DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central honored one of its greatest legends during homecoming week – Dr. LeRoy T. Walker.

The Excellence Without Excuse Legacy Luncheon held at the NCCU Student Center recognized the late former NCCU coach and chancellor, who made history as the first black U.S. Olympic track & field coach and first black president of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).

The event was hosted by the NCCU College of Health and Sciences, the School of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration, and the Athletics Department. It was spearheaded by Kaia Clarke, Director of Development of the College of Health and Sciences.

Dr. Walker's daughter, Dr. Carolyn Walker-Hopp, was the event's keynote speaker. His granddaughter Dr. Wanda Wade introduced her mom.

"I am awfully proud that they honored my dad's legacy this way," Dr. Walker-Hopp said. "He was a jack of all trades. He was a coach, he was a wonderful administrator, and a great mentor. I want people to know who he was and how much he contributed to the university and around the world. He wore NCCU garments everywhere he went. He was all over Africa and coached in other countries before he became coach here."

Many of his former athletes attended, including three members of the 1965 800-yard relay team who were the first NCCU champions in the prestigious Penn Relays. The 1965 team consisted of Terrell Amos, Edwin Roberts, Norm Tate and Robert Johnson, who passed away two years ago. The event was also attended by former Eagles' All-America sprinter Walter Johnson.

Also present was Saint Augustine's track & field coaching legend George Williams, the 2004 U.S. Olympic track & field coach, making him the second black from an HBCU to earn that distinction.

A tribute video highlighted Dr. Walker's achievements and global impact. He guided the U.S. Olympic track team to 22 medals, including six gold medals, in the 1976 Montreal Games and was the USOC president from 1992 to 1996.

Dr. Walker coached 11 athletes who won Olympic medals, including two-time gold medalist hurdler Lee Calhoun. He coached Olympic track teams from Israel, Ethiopia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Kenya before coaching the U.S. Olympic team.

The NCCU hurdlers, sprinters and jumpers compiled over 30 national individual titles under Dr. Walker's guidance. He coached more than 100 All-Americans during a 28-year career (1945-1973) such as Calhoun, Olympic gold medalist sprinter Larry Black and Olympic hurdler Charles Foster.

Dr. Walker served as NCCU chancellor from 1983 to 1986.

The NCCU track program was highly successful under Dr. Walker, but Tate noted that coach's impact extended beyond wins and losses.

"We won coach's first championship at Penn Relays," Tate said. "We were on the infield receiving the awards and the photographer came down on the field to take pictures. Dr. Walker was in a shirt sleeve and tie. He refused to take a picture until he could get a jacket because he was representing North Carolina Central."

"That jacket he's wearing [in the photo] happens to be the photographer's who took the picture," Tate added. "That's the only way Doc ended up in the picture. That speaks about the character of the individual that we are honoring."

Dr. Walker was inducted into 17 Halls of Fame, including the NCCU Alex Rivera Hall of Fame. The LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education and Recreation Complex on campus is named in his honor.

Williams reflected on Dr. Walker's influence that led to an ultra-successful coaching career of his own. He led Saint Augustine's to 39 NCAA track & field team titles which is the third highest of any coach, regardless of sport and division.

"I learned so much from Dr. Walker," Williams said. "You see the glory but you don't know the story. The story is that I was named the interim track coach at Saint Aug. That was in 1976. I went over to see Dr. Walker and asked what I needed to do. He gave me a book on biomechanics and technique. I said what?! I didn't think track was about reading stuff, I thought it was running and the first one who crosses the line wins. We got together and he helped me do a workout, and from 1976 to the time I left Saint Augustine's University, I did Dr. Walker's workout. Every championship that was won by Saint Augustine's University was Dr. Walker's championship."

The luncheon closed with a special presentation from Marcus Manning, the Durham County Sports Commission Executive Director, and framed posters from the NCCU track & field/cross country program, represented by Interim Director Fabrienne Swepson.

Dr. Walker-Hopp says the tribute captured the essence of her father's legacy.

"This was home to him and I think he would be very proud and happy," she said.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.