Wayne Walker (linebacker)

Early life

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Walker graduated from Boise High School in 1954. As a teen, he played American Legion baseball against Baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew of Payette; Walker passed on an offer to play minor league baseball to attend college.

College career

Walker played college football at the University of Idaho in Moscow, then a member of the Pacific Coast Conference, as a center and middle linebacker for the Vandals under head coach Skip Stahley.

As a senior in 1957, Walker was a team captain and was selected by the United Press as a second-team center on the All-Pacific Coast team. In the East-West Shrine Game at San Francisco in late December, he played on both sides of the ball and had five tackles, three assists, two interceptions, and blocked a kick; he was voted the outstanding defensive player of the game. He also played in the College All-Star Game in mid-August 1958, helping the pro rookies defeat the Detroit Lions, his new team, 35–19.

On special teams at Idaho, Walker was the long snapper, as Kramer was the placekicker.

Professional career

Walker was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1958 NFL draft, 45th overall, in December 1957, weeks before Detroit won the NFL title, their third of the decade. He also scored 345 points, which ranked third in Lions history at the time of his retirement (currently ninth). As a placekicker, Walker converted 53 of 131 field goal attempts for a 40.5% success rate, He attempted 13 field goals of 50+ yards in his career, and missed them all. On extra points, he converted 172 of 175 attempts for a 98.3% success rate.

Broadcasting career

After his retirement from the NFL, Walker was the sports director for KPIX-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, for 20 years, from 1974 to 1994, where he succeeded Barry Tompkins. He was also a sports commentator for the San Francisco 49ers' radio broadcasts for over 20 years, and a commentator on Oakland Athletics baseball broadcasts from 1976 to 1980 and in 1985. During the 1979 season, when the struggling A's lost 108 games, he teamed up with fellow southern Idahoan Harmon Killebrew. Walker was also a color commentator on regional NFL games for several years on CBS, working many games with Tom Brookshier, who moved from color commentary to play-by-play beginning in 1981.

Later life

Walker and his wife Sylvia returned to the Boise area in 1994, and he began hosting Incredible Idaho, a half-hour outdoor show on Boise's NBC affiliate, KTVB-TV. In 1999, he retired from broadcasting. In December of that year, Walker was ninth on the Sports Illustrated list of greatest sports figures from Idaho.

Diagnosed with throat cancer in June 2007, Walker lost 60 lb after chemotherapy and radiation treatment. As of 2009, he was healthy again and had regained most of the lost weight. He died on May 19, 2017, from complications from Parkinson's disease.

References

References

1. (January 19, 1973). "Former Idaho great, Wayne Walker, retires". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
2. "Wayne Walker". Sports Reference LLC.
3. Shea, John. (May 22, 2011). "Wayne Walker's Idaho link to Harmon Killebrew". SF Gate.
4. "Walker, Wayne {{!}} San Francisco / Northern California".
5. "Wayne Walker". University of Idaho Athletics.
6. Missildine, Harry. (January 21, 1988). "Get ready to welcome Wayne Walker". Idahonian.
7. (January 23, 1988). "Wilkins, Morris Idaho players of the year". Spokesman-Review.
8. (November 26, 1957). "UP All-Pacific Coast". Nevada State Journal.
9. (December 1, 1957). "Three Idaho stars on West's club". Eugene Register-Guard.
10. Boni, Bill. (December 29, 1957). "West whips East, 27-13". Spokesman-Review.
11. (December 29, 1957). "Idaho linemen shine as West topple favored East, 27-13". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
12. Strickler, George. (August 16, 1958). "Stars upset Lions, 35-19". Chicago Daily Tribune.
13. Jack Saylor. (December 15, 1972). "Wayne Walker's 15 Years!". Detroit Free Press.
14. "Detroit Lions Gridiron Heroes: Wayne Walker". Detroit Lions.
15. "Player Season Finder Query Results". Sports Reference LLC.
16. "Player Season Finder Query Results". Sports Reference LLC.
17. Southorn, Dave. (May 20, 2017). "Wayne Walker dies at 80: Boise High and Idaho grad starred in NFL and as broadcaster". Idaho Statesman.
18. "Longtime KPIX Sports Director Wayne Walker Dies At 80".
19. Kroner, Steve. (June 4, 2009). "'Time goes by fast' in retirement – catching up with Wayne Walker".
20. (June 17, 1994). "Walker to host 'Incredible Idaho'". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
21. Rogers, Justin. (May 19, 2017). "Former Pro Bowl Lions linebacker Wayne Walker dies".
22. (December 27, 1999). "The 50 greatest sports figures from Idaho".
23. (October 29, 2015). "Former KPIX 5 sports director Wayne Walker suffering from Parkinson's linked to NFL career". KPIX-TV.
24. Vlae Kershner. (October 30, 2015). "Wayne Walker reveals he has Parkinson's disease". San Francisco Chronicle.
25. Kroner, Steve. (May 19, 2017). "Wayne Walker, longtime Bay Area sports broadcaster, dies at 80". San Francisco Chronicle.
26. Dow, Bill. (May 19, 2017). "Former Detroit Lions great LB/K Wayne Walker dies at 80 years old". Detroit Free Press.
27. "Wayne Walker, Lions LB, longtime 49ers broadcaster, dies at 80". NFL.