Willard And Pat Walker Charitable Foundation Makes Signature Gift To College Baseball Hall Of Fame
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation has made a signature $1.5 million gift to the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The gift was made in honor of legendary University of Arkansas Baseball Head Coach Norm DeBriyn, who will be enshrined in the College Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday, February 12 at the 2026 Night of Champions in Overland Park.
The College Baseball Hall of Fame will establish a physical location within the Museum of Prairiefire in 2026. The Hall of Fame will feature the Norm DeBriyn Awards Gallery as well as the Norm DeBriyn Coaching Legends Corner.
“Throughout his remarkable 33-year career as a college baseball coach, Norm DeBriyn had a positive influence on the lives of thousands of players, coaches, fans and others affiliated with Arkansas Baseball,” Walker Foundation Executive Director Mandy Macke said. “The Walker Foundation and Walker family are honored to make this gift as a tribute to Coach DeBriyn’s enduring legacy while also helping create a permanent home where all college baseball legends can be celebrated.”
DeBriyn is the winningest coach in the University of Arkansas history, leading the Razorbacks for 33 seasons from 1970 to 2002. He amassed 1,161 wins and led the Hogs to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and four College World Series appearances, finishing as the runner up in 1979. In his tenure, the Razorbacks won two Southwest Conference titles and one Southeastern Conference overall title. DeBriyn coached 19 All-America selections, six Freshman All-Americans, 58 all-conference selections and 48 all-conference tournament selections.
“On behalf of the College Baseball Foundation, we sincerely want to thank Mandy Macke, Johnny Mike Walker and the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation for their extremely generous and impactful gift to the College Baseball Hall of Fame and for honoring Coach DeBriyn in such a special and meaningful way.” College Baseball Foundation and College Baseball Hall of Fame CEO/Executive Director Tom Jacobs said. “This generous gift will not only foster recognition of Coach DeBriyn’s illustrious career, but also further support the College Baseball Foundation’s mission to celebrate the history and lasting impact of college baseball.”
The College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is the parent organization of the College Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHOF). The 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame class will be honored at the Night of Champions on February 12, 2026, at the Marriott Kansas City in Overland Park.
About the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation
The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation exists to support qualified charitable organizations located in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, with a primary emphasis on Arkansas.
