Image
Herschel Walker is founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of H. Walker Enterprises, LLC (HWE) and Renaissance Man Food Services, LLC (RMFS, a certified minority business enterprise that supplies poultry, pork and bakery products to the food service and retail marketplace under such brands as Herschel's Famous 34® and Herschel’s Mama’s Cookin® In addition, Herschel supplies can liners and food service related products to national and corporate accounts. Custom bedding, solar blinds and draperies are sold to the hospitality industry, with premiums and promotional products available for corporate programs through H. Walker Enterprises, LLC. Herschel’s brands are built on Walker’s unmatched reputation, customer-driven focus, product innovation and commitment to excellence.
Throughout his career, Walker has established a reputation for honesty and diligence, a sincere commitment to the community, and an unsurpassed passion for excellence. He has applied these same successful principles to his food business, established in 2002. Through Walker’s leadership, and personal commitment, his brands have become rapidly growing food service lines to major hotel chains, the United States military, various schools, and retail chains and concessions organizations. In January of 2013, Herschel’s first brand name restaurant opened in Athens Georgia; “Herschel’s Famous 34 Pub and Grill.” Recognized by his customers for excellence, RMFS was recognized by SYSCO Corporation as a “Top 100 Supplier” for every year since 2004, achieving “Silver Status” (Top 40) in 2009. RMFS was awarded the “Silver Heritage Diversity Award” in 2004,the “Bronze Diversity Award” in 2005 and the Gold Diversity award in June, 2013.
RMFS respects its roots and is dedicated to helping others who are less fortunate. That is why a percentage of the company’s profits are given to various charitable organizations serving people in need, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Special Olympics, PE for Life programs, the Boy Scouts of America and others. In additional to financial gifts, Walker formed and leads the Herschel’s Famous 34 bike team specifically to support the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The team has raised money by participating in several of the Society’s 150-mile bike ride events.
Walker has a long history of commitment to excellence. In high school he led his team to state championships in both football and track. In 1980, Walker participated in the Academy of Achievement program as valedictorian of his class. In 1981, he became the first Academy of Achievement honor student to return to the annual program as a recipient of the Golden Plate Award. Walker’s collegiate football career is legendary. As a freshman at the University of Georgia, Walker’s performance helped capture the 1980 national football title. He earned consensus All-American honors three consecutive years, set numerous NCAA and SEC records and capped a sensational college career by earning, in his junior year, the 1982 Heisman Trophy. In 2002 he was voted into the Collegiate Football Hall of Fame and was selected as the second greatest player in college football history, just behind the legendary Red Grange. In 1983, Walker gave up his final year of collegiate eligibility and turned professional. During his 15 year pro football career, Walker’s accomplishments include a) setting the still standing, single-season, pro football rushing record of 2411 yards, b) leading the NFL in rushing, c) gaining more total yards than anyone in professional football history and d) receiving numerous all-pro and pro Bowl honors.
Additionally, Walker held a world record in the 60-yd dash, participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics 2-man United States bobsled team, is a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and has performed with the Fort Worth Ballet.
In September 2009, Herschel was signed by Mix Marital Art Strikeforce to compete in their heavyweight division. Walker trained at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. In his first MMA debut on January 30, 2010, Herschel defeated is opponent by technical knockout. On January 29, 2011, defeated his second opponent by technical knockout also. The same commitment to excellence that delivered his athletic achievements is now applied to building his many business ventures. Walker leads and is personally involved in all key aspects of his growing business enterprise, including product sales and development, marketing, manufacturing and promotional events. All members of the H. Walker Enterprise team share Walker’s principles and commitment to excellence.
Walker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Georgia in 1984.