Although she never stepped foot on a wrestling mat as a competitor, or sat on the sidelines as a wrestling coach, Shirley Walton is responsible for numerous wrestling tournaments running smoothly.

In 1975, Walton started with the Oklahoma City Athletic Club as a pairer.

In 1978 she began work with AAU registrations, and in 1988 she became a registered pairer by USA Wrestling.

Walton has been recognized for her outstanding work with the Ivan Olsen Award for the most improved pairer in 1990, and in 2006 she received the Charlie Bates Award as pairing official of the year.

From 1994 through 1997 she served as the Oklahoma Pairings Director and she continues to assist with bracketing and food service at the Oklahoma Open.

For her unique services to wrestling, Shirley Walton is recognized by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with its Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award.