ST. GEORGE — The secret to an 80-year marriage is “to keep working at it,” Emily Cox stated at a ceremony honoring her and husband Parke Cox at St. George city hall on Monday.
Loved ones surrounded the couple as St. George Mayor Michele Randall declared Sept. 12 as Parke and Emily Cox Day. The crowd clapped and cheered.
“You’re an inspirational example of longevity, commitment, and devotion to all Utahns,” Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox said in a letter read by Randall. “Your commitment to each other honors the values of family and respect for one another, which makes Utah stand out as one of the best places in the nation to live. Abby and I are honored to join your loved ones in congratulating you on decades of marriage. As you reminisce on your years together, I hope you feel a sense of accomplishment for the family and love surrounding you. Best wishes for your continued happiness.”
The couple beamed as they shared hugs, photos and stories. It all began when Emily Brown met Parke at his senior prom dance at the old Recreation Hall in St. George. Emily was from Scipio, Utah, and attended Dixie College through the New Deal Program established by President Franklin Roosevelt. Parke offered Emily a ride home, but she refused. Emily felt since she had not come to the dance with him, she wasn’t going home with him.
But that didn’t deter Parke. A few days later, Emily said he showed up on her doorstep, kissed her and asked her out. Today Parke is 101 years old and Emily is 99 years old.
“The first thing to a successful marriage is love and admiration,” Emily said. “And keep working, keep working, you just can’t quit.”
Parke served as a pilot, transporting freight during World War II. The pair were married in 1942 in the St. George temple. The mayor said Parke was discharged from the Army Air Force after Victory in Japan Day on August 14, 1945, and the couple moved back to St. George.
But there was no opportunity to work as a pilot. So Parke decided that he could still do transport by truck. He learned that the U.S. government was selling the Army’s surplus of trucks. He answered an advertisement, offering a truck for sale in Warren, Ohio.
The newlyweds drove their Studebaker to Ohio and discovered the truck was not assembled. They didn’t give up and put the seven crates of truck parts together, taking several days. Then they drove back to St. George, driving at most 42 miles per hour, according to the company’s website.
The pair launched Parke Cox Trucking off their kitchen room table in 1947. Emily kept the books and Parke drove the truck. Later on, they sold the company to their sons in the 1980s. Don Cox graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in business. The company had eight trucks when he came on board. Their other son Dave Cox joined the company in 1990. The sons grew the business to have over 70 trucks.
Daughter, Karen Reber, joined Parke Cox Trucking Company in 2011. She served the federal government for 34 years with the Department of Agriculture. The company moved to a 10-acre site in the Ft. Pearce Industrial Park in 2011. Her sister Tina assisted with the design of the company’s main building.
Up until 2011, Parke drove trucks from St. George to Cedar City and back with his Commercial Driver’s License. Emily still maintained the licensing and fuel reports for their 70 trucks which operated in 48 states as of 2013, according to the book Southern Utah Memories.
The business was recently awarded the 2022 Best Trucking Company in Southern Utah.
According their website, “We are big enough to attract large customers but small enough to remember our roots and what keeps the business running – our drivers and support staff.”
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