The Wonderful Life of Ray Walker
March 8, 2016 at 1:20 pm Bill DiFilippo 1 comment
We’ve written about Ray Walker ’35, the man believed to be Penn State’s oldest living alumnus, a few times. Walker started the Bradford Coal Company – which he discussed in an episode of WPSU Story Corps with his son, C. Alan Walker ’68g – and recently directed the Blue Band after a Penn State basketball game.
On Saturday night, the Centre Daily Times published a feature on Walker, who will turn 104 years old on March 13. It takes a look at Walker’s time as a student and how he originally thought he wanted to get into medicine before pursing a business career, along with the way that he kept himself in school after his family lost all of its money.
The story also touches on what Walker – who was named a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus in 1996 – does with his time nowadays. He’s still involved with the university (he’s a regular at our alumni reunions as well), and President Eric Barron calls him “a character” and a “delightful person.” As for his family, Walker’s wife passed away about a decade ago and he has 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Bill DiFilippo, online editor
Entry filed under: Alumni Association. Tags: Ray Walker.
1. Dick | March 9, 2016 at 1:56 pm
great man and outstanding piece