Grace Walsh, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, came to Eau Claire State Teachers College in 1944, to teach speech and coach forensics/debate team. Walsh received a bachelor's degree in education from UW-Superior in 1932 and a master's degree in philosophy from UW-Madison in 1939. As a professor and director of forensics for 36 years, she coached 25 state oratory champions and six national champions before retiring in 1980. She also coached 11 Wisconsin forensics champions, and no other state team beat UW-Eau Claire while the team was under her supervision. She was also the co-founder of the speech department and served as its chair for some time. Walsh and her forensics students would organize annual summer institutes for high school students. On April 24, 2000, Grace Walsh passed away at the age of 89.

As of 2022, a number of scholarships up to $5,000 are available in Grace Walsh’s name through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. The scholarships are open to outstanding student competitors of the nationally-ranked forensics team. Sixty percent of funds go to incoming members and forty percent go to returning members. The scholarships are supported by alumni who worked with Walsh, alumni who support the forensics program, and the directors who came after Walsh. There is also a Grace Walsh Tournament held the second full weekend of February at UW-Eau Claire that honors her.