Ron Walters


Ronald W. Walters was an American author, speaker and scholar of African-American politics. He was director of the African American Leadership Institute and Scholar Practitioner Program, Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership, and professor in government and politics at the University of Maryland.

Early life

Ronald William Walters was born in 1938 in Wichita, Kansas, the oldest of seven children of Gilmar and Maxine Fray Walters. His father was a career Army officer and later a professional musician, playing double bass. His mother was a civil rights investigator for the state. Ron attended grade school and junior high school in Wichita, and he graduated from Wichita High School East in 1955.

Career

As president of the local NAACP Youth Council, the 20-year-old Walters organized the Dockum Drug Store sit-in in July 1958, which led to the desegregation of drugstores in Wichita, Kansas, more than 18 months before the more widely publicized Greensboro sit-ins began in February 1960.
Walters received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Government with Honors from Fisk University 1963 and both his M.A. in African Studies 1966 and Ph.D. in International Studies 1971 from American University. He has served as professor and chair of the political science department at Howard University, assistant professor and chair of Afro-American Studies at Brandeis University, and assistant professor of political science at Syracuse University. He served as visiting professor at Princeton University and as a fellow of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He had been a former member of the governing council of the American Political Science Association. At the time of his death he was a current member of the Board of Directors of the Ralph Bunch Institute of the CUNY Graduate School and University Center. Walters was a distinguished member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
In 1984 Walters served as campaign manager and consultant for Reverend Jesse Jackson during his two presidential bids. He also served as the senior policy staff member for congressmen Charles Diggs, Jr. and William Gray.
Walters published well over 100 academic articles and seven books. One book, Black Presidential Politics in America, won the Bunche Prize.
Walters appeared on television many times, going on popular shows such as CNN's Crossfire, The Jesse Jackson Show, CBS News Nightline, and Evening Exchange. He appeared on radio shows such as All Things Considered and Living Room.
Walters was married to Patricia Ann Walters and lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. He died from lung cancer at the age of 72.

Works and publications