Wikipedia

Dean Walker

Dean H. Walker (September 9, 1889 – December 24, 1953) was an American athlete, coach, politician who played running back for the University of Oregon football team from 1909 to 1912, was head coach of the University of Oregon men's basketball team from 1918 to 1919, and was president of the Oregon State Senate from 1941 to 1943.

Dean Walker
33rd President of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1941–1943
Preceded byRobert M. Duncan
Succeeded byWilliam H. Steiwer
Personal details
Born(1889-09-09)September 9, 1889
Rickreall, Oregon, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 1953(1953-12-24) (aged 64)
Salem, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of Oregon
Columbia University
Coaching career
Playing career
Football
1907–1908Columbia (OR)
1909–1912Oregon
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1916–1917Oregon (Freshmen)
Basketball
1918–1919Oregon
Baseball
1918Oregon
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1913–1914Oregon (Grad. Man. of Ath.)
1918–1919Oregon (Grad. Man. of Ath.)
1923–1925Oregon (Student loan dir.)
1925–1927Oregon (Dean of men)
Head coaching record
Overall13–4 (men's basketball)
10–2 (baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Pacific Coast Conference basketball champion (1919)

Early life

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Walker was born in Rickreall, Oregon on September 9, 1889 to Sida and Georgia Walker.[1] He played football at Independence High School in Independence, Oregon and was captain of the team his senior season. He then played two seasons for Columbia University (now the University of Portland) and was team captain during his second season.[2]

University of Oregon

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Walker was a substitute fullback for the 1909 Oregon Webfoots football team, but received almost the same amount of playing time as a starter due to coach Robert Forbes' dual team system.[3] He began the 1910 season as the team's starting halfback, but was forced to withdraw from the university before the season ended.[4] He returned to the team in 1911 and was captain of the 1912 Oregon Webfoots football team.[4][2] Walker was also a forward on the Oregon basketball team for two seasons.[2]

In 1913, Walker was named Oregon's graduate manager of athletics.[5] He gave the job up after one year to take over his father's ranch.[6] He also sold hop insurance and spraying materials.[7] He returned to the university in 1916 as freshman football coach.[8] He returned for the 1917 season and the following spring was named head coach of the Oregon baseball team.[9][10] In 1918, he was once again named graduate manager after A. R. Tiffany resigned to focus on his duties as registrar.[6] In 1919, Walker led Oregon's basketball team to the Pacific Coast Conference title, defeating California Golden Bears two games to none in a best-of-three championship series.[11] Later that year, he resigned as graduate manager and was replaced by Marion McClain.[12]

After leaving the university, Walker was a junior partner in the Wetherbee-Walker furniture company. In 1923, he left the firm to return to Oregon as student loan director.[13] In 1925, he became the university's dean of men.[14] In 1927, he was granted a leave of absence to study at Columbia University.[15]

Politics

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In 1920, the Eugene, Oregon city council unanimously voted to appoint Walker to fill the unexpired term of Ward 1 councilor William Polders.[16]

From 1933 to 1935, Walker, who was now residing in Independence, represented the 10th House district in the Oregon House of Representatives.[17] In 1934, he was elected to the 9th district seat in the Oregon State Senate by a 63-vote margin.[18] He was appointed chairman of the ways and means committee as a freshman and was reappointed for the 1937–38 and 1939–40 legislative sessions.[19][20][21]

In 1941, he was unanimously voted president of the Oregon State Senate.[22] He did not run for the presidency in 1943, but remained in the legislature and was appointed chairman of the senate tax committee.[23][24] In 1945, he was once again named head of the ways and means committee.[25] He was reappointed in 1947.[26] In 1949, Walker, now Dean of the Senate, was once again chairman of the tax committee.[27][28]

In 1949, Walker was the primary sponsor of a bill which would make it unlawful to operate a theater without prohibiting the eating of popcorn and peanuts. Any theater owner found in violation would be subject to a $100 fine or 30 days in jail. Any patron annoyed by someone eating popcorn or peanuts could get thrice the cost of their ticket back and sue for damages if they did not receive the money.[29] The bill did not get far, but attracted nationwide attention.[30]

For the 1953–54 legislative session, Walker was named chairman of the ways and means committee and vice chairman of the tax committee.[31] On December 24, 1953, Walker died in Salem, Oregon following a heart attack.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dean H. Walker Died at Salem". The Bulletin. December 24, 1953. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Dean Walker is Elected Captain of Football Team". Eugene Register-Guard. December 7, 1911. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Fair Outlook for 'Varsity Foot Ball Team". Eugene Register-Guard. August 16, 1910. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Dickinson To Play Here". The Sunday Morning Star. September 24, 1911. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Walker in Charge of Oregon Teams". Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 1, 1913. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Walker Will Boss Sports at U. Of. O." Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 29, 1918. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. ^ "City News". Eugene Register-Guard. August 5, 1914. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  8. ^ "22 Athletes At Initial Practice". Eugene Register-Guard. September 14, 1916. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Name Dean Walker to Coach Freshies". Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 10, 1917. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Walker to Coach Baseball Team at Oregon U". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 8, 1918. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Coast Title Won By Oregon Basketeers From California 'U'". Eugene Register-Guard. March 7, 1919. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Marion McClain Chosen to Hold Graduate Managership". Eugene Register-Guard. June 14, 1919. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Dean Walker Loan Director At University". Eugene Register-Guard. September 15, 1923. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Campus Changes Now Being Made". Eugene Register-Guard. July 25, 1925. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Dean Walker to Continue Study At Columbia U." Eugene Register-Guard. June 5, 1928. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Dean H. Walker to Succeed Polders". Eugene Register-Guard. January 14, 1920. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  17. ^ The Oregon Blue Book – 1933-34. 1933. p. 46. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Dean Walker Is Named Senator". Eugene Register-Guard. November 9, 1934. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Legislature Organizes In 1935 Session". The Bulletin. January 14, 1935. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Legislature Begins In Harmonious Style". The Bulletin. January 11, 1937. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Legislative Sessions Are Brief Today". The Bulletin. January 6, 1939. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Legislature Session Opens". Eugene Register-Guard. January 13, 1941. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  23. ^ "State Senate In Deadock (sic); Delay Looms". The Bulletin. January 9, 1943. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  24. ^ Bremer, Arthur (January 27, 1943). "School Support Gets Attention". The Bulletin. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Wheeler And Gibson Get Important Posts". Eugene Register-Guard. January 8, 1945. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Sen. Gibson Heads Forestry Committee". Eugene Register-Guard. January 13, 1947. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  27. ^ Barrett, Eldon (January 4, 1949). "45th Legislature To Be 'Greenest' In Recent Years". The Bulletin. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  28. ^ "Senate Passes Main State Tax Program". Eugene Register-Guard. April 2, 1949. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Senators Chomp Into Bill To Stop Movie Popcorn". Eugene Register-Guard. April 7, 1949. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  30. ^ Harvey, Paul (February 9, 1969). "Bills Become 'Vehicles'". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  31. ^ Harvey, Paul (March 24, 1953). "Budget Balancing Job Almost Over". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
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