Fred Parks developed an interest in aviation when he joined the U.S. Army Air Force where he served as an intelligence briefing officer during the aerial attacks on the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania. Later, he would serve as a judge advocate for the 15th Air Force, where he tried court martial and war crimes cases. After the war, he resumed his legal career in Houston, Texas, where he attended law school. As a successful plaintiff lawyer involved in many personal injury and high-profile cases, he overcame the poverty of his youth to become a noted philanthropist within the community, supporting many institutions of higher learning.