WATCH: Merritt Island Native and U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Zack Parker Monthly Space Coast Daily Column to Debut Sunday
By Steve Wilson // September 6, 2025
Inaugural column of Faith, Hope, and Patriotism will appear Sunday, Sept. 7
WATCH: Lt. Zack Parker, Chaplain, USN, talks with the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson. Lt. Parker, currently stationed in Washington D.C., will be writing a monthly column of Faith, Hope, and Patriotism for the Space Coast that will appear in Space Coast Daily on the first Sunday of each month.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Merritt Island’s Lt. Zack Parker, Chaplain, USN, currently stationed in Washington, D.C., will be writing a monthly column of Faith, Hope, and Patriotism for the Space Coast that will appear in Space Coast Daily on the first Sunday of each month.
The inaugural column will appear this Sunday.
I asked Lt. Parker what his primary messages will be in his monthly columns, and he told me, “In these devotions I hope to stir people’s hearts; I hope to prompt people to reflect, but ultimately I hope to invite them and be a small part of the wonderful people of the Space Coast, the pastors there, and the churches there and to be a small part of inviting them back to their faith if they have been distant.
I believe now is the time to be very much engaged and practice religious freedom, but also be deepening in our faith.”
will appear in Space Coast Daily on the first Sunday of each month.
Faith, Hope, and Patriotism for the Space Coast sponsored by ERDMAN AUTOMOTIVE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
