Ted Walker
Why Support Severn?
I met with Ted Walker '50 and asked him why he supports Severn so consistently and generously. Ted yearly gives a gift to the Severn Annual Fund to support our faculty and also is a member of the Severn 1914 Society, having named Severn in his estate plans. The conversation we had was a lovely walk down memory lane.
Ted had moved constantly in his youth as a son of a naval officer. He had been to 10-12 schools before coming to Severn in the fall of 1948 for his junior and senior year.
Thank goodness I came to Severn, said Ted. Severn gave me an absolute foundation for the Naval Academy and my Navy career. Severn taught me study habits and gave me a solid foundation in both science and the arts. It was the wonderful professors. Mr. Hill, who lived over the Dining Hall – survived my chemistry efforts. In fact, I didn't know if I was going to receive my diploma until my re-exam in chemistry had been graded. I was not the strongest student.
Mr. Stone was an interesting character...the whole list of wonderful people...Lindsay, Teel, and Kesmodel, to name a few. And, of course, my adventures with all of my mates and friends, who formed my family tree of childhood memories. Hargrave, Healy, Jones, Gilmore, Pirie... The day started and ended with the group of us, a bunch of dayhops, who all lived on the Naval Academy grounds – we would cram into my jalopy, a 1931 Club Coupe that I had bought for $75. My years at Severn were the focal point of growing up.
What started in 1948 still continues. Although RADM Walker and his lovely wife, Carol Ann, traveled the world for 34 years while deployed with the Navy, they returned to the area and settled in Alexandria, VA. Ted comes to Severn often, but meets up with classmates more at Navy games and various events. Who he met and what he learned at Severn in 1948-1950 has served him well, he said, he is grateful and that is why he supports Severn.