The DORBA Board has unanimously voted Bruce Walker in as the new Trail Steward for the Isle du Bois trails at Lake Ray Roberts State Park. He steps in as David Starr concludes a decade of dedicated service — ten years that shaped these trails into what riders know today.
Bruce isn't joining from the outside. He and his wife Julie have lived across the street from Isle du Bois since 2007, picking their lot specifically because it backs up to the Greenbelt. A Denton native, he met Julie at UNT and married her in 1993. Their two sons are grown and married, settled in Austin and Waco. Bruce works as a real estate investor; Julie runs a consulting firm that coaches healthcare executives and C-suite leaders. Bruce also serves on the board of Trailhead International, a nonprofit that has built over 300 churches in more than 50 countries.
A life on two wheels
Bruce's connection to bikes runs deep. "I've had a lifelong obsession with two-wheeled transportation," he says. As a kid he built trails from Camp Copass almost all the way to 380, exploring the woods and lake bottoms around Lake Lewisville on bikes and motorcycles. In 2017, he led a 12-man motorcycle ride from Pilot Point to Nicaragua, raising funds for Trailhead International's sports complex projects.
From rucking to riding to stewardship
For years, Bruce experienced Isle du Bois on foot — hundreds of hours hiking and rucking the trails. That changed in 2024 when a friend handed him an e-bike. "It opened up a whole new way for me to enjoy the park." As he rode more, he started noticing trail needs and began clearing overgrowth with his weedeater. He's known David Starr personally for about fifteen years — they met at church — and has long admired the work. "I have tremendous respect for the 10 years he dedicated to these trails."
Asked why he volunteered, Bruce gives the kind of answer trail crews love: "I want to ride without weeds in my face." He's already logging hours on Track It Forward, and he's recruiting. "If you'd ever like to help maintain the trails, I promise you won't have to commit to ten years. We have some nine-year spots open — but they are going fast."
Bruce will be working alongside Bill Skalenda and David Starr through the transition. Members can reach him through the Isle du Bois DORBA mailbox. If you see him on the trail, give him a wave — or better yet, grab a tool and go ride.