Good Samaritan

(Editor’s note: A Good Samaritan story would be a fine way to start the new year. The late Donald Parker of Atlanta, who died just this past week at age 78, had one. It appeared in the Jan. 9, 2019, edition of the Cass County Life newspaper. Here it is as a reminder of what makes a good year.)

On a hot July afternoon a number of years ago, Donald Parker and his father Floyd Parker Jr. were returning from a trip to Canton. In the back of their truck were live birds and animals they’d purchased, destined for Floyd Parker’s Wildlife Park at the end of Green Farm Road and the edge of Lake Wright Patman. Donald was driving.

At about Tommie’s Barbecue on U.S. Highway 59 just west of Atlanta, the truck broke down. Donald pulled over. He didn’t know what to do because he had limited mechanical knowledge, no cell phone and automobiles were whizzing by on the highway.

“It was 98 degrees plus, and my 85-year-old father began having what seemed to be a heat stroke in the front seat,” Parker said.

There was little likelihood he could flag down a motorist. Parker said he began to be shaky and scared.

“I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t go.”

All of a sudden a truck pulled up beside them.

“Need help?” the man inside wanted to know.

‘Yes, my truck’s down, and my dad’s in trouble.”

Almost without speaking, the man said, “I’ll be right back.’

In a few minutes, the man came back with a flatbed trailer. First, he put both Donald Parker and his father Floyd Parker Jr. in his truck’s front seat, turning on the air-conditioning blower.

Then, the man went to the rear, got out a chain, attached it to the broken- down vehicle and winched the vehicle forward upon the trailer bed. Then, he drove the pair home.

“I believe he saved my dad’s life,” Parker said.

When he offered, the good Samaritan wouldn’t take any money.

“I tried, but he wouldn’t take any money. I managed to toss a couple of bills in the front seat as he drove away. Through the years, I had forgotten his name, but I knew he saved my father.”

This was probably 20 years ago.

In a January of 2020, Donald Parker had the opportunity to run into Ambrose James, a well-known Cass County handyman with a big smile and bigger personality. He’s slender, tall and with military bearing because he served over 20 years in the National Guard.

“We happened to run into each, and we both looked at each other for a moment, but it was Ambrose who spoke first,” Parker said.

“Aren’t you … do you remember?” Ambrose James said.

“Of course, I did,” Parker said. “We laughed, and I got his name, and this time I got the last word. I told him he was a true American hero. But just like the money the first time, he wouldn’t take that either.”

On yet another January, the two men shared that 20-year-old memory. It was a good way to start and keep the coming new year.

Ambrose still remembers.

Don ‘Drifter’ Parker, age 78 of Atlanta, passed from this life Tuesday Dec. 9, 2025, in a Mt. Pleasant Hospital.