President Joseph I. Castro ordered Fresno State’s national and state flags to be posted at half-staff on Sunday, Sept. 15, the day of a memorial tribute for Dr. James Walton, a professor emeritus of English at Fresno State and the first faculty to serve as coordinator of the University’s Africana Studies Program. Dr. Walton died on Aug. 15 at age 74. An educator for more than half a century, Dr. Walton taught American literature and writing at the University from 1990 to 2018.
He retired as chair emeritus of both English and Africana Studies. Faculty and staff from English and Africana Studies will present a memorial tribute in honor of Dr. Walton at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 inside the Wahlberg Recital Hall, in Fresno State’s Music Building. Admission and parking is free in recommended lots P31 or P30. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to a Lewy body dementia or an Alzheimer’s support organization of choice.
