John David “Jack” Walker

John David “Jack” Walker came to work as the Physical Education teacher at the brand new Bridgetown Regional High School in the fall of 1951. Starting from scratch, Jack Walker began to build an outstanding athletic tradition at B.R.H.S. that has survived to this day, some 60 years later. During the years that he worked as a Teacher, Coach, Principal, Supervisor and Assistant Superintendent, he led by example and with high standards. He instilled a strong work ethic, a sense of pride and a tremendous respect for sportsmanship and fair play in all of his students and in the coaches he recruited.

The legacy he put in place at B.R.H.S. is not only evident in the vast number of District, Regional and Provincial Championship banners that hang in the school gymnasium, but also in the fact that B.R.H.S. continues to excel provincially in high school sport with the great grand children of that first generation
of athletes now leading the way.

Highlights of his career:

• Jack was the first Physical Education teacher at the new Bridgetown Regional High School
• He organized the first Athletics Banquet for B.R.H.S. in 1952
• During the 1950’s and 60’s, he coached Bridgetown teams to more Provincial Championships than any other school in the Province.
• Coaching both males and females, he had success in every major sport, including soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and field and hockey.
• Selected as Principal of B.R.H.S. in 1964 and still continued to coach.
• Became Supervisor of Curriculum for the Annapolis District Board in 1982.
• In 1964, and again in 1982, the B.R.H.S. Student Yearbook was dedicated to Jack, the highest honor a teacher can receive from a student body.
• In 1976, the B.R.H.S. soccer field was dedicated to “JD Walker”
• In 1982, Jack was the first recipient of the Hugh Noble Distinguished Service Award for outstanding achievement in provincial sport athletics.
• In 1972, Jack spearheaded the creation of BASH, Bridgetown Area School Homecoming.

More than the awards, the championships, the trophies, banners and plaques, Jack will be remembered for the influence that he had on the many thousands of students at B.R.H.S.. As noted above, he stressed at all times the importance of sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork. These became the hallmark characteristics of all Bridgetown teams. He started many traditions that have continued to this day. Jack was also a counselor. He showed an amazing willingness to listen to students and showed that each one was as important as the other.

Many remember the time spent in that little office off the gym, crowded with students, waiting to hear a word of advice. Jack Walker demanded that you do your best, not just in sports, but in all aspects of life.

Many former students have remarked that they owe a large measure of their success in life to his encouragement and advice. Jack Walker lived what he preached. He was a builder of champions, a builder of tradition and a builder of character.