Dr. Matthew Walker, Sr.

Matthew Walker Sr. (December 7, 1906 — July 15, 1978) was an American physician and surgeon. He was one of the first African Americans to become a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was one of the most prominent Black doctors in the 20th century

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His parents began their married life in Waterproof, Louisiana. The new family thought it had picked a spot safe from the floods that sometimes plagued Louisiana. However, in his early years, the child, Matthew, was to have a particularly harrowing experience related to water. Once, when a torrential rain came pouring down, the young Walker, who was standing on the rail-less porch of the family home, fell and was swept into a rush of water flowing below the porch. One of his aunts, Mattie Walker, having noted what happened, rushed to the other side of the porch, reached down, and grabbed the young child before he could be swept away in the deluge.

The Walker family moved to New Orleans when Matthew was still young so that he could get a good education. Matthew completed his undergraduate work at New Orleans University (later called Dillard University). Walker told his family of the times he spent working in hotels as a busboy and such to help with his college tuition. During this time, Walker also studied and played the violin.

While attending New Orleans University, Matthew Walker met and, in 1937, married Alice Willa Gibbs Johnson. They had four children.