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2022 Local Honorees for Trinity
Trooper Chad Walker
Multiple Organ Donor
Groesbeck, TX
Chad Michael Walker was born May 21, 1982 in Corsicana, Texas. He grew up in Groesbeck, graduating from Groesbeck High School in 2000 and from Navarro College Police Academy in 2003 as his class Valedictorian.
He loved anything outdoors – hunting, fishing, his cows, and his kids were a pleasure to Chad. He grew up helping his grandfather, Dennis, with cattle and was proud of his own Beefmaster herd. Chad was very involved in community activities in both Limestone and Freestone counties and was on the Limestone County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
Chad began a career in law enforcement in 2003 at Athens Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Groesbeck Police Department, and the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the Department of Public Safety in 2015 and was stationed in Groesbeck.
Chad was joined as one, to be married for life, with Tobie Taylor Walker in September, 2018. They lived in Groesbeck with their four children Ethan, twin daughters Rylee and Charlee, and newborn daughter, Tulsa June. Chad was a Christian, worshiping at Living Proof Church in Groesbeck.
After Chad’s life of service to his family, friends, and the public, he gave the ultimate gift through the donation of his organs to help keep others alive. The Department of Public Safety said in a statement, “This final sacrifice embodies Trooper Walker’s actions throughout his life and service as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper.”
Trooper Walker will be honored at each local event along the 2022 Lone Star Route.
Ethan Ramsey
Blood Recipient
Ethan is a High School student who one day just fell over with a brain aneurysm. He received blood and blood products from surgeries to save his life.
The family would like to take this opportunity to educate his fellow student the need for life-saving donations like blood and blood products.
Randy Elder
Blood Donor
Randy Elder has been a long-time blood donor since he was in college. He has given for so many years in so many states, it is hard for him to count how many gallons he has actually given over the years.
Several years ago, Randy and two other blood donors, were fortunate to be able to meet one of the recipients of their many blood donations, a young child who was battling brain cancer. This donor-recipient meeting was captured by a Houston news channel https://www.fox26houston.com/video/657314
Randy said “you just don’t think about where it is going when you donate. It is in God’s hands to get it to the right person. A few minutes from a blood donor can be so much to a patient needing blood.”
Mike McCain
Marrow Recipient
My name is Mike McCain. My wife and I have a business where we go to fairs and festivals. On the first weekend of June in 2017, we had worked a festival and I was totally worn out. My normal routine is picking on people and having a good time. At the end of the day, I am ready to load and go. That is not the way it was this day. I had to sit and cool off before loading – not my normal self. I had been feeling bad for a while and was very tired. I had no appetite, and being 6 ft tall and 299, I liked to eat.
I went to the doctor. I was 65 years old and had never really been sick. A few days later, I was called back into the office because of abnormalities in my blood. Once there, the doctor told me I had leukemia and I was taken downstairs to an oncologist. They did more blood work and I needed to go to a hospital. They said my white count was over 600 and if it got to 1,000, it would be life-threatening.
I went to Methodist Hospital and had to wait in the ER for about 30 hours for a room to become available. That was to become my second home for the next several months. I started chemotherapy the next day and received 35 bags of chemotherapy between June and January. I would be in the hospital for 7 days then home for 3 weeks.
In December, I was informed that they had located a donor for my transplant. On January 12th, I was admitted for my last round of chemo and then my transplant. I had chemo for 5 days, rested day, then was “introduced” to Dan and my new “birthday.” I was told I would be there 30 more days but was released earlier, and thanks to my heavenly Father everything went very well.
In 2019, I was privileged to meet my donor, Dan, aka “Dan The Man!” This is what a hero is. You do not have to be in the military or police officer to be a hero. Dan was 18 when he registered to be a donor and 28 when he made his donation.
I would encourage anyone who is of age to register to be a donor. You can be someone’s hero!
