Tom Walter to be Honored in Hometown Ceremony
8/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 5, 2011
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Since donating a kidney to freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan in early February, Wake Forest head baseball coach Tom Walter has been recognized and celebrated by various organizations around the country.
His next honor will come on Friday evening when he receives the annual John P. Murtha Friend in Education Award from his alma mater, Johnstown High School.
Walter, a Johnstown, Pennsylvania native, decided to give one of his kidneys to his player after it was discovered Jordan's family members could not provide an adequate match.
"Tom Walter is a role model for kids at our school and for kids anywhere," said Richard Unger to The Tribune-Democrat. Unger is the president of the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Directors.
Jordan arrived on campus in the fall of 2010, but it was quickly discovered that he suffered from ANCA vasculitis, a type of autoimmune swelling caused by autoantibodies.
The transplant surgeries were successfully performed on February 7, and since then, both Walter and Jordan have recovered extremely well. Walter was coaching the Demon Deacons just 11 days after surgery in their 2011 season opener at LSU, and Jordan has already arrived back on campus to take classes and work out.
Walter will be receiving the award during a 5 p.m. ceremony at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in Cambria City.
