Edward Walker
When Edward Walker looks back on his time at Victoria College, he’s instantly reminded of the educators who left a profound impact on him—so much so that he followed in their footsteps and has now been teaching for 29 years. Today, he serves as an accounting professor at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Walker originally planned to attend Baylor University after high school, but a family illness changed his plans. He still remembers calling the college to enroll, and Dr. Roland Bing, former VC President, helped arrange everything. While it was difficult at the time, he now considers the detour an act of serendipity.
“The faculty of Victoria College started me on my journey to being a lifelong learner,” said Walker. “I felt so at home that I finished my first two years there. The entire experience there was a wonderful foundation for the rest of my college career as well as my career as an educator.”
Walker originally planned to pursue medicine, but his exposure to so many different subjects and professors at VC opened a new world of possibilities.
“At the time, Wayne McAlister was teaching biology and opened my mind to exploring things more deeply,” recalled Walker. “Harold Gardner did the same thing in Chemistry. Morris Azbill and Mary Doughtie deepened my love for writing, and Wilma Felger made history come alive. The lessons and teaching techniques I learned from James Gleason, Julia Riggs and Joe Holcombe made me a better teacher and a better person.”
Walker carried those lessons with him to Texas State University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting and psychology, and later to the University of Houston, where he completed his master’s and doctorate. He worked in the public and private accounting industry before fully committing to his passion — teaching.
He still credits his former VC professors for inspiring his own teaching philosophy.
“All these wonderful people put their hearts into the welfare of their students and set an example for the future,” said Walker.
VC wants to hear from former and current Pirates. Visit VictoriaCollege.edu/ShareYourStory to submit a success story in honor of VC’s 100th anniversary.