Hells Canyon Mule Days Awards 2007 Max Walker Memorial Scholarship to Matthew Exon, Toviyah Lowe and Margaret McClaran

[Download the 2008 Scholarship Application here (.pdf file)]

2007 Hells Canyon Mule Days Max Walker Memorial Scholarship Winners

The Hells Canyon Mule Days Board of Directors is pleased to award three $1000.00 scholarships to three Wallowa County high school seniors.The first annual Max Walker Memorial Scholarship was given in the 2004-2005 school year for one scholarship in the amount of $1000.00, and was awarded to Wallowa High School student Lindsay Easom. The 2006 scholarship was awarded to Enterprise High School student Tricia Kunkle. With the growing success of the Hells Canyon Mule Days event and the mule days board of directors being focused on giving back to the community, the decision was made to increase the number of scholarships to three $1000.00 awards for 2006-2007 school year.

This year’s scholarships were granted to Matt Exon and he will be attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho; Toviyah Lowe who will be attending Lewis - Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho; and Maggie McClaran and she will continue her education at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. There was a strong field of applicants and the committee had a very difficult time selecting only three scholarship winners from the qualified students. The committee was impressed by the diverse goals of Exon, Lowe and McClaran’s applications, character evaluation reference’s, career choices and leadership qualities. The HCMD Board of Directors wish each student a successful and enjoyable freshman year at college.

Max Walker

Max Walker was one who wore many hats during his twenty years of involvement with the Hells Canyon Mule Days event. He, along with Bob Casey, Jerry Winegar, Steve Cavallaro, Jerry Perren, and a handful of other locals, were the Founding Fathers and Mothers of this annual event.

Max was the driving force behind the scenes as well as main stage each year during the event. He was the first chairman of Hells Canyon Mule Days and acted in that capacity for many years. He also provided initial financing for the event. Besides being a contestant in the events, he and his wife Marcel and their mules were the official escort for many Hells Canyon Mule Days Grand Marshals over the years. The Walkers were honored as Grand Marshals of Mule Days in1992.

Max was a avid sportsman and loved to hunt, fish, hike and camp, but telling his famous hunting stories was his favorite pastime. The Snake River area and the Wallowa Mountains were among his favorite places. An expert at shoeing horses and mules, many livestock owners sought out his excellent services.

Max was an honest hard-worker, even in play. He told his sons to first, always tell the truth, second, never tell on anybody and third, always leave a gate the way you found it.