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Hugh Ellis Walker: Delta State legend remembered

Hugh Ellis Walker Sr.

Delta State University mourns the passing of Hugh Ellis Walker Sr., director emeritus of Alumni-Foundation. Walker died Nov. 14, 2014 in Cleveland at the age of 86. His lifelong accomplishments are numerous, but he is perhaps best remembered for his time at Delta State University.

President William N. LaForge provided great praise for one of Delta State’s true legends.

“The Delta State family mourns the loss of our great friend and colleague, Hugh Ellis Walker, who for so many years, faithfully and loyally served Delta State,” said LaForge. “Our Alumni Office, our Foundation activities, and a renewed sense of vitality in our alumni ranks can all be attributed to High Ellis Walker’s leadership.

“He was an incredibly dedicated professional who inspired generations of Delta State students to become Delta State alumni. We will miss him very much but he has left a lasting footprint that will serve our university well for many years to come.”

Dr. Wayne Blansett, vice president of student affairs, echoed praise for Walker.

“Hugh Ellis Walker epitomized what a Statesmen should be — a class gentleman with a sincere passion for Delta State,” said Blansett. “I have never known a person that cared more about Delta State than Hugh Ellis.”

In remembrance of Walker, the Delta State flag was flown at half-mast Saturday, and green and black ribbons were hung at both entrances of the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni-Foundation House.

Walker came to Delta State Teachers College in 1949. The Drew, Miss. native and Clarksdale High School graduate had just finished a stint with the United States Marine Corps and a semester at Northwest Junior College, where he played football. As a student, he stayed involved in various activities. He lettered in both football and tennis, was president of the Student Government Association, president of the Mississippi Collegiate Council and was named Mr. Delta State.

His first day at Delta State, he left his dorm and met Eloise Stratton. She was the first girl Walker met at school. They began dating and eventually married.

After completing his degree in biology and physical education, Walker began a career coaching football. He served as head football coach, athletic director and biology teacher at Durant High School, Louisville High School and Indianola High School. In his eight years of coaching football, he won two conference championships, served on the organizing committee for the Mississippi Association of Coaches, and was selected to coach the Mississippi High School All Star Football Game in 1954.

He eventually moved his family to Clinton, Miss. and began working in the insurance industry. Walker had always dreamed of coming home to Delta State, and in 1969 that dream became a reality when he was named the alumni secretary, which is what the alumni director was called at the time. He worked with Coach Dave “Boo” Ferriss who was the Foundation director. After Ferriss retired, the two offices combined and Walker was named the first director of the Alumni and Foundation.

He served as the alumni secretary from 1969-1987 and the director of the Alumni and Foundation from 1987-1993. He also served as the faculty/staff representative to Omicron Delta Kappa, a national honorary leadership fraternity. The Student Government Association inducted Walker into the Delta State Hall of Fame and honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in 1993.

Among his numerous contributions to the university during his tenure, perhaps the most visible is the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni-Foundation House, which was completed in 1990 and later named for Walker in 1996. He was also passionate about helping students fund their college education, which led to the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni Scholarship and is awarded to children of alumni. The $500 scholarships, given to incoming freshman and transfer students, are funded by dues-paying members of the Alumni Association and the newly established Sustaining Member Life Program. Walker always enjoyed meeting the recipients of his scholarship and getting to know more about them.

Walker is also responsible for the annual Pig Pickin’, which just completed its 29th year. The event has grown into a huge success and is one of the signature events of the university. Without Walker’s vision, Pig Pickin’ would not be what it is today.

In 2011, he was inducted into the Delta State University National Alumni Association Hall of Fame, and in 2013, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award.

Walker was also extremely involved in the community. He was a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland, past president and loyal member of the Cleveland Noon Lions Club and a member of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce. The Lions Club presented him with the Distinguished Service Award, and the chamber recognized him with the President’s Award. In 1998, he was elected city alderman of Cleveland.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eloise Stratton Walker of Cleveland; son, Hugh Ellis Walker Jr. of Tupelo, Miss.; daughter, Sheri Walker Wright of Rio Vista, Texas; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Walker is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17 at Ray Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, Nov.18 at the First Baptist Church of Cleveland with visitation starting at 1 p.m., followed by funeral services at 2 p.m. Graveside will follow the service at North Cleveland Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Walker’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family would like for donations to be made to the Hugh Ellis Walker Scholarship Fund at Delta State University. Donations can be sent to DSU Box 3104, Cleveland, MS 38733 or online at http://www.deltastategiving.org/giving/scholarships/hughelliswalkeralumnischolarshipfund.