Bill Walker, magna cum laude ’53, has had a lifelong career in higher education. His journey began on the Austin College campus as a freshman in 1948 as he found his way to Luckett Hall. With limited funds but limitless interest in a liberal arts education, Walker began as a chemistry major. He fondly remembers the tennis courts–their proximity to the chemistry laboratory served as a distraction. By the end of the year, playing tennis was very appealing and chemistry was not. Walker was unable to return that fall due to a lack of funds, so he took a year off to work.
After a year’s furlough, Walker returned ready for a new beginning–he began to play tennis for Austin College, to play in the band and orchestra, and to sing in the choir at Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church. Thankfully, he was able to finish in the next three years, but like many students, he changed his major to history, English, and then at last found his true calling–religion.
Some of his Austin College professors made a strong impression. Robert H. Bullock helped Walker in his search for a major and his desire to teach in higher education. Walker’s journey to receive his undergraduate degree was difficult financially, but he had the training he gained at Austin College to prepare him for graduate studies.
Before completing his graduate work, he began his teaching career at Austin College in 1954 as an instructor in Greek and Bible and overseeing the compulsory chapel program. He earned a master’s of divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Seminary in 1957, a master’s in classics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1958, and a doctorate in religion from Duke University in 1962.
After completing his doctorate, he served as a professor of religion at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, for 40 years. While at Trinity, he served eight years as chair of the Religion Department, 11 years as dean of Humanities and Arts, and a year as interim chair of the Psychology Department.
After Walker retired in 2002, he reflected upon his early college years of being limited financially, but having limitless interest in higher education. He realized that if a sponsored scholarship had been available then, his education would not have been so uncertain. He knew that he could not change the past, but he could influence the future for some deserving student and help insure that the student’s education would not be jeopardized.
So, he funded the William O. Walker, Jr., Sponsored Academic Honors Scholarship at Austin College. To insure his legacy, his scholarship will be permanently funded by a gift annuity that will create a scholarship endowment upon his death.
For more information about how you can make a difference at Austin College by creating a gift annuity, please contact us at plannedgiving@austincollege.edu or 903.813.2336.
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