Born: August 8, 1914 (Ashdown, Arkansas)
Died: December 18, 1990
Biography:
Hazel Leona Walker (August 8, 1914 – December 18, 1990) was an amateur basketball player in the 1930s and 1940s. She is recognized as one of the greatest amateur basketball players of the era. Walker led her college team to the 1934 AAU National Championship and earned All-American honors. She played professionally for the All American Red Heads Team, then left that organization to start her own barnstorming professional basketball team, the Arkansas Travelers. This team played for sixteen seasons against men’s teams, winning over 80% of their games. Walker was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
High school:
Walker was born on August 8, 1914, to Herbert and Minnie (Chauncy) Walker in the town of Ashdown, Arkansas. She attended Ashdown High School where she played forward. At that time, the game rules divided the court into three sections, and players could not leave their section. She was a four-year starter on her high school team and reached the height of 5’9 by the time she was a senior. Though Arkansas schools did not hold a state tournament for high school teams, the AAU teams did. Although her AAU team lost in the finals, partly because several of her teammates were recovering from measles, Walker was elected All-State.
College:
Walker won a scholarship to play at Tulsa Business College, a two-year school, whose team name was the Stenos. Her scholarship covered tuition, but Walker needed to work at a soda fountain to scrape by. In her first year, the Stenos were eliminated from the national tournament, but in 1934, they went on to win the National AAU Tournament. The Stenos won the title game 32-22, beating the Oklahoma City University Cardinals. While Walker left the Stenos after completing her two years in 1934, the team would go on to win the national championship in 1935 and 1936, ironically against the El Dorado Lion Oil team led by Hazel Walker in 1936.
Post-college:
Walker joined the El Dorado, Arkansas Lion Oil AAU team that finished third in the national tournament in 1935 and second in 1936. Her former team, the Tulsa Business College Stenos, won the national championship each time, beating Walker’s team in 1936 by a single point. While at Lion Oil, she married Everett Eugene Crutcher, but she tried to keep the marriage a secret because the team did not allow married women. However, her marriage was eventually discovered. The company chairman, Col TH Barton, made an exception to the rule and allowed Walker to continue playing for the team.
Later Career:
Walker went on to play for the All American Red Heads Team, a professional women’s basketball team that gained popularity during the World War II era. She played both forward and center positions and quickly gained recognition for her exceptional skills and scoring ability. Her contributions to the team helped them become one of the most successful teams of the time.
However, Walker’s ambitions didn’t stop there. In 1959, she decided to start her own barnstorming professional basketball team, named the Arkansas Travelers. The team played against men’s teams for sixteen seasons and achieved remarkable success, with a win rate of over 80%. The Arkansas Travelers became widely popular and drew large crowds to their games. Walker’s leadership and talent on the court were instrumental in the team’s success and influence on the local basketball scene.
Walker’s legacy in the world of basketball extended beyond her playing career. She dedicated herself to promoting and advancing women’s basketball, actively working to create opportunities and recognition for female athletes. Her passion for the game, along with her groundbreaking achievements, inspired many young women to pursue their dreams in the sport. Hazel Walker’s impact on women’s basketball will always be remembered and cherished.
Awards:
– Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.