Doak Walker Day at HPHS
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:28 pm
HPHS students will host a special schoolwide assembly next Tuesday morning, April 9th, when representatives from the Pro Football Hall of Fame will celebrate the legacy of the legendary Doak Walker.
Walker, a 1944 graduate of HPHS, went on to play football at Southern Methodist University, where he received the Heisman Trophy in 1948. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round in 1949. He joined the team in 1950 and quickly erased any doubt that, at 5-11 and 173 pounds, he would be overwhelmed by the "big boys" of the NFL. In 1950, he was All-NFL, the Rookie of the Year, the league-scoring champion, and a Pro Bowl participant. When Walker wound up his six-season career after the 1955 campaign, he had been named All-NFL five times and selected to five Pro Bowls. It's no coincidence that, during his pro career, the Lions enjoyed their finest years with three divisional titles and NFL championship victories over the Cleveland Browns in 1952 and 1953. Walker was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. He passed away on Sept. 27, 1998, at the age of 71.
HPHS Mens Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Randy Allen will be the master of ceremonies, and members of Walker's family will be in attendance.
The students at HPHS are honored to host this event. Because of limited seating in the gym, we will not be able to open up the ceremony to non-students, but we will videotape the ceremony and post the link on the school website and the district's YouTube channel for all to enjoy.