Walker, a veteran and member of the Odawa tribe of Native Americans, joined the team for the 1969 season as the third (and final) person to play the mascot. Started in 1964 as a nameless mascot while the team was in Milwaukee, Walker was by far the most prolific, being found at (almost) every home game in a tipi beyond the left field seats until the mascot’s discontinuation in 1986.

In 1982, Chief Noc-a-Homa’s tipi was removed after the season-opening thirteen-game winning streak so that owner Ted Turner could add more seats to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. After the team lost 19 of their next 21 games, falling to 2nd place in the division, the outcry from superstitious fans resulted in Turner directing management to restore the tipi and Atlanta rebounded to win the National League West.

Walker was reportedly suffering from metabolic encephalopathy and has been in poor health for several years. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced by the family.