Friday, July 16, 1999
Mourners say farewell to legendary coach
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — Mourners turned out Thursday to pay final tribute to the man this city knew as “Mr. Basketball.”
Paul Crane Walker, head coach of the Middletown Middies boys basketball team for 30 years, took center court for the final time before a crowd of nearly 100 family members, friends and former players.
Well-known Middletown High products A.C. Mitchell, Bud Bierly, John Fraley and Ed “Skeeter” Payne came to share stories and bid farewell to the local legend. Mr. Walker, 88, died Monday at Middletown Regional Hospital.
“Paul Walker was the best there ever was,” said Ron Blevins, the Middies public address announcer for more than 25 years.
“He started what we call "Middie Magic.'
“He was a legend in his own time.”
His five state championships and 695 wins mark a high school basketball legacy that will long be remembered throughout Ohio.
But Thursday, those in attendance at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home in Middletown paused to remember the man as well as the coach.
“He had so much to give and he just kept on giving,” said son Tim, recalling how his father always included him in team functions.
“He never forgot about his family. He had a public legacy that (the community) knew about, and he had a private legacy that (his family) knew about. And his record was pretty outstanding on both counts.”
Lori Walker said she never knew Paul Walker, the coach, “but I knew him as my grandfather. One of the greatest men I've ever known.”
Mr. Walker's eldest son, Paul Jr., said his father's work ethic arose from his humble beginnings in Tennessee.
“He understood the value of hard work and knew what it took to be successful,” he said. “He imbued that same work ethic in his players.”
Mr. Walker's casket, adorned with flowers, sat at the front of the chapel, while trophies, plaques, news articles and pictures of his five state championship teams decorated an area in the back of the room.
A COACH FOR THE AGES
Born April 17, 1911, in Summerton, Tenn., Paul Walker began his basketball coaching career at Hardinsburg (Ky.) High School with a record of 54-12 in three seasons (1935-37). But his greatest fame came as the coach of the Middies.
Five times Mr. Walker coached the AP's No. 1 team, was named the coach of the year three times and was named the coach of the year in the country in 1973-74 by the National Athletic Coaches Association.
He compiled a record of 562-136 (80.5 percent) in 30 seasons with the Purple & White. He won state championships in 1947, 1952, 1953, 1956 and 1957. His astounding 76-game winning streak from 1956-58 remains a record for Ohio boys basketball.
Mr. Walker is credited with molding such players as NBA Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas and former University of Indiana standout and head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Butch Carter.
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