Shunning the spotlight for himself, Larry Walker was recently thrust into it when the Lady Blackhawks honored him for the foundation he laid for them in basketball.
Walker, former long-time basketball coach at Pea Ridge High School, was honored on basketball senior night. Athletes and parents of athletes, many themselves former Blackhawks, joined Walker on the gym floor for the salute.
He no longer coaches, but his dedication to developing athletes and diligence in training them has helped several to succeed. Former Lady Blackhawk Stacie Klott, coach for the North Arkansas College Lady Pioneers, recently broke a school record for number of wins. She said Walker helped prepare for her success now.
Walker, 60, has coached and taught at Pea Ridge High School since 1985. He has coached both boys and girls basketball, has retired from coaching and returned to it. He also served as the school's athletic director for a time.
"All the years run together anymore," Walker said, when trying to name which roles were held for which years. "I'm starting to get a lot of third generation kids in school.
"I like seeing kids come in as seventh graders and seeing them develop by the time they graduate. They go from a bunch of little ole' knock-kneed seventh graders who look like they haven't even picked up a basketball to their senior high school year ... by then, they're a bunch of really good players."
"Basketball is continuous movement. It's non-stop action and I've always liked it," he said. "I knew growing up in high school that I would coach some day."
"Looking back, I had some really good coaches through high school that had a big influence on me. My dad was a tremendous player. I probably learned more from him than a lot of people," Walker recalled. "It's fast paced, constant action and great competition in my book."
"I'm all about competition," he said.
"I enjoy coaching, but I guess you would say watching kids develop is what's fun about it ... not only on the court, but also in the weight room and as a person in general," Walker said. He is adamant that all students should be involved in extra curricular activities -- athletics, band. "It's a proven fact, it makes you a more well-rounded person and helps you academically and socially."
Walker said Klott was a great player, "she may have been one of the best players I've ever coached. She has done a great job of coaching herself."
"I can think of several," Walker said, names rolling off his tongue of both boys and girls who have gone on to play basketball in college and some have become coaches. "Some have won state championships."
Heather Henson Wade, a teacher at PRHS and former Lady Blackhawk coach, played under Walker before going on to College of the Ozarks. At one point, Walker was assistant coach under Wade.
"I'm proud of the fact we've had so many go on and become really successful coaches," Walker said, recalling not only former players, but former assistant coaches who have gone to other schools and been successful.
Walker, a native of Houston, Mo., graduated from Houston High School in 1975 then went to Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., for two years before transferring to College of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo., where he earned his bachelor's of science in education. He said he played all sports in high school and played basketball and golf in college. After graduating, he worked for the Hurley School District for one year and Gainesville for three years then moved to Pea Ridge.
Over the years he has taught science and driver's education as well as coaching.
"I love the town. I love the school," Walker said of Pea Ridge, explaining that he told his father when he decided to go into coaching and his father expressed concern about moving his family every few years. "I told him that if I could find a job I like and the people could tolerate me, I will stay there ... I told my dad I wanted to see my kids go to school in one place. And they did. I'm really thankful for that."
"I enjoy what I do."
Walker and his wife, Jenny, have two sons, Freddie, who now lives in North Carolina with his wife, Leah, and Adam, who, along with his wife, Michelle, and 2-year-old son, Cade, live in Pea Ridge.
Sports on 03/22/2017