Jackie Walker, an All-American college football star in the early 1970s who was open about his sexual orientation, is among 10 individuals slated to be inducted into the the Greater Knoxville ( Tenn. ) Sports Hall of Fame July 17.
Walker, who died of AIDS in 2002, was a defensive star at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville during the years 1969-71. He made both All-SEC ( Southeastern Conference ) and All-America in 1970 and 1971, according to The Knoxville News-Sentinel. While at the school, Walker majored in drama and speech.
