Donald E. Walker: CEO of Arvest Bank Tulsa given TCC leadership award.
On Tuesday evening, the Tulsa Community College Foundation honored Donald E. Walker, president and CEO of Arvest Bank Tulsa, for his outstanding contributions to the greater Tulsa area through his community involvement.
Walker was honored at the 2013 Vision in Education Leadership Award Dinner held at the Cox Business Center.
The Vision Award is presented annually to an individual dedicated to education excellence and community leadership.
Walker's community involvement has included serving as a member of the leadership team for Vision 2025 and co-chairman for Vision 2. He has served on the boards and as chairman of the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Business Roundtable, River Parks Authority and Indian Nations Council - Boy Scouts of America.
He also has sat on the boards of Morningcrest Charitable Foundation, Land Legacy - Oklahoma Land Trust, and the Tulsa Community College Foundation. Walker additionally was Tulsa co-chairman for the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Celebration.
"Don Walker has an extensive list of achievements in making the Tulsa area a better place to live and work," said Tulsa Community College President Tom McKeon, in a written statement. "Don's leadership is quiet, selfless and effective. He is one of our most distinguished community and state leaders and has been a tireless advocate for our community and for education in his various roles."
Walker said he appreciates TCC recognizing his interest in education and the leadership opportunities he's had in Tulsa.
"I believe that Tulsa is an incredible community, and it takes all of us working together to keep moving our region forward. ... It means a lot to me that they have acknowledged the efforts that I've worked on with so many people. There are so many great leaders in the Tulsa region, and I'm thrilled to be included as one of them," Walker said in a phone interview.
Past Vision Award honorees include Keith Ballard, David Boren, Montie Box, former Gov. Brad Henry, John-Kelly Warren, George Kaiser, Paula Marshall and Lynn and Stacy Schusterman.
TCC also posthumously awarded Nathaniel S. (Nate) Waters the TCC Stephen J. Jatras Award. Waters was a TCC graduate who became an advocate for the physically challenged. In 2008, he was hired to work in accounting for Williams Cos. Inc. and from there moved to Williams' spinoff WPX Energy.
After Waters unexpectedly passed away this spring, his friends gave generously to name the new Physical Therapy Clinic at TCC for him.
Funds raised through the Vision Dinner support scholarships and special programs for students and faculty. The TCC Foundation gives more than $1 million annually to programs and scholarships to support students, faculty and staff.
Laurie Winslow 918-581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: TCC honors Don Walker
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