Evening star., 1946-03-04

$50 am. yesterday despite an
emergency operation performed by
DR.. D. J. w. Watts. brain surgeon.
Mother Consoles Opponent.
Mr.. Walkers mother, who few
here with her husband early yester-
day, consoled her sons opponent
after services this morning at the
Shrine Of the Immaculate Concep-
ton.
Mr.. Gersin, third-year student
at Catholic University, recently re-
turned to school after serving in the
Navy as torpedo bomber pilot with
the rank of lieutenant, Junior grade.
Young Walker, also a third-year
student at Maryland, re-entered the
university last month after serving
as naval aviation cadet at the
University of North Carolina Pre-
flight School.
Revived After. Knockout.
The Maryland boxer lost con-
sciousness when his head hit the
canvas, but revived in the ring after
being examined by DR.. John Simp-
son, physician for the c. U. team.
He was permitted to leave the ring
and watched the following bout
from his teams bench. Shortly
thereafter he was led to the dress
ing room after he complained of
illness.
Mr.. Walker collapsed in the dress
ing room and was taken to the hos
pital in an ambulance. The youth
did not regain consciousness after
the operation.
Mr.. Walkers deathi believed to
be the first in the history of local
intercollegiate boxing, although in
January, 1887, in Lexington, Va,
Mike Lombardo, a Maryland boxer,
scored a technical knockout over
Jack Eastman, a substitute Virginia
Military Institute ringman, who
later died. VMI abandoned boxing
as result.
In this connection, DR.. H. c. Byrd,
president of Maryland University,
said today that the schools policy
of regarding intercollegiate boxing
as permanent major sport will not
be altered by Mr.. Walkers death.
while it was tragic occurrence, !"
DR.. Byrd said, II do not feel that it
should mean the end of intercol-
legiate boxing at Maryland. In any
body-contact sport, there remains
the danger of injury and I believe
that it will be found that boxing
does not rate as high in fatalities as
several other sports. We have no
intention here at Maryland to drop
boxing as result of this accident,
which deeply grieve."
Boxers Appeared Equal.
Meeting as CT Bill of Rights
students, Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Ger
sin appeared evenly matched in
every physical respect. They wore
regulation 12-ounce gloves. Before
the bouts both coaches and DR..
Simpson gave all participants
thorough examinations.
Mr.. Walker appeared rational
when he left the ring and asked Mr..
Gersin: What happened-did I
get knocked out?" The knockout
occurred in the first round when
the fight had been under way only
40 seconds.
Members of both boxing teams
went to the hospital Saturday
night and remained there until 2
In, when they attended a mass at
the Church of the Imaculate Con-
ception.
Requiem Mass Sung.
Solemn requiem high mass was
sung at 9 o'clock this morning at
the National Shrine of the Immacu-
late Conception. The celebrant was
the Rev. DR.. Edgar A. Lang, dean
of men at Catholic University. Other
participants were the Rev. James
Ridge, deacon; the Rev. George
Lynch, subdeacon, and the Very
Rev. Ign" us Smith, dean of the
school Of i'osophy, who eulogized
,he you hlete, saying:
He W; noble student, a finely
athlete, a great team
man and a fine pal" Addressing
,he parents, Father Smith expressed
he universitys deep appreciation
If your ready and complete exon