Timothy Eric Parker, born in Baltimore, Maryland, is an American television producer, puzzle editor, brain games creator, author, and entrepreneur. He was the senior crossword editor of USA Today for 13 years and the founder and senior editor of the Universal line of crossword puzzles and games, syndicated worldwide through Universal Press Syndicate and distributed online by Uclick. Parker has been syndicated by Andrews McMeel Universal for various puzzle franchises non-stop since 1997.
Parker grew up in Baltimore with nine siblings and attempted his first crossword puzzle at age 12. He attended the prestigious Gilman School, where he excelled in both football and baseball. At 16, he was recruited by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but chose a different path.
In 2006, entertainment legend Merv Griffin — creator of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune — personally selected Parker as the sole writer for his new game show, Merv Griffin's Crosswords. Griffin, who solved Parker's USA Today crossword every morning, was so familiar with his work that he chose Parker as the only writer for all 225 episodes. Griffin called him "America's top puzzle master."
"Visionary." — People Magazine
In 2000, Parker was awarded the title "World's Most Syndicated Puzzle Compiler" by Guinness World Records, officially earning the designation Guinness World Records Puzzle Master. His crosswords and word games have appeared in hundreds of publications worldwide, including Yahoo, Reader's Digest, and major newspapers across Russia, China, Canada, Turkey, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and dozens of other countries. His corporate clients include Disney, Microsoft, Comcast, Warner Bros., the Smithsonian, the Arthritis Foundation, and 1,400 more.
In 1996, Parker's dual expertise in computers and crosswords converged when he created the world's first digital syndicated crossword — an interactive puzzle that became the Universal Crossword. He also invented the "Solve Word," "Solve Letter," and "Solve Puzzle" buttons for digital crosswords, interface innovations that are now standard on virtually every online crossword in existence. In December 2001, Parker became the first crossword editor in the 100-year history of Reader's Digest, also creating their first interactive puzzle feature, the "RD Challenge."
Parker is the founder of the Puzzle Society, one of North America's largest paid subscriber puzzle clubs. His game line includes 17 brain game franchises encompassing mental testing, trivia, crosswords, word search games, cryptograms, mazes, and other family-oriented games. Over the course of his career, Parker has created more than 20,000 crossword puzzles — at an average of 78 clues each, totaling over 1.5 million original brain clues — a volume unmatched by any puzzle creator in history.
Beyond puzzles, Parker co-authored The Book of Revelation Made Clear with Dr. Tim LaHaye, co-creator of the bestselling Left Behind series, published by Thomas Nelson in 2014. He has been featured on Tavis Smiley, Tom Joyner, and numerous other television and radio programs.
As CEO and Founder of Advanced Learning Academy, Parker now applies his decades of cognitive puzzle expertise to developing next-generation assessment platforms including Real World IQ, Real Bio Age, and RELIQ, as well as the Bible Brilliant educational platform reaching learners worldwide. He is the founder of Advanced Learning Academy, which features modern assessments of IQ, career fit, relationship intelligence, emotional health, and biological age.
Complete Career Accomplishments
A comprehensive record of Timothy E. Parker's professional achievements
Records & Firsts
- Guinness World Record — "World's Most Syndicated Puzzle Compiler" (2000–present, 25+ years)
- Created the world's first digital syndicated crossword (1996) — the invention that launched online puzzles worldwide
- Invented the Solve Word, Solve Letter, and Solve Puzzle buttons — now standard on every digital crossword in existence
- First crossword editor in the 100-year history of Reader's Digest (December 2001)
- Only person to edit two nationally-syndicated crosswords simultaneously — USA Today (13 years) and Universal Crossword (21+ years)
- Highest puzzle-per-week publishing schedule ever — 17 puzzles per week across all franchises
- 20,000+ crossword puzzles created — more than anyone in American crossword history
- Over 1.5 million original brain clues written (20,000 puzzles × ~78 clues each)
- 17 brain game franchises founded — the most operated by a single creator
- 1,400+ corporate clients served with puzzle and game content
Television & Entertainment
- Hand-picked by Merv Griffin — creator of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune — as the sole writer for Merv Griffin's Crosswords
- 225 television episodes written single-handedly — every grid, every clue, all 17,100 clues and answers
- ABC's The Mole — contributed puzzle content to primetime network television
- The View, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight — puzzle content featured across major programs
- Represented by William Morris Endeavor — legendary board member Mark Itkin, Beverly Hills
- Tavis Smiley Show & Tom Joyner Morning Show — featured national television and radio interviews
Publishing & Syndication
- USA Today — Senior crossword editor for 13 years (2003–2016), second editor in the paper's history
- Universal Crossword — Founded in 1997, edited for 21 years, 8,100+ published crosswords
- Andrews McMeel Universal — Continuously syndicated for various puzzle franchises since 1997
- Reader's Digest — First crossword editor in 100-year history; created the "RD Challenge"
- 100+ books published — through Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Thomas Nelson, Baker Publishing, Revell, Howard Books, Wiley (For Dummies), and Andrews McMeel
- The Puzzle Society — Founded one of North America's largest paid subscriber puzzle clubs (1999)
- Global syndication — Published in 80+ countries including Russia, China, Canada, France, Turkey, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, and more
- Major publication partners — CBS News, MSNBC, Boston Globe, AOL, Yahoo, Disney, Dallas Morning News, CNN, Toronto Star, Miami Herald, NY Daily News, NY Post, Le Monde (France), South China Times, Merriam-Webster, and hundreds more
Corporate Clients
- Disney — Puzzle content and game creation
- Microsoft — Digital puzzle games and content
- Warner Bros. — Content collaboration
- Comcast — Media and puzzle distribution
- The Smithsonian — Educational puzzle content
- Sony, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Time Warner, Financial Web — and 1,400+ additional corporate clients
- The Arthritis Foundation — Custom puzzle content
Awards & Recognition
- Guinness World Records Puzzle Master — the only person in history to hold this designation
- People Magazine — Full-page "Quiz Whiz" feature profile
- CNN — Called Parker's creations "smart games for smart people"
- The HistoryMakers Archive — Documented in the nation's largest African American video oral history collection
- Pittsburgh Pirates recruit — Recruited at age 16 (chose puzzles over baseball)
- Gilman School — Excelled in football and baseball at the prestigious Baltimore institution
