In May 2001, Walker named Walter Wendler — then a Texas A&M University vice chancellor — to lead the Carbondale school.

      Walker “brought leadership stability to SIU at a time we certainly needed it,'' said Rob Benford, a sociology professor serving as president of the Southern Illinois Faculty Senate. “I think he had a vision for the university, and I think that helped get us focused on goal-setting and working together.''

      Under Walker's watch, Southern Illinois received millions of dollars in federal research grants involving coal, agriculture, biofuels, health care and education. Walker also oversaw various big-money construction projects, including the $40 million renovation of the Carbondale campus' Morris Library and work toward the university's $21 million Cancer Institute planned in Springfield.

      During Walker's tenure at Southern Illinois, private contributions to the university's foundation rose by 30 percent.

      Walker spent more than three decades in higher education, his first job more than three decades ago as an assistant professor of education at Southern Illinois in Edwardsville.

      Before serving as Middle Tennessee State's president for about a decade, Walker was provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Northern Colorado.

      An Alabama native, Walker got his bachelor's degree in biology from Alabama State University in 1963, his master's degree in special education from Atlanta University in 1967 and his doctorate in education in 1972 from Pennsylvania State University. He also was a graduate of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.

— Associated Press