This Retired Firefighter’s Sock Drawer Could Make Guinness History

Most people have a sock drawer. Darryl Parker has something closer to a sock archive. The retired firefighter and paramedic from North Augusta, South Carolina, says his collection has passed 2,000 pairs, and he wants to turn that pile into a Guinness World Record.

• Darryl Parker, a retired firefighter and paramedic in North Augusta, S.C., says he owns more than 2,000 pairs of socks.
• The current Guinness record belongs to retired CBS Philadelphia news anchor Jim Donovan, whose collection was counted at 1,531 distinct pairs in 2025.
• Parker plans to keep collecting through the end of the year before sending his socks to Guinness for official verification.

It All Started With a Father’s Day Gift

Parker’s collection began with a Father’s Day gift of socks. The difference is that the gifts never stopped. After that first pair, more socks kept showing up for birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions.

It’s easy to see how that happens. Once friends and family figure out you like something, it becomes the go-to gift. Socks are simple to buy and fun to pick out, and there always seems to be room for one more pair. Right up until the drawer won’t close.

Over time, those gifts added up to far more than a normal wardrobe. Parker told WRDW/WAGT that his wife eventually pointed out just how many socks he had around the house.

A Family Idea Turns Into a Record Attempt

Then his grandkids stepped in. Parker says they came to him with a suggestion to go after the Guinness World Record. He liked the idea and decided to give it a shot.

That’s a pretty sweet family moment. A collection that started as a string of presents became a shared project, with the grandkids acting as the hype squad. It also gave all those socks a brand new job.

The Number Parker Has to Beat

The record Parker is chasing is held by Jim Donovan, a retired news anchor from CBS Philadelphia. His collection was tallied at 1,531 distinct pairs in 2025.

If Parker’s count holds up, he’s well past that mark. His stated total is comfortably above Donovan’s verified count. That’s a healthy cushion, but nothing is official yet. For now, the total is Parker’s own count, and Guinness hasn’t verified it.

He isn’t rushing, either. Parker says he plans to keep adding to the collection until the end of the year. After that, he intends to submit his socks to Guinness World Records for official verification. So the final number could climb even higher before anyone sits down to count.

There’s something fun about the idea of this record possibly changing hands between two retirees, one a former newsman and the other a former first responder. Both turned a humble clothing item into a real point of pride.

Where the Extra Socks Will Go

Parker’s record attempt comes with a kind twist. He says new socks donated by members of the public will go to local shelters once he’s secured the record.

That turns a quirky hobby into a way to help people. Clean, new socks are a simple comfort, and giving them away is a fitting plan for someone who spent his working life as a firefighter and paramedic looking out for others.

The timing depends on the record, though. Parker has tied the donation plan to securing the title, so those socks will head out after Guinness gives its answer.

Keep an Eye on the Official Count

Parker’s story shows how small gifts can pile up into something much bigger. A single Father’s Day present grew into more than 2,000 pairs, a family goal and a plan to help shelters nearby. For now, the record still belongs to Donovan, and Parker’s bid rests on what Guinness finds when it checks his collection. If you have a relative with a bottomless sock drawer, this might be the nudge to start counting. And if Parker does land the title, plenty of people in need could end up with warmer feet, too.