Former Bengal to address Celebrate Fatherhood in Middletown

Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Kevin Walker is lending his voice to the Celebrate Fatherhood initiative in Butler County at 7 p.m. Monday at the New Era Baptist Church, 1120 Yankee Road in Middletown. CONTRIBUTED

Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Kevin Walker is lending his voice to the Celebrate Fatherhood initiative in Butler County at 7 p.m. Monday at the New Era Baptist Church, 1120 Yankee Road in Middletown. CONTRIBUTED

Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Kevin Walker is lending his voice to the Celebrate Fatherhood initiative in Butler County at 7 p.m. Monday at the New Era Baptist Church, 1120 Yankee Road in Middletown.

The U.S. Census Bureau says 24 million children live in homes where their biological father is absent, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative.

The Butler County group has been working to get men involved in various programs designed to help and encourage better parenting skills and to combat the infant mortality issue, according to Dr. Celeste Davis, who has been spearheading the effort.

RELATED: Butler County groups want men to join fight against infant mortality

She said being able to have someone like Walker come to Butler County and speak will aide in the effort to reach more men with the Celebrate Fatherhood initiative.

“Men should come out with their families and bring your children, and people in the community including mentors and coaches and their athletes and their friends,” Davis said. “The community should come out and hear what Kevin Walker has to share.”

MORE: Middletown’s Families First expand efforts to fight infant mortality

Walker was a rookie linebacker on the 1988 Super Bowl team. A third-round pick out of Maryland, he played in 44 games during a five-year career and is best known for making the tackle that ended Bo Jackson’s career during a playoff game in Oakland in 1991.

In 1992, Walker suffered a career-ending knee injury when his cleats got caught in an artificial turf. Since then, he stayed focused on building a business career and is now a managing partner with BuildKor, a construction management firm in Cincinnati.

Download the free Journal-News app, Butler County’s #1 source for local news

About the Author