Tom Walker
Thomas A. Walker took a unique path into broadcasting. He entered the industry not as an account executive or disc jockey, but as a chief financial officer with years of corporate experience. The Madison-based company he joined, Mid-West Family Broadcasting, had been founded by his grandfather and then owned by his father. As a result of his accomplishments and leadership–and theirs–Walker is a third-generation member of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His grandfather, William E. Walker, was inducted in 1990, and his father, William R. Walker, was inducted in 1995.
Walker earned his bachelor’s degree and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He spent 10 years in finance before joining the family company in 1990. He steered the company through the many federal regulatory changes of the next decade, and became president and general manager in 1998. Walker played an important role in strengthening the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association through his service as WBA chair, WBA Foundation treasurer, and a founder of the Walker Broadcast Management Institute.
