Harvie Ellis Walker

Male 1910 - 1991  (80 years)


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  • Name Harvie Ellis Walker 
    Nickname Slug 
    Birth 14 Dec 1910  Scranton, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Military Service 1940 
    World War II (US)
    US Army - South Pacific
    41st Infantry Division 
    Death 25 Apr 1991  Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Harvie and Celeste (Miller) Walker - Normal Hill Cemetery
    Harvie and Celeste (Miller) Walker - Normal Hill Cemetery
    Plot: Walker
    Notes 
    • HARVIE (SLUG) WALKER, 80, RETIRED COACH AND EDUCATOR
      Retired Lewiston coach, teacher and junior high school principal Harvie E. (Slug) Walker, known for his gruff exterior and big heart, died of causes related to age Thursday night at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
      Walker, 80, had been ill for some time.
      He was the first principal of Jenifer Junior High School at Lewiston and served there for 15 years, until 1974.
      He was a strict disciplinarian, but ''inside he had a heart as big as all outdoors,'' Virgel A. Larson, assistant superintendent of the Lewiston School District, said Friday. Larson served as principal at Sacajawea Junior High while Walker was at Jenifer.
      Frank B. Clark, retired principal of Lewiston High School, said his friend was strict, but ran a ''good school.''
      ''He was truthful, he'd say what he thought and follow through on it,'' Clark said.
      Walker also was the coach of winning basketball, football and track teams at Lewiston schools.
      ''Harvie had great rapport with kids he had the knack,'' Larson said. ''He was a joy to be around.''
      Walker was named to the Idaho Hall of Fame in 1978 and to the Idaho High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1986.
      Walker Field on Fourth Street at Lewiston was named in his honor.
      He was born Dec. 14, 1910, at Scranton, Pa., to John G. and Maude Layton Walker. He graduated from Central High School at Scranton, where he lettered in football and track.
      Walker came to Idaho on a football scholarship to the University of Idaho. He played right halfback and quarterback and was a member of the Hell Divers swim team, the freshman track team and the sophomore baseball team.
      He received his bachelor's degree in 1934 and his master's degree in 1936. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the light infantry of the Idaho National Guard.
      In 1936 to 1937, Walker taught at Republic (Wash.) High School. He came to Lewiston in 1937, where he taught physical education, algebra and sports at Lewiston Junior High School. He also began a 25-year career officiating athletic events in the Pacific Coast Conference.
      During the summers he played baseball and managed a town baseball team.
      He and Celeste E. Miller were married at Lewiston May 20, 1940. She died Sept. 20, 1983.
      From 1940 to 1945, Walker served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific as the athletic and special services officer for the 41st Infantry Division. He supervised the athletic events and entertainment for 15,000 men.
      In 1945, Walker returned to Lewiston to teach and coach. He coached track for a year taking third place in the state competition in 1946. He helped organize the American Legion Baseball program and won state and regional tournaments that same year with his teams in 1946.
      From 1950 to 1954, he taught at the junior high and also coached the LHS football team.
      During his last five years as a classroom teacher and coach, he took the junior varsity football team through five seasons with only two defeats.
      He served 25 years on the Lewiston Boys Club Board of Directors. In 1957, he served as president of the Idaho Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and was manager for the Northwest association's convention at Lewiston.
      In 1962, he was a director of the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce and was chairman of the chamber's Armed Forces and Civil Defense Committee.
      He served as commissioner of basketball officials for District 2 of the Idaho High School Activities Association from 1962 to 1969. From 1966 to 1967, he was president of the Idaho Association of Secondary School Principals and from 1967 to 1970, he served on the national board of directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
      In 1972, he served on the Planning, Building and Financial Committee for the Lewiston Civic Center.
      He was a 52-year and life member of the Lewiston Elks Lodge No. 896; a five-year member of Lewis-Clark Post No. 13 of the American Legion; and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Beta Kappa honorary societies at the UI.
      He served for many years as a precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party.
      Survivors include three sons, Harvie E. Walker Jr. of Carson City, Nev., P.J. Walker of Lewiston and James M. Walker of Portland, Ore.; a daughter, Mary Celeste Thomas of Boise; a brother, Layton Walker of El Paso, Texas; and six grandchildren.
      A memorial service is scheduled at 11 a.m. next Saturday in the Jenifer Junior High School gymnasium at 1213 16th St., Lewiston.
      The family suggests any memorial contributions be made to the Harvie (Slug) Walker Scholarship Fund, in care of Lewiston High School, 1114 Ninth Ave., Lewiston, Idaho 83501.
    Person ID I4132  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 22 May 2014 

    Father John George Walker,   b. 24 Dec 1885, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Jun 1971, Elmira, Chemung Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years) 
    Mother Maude Irene Layton,   b. 12 Apr 1887, Equinunk, Wayne Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Apr 1966, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years) 
    Marriage 20 Aug 1908  Tusten, Sullivan Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F13812  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Celeste Eleanor Miller,   b. 24 May 1914, Idaho, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Sep 1983, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years) 
    Marriage 20 May 1940  Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Harvie and Celeste (Miller) Walker Engagement Annoucement
    Harvie and Celeste (Miller) Walker Engagement Annoucement
    Children 
     1. Harvie E. Walker, Jr.
     2. P. J. Walker
     3. James M. Walker
     4. Mary Celeste Walker
    Family ID F11019  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 22 May 2014 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 14 Dec 1910 - Scranton, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 20 May 1940 - Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Apr 1991 - Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Nez Perce Co., Idaho, USA Link to Google Earth
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