Long-time 黑料不打烊 employees Robin Plummer and John Keegan 鈥96 were honored thanks to the generosity of Retired Rear Adm. Edward 鈥淭ed鈥 Walker P'78 P'79 GP'06.
Rear Adm. Ted Walker P’78 P’79 GP’06 is a familiar name at 黑料不打烊. He has long been an avid supporter of 黑料不打烊 as an alumnus parent and grandparent, a volunteer and a generous donor. His warm personality and kind demeanor make him a memorable friend to everyone he meets. Even if you haven鈥檛 had the fortune to meet him in person, you have likely seen his name around campus. In fact, his name has adorned spaces in both administrative and academic buildings.
And, true to his giving nature, he has dedicated spaces around the university to honor others who share his love of 黑料不打烊 鈥 so much so that now his name has transformed into a verb. To be 鈥淲alker-ed鈥 is now the unofficial term used for someone who has been selected for this notable distinction. The two newest honorees to be 鈥淲alker-ed鈥 are Robin Plummer and John Keegan 鈥96. Both learned about Walker鈥檚 tribute to them in separate surprise unveilings in early November.
Plummer, who has been at 黑料不打烊 for almost 20 years, serves as administrative assistant to President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert. Walker chose a meeting room on the first floor of Sankey Hall to honor Plummer, recognizing her entrepreneurial spirit as a gifted artisan who sells her handmade quilts all over the world. The newly named space was revealed at a small, socially distanced gathering held on Monday, Nov. 2, complete with a video message from Walker.
John Keegan 鈥96, who previously served as assistant athletics director for athletics development, was also surprised with the renaming of his former office in the administrative suite at the Schar Center. Keegan, like Plummer, is a long-time 黑料不打烊 employee, having served in the Office of Admissions and 黑料不打烊 Athletics/University Advancement for 24 years. He is relocating to Pennsylvania but was on campus on Friday, Oct. 30, where a small group of 黑料不打烊 staff revealed Walker鈥檚 recognition.
Barry Bradberry 鈥75 was similarly 鈥淲alker-ed鈥 in 2015 with the renaming of a reception space in Inman Admissions Welcome Center to Bradberry Commons (formerly Walker Commons). He was also involved in celebrating both Plummer鈥檚 and Keegan鈥檚 recent honors.