• 2019 Distinguished Alum - Scott Walker '71

    Elected in 2016 as a Texas Supreme Court Judge in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Judge Scott Walker was selected as the 2019 ROHS Distinguished Alumni by the ROHS Alumni Association and will be honored at the October 4th homecoming celebrations. Scott Walker graduated from Red Oak High School in 1971. He owned and operated Walker Pools for 25 years before selling the business to focus on his legal career. He then began on the path to a successful career as a defense attorney in North Texas for over 20 years, some of that time partnering with his son Brian Walker.

    Judge Walker was born in 1953 in Borger, Texas (northeast of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle). His family relocated to Red Oak and he attended schools in the district through high school. An earnest young man who had a paper route at age 14, he succeeded in the classroom and in many other activities. A captain of the Hawks football team, he earned Most Valuable Player and All-District honors. He also served as Future Farmers of America (FFA) President and was named ‘Best All-Around’ senior by the school’s faculty.

    His mother, Ina Walker, worked for ROISD for over 20 years as the high school secretary. After her retirement, she was elected to serve on the ROISD School Board.

    He graduated from Dallas Baptist University (DBU) with honors and then earned his Juris Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law. Walker's private law practice consisted of civil defense, veteran's disability, criminal litigation, and appellate advocacy. He penned more than a hundred appellate briefs and participated in more than forty trials in district courts across North Texas. 

    “His successful record in jury trial wins and in getting trial judges overturned on appeal was one of the best in the state,” stated his son, attorney Brian Walker.

    Walker won the statewide primary run-off election and then the general election in 2016 by a vote of 54.8 to 40.2 percent with 4.78 million of the 8.3 million votes. As the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 5 Judge, he will serve a six-year term (starting Jan. 2017) on the court, which has nine total judges. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals handles all criminal appeals, while the Supreme Court of Texas hears civil appeals. Texas is one of only two states who have two supreme courts. Any further appeals would be filed with the Supreme Court of the United States. The eighteen judges that comprise the two top courts of Texas are among the top 30 elected officials in the State of Texas.

    “His integrity, his resolve, and his overall values speak for themselves,” stated Brian Walker.

    Walker has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Pamela (Pace), since 1974. She and both their children also graduated from Red Oak HS. Daughter Tiki Smith, Red Oak HS class of 1993, is employed by Waxahachie ISD as the English Department Head of Global HS. Son Brian, Red Oak HS class of 1995, practices law with offices in Fort Worth and Hillsboro and was selected as the 2014 ROISD Distinguished Alumni. Judge Walker and Pamela have two granddaughters.

    “What I am most proud of is how much time, prayer and heart my dad puts into what he does to make sure that his part of the decision-making process is fair and ethical,” said daughter Tiki Smith. “He is amazing but humble. I cannot think of anyone more impressive, hard-working, decent and kind to represent Red Oak, Texas than my father Scott Walker.”