Published: August 07, 2008 03:17 am      

Waltons passionate about education

PALESTINE — Sid and Linda Walton have a serious interest in education. When asked by Cad Williams to serve on the Steering Committee for the UT Tyler-Palestine Campus Expansion Campaign, they didn’t hesitate with their time or their money.

The Waltons made a $5,000 contribution to the campaign and began working with the campaign committee to reach out to the community and help raise additional funds needed for the expansion of the UT Tyler-Palestine campus.

Surrounded by antiques in their bed and breakfast home nostalgically known as Apple Annie’s, Linda explained their passion for education.

“We know that education is a key that opens many doors and without that key, a lot of doors are closed,” Walton said. “Once you have an education, no one can take it from you.

“Sid and I are both products of public schools and we were very fortunate when we were young in being able to pursue our education,” she added. “Education is part of our family culture.”

Sid Walton graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in math, and Linda Walton graduated from Baylor University Medical Center School of Medical Technology and Texas Woman’s University with a degree in social work. Linda also did some post graduate course work at UT Dallas.

The Waltons said that when they were in high school, “it was just expected that when you graduated from high school you would attend college. With the tough economic times today, a lot of young people don’t see college as an option.”

Sid and Linda Walton also expressed their appreciation for the pro-active approach taken by university officials in being responsive to community needs.

“Having affordable and accessible educational opportunities in our community is also key to having a skilled labor pool,” Linda Walton said.

Linda Walton says that she is particularly interested in educational opportunities for women. She has even provided financial assistance for college for two young women in Nairobi, Kenya. She is also involved in the Rotary Club of Palestine, which has several literacy programs, including providing personal dictionaries to local third graders.

Linda Walton moved to Palestine eight years ago, looking for a slower pace after living in the Dallas area for 44 years.

Sid came to Palestine when he and Linda married six years ago. He had retired from Bell Helicopters’ industrial engineering division.

Together, they now operate Apple Annie’s Bed and Breakfast and several other properties in Palestine.

Though they have lived in Palestine for a short time, they say the community really feels like home for them now and they have become very involved in the community in various capacities.

The expansion project for the UT Tyler-Palestine Campus is just one of the ways in which they try to give back to the community they have grown to love.

“Our gift is a re-investment in this community and we hope our support of this expansion campaign will help provide opportunities for students who otherwise might not have been able to get an education,” Linda Walton said.