Father’s Day is right around the corner and recently the American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced their Inland Empire 2017 Father of the Year recipients. During the ceremony nine-time Baja 1000 champion, Walker Evans was recognized along with Gary Romano, Michael Downs, and Jim Clover.
These honorees have been chosen because they have made their family a priority while balancing demanding careers and being an outstanding community leader. This award does not recognize a father’s specific career-related accomplishments, rather the awardees are selected by their peers and community members who recognize them as role model fathers.
The Father of the Year Awards is a national event that has honored men like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Robert F. Kennedy, Babe Ruth, Frank Sinatra, and Humphrey Bogart to strengthen the meaning of fatherhood while raising funds for a philanthropic purpose. “Once you reach a certain level, you look at all the blessings around you and say ’now it’s time to give back,'” Walker Evans said. “And that’s what I want to do and continue to do.”
One of Walker’s favorite sayings is “it takes a motor to get my heart started.” To keep himself busy he drives UTVs, rockcrawling vehicles, off-road racing buggies, motorcycles, and flies his own plane and helicopter.
“I am happy to be a part of the ADA, to be a spokesman for it and help fight this horrible disease,” Walker continued. “I will always support this and this will be a top program in my life from now on.”
For a man known for his behind the wheel accomplishments, there is much more to one of the most well-known drivers in off-road racing and a great example of a father of the year.