Timothy Parker (puzzle designer)
Timothy Eric Parker born in Baltimore, Maryland, is a U.S. TV producer, puzzle editor and games creator. He is currently the crossword editor of USA Today and the Universal line of crossword puzzles. He has one of the largest daily puzzle audiences in the world.
Parker grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, with nine siblings, and attempted his first crossword puzzle at age 12.[1] He attended the private Gilman School where he excelled in both football and baseball. He was recruited by the Pittsburgh Pirates at 16[2] but did not join them.
Timothy Parker is married with two children.
Puzzle career
Timothy Parker is only the second crossword puzzle editor in the history of the USA Today crossword. Parker is also the founder and senior editor of the Universal line of crossword puzzles and games, which are syndicated around the world in print by Universal Press Syndicate, and online by Uclick, a division of AMUniversal. The Universal Crossword is featured on hundreds of sites including YAHOO, CBS News, The Boston Globe, AOL, Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, New York Daily News, and hundreds more. His daily puzzle audience is estimated as the largest in the world.
Parker is the founder of the Puzzle Society, one of North America's largest paid subscriber puzzle clubs. In addition to crosswords, Parker also creates new corporate games, trivia games, mazes, word searches, cryptic crossword puzzles, and others. Parker's puzzles and games have been published in over 100 countries including China, Brazil, Spain, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, Canada, New Zealand and Russia.
In 2000, Parker was awarded the title "World's Most Syndicated Puzzle Compiler" from Guinness World Records, officially making him a Guinness World Records Puzzle Master.
He has worked with corporate giants such as Sony, Microsoft, Comcast, Disney, Warner Bros., Reader's Digest, Coca-Cola, Greenberg Traurig and others, creating custom puzzles and game content.
Television
In 2006, Parker become the puzzle producer for Merv Griffin's Crosswords. He worked directly with Mr. Griffin, and created puzzle grids and all clues for the entire 225-show run. Griffin's favorite crossword of the four he tackled daily was Parker's USA Today puzzle.
In 2008, Parker contributed to the ABC prime-time television show, The Mole. In addition, Parker has created puzzles that have appeared on The View, Access Hollywood and others. He is currently working on several TV projects, including two formats he created.
Books
Timothy Parker has written or edited over 50 books, including the critically acclaimed "King Games Games," "Mastering Kakuro," "The Official Book of Kakuro," four editions of "Great Puzzles From The Bible," a series of puzzle books for the Dummies brand, 25 digital games, and the annual "USA Today Crossword Calendar." His "Family Time Crossword" is the world's most popular kids crossword puzzle and is featured on dozens of prominent Websites.
Timothy E. Parker co-wrote "The Book of Revelation Made Clear" with the co-creator of the Left Behind series, Dr. Tim LaHaye. The book purports to explain the meaning and symbols of the last book of the Christian Bible in a simple, precise way. The book features 77 master puzzles and was released on July 29, 2014 by Thomas Nelson Books.
Parker has been featured on several TV and radio programs including Tavis Smiley and Tom Joyner, and has been featured in several magazines including People.
Awards and recognition
In May 2000, Parker was named "World's Most Syndicated Puzzle Compiler" by Guinness World Records.
References
- ↑ "The Puzzle Society: Meet Timothy Parker". Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ↑ "The History Makers: Timothy Parker". Retrieved November 14, 2006.