Mt. Lebanon to name football field after Art Walker Sr.
Embarks on fundraising campaign
2026 promises to be a milestone year for Art Walker Sr.
With any luck, and he possesses plenty of that having been born on St. Patrick’s Day, Walker will turn 90 on March 17.
Later in the year, the municipality and school district will officially name the high school football field in his honor.
Art Walker Field at Mt. Lebanon High School stadium will be dedicated in the fall when the Blue Devils host North Allegheny. The Tigers are coached by Walker’s son, Art Jr.
According to Dale Cable, who is spokesperson for the Art Walker Field Naming Committee, the distinction is deserving.
“Mr. Walker was the quintessential face of Mt. Lebanon Blue Devil football for several decades, a respected teacher and championship coach who positively impacted students and student athletes alike,” he said. “He made Mt. Lebanon a better community.”
Walker was an educator, coach and administrator at Mt. Lebanon. In addition to coaching the football team for 21 seasons, he taught history from 1959-1987 and served as athletic director from 1987 to 1993.
During his coaching tenure, which spanned from 1967 to 1987 at Lebo, he compiled a 170-56-6 record that included 10 conference championships, three WPIAL runner-up trophies and five WPIAL titles in 1970, 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1984.
Inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2010, he is one of only four coaches in the league’s history to win six football championships. In 1998, he added the sixth trophy when he led Shady Side Academy to its first and only WPIAL crown. He retired with a career record of 207-73-6.
Hundreds of his proteges received scholarships or financial assistance to continue pursuing their playing careers at the collegiate level.
As a history teacher, Walker taught thousands of students. According to many of his players, who serve on the naming committee, Walker was always available to provide extra help, support and reference letters for colleges and universities throughout the country.
Kelly Bird is an example. A tackle at St. Bernard Elementary School, Walker converted him to quarterback as a ninth grade student at Jefferson Middle School.
When Walker was inducted into Mt. Lebanon’s Athletic Hall of Fame as one of the first Distinguished Blue Devils in 2018, Bird noted Walker’s influence. He mentioned how he was the sixth of 12 children and the first to graduate from college, ironically Walker’s alma mater, Waynesburg.
Bird cited sports and coaching as the reasons why.”
“I owe a lot to sports and incredible coaches like Art Walker,” he said.
Dr. Robert Schilken echoed those sentiments. He played football on Lebo’s 1980 and 1981 WPIAL championships team before excelling at the University of Pittsburgh. He went on to become a renowned orthopaedic surgeon, employed currently in the AHN system.
“Coach Walker helped formulate me and shape my life,” Dr. Schilken said at the Hall of Fame event. “Two of his most outstanding qualities were his patience and his dedication.”
Now the community and school district are dedicating a piece of property and cementing Walker’s legacy with the field naming event.
“We wanted to honor his achievements and contributions to both Mt. Lebanon football and the community in general,” said Cable.
Through the efforts of the committee, which includes Cable, Bird, Chip Dalesandro, Mike Valdiserri, Jim Kmec, Bob Lohman, Pat King , Frank Tinnemeyer, approval was received from the school board and municipality officials. Cable said the committee has been working on the project since last February.
In October, the school board greenlighted the project of renaming the playing surface Art Walker Field provided $100,000 be donated to the district for use by the athletic department for the benefit of all sports teams.
Mt. Lebanon athletic director John Grogan enthusiastically endorsed the endeavor of naming rights for the football field.
“This is such a tremendous and certainly deserving honor for Coach Walker who made a lasting impact on the school district, athletic programs and most importantly the hundreds of young men that he mentored, motivated and inspired,” Grogan said.
“This will serve as a symbol of excellence, recognizing the coach’s contribution to building a strong program, shaping athletes lives and his dedication to both the program and community,” he added.
The committee “estimates” an additional $50,000 will be needed to cover construction cost for the Art Walker Wall, signage, and liability insurance, all of which are required by the district.
“We have set a goal of $150,000,” Cable said.
As a result, the committee has embarked on a fundraising campaign. They are accepting tax-deductible contributions to support the naming rights with the school district, and all other associated costs.
Donations can be made online.
Visit: bluedevilclub.givingfuel.com/art-walker-field-and-memorial-fund
Checks payable to the Blue Devil Club will also be accepted. Donors should write “Art Walker Field” in the memo section and mail to: Blue Devil Club, PO Box 14912, Pittsburgh PA, 15234.