Dr. LeRoy T. Walker
|
Posted By: Christopher A. Smith - on October 08, 2005 The Benedict College family echoes the above statement from Mr. Greenspan's quote on the liner notes of Dr. Walker's Biography, "An Olympic Journey," For he certainly has brought honor to Benedict and all of its alumni. Today we salute the man who has brought honor to us all. He is the first of a long and storied history of Benedict athletes who after leaving Benedict went on to distinguish himself in the field of athletics as well as in life. The number "11" that Walker, a member of the Tigers' Athletic Hall of Fame, wore during his football playing days at Benedict was retired as a lasting tribute to his accomplishments while a student-athlete here and the achievements he has gained later in life. Benedict was the spawning ground for Walker's feats on the basketball court and the football field. He lettered in basketball throughout his college career and despite the fact that Benedict didn't have track, he became a sprinter with national-class times. But the most unusual story of his collegiate sports career involves football. Walker, who did not play football in high school, went out for football during his junior year on a dare. Weighing in at 155-pounds, he was so small that the trainer had to alter his shoulder pads. But he proved to be a natural player and coach Lesley Stallworth assured him there was place a place for him on the team as a backup quarterback. Endowed with natural gifts. He could pass, kick and run, which was his biggest asset for if he was ever allowed to get outside a defender, it was "Katie bar the door." When an injury sidelined the starting quarterback, Walker stepped into the breech and the Tigers never looked back. He led Benedict to a conference championship during his junior year and was named a football All-American by the Pittsburgh Courier, the first such honor bestowed on a Benedict player. At the conclusion of Walker's college career, the honor student and star athlete entered Columbia University and earned the Master's degree and a doctorate from New York University. He was the first African American to earn a doctorate in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics from New York University. After receiving the master's degree, Benedict President Dr. J.J. Starks brought him back to his alma mater to head the newly formed Physical Education where he set up class schedules in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and exercise physiology. Dr. Walker achieved his greatest fame as an athlete in track and would later go on to become one of the most successful track and field coaches in the United States. Over the course of his career as coach at North Carolina Central University, he produced 111 All-Americans, 40 National Champions and 12 Olympians. He also coached Olympic teams from Ethiopia, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya and Trinidad-Tobago. In 1976 he became the first African American in Olympic history to coach an U.S. Olympic team. Twenty years later, in 1996, at the apex of his four-year term as President of the U.S. Olympic Committee, his influence and stature were cited as pivotal reasons for the 1996 Summer Games to be held in his native Atlanta. We proudly salute our own Dr. LeRoy T. "PoBelly" Walker, Class of 1940 If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Christopher A. Smith -
From Columbia, SC Benedict College class of 2006 Member Since October 2002 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest Famous HBCU Alumni
 |
Jimmy Smith - Jackson StatePride of the Jaguars: Jimmy Smith
New Pride of the Jaguars inductee Jimmy Smith sits with Brian Sexton and reflects on his career, his struggles and his life today.
https://www.jaguars.com/video/pri ...more
How May I Help You NC • 53 Views • February 10th, 2026 |
 |
"We Are Still Fighting": Beatty Inspires Columbus to Continue Dr. King's Legacy at Annual MLK EventIn celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Congresswoman Beatty joined the City of Columbus' Department of Neighborhoods Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March and Program, in the spirit of Dr. Ki ...more
How May I Help You NC • 122 Views • January 25th, 2026 |
 |
MEET DRE MARTIN WHO IS SEATS BY DRE?HBCU NIGHT
From Martin’s undergraduate experience at Grambling State University, to his Executive MBA studies at Howard University, he has started his own movement to raise awareness for HBCUs, by ...more
How May I Help You NC • 200 Views • January 2nd, 2026 |
 |
Ben Espy: Trailblazing lawyer and leader in ColumbusInspiration is near-)
A state senator a man who graduated from Howard University👨🏾🎓His works live on through members of our world-
He is a father a husband a child ...more
How May I Help You NC • 190 Views • November 11th, 2025 |
 |
Mama Goose® Takes Flight as America’s Most Photographed Airport Fashion Icon Since 2019Before Bridgerton swept us into ballrooms and scandal, there was Mama Goose®— transforming airports into fashion runways with her signature style and over 100 custom-made couture looks.
One of the ...more
Frederick Roberts • 571 Views • August 8th, 2025 |
Popular Famous HBCU Alumni
 |
Della Miles takes Michelle Obama to the stage in "Obama the Musical"When Della Miles was a student at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, everyone new she would be a brighter star one day having been selected Miss PVAMU and 4th Runner-up to Miss Texas/America 1984. ...more
Frederick Roberts • 88,678 Views • April 11th, 2010 |
 |
Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey, the multi media mogul, has garnered international appeal for her talk show. As the first Black woman billionaire in world history, Winfrey has overtaken EBay CEO, Meg Whitman, as the ri ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 37,184 Views • September 30th, 2005 |
 |
Kerry D. ChandlerKerry D. Chandler, a San Diego, CA native, is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at the National Basketball Association responsible for leading the league's global human resources strateg ...more
Ryan Rogers • 34,003 Views • May 3rd, 2011 |
 |
Rick Ross - Yep Another HBCU AlumnusWilliam Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. Ross founded the record label Maybach Music Group. He was born in Coahoma County, M ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 31,955 Views • September 1st, 2010 |
