Spanning nearly 50 years of teaching and coaching, Jerome H. Walton passed away on March 30, 2022, at 83. Coach Walton, as he was affectionately called by students and players alike, was a tall, imposing character with the quiet humility of famed college basketball coach John Wooden. In fact, the similarities don’t stop there. Coach had success in high school basketball, but was more known for his capabilities in molding students and building championships in high school football and tennis.
As successful as Coach was, he was most known for his core values; values that many former players and students still claim today as the reason for their life success. These values included integrity, consistency, courage, respect, and humility, all based in loving Jesus. Coach Walton never lost his cool, and when he thought he might, he’d remove his own desires from the situation, many times to his own disadvantage. This authenticity only made him famous with young people, which was where his true value rested.
To know how Jerome Walton got to be this way, you’d have to know his roots. He was born in Hays, Kansas, in the summer heat of 1938, an occurrence that no doubt made it easier for him to push players through Texas two-a-days in the fall. As a state champion football player in high school, he learned grit and drive, which he was able to parlay into college, where he met and wed the love of his life, soon-to-be fellow teacher Lydia Irene Savage. Together the Waltons started their family with Jerome in the military, in various administrative roles, particularly in physical education in the Air Force.
The Waltons had two children and various moves before settling in Waco, Texas, for over 30 years teaching Government, History, Economics, and many other roles, all while leading several sports teams in various capacities where that previously mentioned humility put him in supportive roles on occasion as needed instead of famed roles that would have brought notoriety.
Jerome is survived by his beloved wife, Lydia Irene Walton, of Frisco, Texas; his son, David Jeron Walton of Celina, Texas; his daughter, Alica Irene Parsons and her husband, Thomas, of Celina; his grandchildren, Scott Walton and his wife, Darla, Steven Walton, Jenna Walton, Dylan Thomas Parsons, Jillian Emma Parsons, Julianna Elise Parsons, and Teron Dane Parsons; his great-grandchildren, Kynlee Walton and Hardy Bo Walton; his brother, Larry Walton and his wife, Brenda; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.