“Wally played basketball and baseball at A&M while I was there playing basketball. I was from a little town in East Texas, and he was from a little school in Arkansas. We both were born in the Depression. He was just 33 days older than me. During those long train rides to games on the East Coast, West Coast and in between, you were able to develop such a great bond with guys like that. Wally and I became really close.

“I used to watch him play baseball at A&M. I remember he hit about seven homers in a 10-day period. After that, scouts from every Major League team were there to see him. He signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, hit a home run in his first at bat, and went on to win the Rookie of the Year award. I continued to follow his career when he was traded to the Dodgers, and I saw some of the games when they came to Houston to play the Astros. Even though he was this superstar, you wouldn’t know it. He was just a really great person. I will always treasure my friendship with Wally. I’m just sorry I didn’t get to see him that one final time.”

— Woody Walker

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