Born

July 19,1931 in Chicago, IL

Favorite Color: Blue!
 

Interesting Facts about Robert Parmacek

1952 Third Place Bronze Individual Saber NCAA medal
        Second Place Silver NCAA Team Medal

1953 First Place Gold Individual Saber Medal
       First Place Gold Team Medal

University of Pennsylvania History.

Bob Parmacek, W'53

Bob Parmacek's illustrious fencing career began in 1950 and in four years of intercollegiate competition, he helped the Quakers established themselves as one of the premier fencing teams in the country.

As a freshman in 1950, Parmacek led the freshman fencing squad to a 13-2 overall record, where he competed in the foil. In 1951, as a member of the varsity fencing team, Parmacek helped the Quakers to a 24-10 record as Penn won the Eastern Intercollegiate Team Sabre Championship and finished second at the NCAA Fencing Championships. It was the first time since 1925 that Penn's fencing team placed anywhere in any event at the NCAAs. Parmacek finished second at the Eastern's in the sabre and he was named captain for the following year by his teammates.

In his junior year, Parmacek stepped up the pace for the Penn fencing program. Under the watchful eye of legendary coach Maestro Lajos Csiszar, Penn went 8-2 during the regular season and finished second as a team at the NCAA Championships and tied for fourth at the Eastern Intercollegiates. Parmacek, Penn's captain that season, tied for the NCAA Sabre Individual Championship and then placed third in the fence-off and was named first-team All-American for his efforts at the NCAA Championships. He took second at the Eastern Intercollegiate Sabre Championships and was the Philadelphia Divisional Sabre Champion. Parmacek was also appointed to the U.S. Olympic Squad in 1952. Off the tape, Parmacek was elected president of the Gladius Society, was nominated for the Steur Award for the junior most outstanding in Scholarship, Leadership and Personality, elected to Beta Gamma Sigma National Scholastic Honorary Society and elected to Beta Alpha Psi National Accounting Fraternity.

Parmacek's fencing accomplishments were further heightened during his senior year in 1953. The team went 8-1, falling only to Navy, 15-12, on February 7, 1953. Parmacek earned the NCAA Sabre Championship with a 32-1 record at the tournament and his sabre victory provided the most dramatic action of the day. With two bouts remaining, he was trailing unbeaten Navy's Frank Zimolzak, who had 30 wins. Parmacek beat him, 5-2, to tie for the lead. Columbia's Steve Sobel upset Zimolzak, 5-1, to deadlock Penn's ace. In the final bout, Parmacek scored three-straight touches to defeat Sobel, 5-3, earning the national championship and first-team All-American honors.

The Quakers won their first NCAA Fencing Team Championship, held at Hutchinson Gymnasium, as the team combined for a 94-7 overall record in 1953. Parmacek won the Eastern Intercollegiate Sabre Championship as well, while Penn finished second in that tournament after taking both the foil and epee team championships. He was awarded the Penn Minor Sports Outstanding Athlete Award at Ivy Day and graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1953.

After graduation, Parmacek was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and put on active duty. In 1955, as a member of the U.S. Military Fencing Team that competed in the Military World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, Parmacek finished second in the sabre competition. He was a member of the U.S. World Championship Team in Rome, Italy and was appointed to the 1956 U.S. Olympic Squad.

To Reach Bob send an email to Bob@Parmacek.com

Copyright 2001 - Parmacek.com - All Rights Reserved