Morris Walker has been an athlete, teacher/coach and administrator during his years of involvement with the NCHSAA. The long-time resident of West Jefferson was an outstanding athlete at Lansing High and went on to graduate from Appalachian State in 1960. He coached for a period of 12 years at Ashe Central and Northwest Ashe, winning five conference championships and advancing to the NCHSAA state tournament three times in basketball while also coaching football and baseball. In 1972 he began a 16-year stint as principal of Northwest Ashe, during which time the school greatly expanded its sports programs. He even helped raise money to build the first indoor swimming pool in the state owned and paid for by the school and run as part of the instructional program. He became superintendent of Ashe County schools in 1989, where he stayed until his retirement a decade later. He has served the NCHSAA in a variety of ways, including a term on the Board of Directors from 1971-75 and as a key member of its Realignment Committee.
July 8, 2019
