Herschel J. Walker

Herschel Walker—who shares his birthday with his father and his paternal grandfather—is the fifth of seven children. He was born in 1962 in Wrightsville, Georgia, where his father farmed and his mother kept house for the farm owner’s family. “My father had to leave school in the third grade to help his mother and sister’s following his father’s death,” says Herschel. “He wasn’t very educated, but he was a math genius and could solve any problem you gave him. He was a hard, hard worker as was my mother. Even so, they always had time for their kids.”

Herschel’s mother came from a “family of ministers” and he was greatly influenced by his Christian upbringing. When asked about important mentors in his life, Herschel is quick to respond: his parents and Jesus Christ.

As a youngster, Herschel was overweight and stuttered. At school, he was bullied, which caused him to turn inward. He rarely spoke in class or on the playground. “At home, my life was full of love and support,” says Herschel, “but the bullying at school caused me to shut down. My parents believed in the importance of education and they just encouraged me to do my best, but it was several years before I was ready to make some changes.”

At the end of the eighth grade, Herschel began an exercise regimen that he still adheres to today. As he became fit, his self-esteem improved. He overcame his stutter and dedicated himself to his studies and fitness. His goal was not to become an athlete, but to show his classmates that he was capable of competing—both in the classroom and on the field. He greatly succeeded in both. By the end of the ninth grade, Herschel was the fastest runner in Georgia.

“I can’t say that I had a dream or even a specific goal then,” says Herschel. “I grew up in a small, rural town and I didn’t know anything beyond it. I couldn’t even imagine anything beyond it. At that time, my biggest dream was to one day see Atlanta. But overcoming my speech problems and dedicating myself to exercise stopped the bullying. I was beginning to feel better about myself and that’s when my competitive spirit really took hold.”

Determined that no one would out work him, Herschel had a stellar high school career. He competed in football, basketball, and track. In his senior year, he helped his football team win their first state championship. In track, he won the shot put, 100-yard dash, and 220-yard dash events at the state championships. He was awarded the first Dial Award as the National Scholar/Athlete of 1979. He also participated in the 1980 Academy of Achievement program as the valedictorian of his class and the most sought-after high school football player in the nation.

Herschel received both academic and athletic scholarships, but he was not convinced he wanted to go to college. Since childhood, he dreamed of being a Marine. In the end, he chose to continue his education and enrolled at the University of Georgia, where he majored in criminal justice—with a plan to later attend law school.

In his first year at Georgia, Herschel played varsity football as a running back and was eventually considered one of the best college running backs of all time. Two years later, in 1982, his team won its third SEC Championship in as many seasons and Herschel was awarded the Heisman Trophy. In addition to football, he competed in track and field—earning All-American honors three consecutive years in both sports.

In 1983, Herschel gave up his final year of collegiate eligibility and turned professional, joining the short-lived United States Football League. He dominated the league, earning Most Valuable Player honors and setting the single-season pro football rushing record, which still stands today. After his first preseason, he completed his BS degree at the University of Georgia. In 2015, he was selected as the greatest player in college football in the last half century.

Career

After a successful three years with the U.S. League, Herschel signed with the National Football League’s Cowboys. During Herschel’s 15-year professional football career, he played for the Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He retired from the NFL in 1997.

For several years Herschel was mentored by the Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry—a Horatio Alger Member from 1983. “Football is where I learned about integrity,” says Herschel. “I remember Landry telling me he could take a man and make him a great football player, but he could not take a great football player and make him a great man. He made me want to be a good person and a team player and those traits have served me well ever since.”

In 2002, Herschel founded Renaissance Man Food Services, which delivers quality poultry, pork and bakery products to the retail and food service marketplace, including major hotel chains, the U.S. military, schools, and retail chains.

When Herschel retired from football, he began seeking help for what he felt were mental health issues. He was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), which was most likely caused by his traumatic experiences of being bullied as a child. Those events caused him to suppress anger and turn his emotions inward. Therapy has helped him to overcome DID, and he is eager to share his journey with others who feel too stigmatized to seek help with mental health.

In 2008, Herschel’s memoir, Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder, was published. Since then, he has become the national spokesperson for the Patriot Support Programs of Universal Health Services, which works to provide behavior health services to military veterans and their families—especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Herschel has shared his story with thousands of service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. His message: “There is no shame in getting help. I did.”

In 2017, Herschel was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame and was also honored with the Doak Walker Legends Award.

What I’ve Learned

Herschel Walker has worked with numerous charitable and educational organizations. In 1981, he became the first Academy of Achievement honor student to return to the annual program as a recipient of the Golden Plate Award. In 2002, he was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame and was selected as the second greatest player in college football history, just behind the legendary Red Grange.

Throughout his career in sports and business, Herschel has established a reputation for honesty and diligence. When he addresses young people and those serving the country in the Armed Forces, his advice includes the importance of resiliency. “At some point, everyone gets knocked down in life,” he says. “When that happens, you have to get back up. You have to try again. Never quit. Of course, it’s easier to do that when you have built a solid foundation that cushions your fall. For me, my foundation has always been my Christian beliefs.”

Herschel is quick to point out that he has been given many opportunities in life that have helped him to succeed. “No one reaches the top without help along the way,” he says. “I had my parents, my religion, coaches, teammates, and friends—so many people who believed in me and supported my efforts. If someone says he got to the pinnacle of success on his own, then he is not being truthful.”

Herschel’s definition of success is having inner peace. “Success has nothing to do with money,” he explains. “Success is just being happy. We didn’t have money when I was growing up, but we were a happy family. I think you are successful when you can go to bed and sleep soundly, knowing you have a clear conscience about how you lived your day and how you treated those you encountered during the day.”

Honored by his Horatio Alger Award, Herschel says, “This is especially meaningful for me because I fully support the mission of the Association. Giving back to our young people to help them with higher education is so important. Education can take you so far—farther than you can imagine. It can take you through just about any challenge. I talked before about how important it is to have a strong foundation, and I believe education can provide that.”