Walter Ashby
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Walter Ashby

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When Walter D. Ashby was a boy, doctors told his parents not to expect much: he wouldn’t graduate from high school, let alone attend college. He would never drive, and probably wouldn’t do anything meaningful with his life. Walter suffered from a rare genetic disorder—optic atrophy—that left him legally blind. Instead of accepting his disability as an impediment, Walter viewed it as a challenge. By relying on faith—along with his own initiative and a handful of caring adults, including his father—not only did he graduate from high school and college (with a B.A. in History and Government from Tarleton State University), Walter earned two graduate degrees (Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University, and an MBA from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin). He married the girl of his dreams, became a father, and has enjoyed a long and successful professional career. Walter is a top financial advisor with Edward Jones. Prior to joining the firm, he prospered as a director of urban planning, a senior city planner, an adjunct professor, and as a director of marketing research, and held several positions within the FDIC. He also is an accomplished business writer. While all of these positions represented a challenge because of his disability, Walter thrived thanks to his faith and fortitude. For his achievements and courage, Walter was selected to receive the 1990 Presidential Award for Most Outstanding Federal Employees with Disabilities. Walter is a big believer in giving back to his community—he served as president for both the Midland (Texas) Special Education Advisory Board and Midland Recording Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. More recently, he served as President of the McKinney (Texas) Noon Lions Club. Walter served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Crestview Baptist Church in Midland, Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Valley Ranch (Texas), and at Community North Baptist Church in McKinney where he currently attends. He and his wife, Gail, reside in McKinney. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Both of Walter’s daughters, as well as one grandson, also suffer from optic nerve atrophy, making his commitment to helping those with disabilities even more personal. In fact, his oldest daughter, Dr. Beth A. Ashby Jones, Associate Professor of Special Education at Texas A&M University–Commerce, has prepared a resource for parents and educators who are working with students with visual impairments which highlights the holistic needs of this population. More information can be found at walterashby.com.
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