A native of the Idaho Panhandle, Norm was an outstanding athlete at Wallace High School and as an amateur boxer he won titles in the District Boxing Championship and a state title in 1946. Walker entered the University of Idaho in 1947, and was a boxing welterweight under Hall of Famer Frank Young, for three years.
He was a NCAA runner-up in 1949, added the Sugar Bowl title in 1951, and the Pacific Coast Welterweight title in 1951. Norm served in the U.S. Army form 1951-53, picking up the sixth Army lightweight title in 1952. His first teaching and coaching job was at Mullan High School where he piled up an impressive record of victories and championships. Coaching all sports, Norm guided his teams to three district titles in football, two district championships in basketball, and added a state title in A-4 basketball. 1965 brought a move down the road to Wallace High School where he has guided the athletic program for the past 22 years.
During these years the Walker-coached teams have won nine district football championships, took part in four state playoffs, and in basketball added three district titles and coached his teams in four Idaho state A-2 tournaments. Walker received the great honor of "Coach of the Decade" for his work in the 1970' s from the Idaho Hall of Fame Inc. He remains very active in community affairs and youth projects in Wallace, and is a member of the Wallace Youth Athletic Foundation. He has served on many football coaching clinics for high school coaches, received the North Idaho Coach of the Year Award twice. Walker is a member of the Wallace Elks lodge and the Idaho Coaches Association. Norm has been married to his wife Sonja for 28 years and have two daughters, Valerie and Josette, and two grandchildren.