John Parrish was a four-year starting pitcher for DU’s baseball team and a four-year starter at the guard and linebacker positions for the Big Red football team.  Parrish was selected as Denison’s baseball MVP, and received All-Ohio Athletic Conference recognition for his performance as a senior.  Also as a senior, John was co-captain of the football team that brought the single-wing formation back to the Denison gridiron.  While at Denison, Parrish was a member of the Biological Sciences Club, Mu Sigma and Phi Gamma Delta.

He received his master’s degree in avian biology in 1970 and his Ph.D. in reproductive physiology in 1974.  He was a member of the Department of Biology at Georgia Southern University for several years.