Headmaster Lee Burns ’87 presented the 2020 Walker Casey Award to senior Brown Hayes.
The award is named in memory of Walker Casey '47 and is one of the most prestigious honors McCallie bestows to a senior student. Voted upon by the school’s faculty and student members of Keo-Kio, the Student Council and the Senate, the award recognizes the senior who most profoundly exhibits the strong Christian beliefs and standards exemplified by Walker Casey.
“While there are other important awards at McCallie, the Walker Casey Award clearly speaks to the very soul of McCallie,” Headmaster Burns said. “This award seeks to recognize strength of character and the power of positive influence.”
As a student at McCallie, Brown has lived up to the legacy of Walker Casey. He has been a member of the National Honor Society, Young Life, and TEPs and he serves as the president of Keo-Kio. He leads a student prayer group after Chapel and he has been an active athlete on the state champion cross country team and track teams as well.
Walker Casey died from a brain tumor in 1947, six weeks before his scheduled graduation date at McCallie. He was inducted into Keo-Kio, the senior leadership organization, before his passing. The award, established by his parents and the school, is presented each year around Walker Casey’s birthday.