A new state-of-the-art facility overlooking Rhodes Stadium is planned to serve student athletes and coaches, and will include a spacious weight room, meeting and locker rooms, and offices for coaches.
In recognition of Walker’s generous gift, Elon will name the head football coach’s office in honor of Jerry Tolley, former Elon football coach and current University Advancement staff member. Tolley was recently named a member of the 2008-2009 Hall of Fame class of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Tolley won NAIA national football championships in 1980 and 1981.
Walker praised Tolley for instilling “moral courage” and other important values in his players and helping them to become upstanding adults.
“Jerry has come to represent the wonderful things Elon stands for, particularly in athletics,” Walker says. “He has passed along what I call ‘the Elon mystique’ to generations of football players.”
Walker has been a loyal supporter of university programs and annual giving. He says he believes in giving to Elon because of the quality education that his daughters, Wendy Walker ’78 and Lynn Streett ’79, and his grandson, David Streett ’06, received. He is chair of the Grandparent Leadership Society and a member of Elon’s Board of Visitors.
Walker served in the Navy for 38 years, including 34 years of commissioned service. He is vice chair of Herley Industries and a consultant with Vanguard Industries. An active volunteer, he is chair of the board of Vinson Hall, a retirement community in McLean, Va., for former military officers, a trustee of the Naval Academy Foundation and treasurer of the U.S. Navy Memorial.
Walker’s gift will be counted as part of the university’s upcoming fundraising campaign to build the endowment.