David A. Walker 1942-2008
David Walker, (det. sgt. ret. NYDP) who founded the Annual Father's Day Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic and who revived the sport of Double Dutch, passed away July 20th in St. Luke's hospital. Dave was 66 years old.
David Walker (center) with the NYC Sports Commissioner and the winner
of the 2005 Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic (Marco
Quezada photo)
In 1973, Dave started a bicycle safety program for children. This bicycle safety program has become the Skyscraper, one of the largest cycling events in the country, often attracting world class, olympic cyclists. This year 2008 was the 35th skyscraper (see below).
Also in 1973, aware that there were no intramural sports for girls in the schools, Dave held a Double Dutch demonstration at Harlem's I.S.10 for the NYC Board of Education. The Board of Ed loved it and from the late 1970s-the late 1980s, Double Dutch was an intramural sport in the NYC public schools, with the championships held at Lincoln Center. Today, the big event is the Annual Holiday Double Dutch Classic at the Apollo Theater that attracts teams from around the world. A documentary filmed at the 2004 holiday classic Rhythm in the Rope and shown on ESPN2, won the Emmy award for outstanding sports documentary. For more information, visit www.nationaldoubledutchleague.com
 |
The Skyscraper and Walker family thank everyone for their expressions of love and concern during our time of bereavement. We are dedicated to continuing David Walker's work even without him and hope to see everybody at the 36th Annual Skyscraper-Harlem Cycling Classic which will be held on Father's Day, 2009, in loving memory of our founder. The 2008 Skyscraper will be re-broadcast on Tuesday, July 29th from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Universal Sports (Ch. 162 for Manhattan, Queens & Brooklyn cable subscribers; Ch. 110 for Bronx). Donations may
be made to the National Double Dutch League Please contact Jim Greene for more information. jimgreene1369@yahoo.com |
