Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1985
- Class:
- 1954
When Walter Walowac’s Marshall career came to a close, he had obliterated the school’s career scoring record by dropping in 1,982 career points from 1950-51 through ’53-54, a total that would remain the school’s most for another 34 years. A two-time, first-team West Virginia All-State pick out of Logan High School, Walowac averaged 20.9 points per game over his four seasons for the Thundering Herd, including an amazing 29.1 points per game as a junior, still the second-best single-season average in school history. Walowac was a first team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick as a sophomore in 1952, when he was also a member of the league’s All-Tournament Team.
Marshall then began a transition into the Mid-American Conference in his junior season and, while its players were not eligible for All-MAC honors, Walowac went beyond that as he was a Helms Foundation first team All-American. He repeated that All-American honor and was also named first-team All-MAC as a senior, setting a new league record by averaging 26.1 points per game. He set career highs with 44 points against Ohio University and West Virginia Wesleyan during his senior season.
Following his graduation from Marshall, Walowac was chosen by the Milwaukee Hawks in the third round of the 1954 NBA Draft, but chose instead to play for the Akron Wingfoots in the National Industrial Basketball League, where he was twice named to the league’s All-Star Team. Walowac is a member of the Logan High School Hall of Fame and was enshrined in the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. He was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
