Monty C. Walker
(An Autobiography)

by Monty Walker

(Reprinted from issue #65 of Gift of Fire, April/September 1994. Also included in issue #65 was the "In Memoriam Monty Walker" in which his birth date of February 3rd 1927 and date of his death in Glendale, California, August 9th 1994, were announced. He had been sick for a prolonged period before his death. Monty had a profound impact on our Society despite the short time that he actually edited the journal. If anyone has a picture of Monty, please send it to the Web Coordinator. Thanks!)

Born in Eastland, a small Texas town of 2500, where the most notable event ever to occur was (and is) the phenomenon of "Old Rip," a horned toad that lived in a state of suspended animation for 31 years, beating the legendary Rip Van Wrinkle by a full 11 years. Although in 1934 the rest of the country was recovering from the great depression, Texas had yet to see the upswing. My father, feeling that enjoyment would be more likely in California, moved the entire family to Los Angeles.

The effect of Los Angeles on a small town boy was overwhelming to say the least. With new types of food, music, transportation, entertainment and much much more, it was like being transported into a fairyland. To say that I liked my new venue would be an enormous understatement. I grew and thrived in my new environment of choice.

One day in 1941 while listening to the radio, I heard an announcement that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. In a relatively short time I found myself on board a U.S. naval destroyer in the South Pacific. Eventually the war ended and I attended college learning how to be an engineer with tuition and expenses paid by Uncle Sam. My university required everyone (engineers included) to study Western Civilization which included history, philosophy, and other liberal arts. At the time I resented this incursion into my technical education but now I am enormously grateful. My papers in this publication are a direct result of my historical research inspired by my exasperated professors.

I did well as an engineer with several patents to my name as well as numerous technical papers in various scientific journals. My work took me to over 35 foreign countries; however, it wasn't until I retired that I finally visited Washington D.C.

After my late wife passed away I learned about Mensa and other high IQ organizations and joined them, mostly for companionship of like minded individuals. I met my present wife at a Mensa "Temperance" meeting. My association has been immensely rewarding especially that with the ISPE. At the present time [1994] I am editor of Gift of Fire, the official organ of the Prometheus Society.

• Senior Fellow in International Society for Philosophical Enquiry
• Life member Mensa
• Editor of Gift of Fire, the journal of the Prometheus Society.
• Former science editor for Lament
• Charter member of NOVA Toastmasters
• Expert on his great-great uncle, William Walker the Emperor of Nicaragua.
• Contributed to Thinking on the Edge, a book published by the ISPE with an article on William Walker and another on Omar Khayyam.
• Published many articles in technical magazines.
• Born Abilene, Texas Feb 3, 1927
• Moved to California in 1934
• Attended Hollywood High - joined Navy - Navy sent him to University of Kansas where he studied electrical engineering.
• Came back to California after the war - the BIG war - and went to work for Lockheed International. Traveled extensively and lived several years each in Brazil, Japan and Okinawa.
Married Eleanor Holm in 1956. After she died in 1980 he joined Mensa in 1983 and met Marilyn and you know the rest.


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