University Daily Kansan Wednesdav. August 18. 1976 11 Walker mixes medicine, politics By MARION ABARE Staff Write Jack D. Walker wears two hats—one political and one academic. He is chairman of the department of family practice at KU Medical Center, and he is mayor of Overland Park, Johnson County's largest city. Walker said he became a physician by "pure fate." TEN YEARS later Walker received his medical degree from KU. "I got drasted in 1943 after two years at Pittsburgh (State Teachers' College). When I was a high school student, they apparently had to fill a quota that day for medical technologists. They asked if I'd like to be one, and when they said the same thing in Denver, I said, 'That sounds good to me.' Fate also played a role in his political career. Thirty years after Walker had been senior class president of Glard High School, he joined the national game. The phone rang: "Have you ever thought of running for mayor?" the voice on his phone asked. Within four months, Walker bested opponents in Overland Park primary and THE YEAR was 1971 and the family practiced horse-born born. Walker had the double challenges. Ben Sykes, Overland Park councilman, was Walker's opponent during the 1971 and 1973 elections. Sykes said the vote spread was 168 in '71 and 1,800 in '73. "During his first term, he didn't do dodequyle-squat. I think in the second term he has come a long way. The council has groomed him." Svakes said. T. M. Roudebush, chairman of the Committee and a county committee during Walker's first term, said Walker had been instrumental in getting a hospital in operation. "ALL THE hospitals were in Missouri, 'ALL THE hospitals were in Missouri, walker supported expansion at Shawnee Mission, but supported expansion at the hospital for Overland Park." Humana, Inc., the Louisville-based hospital company that will build the hospital, announced recently that site finance at 10th and Quiravia Road had begun. The $25 million, five-floor medical center will take from 18 to 24 months to complete. Roudebush said, "Jack is a square of the first degree. He listens to people, has his own opinions on things, but is not afraid to change his mind. He's very much a citizen's person - no has axes to grind—and that's the kind of person we need." One accomplishment of which Walker is especially proud is the passage of the book "The Giver." THE FAMILY Practice Residency Program at the Med Center has reached the target it set out to hit. Wilker said. The program, which includes eight residents in training. There are eight residents in each of the three years, which include five doctors complete training each year. Recently, Walker listened in a day-long legislative session on health and welfare related to a study of the physician shortage in Michigan. In this study, which need family practice physicians. Then he told the committee about the family practice program and about a new program that would add 12 more family practice residencies. WALKER SAID the state was faced with the problem of catching up in training family physicians after a period of 15 years in school. A majority of no family physicians were trained. Although most of Walker's job is adminstrative, Johnsen has minimal. He has several patients from years ago, including him to be the mother, who is in an Olathe nursing home. Once every fifth weekend he is the backup physician for the resident on call. During the on-duty weekend, Walker makes hospital rounds with the resident. WALKER RECALLS that he didn't know any more about medicine than the average person going to a doctor when he was born. He learned his technology training in the U.S. Air Force. Walker said he fought "the battle of Davis-Monthon," the Tucson airbase where he served during the war years as a corporal. During that "battle," he made daily medical observations with blood samples. The war was ending and had made friends with his future wife, Jo Ann, and with the chairman of the university's department of bacteriology. She told Walker she'd get him into the army in a few months at that time Walker wanted to stay in Arizona, and it was tough for a non-resident to入 the university. He stayed. 'I fully intended to get my degree in microbiology and medical technology. I should have been a doctor, a doctor was out of my reach. But my boss encourage me to go to medical school and I will do it.' SO AFTER getting a degree in bacteriology, Walker and his "wrade bride" of two years returned to Kansas, and, with the G.I. Bill, he entered KU Medical School. During this time, Jo Ann earned her Robert Daniel Walker was born after Walker intermed at St. Joseph's Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. They set out for Girard, Walker's hometown for a family practice. P. H. F. H. (Pitt Printing Hub By Thurman) as a city authority of Karlsruhe in Karlsruhe City. JO ANN recalls the early days as rather "disrunct." "I ran a short-order house. Jack came home whenever he could, usually after the children had just come from school and were in second lunch. Sometimes, after delivering a baby, he would be getting into bed as I was getting out. But Jack took us with him whenever he could and many times the kids were behind the door of the hospital while Jack made rounds." Walker returned to KU in 1958 and 1959 as administrative assistant to Clark Wescow, the dean of the School of Medicine. The two became friends. (Wescow later became a faculty member for building named for him. He is now Chairman of the Board for Sterling Drug Co.) 1960 Walker entered family practice in Pittsburg. He returned to KU in 1963 as assistant dean in Administrative Affairs and then to a preventive medicine and community health. "I guess I always had a bent for administrative and political position." Haverford's professor, who interested in family practice and felt I could do more about it in the University setting did so. "I'm quite satisfied that some of these things happened. I've left a small contribution in that area, together with a lot of people." WALKER IS a backyard gardener. He raises kisas and picks tomatoes after the sun sets, then shrub-framed backyard of their southern Overland Park home is dotted with blue alysum, pink and white petunias, pale yellow portulaca and rose bushes. THE WALKERS have lived in the house neighborhood friends damen move ideas friends *Why, when Jack ran for mayor, almost every house on the street had a yard sign for his business.* The Walkers have two sons. Dan is a second-year veterinary student at Kansas State University. His wife, Peggy, is earning her P.H.T. Dave attended KU for one year then left with the "Shooting Stars" for a disappointing recording venture in England Jo Ann said the "Shooting Stars" is a group of musicians from England Mission South that gained some measure of success,Jo Ann said.Dave is the pianist. Walker, a musician himself in his college CONVENIENT CREDIT TERMS. 30-day account, 90-day account of 3 equal payments, or extended budget terms. No interest or carrying charges on 30 or 90 day accounts. days, rarely has time for outside interests these days. He said the mayor's part-time position is one of his responsibilities. Ed Marling's offer: FREE PARKING in lot behind store FREE DELIVERY in Lawrence Kansans for quality brand names. We have been serving Kansans for over 40 years, let us serve you Hundreds of items at reduced August Sale prices! Like . . . HIS MAYORAL term ends in April, and he said six years was enough. (His first term was for two years, and then Overland Park switched to four-year terms.) ★ Bookstacks ★ Dinettes ★ Hollywood Beds - Desks ★ Desk Lamps ★ Recliners ★ Wardrobes ★ Utility Cabinets Entertainment Centers Roudeubish said he saw no conflict in a person being a physician and a mayor at the university. Everything you need to furnish your new room or apartment this fall What about the future? Will he seek further political avenues? ED MARLING'S WALKER WAS chairman of this year's fund-raising for the Kaw Valley Heart Association (KVHA) a spokesperson for the organization that had exceeded $1 million in a campaign. "I imagine my political career is about to come an end." The only thing that would cause me to become more interested is if nothing unexpected happened," Walker said. COMPLETE FURNITURE & HOME APPLIANCE STORES ALL 4 STORIES CLOSED SUNDAY LAWRENCE DOWNTOWN Room to rent? Advertise it in the Kansan. 864-4358 825 Massachusetts Phone 843-4400 OPEN Mon. & Thurs. 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