Herkie Walls
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As one of three brothers, Hercules Walls was very active in singing with the church choir and running track through a YMCA program. Eventually, in middle school, Herkie added football to his list of passions. Herkie was always the smallest one on the team, but he was also the fastest and toughest.
The link to Herkie’s oral history podcast, photos, and written content is at:
While at Garland High School, Herkie was an option quarterback and, as a senior, led the Owls through an undefeated regular season to a bi-district championship. As a senior in the District 10-AAAA track meet, he won the 100, 220, and long jump, and he anchored the winning sprint relay. Herkie also won the high school 100 meters in a record time of 10.42 at the Texas Relays as a senior,
Herkie received a double scholarship to the University of Texas for both track and football. Finishing at Texas as a consensus choice as an All-Southwest Conference split-end, setting the all-time University of Texas record in average yards per catch.
As a Longhorn in 1980, he earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic track team and was scheduled to run the 4X 100 relay, but President Carter boycotted the Olympic games held in Russia.
After graduation, he was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 7th round. He was the first receiver picked by the team and played with Houston for four years. He was then traded to Tampa Bay as a receiver. In 1987, the Tampa Bay Bucs asked him to play during the infamous three-game strike period in the NFL. He played – and is convinced that his participation left him no chance of catching on with another NFL team.
After retiring from the NFL, Herkie moved to Orlando and in 1991 joined an AFL Orlando Predators.
WALLS MAKES IT A TRADITION OF CATCHING THE FOOTBALL
Jerry Greene of The Sentinel Staff THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
In 2000 Herkie was inducted into the Arena football Hall of Fame with five receiving and return records.
Think of the Orlando Predators, and you must think of Herkie Walls. He will be the image of the team once again tonight as pregame laser beams bounce off his shining head as if it were the dark side of the moon, letting everyone in The Jungle know the Predators are ready to begin and always ready to win.
Herkie’s Arena Football Career 207 catches 2910 yards and 45 touchdowns.
“The fans know I’m always trying, always giving everything I have,” Walls said. “I think the people appreciate that, especially from somebody my size. I’m proof you don’t have to be big to be beautiful.”
Flash! The famous Herkie smile goes off like a camera bulb, popping before your face, blinding in his good-natured intensity. Then Walls, 5 feet 8, turns the floor of the Orlando Arena into the land of a thousand victory dances.
More than any other player, Walls is the spirit of the Orlando Predators. And he also is the only Predator involved in a truly remarkable streak.
The Predators have played 57 games, including playoffs, in their team history, dating to 1991. Walls has caught at least one pass in every game, totaling 189 receptions. Tonight, he goes for game No. 58 against the Milwaukee Mustangs.
“I have started thinking about that streak this year,” Walls said. “I just thank God that I’ve been a significant part of this team’s growth.”
Jack Youngblood, a star in the NFL for 14 years, is in his first season with the Predators as vice president of operations. He quickly sensed Walls’ value to the team.
“Herkie’s a staple like sliced bread,” Youngblood said. “You can’t do without him.”
No athlete, however, can compete forever. Walls will turn 34 on July 18. That’s an age when any football player has to start wondering about how long it’s going to last.
“People ask me if I’m playing one year at a time now,” Walls said. “Hey, I’m playing one day at a time, because you never know what’s going to happen.”
Do not be fooled, however. Walls is not thinking about retiring. And the Predators have not diminished his role. Listed as the team’s offensive specialist – meaning that along with the quarterback, he does not have to play defense – Walls still is one of three starting wide receivers. He’s also the team’s kick return specialist.
“He doesn’t screw up,” said Jim Jensen, special teams coach. “He’s one of our hardest workers and knows exactly what he has to do. He probably plays the ball off the net as well as anybody in the league.”
Walls takes great pride in “playing the net.” It takes a matador’s confidence and courage to turn your back on eight onrushing enemy players while waiting for the ball to bounce off those giant end-zone screens unique to the Arena Football League.
“I just want the ball before they reach me,” Walls said. “Then my sole concern is to take it to ‘the house’ (end zone) or, if not the house, at least to midfield.”
Whatever Walls does – and he would like to remain in the entertainment field, perhaps as a dancer – he will go at it hard. This is a player who works out daily with the Predators and then lifts weights on his own.
This is a player with six percent body fat, the rest consisting of bone and muscle, including a figuratively big heart.
A man perfectly named.
The rest, as they say . . .
“I was given a gift of speed and athletic ability that is suited to the arena game,” Walls said. “Right now, this is what I do, but it is only a part of who I am, even though it is the part that everybody knows.”
Inspiring with words
After retiring from arena football, he spent another seven years with the Predators as their Community Relations Director and formed “Herkie’s Hero’s” – Fitness is Fun” program for the Orange County Public Schools.
In 2003 he became a Bible, Physical Ed. teacher, and Head Football Coach at the Master’s Academy in Oveido, Fl. After nine years of teaching Bible classes, Herkie was hired as a personal trainer, helping individuals stay in shape both physically and spiritually.
Herkies passion for the Word of God led him to Eastside Baptist, where he became licensed and ordained as a minister. A few years later, he was the Senior Pastor at Eastside Baptist Church. His ministry is based on Faith, Hope, and Love, and he continues to spread the Gospel through motivational speaking throughout Florida.
Presently, Herkie is the founder and senior pastor at New Generation Gospel Church, a non-denominational church in Orlando, Florida. But now, at 60, he confesses that his spirit often returns to Austin and UT, where he excelled in sports and mastered his skills to deliver messages he holds close to his heart.
