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Walker, who played for Chester from 1953-56, was a two-time high school All-American for the Clippers and a third-team All-American as a senior for Michigan State University. He also played one year in the NBA for the Chicago Zephyrs before settling on a career as a sports agent.
"He was a good all-around guy," said Joe Iacono, a teammate of Walker's. "He never thought he was better than anybody else. There were a lot of good ballplayers to play at Chester, but Horace was the best."
At 6-3, Walker dominated the basketball court. He was poetry in motion and took fans' breath away with his unrelenting brand of basketball. As a sophomore, Walker helped the Clippers reach the state final for the first time in school history. Walker scored six points in the 58-52 loss to Farrell in the state title game. A year later, he dropped 15 points as Chester fell short in the state championship game again, 54-48 to McKeesport.
Walker is a member of the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame. He received the Hall of Fame's Bob Finucane Memorial Award for his success in the business world following his graduation from Michigan State.
"To me, I think he is the best basketball player to ever come out of Chester," said Al "Bunky" Francis, who has attended Chester basketball games for over 40 years. "He was one of the most unselfish players I've ever seen. He could've scored 1,000 points a year if he wanted to."
Instead, Walker scored 1,516 points in an era when varsity players never saw more than three years of action and there was no 3-point shot. During his senior year, Walker averaged 24.4 points and 30 rebounds per game. Walker helped Chester compile a 76-6 record during his three years. He is the only Clipper to have his jersey retired. He wore No. 3.
After overcoming academic difficulties, which forced him to miss most of his sophomore season at Michigan State, Walker was voted one of the best 15 players in the country after his senior season. In a different year, he may have been named a first-team All-American. Selected ahead of Walker were, among others, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, Darrel Imhoff, Chet Walker, Terry Dischinger, Dave DeBusschere and Walt Bellamy.
Walker still holds the Michigan State record for rebounds in a game with 28. He achieved the mark in a game against Iowa in 1960. Walker also holds the Big Ten record for most rebounds in a season with 256.
"He was a good leaper," said Iacono. "He could really jump. He dominated the game back then and I think he was the best big man for his size."
During his senior year at Chester, which ended with a heartbreaking 62-51 loss to Radnor in the district championship game, Walker unfurled masterpiece after masterpiece. He scored 32 points and grabbed 35 rebounds in a 69-36 win over St. James. During a 62-38 romp over Lower Merion, Walker scored 23 points and grabbed 40 rebounds. He had 30 points and 32 rebounds in a 63-49 win over Ridley Township.
At Michigan State, Walker was a ferocious rebounder in the physical Big Ten Conference. Walker demonstrated his greatness during an amazing stretch against some future NBA performers in his senior year. Although giving away anywhere from five to eight inches, he outscored and outrebounded Ohio State's Lucas with 27 points and 16 rebounds; had 29 points and 26 rebounds against Indiana's 6-11 Bellamy; 24 and 23 against Minnesota's Ron Johnson; 27 points and 16 boards against current Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson, who at the time played for Iowa; and 26 and 15 against Dischinger of Purdue. Ohio State went on to win the NCAA title that year.
He averaged 22.7 points and 18.2 rebounds, which led the conference, to earn all-Big Ten honors. He finished second to Lucas in the voting for Big Ten MVP, inspiring Michigan State coach Forddy Anderson to call Walker the best basketball player he ever coached. A year ago, Walker was voted one of the 25 greatest players in Spartan history.
"He was a complete ballplayer," Francis said. "He could do it all: Rebound, play defense, and shoot. You had to see him to believe him. It just seemed like he got every rebound."
Walker was the youngest of four brothers. Although many remember Walker as an outstanding basketball player, many remember him as a better person off the court.
His greatest assist, however, may have been uniting the city of Chester. When Walker played, Chester was a racially divided city. There weren't marches, protests or riots, but along color lines, many people didn't associate with members of the opposite race.
"He had the greatest impact on this city, before or after, of any athlete I covered," Gebhart said. "With his talent and the way he played, everybody was a Chester High fan, no matter the color. There wasn't a real togetherness until Horace came along."
Walker was a member of one of the first integrated Chester teams in school history. Before Walker, the Clippers fielded a mostly white basketball team, a far cry from the current team, which is all black.
"All he wanted to do was to set a positive trail and be a mentor to all," said Jim Long, another teammate of Walker's. "He was one of the greatest humanitarians that ever lived. He just touched people in a positive way."
In addition to his basketball exploits, Walker was the vice president of his class, a member of the chorus, secretary for the Key Club, Student Council representative, member of the art club, varsity club and a sports reporter for the school newspaper, "The Welcome."
After graduating from Michigan State, Walker held executive positions with some of the largest corporations in America -- Ford, Cummings Engines, Crocker and Wells Fargo banks. He has worked on four continents. He served as a sports agent and lived in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, where some of his neighbors included O.J. Simpson, Wilt Chamberlain and West.
Walker had three children.
Obituary information was not available last night.
"I never saw a better high school basketball player and I don't think I ever will," Gebhart said. "If he had stayed (in Chester) he could've done a lot (for the city). (Los Angeles') gain was our loss."
To contact Rob Knox, e-mail
rknox@delcotimes.com
