Robert Walker graduated from CMC 1964 cum laude in History. While at CMC he participated in STAGS, Forensic society (elected best speaker award by his peers), MUN (OAS chairman at the ’59 MUN), was columnist for the student newspaper, contributed to AYER ’64, president of Green Hall, lettered in tennis, co-captain of the fencing team, and played intramural football, track, and swimming. Walker was selected to be in CMC’s first honors program.
Upon graduation, Walker spent 13 weeks in Europe hitchhiking, youth hostelling, and ultimately bicycling across France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Upon his return, he attended Stanford where he obtained an MA in European History and was president of the Stanford College Republicans whereupon he left Stanford’s Ph.D. program to become Executive Director of the Republican Party of Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley), a post he held for 25 years. As director, he worked with every variety of candidates from school board to president. He supervised several presidential events including the inaugural presidential campaign rallies of Nixon in 1968, and Regain in 1984. His most dramatic presidential rally experience was the 1970 Nixon rally which was attached by a mob of an estimated 10,000 “peace” protestors. Walker’s position was “jack-of-all-trades” included stat work, local spokesman for the GOP, fundraising, campaign coordination, writing, youth activities, and precinct work. Walker was a guest columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and a guest political commentator for ABC. His sculpture has been exhibited at the Stanford Art Gallery and his sand castle featured in the San Mercury News. He has hiked the Grand Canyon three times, bicycled from San Diego to Sacramento, coached soccer (AYSO, CYSA) for 24 years, whitewater rafted the Arkansas, kayaked the Eel River, and canoed countless times on the Russian River.
Walker is a bibliophile and collector. His library of approximately 15,000 volumes focuses on military subject, history, literature, and architecture. Collections include political memorabilia, ships, steins, chess sets, Kachinas, militaria, and toy soldiers, of which he has over 20,000 on display.
Robert Walker is currently President and CEO of Walker Foods, Inc., which produces the El Pato brand of salsas, sauces, and picantes, an extensive line of vinegars, mustard, and packed chili peppers. Walker Foods is a supplier of McDonald, In-N-Out Burger, Carl’s Jr., and Starbucks. He is currently a member of the Rose Institute Board of Governors, VIP of the CMC Alumni Association, and a CMC mentor. Walker splits his time between his two residences in West Covina and San Jose, California.