Frank H. Walk Sr.

WALK Frank H. Walk passed away on 17 May 2011 at Lambeth House in New Orleans, LA. He was a consulting engineer, World War II U.S Army veteran, Presidential appointee to the Mississippi River Commission, and Knight of the Papal Order of St Gregory. Frank was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 62 years, Consuelo Faust Walk. He is survived by their five children: Wendelyn Walk Michell (Jacques), Karen Abaunza Walk, Frank Humphrey "Woody" Walk, Jr. (Jeanne Beslin), Edmond Wade Walk (Charlene Hill), and Wesley Albert Walk (Mary Kay Weeks); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frank was born in Decatur, AL on 30 August 1920 and grew up in Baton Rouge, LA, where he moved with his family in 1924. He was the son of the late Capt Francis Albert Walk of Decatur, AL and Baton Rouge, LA and the late Laura Adeline Humphrey Walk of Waterloo, AL and Baton Rouge, LA. He was the brother of the late Frances Walk Mason of Shreveport, LA. From early childhood, he aspired to be an engineer. His father, a steamboat Chief Engineer, Pilot and Master, and a practical, self educated engineer, who encouraged him in this dream. He was a graduate of Catholic High School and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, receiving a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1942, and an MS in Civil Engineering in 1947. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of New Orleans in 1990. After graduating from LSU, he received a 2nd Lieutenant's Reserve Officer Commission in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in January 1942. He was immediately called to active duty and served with amphibious assault landing units in the Pacific and European theatres during World War II. He attained the rank of Colonel. He landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, serving as the Traffic Control Officer, Engineer Special Brigade Group. He later served as the Executive Officer of the 6th Engineer Special Brigade, Omaha Beach Command. He received the Bronze Star. After World War II, he returned to Baton Rouge, LA where he held various engineering and management positions in private industry and with consulting firms. He and his family moved to New Orleans in 1954. In 1959, he co-founded Walk, Haydel & Associates, Inc. in partnership with Gerald M. Haydel. This multi-discipline consulting engineering firm specialized in industrial plant design, project management, environmental engineering, and construction management. Walk, Haydel was acquired by Dames & Moore in 1995. Dames & Moore was acquired by URS Corporation in 1999. In 1987, Frank Walk was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Mississippi River Commission. Frank was an active parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church for 53 years. He attended retreats at the Manresa Retreat House and attended retreats with his wife, Connie at St. Joseph's Abbey. During Pope John II's 1987 Papal Visit to New Orleans, he served as Events Chairman. He was named a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory, by Pope John Paul II. He was a member of the Serra Clubs of Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Frank held leadership positions in a number of professional societies. He was a recipient of the ASME Oil Drop Award for achievement in the field of petroleum mechanical engineering. He was named a member of the Engineering Hall of Distinction at LSU and at UNO. Frank was a leader in civic and community service. He served as Chairman of The Chamber, New Orleans & the River Region; the chairman of the Economic Development Council.; and the Metro Vision Executive Committee. He served as President and Chairman of the World Trade Center of New Orleans. He was a founding member of the National World War II (D Day) Museum. He was a member of the Avoca Duck Club and of the Boston Club. Frank was an devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Frank was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and hiking. An enthusiastic duck hunter, he spent many pleasant days, in the duck blind with his sons and grand children. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass Burial at Holy Name of Jesus Church at 1:00 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011. Visitation will begin at the church at 11:00 am. Private interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the Sister Servants of Mary, 5001 Perlita St., New Orleans, LA 70122.