Image courtesy of the Ford Heights Park District
George “Kirby” Green remembers that as a kid growing up in Ford Heights, Excell Walker coached sports and served as a mentor and role model for a generation of young people.
“He made sure that we had baseball and football every year,” Green, 55, said. “He kept us out of trouble and made sure we had good grades.”
Green and other community members on Friday helped dedicate Excell Walker Field, a new baseball diamond named for the Ford Heights resident who died in 1986. Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Hammel, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and other dignitaries participated in the ceremony…Please click here to read Ted Slowik’s column in the Tribune/DailySouthtown. Related stories are on ABC7 News, WGN TV, CBS Chicago and in the Sun-Times.