E. E. “Flash” Walker coached basketball,football,and track at BrazosportHigh School from 1956 to 1976 until his retirement. Coach Walker is also a member of the Texas Coaches Hall of Honor. He passed away in 2002.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE LIFE OF FLASH WALKER.
TO HONOR THE LEGEND.
HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO BE A NEPHEW OF ELBERT ELKINS “FLASH” WALKER.
FLASH WAS AN ATHLETE.
FOR THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS HE WAS HONORED IN HIS GENERATION AND WAS A GLORY IN HIS DAY.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE MANY AND WELL CHRONICLED.
YOU DON’T GET NICKNAMED “FLASHY”—SHORTENED TO “FLASH” WITHOUT BEING GOOD.
HE HAD THE CONFIDENCE AND BRAVADO THAT GREAT ATHLETES HAVE—TO MAKE THE PLAY.
EVEN IN HIS SEVENTIES, WAS THERE ANYONE BETTER AT MAKING THE 4 FOOT PUTT THAT HE HAD TO MAKE?
HE LOVED THE “GAME”.
THE OPENING OF A GRANTLAND RICE POEM DESCRIBES THIS WELL—
BEYOND THE WINNING AND THE GOAL,
BEYOND THE STORY AND THE FLAME,
HE FEELS THE FLAME WITHIN HIS SOUL,
BORN OF THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME.
BUT---OUR GOOD FORTUNE IS THAT FLASH DECIDED TO MAKE THE YOUNG PEOPLE HIS MINISTRY.
HE BECAME COACH E.E. “FLASH” WALKER.
“COACH” MEANS MANY THINGS—TEACHER, CONFIDANT, TASKMASTER, FRIEND, COUNSELOR.
MANY OF YOU HAD THE GREAT GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE FLASH AS YOUR COACH—
YOU CAN SHUT YOUR EYES AND STILL SEE HIM IN ACTION-----TEACHING-—DEMONSTRATING—COACHING!
MY VISION OF “FLASH” COACHING IS OF A THIN, SINEW-LEGGED MAN IN HIS 70’S—RETIRED FROM SCHOOL, SHOWING MY YOUNG CHILDREN—WITH GREAT VIGOR—HOW TO DIVE IN THE SMALL SWIMMING POOL AT THE APARTMENT HE SHARED WITH HIS LONGTIME WIFE, MARTHA LOU.
STILL COACHING.
10/9/10
Flash Walker was my dad... what an unbelieveable spirit. There is not a day goes by that I don't think about him and the values that he instilled in me. I am no saint but I live daily by his enthusiasm for life and sports. Flash was a good Christian as well in his own private way. I inherited that as well and my two sons haven't fallen too far from the tree.
Below is the eulogy that my cousin Bill Turney gave for Flash in 2002. Thought it was worth sharing.
John Walker
I LAST SAW FLASH 6 DAYS AGO—1 DAY BEFORE HE DIED.
I WAS ASTOUNDED HE WAS HANGING ON TO LIFE.
BUT---I THINK I KNOW WHY—
HIS GRANDDAUGHTER, MICHELLE, GOT MARRIED LAST SATURDAY. I HAVE TO THINK THAT SOMEHOW FLASH KNEW THAT HE HAD TO HANG ON UNTIL THE WEDDING FESTIVITIES CONCLUDED SO AS NOT TO PUT A DAMPER ON THINGS.
I KNOW THAT IT TOOK ONE LAST HERCULEAN EFFORT—
BUT HE DID IT. ONE LAST TIME HE MADE THE WINNING SHOT.
I DO NOT PRESUME TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HEAVEN OR THE HEREAFTER IS LIKE.
I DO KNOW THAT MOST OF THE TOUGH TEXANS WHO WERE SCRATCHING OUT A HARD SCRABBLE EXISTENCE FROM THE LAND IN THE 1920’S, WHEN FLASH WAS A YOUTH, HAD A VIEW OF A HEAVEN MUCH LIKE EARTH, BUT WITHOUT EARTHLY DISCOMFORT AND PAIN.
YOU WENT UP TO HEAVEN AND WERE ADMITTED IN.
I CAN PICTURE THE AWESOME “FLASH” STANDING AT THE GATES IN HIS COACHING SHORTS, COACHING SHOES AND CAP—PERCHED ON HIS HEAD IN THE UNIQUE WAY THAT ONLY “FLASH” WORE HIS CAPS.
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John Walker (Walker)