Induction Class 2008 Walter Scotty Talkington Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as an individual of Central High School Biography Walter Talkington was a 1933 graduate of DeWitt High School Walter nicknamed Scotty excelled in Football Basketball and Track ear ID: 653722
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Slide1
Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2008
Walter “Scotty” Talkington Slide2
Inducted for Outstanding Contributions
as an individual of Central High SchoolSlide3
Biography
Walter Talkington
was a 1933 graduate of DeWitt High School. Walter, nicknamed “Scotty” excelled in Football, Basketball, and Track, earning multiple varsity letters in each sport.
News
articles in the early 30’s referred to….”the Flying Scotsman ran both teams bow-legged during the balance of the game”. On Dec. 11, 1932 Walter
Talkington
was selected to the Des Moines Register’s 5
th
Team All State football squad.Slide4
Article from the Observer
Walter F. “Scotty” Talkington
made his mark on DeWitt athletics by excelling in three sports in the early 1930s. He was a standout on the football team, known for running, passing and kicking in the open field, but he also made a name for himself on the basketball court and the track.
Talkington
played football all four years of his high school career, earning varsity letters his sophomore, junior and senior years.
The football team at DeWitt High School in the 1930s embraced the old T-formation, and Scotty played the left halfback position on offense and safety on defense. He also was the starting punter. In his senior year, a local newspaper writer dubbed Scotty DeWitt’s “Flying Scotsman” for his ability to soar on the field.
In the fourth game of the 1932 undefeated season, a newspaper article reported, “the Flying Scotsman . . . ran both teams bow-legged during the balance of the game. DeWitt came from behind and won the game by one point with a touchdown run by
Talkington
and a touchdown pass to
Talkington
.”
In another article, a reporter called
Talkington
“the most feared mole-skinner on coach Nat Baird’s team.” His performance in this game earned him a place on the all state honor roll for the week. Slide5
The Observer (cont.)
The 1932 season had a record of no defeats and only one scoreless tie to mar the team’s seven-win record. No team scored on DeWitt after the first game of the season.
Scotty garnered praise for the impressive physical condition that allowed him to fly past opponents.
“As a ball carrier,
Talkington
rates as one of the best seen on the local field in many years on either the local team or visiting team. Fast and smart,
Talkington
gets under way quickly, and once he strikes his stride, he’s hard to pull down. He’s the sort of football player that keeps the crowd on edge. He should make all-state,” one reporter wrote.
The Flying Scotsman made the fifth
allstate
team that year at halfback and was hailed as “DeWitt’s outstanding offensive star.”
“That was his big year. He was the first football player from DeWitt to get any type of state recognition,” said his son, Alan
Talkington
.
The talents of “The Flying Scotsman” didn’t end on the football field. He lettered in track and basketball, earning an all-state honorable mention in basketball in 1932. He was captain of the 1933 basketball team. Slide6
The Observer (cont.)
He was a hurdler and sprinter in track, an excellent half-miler and was on the Drake Relays Qualifying Mile Relay in 1931.
Talkington
played during an era of firsts. The first school booster club was organized in 1930, and purple and gold were chosen as the new school colors.
The first mascot, the
DeeHawk
, was chosen in 1931, and the pep band was organized for the first school pep rally in 1932.
Talkington’s
love of athletics continued after his playing days. He loved to talk about the hard-fought games he helped to win, and he passed a passion for sports on to his children, including a daughter, Linda
Casad
.
Scotty’s son, Alan, played on the 1956 undefeated football team for DeWitt, and two more generations of
Talkington
football players have followed. “Each fall as the football season starts, I remember my dad and the ongoing legacy of the
Talkingtons
’ love of the game of football,” Alan said.
“I just wish I could see some films of him playing. Dad told me they feared him quite a bit because he was so slippery,” he said. Walter F. “Scotty”
Talkington
died March 28, 1996.