“Walters Way: A Coach, His Runners, and His Race,” a new book profiling Wilbert “Coach” Walters of Aurora, will be released by Koehlerbooks Monday, Feb. 9.
Maureen McKane of Aurora authored the biography from interviews with Walters and former students.
“Walters Way” details how he goes solo to uplift his race by launching the Aurora Sundowners Track Club for marginalized Black girls during the civil rights movement. He teaches the fundamentals of excellence and prepares his athletes to thrive in a world that says they are extraneous. On the way, they take Junior Olympic medals.
The book chronicles the glories and defeats of Walters’ life to a White author as both set out to understand what it all means. It is his story of living two lives simultaneously. In one, he is esteemed and awarded. In the other, where he is invisible, disaster hits twice. The second time, he is prepared.
Presentations and book signings are set for 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at Yellowbird Books in downtown Aurora, 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Santori Aurora Public Library, and at 5 p.m. March 14 at GAR museum downtown.
—Maureen McKane