This fund was established in 2011 by Thomas J. Walker to support teaching, research and academic programs at the University of Florida Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL).

Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology and botany from the University of Tennessee in 1953, a master’s degree and doctorate in entomology from Ohio State University in 1954 and 1957, respectively. He is a UF professor emeritus, who joined the Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty in 1957.