpatrick said. “Looking at this kid, I first felt like he got dealt a bad hand with cerebral palsy, his mom, all that. But when you got to know him, you knew this guy was dealt a royal flush. Because he knew how to use it.

“Sometimes I go up and down those steps 50 times in a game. He greeted me the same way whether it was the first time or the 50^th time. I would always fist bump, or touch his shoulder, and ask how he was doing, He would always say, ‘Ah, good Mr. Fitz, how are you doing? He was really worried about how somebody else was doing.

“The impact he had on me was incredible. Just a joy to be around.”