Descriptive Summary
Walker, Ransom
Ransom Walker Papers,
1925-1961
The collection
contains memorabilia, dated 1925-1961, from former Texas Tech graduate Ransom
Walker.
U 280.1
Southwest Collection/Special Collections
Library, Texas Tech University
3 Boxes (5.0 linear
feet)
English.
Biographical Sketch
Born in Vernon, Texas, Percy Ransom Walker was a star player for the
Vernon Lions football team from 1922-1924. He went on to attend Texas
Technological College from 1925-1930, where he was dubbed, "Handsome Ransom
Walker, Tech's Galloping Gazelle," by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's sports
editor, Rankin Dow. A variation of Walker's nickname was "the Galloping Gazelle
of the Gridiron."
During his time at Tech, Walker lettered in basketball, football and
track. Awarded an Amon Carter Scholarship, he became the first captain of the
football team and the 1926 basketball team. He was also named the college's
"Best All-Around Athlete" during his sophomore, junior and senior years. In
addition, Walker was the first Tech player chosen to play in the East-West
Shrine football classic (1928-1929) which was held in San Francisco,
California.
After leaving Texas Tech,Walker moved to Mission and became associated
with Jim Parrish in the operation of Parrish Farms Inc. Later, he moved to San
Angelo and became a real estate salesman. On Oct. 14, 1961, Walker was one of
five persons inducted into the newly established Texas Tech Athletic Hall of
Honor. He passed away on September 9, 1957, and his memorabilia collection was
donated by Walker's daughter, Helen Marie Jones.
Scope and Content
The collection contains eight althetic jerseys worn by Ransom Walker,
a scrapbook with photographs and news clippings, a dipolma from Texas
Technological College, a certificat and a pewter etching.
Organization
The memorabilia materials are located in box 1, with boxes 2-3
consisting of eight football jerseys worn by Ransom Walker.
Index Terms
The subject headings used by the Southwest Collection/Special
Collections Library are derived from the Library of Congress and/or locally
developed.
Subjects (Persons)
Cawthon, Pete,
1898-1962
Tarbox, Elmer
L.
Walker, Ransom
Subjects (Organizations)
Texas Technological
College--Football
Texas Technological
College--Sports
Subjects
College
athletes--Texas--Lubbock
College
sports--Texas--Lubbock
Collection accession #(s):
2002-0270-B
Gift, 2002
Access Restrictions
Open for research
Processed by
Brenda Haes and Lynn Whitfield, November 2002
Preferred Citation
Ransom Walker Papers, 1925-1961, Southwest Collection/Special
Collections Library, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Related Materials in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections
Library:
Kelly Cawthon oral history interview [sound recording], 1975
Pete Cawthon Jr. oral history interview [sound recording], 1970s
Elmer L. Tarbox oral history interview [sound recording], 1973
Collection Inventory
Memorabilia
1
1
Photographs from scrapbook (11 prints),
1925-1961
1
2
Scrapbook,
1925-1961. The scrapbook was disassembled to
preserve the photographs from the adhesive and degrading news
clippings.
1
3
Scrapbook (photocopies),
1925-1961
1
4
Certificate for Ransom Walker's induction into the Texas
Tech Athletic Hall of Honor for Outstanding Contribution to Athletics,
1961. The item was removed from an acidic
wood frame.
1
5
Diploma for Ransom Walker from the Texas Technological
College, School of Agriculture,
1930. Item was unframed and the college seal
torn off.
1
6
Wood framed, pewter engraving of Ransom Walker,
undated.
Jerseys
1
Sweater, red pullover with crossover neckline, ribbed
sleeves and waistline. Black and red "double T" lettermen's patch
machine-stitched to front of sweater center. Three black stripes on left arm in
sweater surface and a black patch star machine-stitched to sweater. Tag inside
sweater reads: "W. A. HOLT COMPANY ATHLETIC OUTFITTERS WACO, TEX. If it's
Sporting Goods the Holt Co. has it". Pulls on right and left sleeve cuffs,
darned hole over left back shoulder blade area. Black grease or tar stains on
ribbed waistline 1 inch to the left off center and three inches below the
"double T" emblem. Stain is approximately six inches in height x 2
three-quarter wide and three and a half" below the "double T" patch emblem and
one inch left off center midline.
undated
2
Sweater, red pullover with crossover neckline, ribbed
sleeves and waistline. Black and red "double T" lettermen's patch
machine-stitched to front of sweater center. Two black stripes on left arm in
sweater surface. Tag inside sweater reads: "CHAMPION KNITWEAR MILLS INC.
ROCHESTER N.Y." Holes at right arm ribbed cuff and ribbed waist, as well as
scattered throughout the torso. Soiled on the back and frontsides of the
sweater as well as the right arm sleeve. Discoloration among the yarns to a
beige color concentrated on the front of the sweater and the right sleeve.
undated
3
Jersey, football, two-tone knit, dark purple body with
white shoulder areas, three-quarter sleeves, and sewn-in elbow padding.
Machine-appliqued white cotton "22" on front and back of jersey. Interior tag
reads: "40." Badly soiled around neckline. Tear over second "2" on front side.
Tear on first "2" on back of jersey on underside of numeral. On second "2" the
numeral is working loose from the jersey.
undated
4
Jersey, football, two-tone wool knit, maroon with white
striped long-sleeved arms in alternating bands of a thin white stripe, a broad
white stripe, and a thin white stripe. Ribbed arm cuffs and at the neckline.
Signs of dermestid infestation at the ribbed cuffs, front torso, front and back
shoulders, and front and back neckline. Tag on front interior reads: "The
Ellery Arms Company 583-85 Market St. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. THE SIGN OF QUALITY"
undated
5
Sweater, maroon and white vertical stripes from
East-West game, Border Intercollegiate Conference. Ribbed maroon waistband,
cuffs, collar, and flaps on breast pockets. The word "WEST" in on white felt on
left-hand side breast pocket above an appliqued felt football player patch.
Button-down front with seven black buttons, top button at throat missing and
right breast pocket button missing. Long sleeves. Interior tag reads: The
Ellergy Arms Company 583-85 Market St. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. THE SIGN OF QUALITY"
Signs of dermestid infestation at the ribbed waistband, cuffs, collar, arms,
and front and back torso.
undated
6
Sweater, button-down, red and black knit with "double T"
patch emblem on left-hand side of sweater. Black ribbed cuffs and one and a
half black border along perimeter of sweater. Six black buttons. Red patch hip
pockets. Four thin black knit stripes on left arm. Ground in dirt on elbow
areas of both arms. Interior tag reads: "SAND KNIT MFG. BY SAND KITTING MILLS
CO CHICAGO". Signs of dermestid infestation at the ribbed cuffs, front and back
torso, collar, pockets, arms, and shoulders.
undated
7
Sweater, pullover, red ribbed knit cuffs, red ribbed
knit v-neck, black ribbed knit waistband, "double T" appliqued emblem, double
black thin knit stripes on the left arm. Internal tag reads: "SAND KNIT MFG BY
SAND KNITTING MILLS CO CHICAGO". Internal black felt tag near waistband on back
is embroidered: "Walker". Signs of dermestid infestation at the ribbed
waistband, arms, cuffs, and front and back torso. Hand patch job on back of
right arm sleeve with black thread.
undated
8
Sweater, button-down, red and black knit with "double T"
patch emblem on left-hand side of sweater. Black ribbed cuffs and one and
three-quarter inch black border along perimeter of sweater. Six black buttons.
Red patch hip pockets. Two thick black knit stripes on left arm. Interior tag
reads: "SAND KNIT MFG. BY SAND KITTING MILLS CO CHICAGO". Signs of dermestid
infestation at the ribbed cuffs, front and back torso, collar, pockets, arms,
and shoulders. Extensive staining on right side hip pocket as if from a black
ink pen. Embroidered felt patch on interior below right hip pocket that reads
"Walker". Knit body completely missing between 1st and 2nd buttons. Repair on
front right arm sleeve with white thread. Some scattered discoloration along
knit torso.
undated.