Scott Walker (politician) - Early Life, Education, and Business Career

Early Life, Education, and Business Career

Walker was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, one of two sons of Patricia Ann "Pat" (née Fitch) and Llewellyn Scott "Llew" Walker, a bookkeeper and a Baptist minister, respectively. He has a brother, David. The family moved to Plainfield, Iowa, and when Scott was ten years old, to Delavan, Wisconsin, a city of about 8,000, where his father became a prominent preacher. In high school, he attended two weeks of American Legion-sponsored training in leadership and government at Badger Boys State in Wisconsin, and the selective Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. He has credited the experience with solidifying his interest in public service and giving him the "political bug". While in Washington, he met Ronald Reagan, who became his inspiration and model. He attained the highest rank, Eagle Scout, in the Boy Scouts of America, and graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1986.

Walker enrolled at Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1986. He attended college for four years but never graduated. During college he worked part-time for IBM selling warranties. His IBM job led to a full-time position in marketing and fundraising at the American Red Cross from 1990 to 1994.