| Florida Gators | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1906-12-12)December 12, 1906 Olivet, Michigan |
| Died | March 1, 2004(2004-03-01) (aged 97) Mobile, Alabama |
| Listed weight | 133 lb (60 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Hillsborough |
| College | Florida (1926–1927) |
| Awards and highlights | |
| University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame | |
Ion Sessions "Speedy" Walker (December 12, 1906 – March 1, 2004) was acollege football andbasketball player for theFlorida Gators. He served inWorld War 2.[1] He served with the467th Heavy Bomb Group in England.[2]
Walker was born inOlivet, Michigan to Osa Walker and Lottie Sessions. By 1920 his family has moved toOldsmar. Walker attendedHillsborough High School inTampa, playing on the football team and basketball team withDutch Stanley, where they were runner-up for the 1923 state football title, losing toLakeland High School andGoof Bowyer. Walker was captain of the state champion 1923-24 basketball team.
He was a prominenttriple threathalfback for coachTom Sebring'sFlorida Gators football teams in1926 and1927.[3] The smallest member of thebackfield,[4] Walker played as aquarterback in 1924 on the freshman team.[5][6][7] He backed up Bowyer at quarterback on the varsity.[8] He was also the senior captain of the basketball team during the 1927–28 season.[9][10][11] He was a forward on the basketball team.[12] He also lettered in baseball.[13] He was inducted into theUniversity of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Following graduation, he coached the athletic teams at Bay County High School inPanama City.[14]
