Parris Ward earned letters for four consecutive years in three sports: basketball, football and track. He played on the 1961 undefeated Peace Garden Championship team. He had a soft touch in basketball and in track - his specialities were the high and low hurdles. He was also a 50-Miler, a hike and run fitness event, completed under Coach D. Dwight Rafferty in March 1963, for which he received first place.