A founder and former chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the Kansas University Medical Center has died.

Dr. Jack Walker, 83, died at his home in Overland Park on Thursday.

He graduated from the KU School of Medicine in 1953. He practiced family medicine for eight years in Girard and Pittsburg before returning to the Med Center as an associate dean. In 1963, he was asked to establish the Department of Family Medicine, and he served as its chairman until his retirement in 1986.

Dr. Walker was named Med Center Alumnus of the Year in 1989.

He was also active in politics, serving as mayor of Overland Park from 1971 to 1977, state senator from 1984 to 1986, and Kansas lieutenant governor under Gov. Mike Hayden from 1987 until 1991. He also had served as secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and chairman of the State Emergency Response Commission.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church in Overland Park.

D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel is in charge of arrangements.