J. Fred Walker Papers

James Frederick Walker was born July 30, 1904 in Rivertown, AL. He received his high school education at Pontotoc and received a bachelor's degree in 1926 from the Universiy of Mississippi. Later he also eared a master's degree from Ole Miss and his Ph.D. from the Universily of Iowa.

He began teaching physics and biology at Mississippi Normal College (now the Universiy of Southern Mississippi) in 1926. He became a full professor in 1935 and chairman of the newly formed Biology Department in 1946. During Wolrd War II, Dr. Walker taught at the U.S. Naval Reserve Base in Boston, MA, at the University of Iowa Pre-flight School, and the College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons in Los Angeles, CA.

By 1959, his dream of a new science building on campus became a reality. In 1967, he was elected Distinguished Professor of the Year by the Alumni Association, and in 1968, Walker was again honored when the university named the science center for him.

Dr. Walker served as chairman of the Biology Department until 1969, when he was named associate dean of the College of Arts and Science, a position held until 1972. Walker was promoted i 1973 to Distinguished University Professor, the highest honor a USM faculty member can achieve.

Dr. Walker retired from the university on June 30, 1974, after 48 years of service. He also also taught at the Fulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs and aided in foundin geh laboratory.