Born in 1934 in Atlantic City, Walter D. Palmer overcame a tumultuous childhood and adversity-filled upbringing in Philadelphia. After losing his father at 12 years old, Walter used his lessons of a strong work ethic and an appreciation for the arts to help his mother raise not just his own siblings, but also start a Community Freedom School for children and adult learners alike that would become the platform on which Walter built his social justice legacy over the next 65 years. Despite Walter’s positive influence on his community, he ran into trouble with neighborhood youth, in and out of Philadelphia juvenile facilities and getting shot once and stabbed over 3 times throughout his teens. The first of his family to graduate high school, he then had no more police encounters and held down various jobs to support the family.
A talented musician, he’s played music with artists like Billy Paul, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sammy Davis Jr., plus some great tap dancers.
After high school he worked at UPenn Medical Center as a surgical attendant and later a paramedical training program in respiratory therapy. After graduating, he was hired by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as the director of what would later become the Department of Cardiopulmonary Care. He was later appointed as a fellow in the Philadelphia College of Physicians. When President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy had their 3rd child (Patrick), he was chief pulmonary consultant on his case.
He was inspired by many great athletes when he first saw the great Paul Robeson in a movie, along with the stories of Jack Johnson and a radio broadcast of boxing legend Joe Louis. It would not be until he was 25 years old and started running in track and field that he found his stride and by age 40 set a masters world record in the indoor 50-yard dash, winning over 1,000 medals & trophies in over 50 years of competing. He set records in city, state, national, and international competitions in indoor and outdoor track & field throughout my life.
He also attended Temple University to study business administration and radio and television production and direction. He then went to Cheyney State University to study secondary education with a major in social studies and history.
Because he was so involved in the civil rights movement and running the cardiopulmonary department, he left CHOP to create The Palmer Foundation to develop educational and training materials for at-risk populations in 1955. After working for many politicians, I founded the Walter D Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School in Philadelphia from until it closed in 2014. He is currently a faculty member at UPenn, teaching Urban Studies and Social Policy & Practice. He is founded The Black Men at Penn, School of Social Work, and The Center on American Racism and Social Justice at the School of Social Policy and Practice. He also founded the John Hope Franklin Society at UPenn.
