Bo Walker: Alumni Spotlight - Class of 2008
Bo Walker’s path to becoming a firefighter for the Denver Fire Department (DFD) was deeply influenced by his family’s legacy of service. Raised in a family with strong ties to law enforcement and the military, Bo was naturally drawn to a life of public service.
My family has always been involved in service-oriented careers,” “The world of public service felt natural to me. I was drawn to roles like search and rescue, where you get to solve problems as part of a team
bo walker
This commitment to service was nurtured during his time at St. Anne’s, where he developed the core values of teamwork and community that would guide him throughout his career.
While at St. Anne’s, Bo fondly recalls the small, tight-knit community that allowed him to build deep, lasting relationships with his classmates and teachers. “St. Anne’s was special because it gave me the chance to really get to know my classmates,” Bo explains. “The relationships I built there were unlike anything I experienced anywhere else.” Teachers like Mr. Gifford and Mr. Sigler helped instill in him a strong sense of integrity, humility, and respect—qualities that continue to influence his work as a firefighter today.
The lessons he learned in the St. Anne’s community—particularly the emphasis on teamwork and service—have stayed with him throughout his career. "What I carry with me from St. Anne’s is the importance of being part of a team and giving back to the community," he says. “It really taught me the value of hard work and respect for others.”
During his senior year of high school, Bo became actively involved in the Arapahoe Rescue team, a group of high school and college students responding to emergency calls and looking for missing persons. “That experience gave me my first real exposure to emergency services,” Bo recalls. After high school, Bo attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where he continued his commitment to public service. While in college, he went through his first fire academy, gaining critical training that laid the foundation for his future in the fire service. He also took hazmat classes, which further fueled his passion for emergency services. After volunteering for a year with Winter Severance Fire Rescue, Bo was hired by the Denver Fire Department.
Today, Bo works out of Station 1 in downtown Denver, home to a special operations team specializing in high-angle rescue, rope rescues, confined space, and collapsed structure rescues. He finds the unpredictability of the job both challenging and fulfilling. "Firefighting is such a unique profession because no two days are ever the same," Bo explains. "We’re constantly solving new problems, and I love that about the job."
One of the things Bo appreciates most about firefighting is the sense of camaraderie. "The guys I work with are like family. At Station 1, we have a team of eight personnel. Four are assigned to Engine 1, and four are assigned to my rig, Tower 1," he says. "We work closely together, and the relationships we build make everything easier when things get tough."
Despite the technical demands of firefighting, Bo emphasizes that compassion is equally important. “One of the core values of the Denver Fire Department is compassion,” he says. “When you go out the door, the people you’re helping are often having the worst day of their lives. It’s our job to treat them with dignity and care, no matter the situation.”
Bo's focus on community and compassion is rooted in his early experiences. At St. Anne’s, he learned the importance of working together and helping others, and those lessons have shaped how he approaches both his job and his community. "Sometimes, it’s not about putting out the fire—it’s about making a difference in someone’s life when they need it most."
In a field that demands so much of his time and energy, Bo also makes a point to maintain a healthy work-life balance. "It’s definitely tough at times, but I make sure to take care of myself—whether that’s spending time with family, going on trips, or enjoying the outdoors. You have to make time for yourself so you can be there for others when they need you the most."
As he looks back on his journey, Bo feels proud of the career he has built and the values that continue to drive him. "St. Anne’s taught me a lot about community, respect, and the importance of helping others," he reflects. "Those values are what continue to drive me today as a firefighter."