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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. David Walker (Deceased)
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Home Phone: -- * * * * * * * * * * * A Memorial Service will be celebrated Saturday, January 4, 2020, at 1:00 pm at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette for David Walker, 69, who passed away Tuesday, December 31st at his residence in Breaux Bridge. Visitation will be observed on Saturday, January 4th from 10:00 am until the time of service, at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home. Reverend Ann Sutton of Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church in Morgan City will officiate. David was born September 3, 1950, in Bunkie and was a long-time resident of Acadiana. He graduated from Berwick High School and went on to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette obtaining a Bachelor and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration. A 1976 graduate, David worked at his alma mater in various administrative positions starting in 1978. He served almost two years as the school’s interim director of athletics, was appointed to a full-time position in July of 2007 and retired in January of 2011. David was an extremely talented administrator and has provided the University with decades of effective and loyal service. He enjoyed hunting and was an avid golfer in his spare time. Most of all, David loved spending time with his family and friends. David is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Patricia Sutton Walker of Breaux Bridge; his daughter, Ginny Rebecca Walker; a brother, Jerry Walker of New Iberia and numerous dear nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Anna Burke Walker; a sister, Delores Clark and a brother, Roy Walker. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in David’s name to the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Foundation, online at www.ipffoundation.org or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, by mail at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, by phone at 1-800-873-6983 or online at www.stjude.org. Online obituary and guestbook may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com. Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora Street, 337-981-7098 is in charge of arrangements. Published in The Acadiana Advocate from Jan. 3 to Jan. 4, 2020 * * * * * * UL Athletics: Walker to Retire in January October 1, 2010 www.ragincajuns.com – University of Louisiana Athletic Director David Walker announced his retirement today. Walker, a 1976 UL graduate, has served the University in several administrative positions for over 32 years, the last five as athletic director. He will remain at the University until the end of the Fall semester and retire effective January. “I first came to the University in 1972 as a student and I’ve had the privilege of calling it my home for nearly four decades,†Walker stated. “While the decision to leave is a difficult one, I believe the time has come to allow those that will manage the future of UL athletics the opportunity to make the decisions that will shape that future.†Walker notified UL President Dr. E. Joseph Savoie of his decision earlier in the week and met with coaches and staff on Thursday afternoon. “I want to ensure that Dr. Savoie and the athletic administration had the necessary time to plan for the transition,†Walker added. Walker became interim Athletic Director in August 2005, as the search began to replace Nelson Schexnayder, who accepted a position within University administration. Less than one month later, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Louisiana coast and the search for a new athletic director was postponed. Hurricane Rita followed later that year and further postponed the search. In July 2007, Walker was appointed to the position full-time by then-UL President Dr. Ray Authement. “I never anticipated being in athletics this long, but I’m grateful for the opportunity,†Walker said. “The last five years have presented many challenges, but it gave me the unique opportunity to work beside an extremely dedicated group of coaches and staff members. They are truly committed to the University and the student-athletes they serve. I will always be thankful for their loyalty, support and most of all their friendship.†“David Walker is an extremely talented administrator and has provided the University with decades of effective and loyal service,†Savoie said. “The Athletic Department in particular is in excellent condition, and private support is increasing. David’s talents will be missed as the University has benefited from his many contributions. We wish he and Pat all the best.†— Ragin’ Cajuns – – Matt Hebert Cox Communications Athletics Center Office: (337) 482-6330 * * * * * * * * * * Ex-officio member, Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation, 2009, 2010. Walker named athletic director Dan McDonald After almost two years of having the “interim” label in front of his inherited job title, longtime UL administrator David Walker was named the Ragin’ Cajuns’ athletic director Tuesday. “I’ve been involved with athletics for a lot of years,” he said, “but I like the back of the room. I like to operate behind the scenes, and that’s not going to change much. This job is simple. … You get a president that supports athletics, and you surround yourself with a hard-working staff, and you just get out of the way.” Walker has been juggling two jobs since July 29, 2005, three days after Nelson Schexnayder resigned from the athletic director position after a 13-year run. Walker, a UL graduate who had served in various administrative positions for nearly three decades, maintained his position as director of external affairs along with the interim AD slot. The NCAA inquiry and the budget situations were brought to a conclusion recently, and it was not by coincidence that Walker’s naming comes on the heels of the Board of Regents’ decision to allow schools more flexibility in funding their athletic programs. “I think we’ve been able to accomplish some things that have opened some eyes to the potential that we have,” Walker said. “It was just a matter of making a decision to stay on and be a part of that potential.” “This is a perfect hire,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Wright Waters. “It varies from university to university, but here with this school so connected to the community, it’s important to have someone that knows how the university operates. He’s worked in every area and been successful. He’ll do a great job.” Hunter Trahan, chairman of a 10-member committee originally charged by Authement with locating and recommending an athletic director candidate, said Walker was not an option when the committee first met in August 2005. “Ideally we would have liked for him to have applied, but we couldn’t get him to say yes,” Trahan said. “But we knew all along he fit what we were looking for. We wanted to find a leader that had passion, that understood what athletics was all about, and that fostered a working relationship with the coaches, the administration and the community. “Time was the biggest ally that our committee had. Once he sort of warmed up to the position, although we had some very good candidates, it all made sense. We felt good about everything he’d done in that time.” The committee recently gave Authement a letter with a list of candidates, with Walker’s name at the top. Authement said he will recommend Walker’s appointment at the next board meeting in August. Waters said removing the “interim” label is important from more than a perception standpoint. “I’ve been an interim before,” said Waters, who already had appointed Walker to the New Orleans Bowl executive committee despite his interim status. “Everything changes. You have to make all the decisions, but if you make a popular one, it looks like you’re campaigning for the job, and if you make a tough decision, you’re seen as being too hard. “Interim is like the kiss of death. He’ll be stronger, more forceful and aggressive with what he wants to do now.” Walker was born in Bunkie and grew up in St. Landry Parish and Berwick, graduating from Berwick High before a four-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. He later enrolled at UL and earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in business administration before joining the UL staff. Posted July 18, 2007 Walker’s title adds stability for UL Dan McDonald David Walker said that not a lot will be different today, his first day as UL’s full-time athletic director. Walker ended over 23 months of questions and speculation Tuesday when he was named the Cajuns’ athletic director, filling the position for the first time since Nelson Schexnayder resigned on July 26, 2005, to become UL’s director of the office of contractual review. Since that time, Walker has literally had two offices – one in Martin Hall, where he served as UL’s director of auxiliary services, and the other in the athletic complex on Bertrand Drive, where UL president Ray Authement asked him to serve on an interim basis. “In the past two years, Dr. Authement has done everything we’ve ever asked to help our department – budgeting, staffing, salary adjustments,” Walker said. “I made the comment to him recently that I would take it on full-time if he would continue to support athletics like he has been.” The biggest measure of that support came just over a week ago when a proposal originally proposed by Walker and backed by Authement passed the Board of Regents to change the funding formula for the state’s athletic departments. The proposal freed up each school to allocate resources to athletic programs up to certain maximum levels. The new proposal could increase UL’s athletic budget by $1.4 million this year and by an added $1 million next year. “David knew the process,” Authement said. “He knew the formula, he knew the politics of the state, and he got involved. Without him, that would not have happened.” Walker said that increased funding will help make some of the department’s goals a reality. He specifically mentioned salaries, additional staffing and assisting in several under-funded programs. “Dr. Authement and I have been looking at several things with staffing some positions, some changes in positions and increasing the level of assistance we’re trying to offer,” he said. “The increased funding will help all of us to not be competitive, because we have already been competitive, but it will let us do things to make our coaches’ jobs easier.” “This puts our leadership where it needs to be,” said UL football coach Rickey Bustle. “There’s not a coach in this room that wouldn’t have voted for him. It makes you feel good that we have a leader and that he’s there for us.” “He’s always been someone who’s very straight-forward and lets you know exactly where you stand,” said UL basketball coach Robert Lee. “He’s someone that’s got the best interests of the entire university at heart, and what he’s done over the last couple of years with everything that’s happened has been remarkable. He’s going to be great at this.” July 18, 207 – – – – – – – – As it turns out, UL’s new AD couldn’t say no Dan McDonald Two years ago, David Walker didn’t want anything to do with UL’s athletic director position. “I went to him to ask if he’d consider doing it on an interim basis,” Authement said, “fully expecting him to say no. And he did.” Walker gave Authement the full story. He was a behind-the-scenes guy, one more effective working in the background and away from the bright lights of stadiums, arenas and cameras. Fast forward to Tuesday, and Walker’s got all the cameras aimed at him, accepting the Cajuns’ top athletic post. And Authement had one more item to scratch off his to-do list before a truly successful presidency comes to an end in this academic year. In less than two years, Walker went from a reluctant chair-warmer on Bertrand Drive to a person who was universally backed for the position by all parties involved. If a poll had been taken at the Cajundome Tuesday, at an announcement attended by just as many university officials as athletic staffers, there wouldn’t have been a nay-sayer in the bunch. But Walker had to warm up to the job. The running joke was that since he lived in Poche’ Bridge, all of UL’s games were road games and he didn’t want to be on the road that much. “There wasn’t one thing or one point in time,” Walker said of his decision. “It was just that the longer it went, the more accustomed I got to doing this every day. This place has tremendous potential, and it’s nice to be a part of it.” Authement did his share of pushing, and saw his efforts bear fruit on the Cajuns’ final football road trip last November to Florida International. “David and his wife (Patricia) and I had dinner together,” Authement said, “and you could tell from the conversation the joy he had of being there and participating in all of it. We sat at the top of the bleachers at the game talking about plans and ideas. I saw a gleam in his eye. The bug had gotten him.” It’s not like the last two years have been all sunshine and lollipops. The state was hit by two hurricanes within three months of Walker’s move, one of them the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, and there were questions if state finances – and, in turn, university and athletic finances – would ever recover. The NCAA was in the early stages of what turned into a full-fledged investigation and sanctions against the football and men’s basketball departments. Delays on the much-anticipated indoor practice facility have been numerous, football did not live up to expectations last fall and underwent serious staff changes, the men’s hoop team struggled throughout the winter, and two head coaches departed in a recent two-month period. Despite all that, the positive vibes hovering around the Cajuns’ athletic complex are palpable. Recent changes have solidified athletic funding and boosted the budget, there’s little friction between factions, and the goal of everyone pulling in the same direction isn’t just idle talk. “I’ve enjoyed being around these people,” Walker said of the Cajun athletic staff. “It’s a lot more enjoyable and a lot more relaxing than I had anticipated. It certainly wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be. “When you listen to a bunch of AD’s talk, it’s always about how tough it is. It’s pretty simple. You get a president that supports athletics, you surround yourself with a hard-working staff and you get out of the way.” Walker couldn’t get out of the way, couldn’t avoid the spotlight Tuesday. Beginning today, he’s back in the shadows, doing his thing behind the scenes. No need to change anything now. You don’t argue with success. Dan McDonald covers UL athletics for The Daily Advertiser. Reach him at (337) 289-6318 or dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com – – – – – – – – – – – – – LAFAYETTE � David Walker will be quitting half of his day job at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He�s accepted an offer to make his second day job permanent. Most recently, Walker worked closely with Authement in developing a formula passed by the state Board of Regents earlier this month that allows a larger percentage of the operating budget to be dedicated to athletics. It replaces restrictions put in place following the oil bust during the 1980s. July 17, 2007 Courtesy RaginCajuns.com – – – – – – – – – – – – – WALKER NAMED INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE July 28, 2005 – Nelson Schexnayder resigned as athletic director Tuesday. An attorney “Both Nelson and I have a high regard for David’s ability and knowledge As director of auxiliary services, Walker has worked with Schexnayder Walker will continue to serve as director of auxiliary services. With an interim director in place, Authement will turn his attention to However, the president said the committee will be composed of Authement said the committee will conduct a nationwide search. “We intend to hire the most qualified person to lead UL Lafayette’s The selection process is expected to take about three months after the “We expect to attract outstanding candidates from top athletic July 28, 2005 – – – – – –
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