The 2012 Gold Blazers-Bob Walker


The Gold Blazer Award is presented annually to alumni who have provided outstanding service to the Alumni Association and the university.

Robert “Bob” Lee Walker

became Administrative Assistant at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas shortly after his graduation from A&M-Commerce. He stayed there for four years as an administrative coordinator where he oversaw Woodlawn Hospital, a facility for psychiatric and extended care. He was also in charge of emergency services for Parkland. He spent time as an assistant administrator for Doctors Hospital in Dallas from 1976 to 1979. After his time there, Walker joined Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. He was promoted to Hospital Administrator in 1982, and in 1989 he was named Executive Vice President and Administrator. Bob Walker was elected President and CEO by the hospital's board of trustees in January of 2012. He has served as a member of the Texas Hospital Association board of trustees, chairman of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council board of trustees, a board member for the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas since 1986 and sits on the board for Special Camps for Special Kids. He has been in leadership roles for United Way campaigns and was chairman of the Shelton School Learning and Evaluation Center board of directors for three years. Walker was awarded the Trinity University Leonard A. Duce Award for Excellence in Health Care Administration in 1992. He holds Fellowship status in the American College of Health Care Executives. Walker is an avid runner and has served on the board of directors for the Dallas Marathon since 1997. He ran the Boston Marathon three times and has run several others throughout his adult life. He is a proud Eagle Scout, a 33 degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall where he previously served on the Elder Board. He and his wife, Pat—an alumna—have been married for 46 years and have two children.