Alumni Snapshots: RADM Edward “Ted” Walker Jr., USN(Ret.) ‘50
Holly Carroll, Severn’s Associate Director of Development and Planned Giving caught up earlier this year with Rear Admiral Ted Walker via telephone, from his home in McLean, Virginia. Ted moved constantly in his youth as a son of a naval officer. He attended 10-12 schools before coming to Severn in the fall of 1948 for his junior and senior years.
"Thank goodness I came to Severn. Severn gave me an absolute foundation for the Naval Academy and my Navy career. Severn taught me study habits and gave me a solid foundation in both science and the arts. It was the wonderful professors who changed my life. Mr. Hill, who lived over the Dining Hall – survived my chemistry efforts. In fact, I didn't know if I was going to receive my diploma until my re-exam in chemistry had been graded. I was not the strongest student.”
Multiple faculty members made and indelible mark on Ted’s Severn experience. “Mr. Stone was an interesting character...the whole list of wonderful people...Lindsay, Teel, and Kesmodel, to name a few. And, of course, my adventures with all of my mates and friends, who formed my family tree of childhood memories. Hargrave, Healy, Jones, Gilmore, Pirie... The day started and ended with the group of us, a bunch of dayhops, who all lived on the Naval Academy grounds – we would cram into my jalopy, a 1931 Club Coupe that I had bought for $75. My years at Severn were the focal point of growing up.”
What started in 1948 still continues. Although RADM Walker traveled the world for 34 years while deployed with the Navy, he and his wife Carol returned to the area and settled in northern Virginia. Although he hasn’t made it back to campus in a while, Ted still keeps up with classmates at Navy games and various events when he’s able.
Thank you to Rear Admiral Walker, and thank you to all of our Severn alumni veterans.