John Alexander Walker

Year Inducted: 2018

John Alexander Walker was born in Philadelphia, Pa. in June 1922. After high school, Walker attended Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. In 1943, he graduated from Northwestern University and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. It was during this time that John met his future wife, Beryl Audrey Lienhard, who was in the Navy’s nursing program.

After WWII, Walker moved to North Carolina as a salesman for Hotpoint and later sales manager with General Electric Company. In 1958, he was persuaded to join Lowe’s Company by owner/president Carl Buchan. Walker joined the corporate team that included Pete Kulynych, Leonard Herring, Joe Reinhardt, and Bob Strickland. This group of men became the Office of the President when Carl Buchan died two years later. Each of these men had their own area of expertise, and Walker’s was to increase sales and grow the company. Walker was responsible for marketing, promotions and store managers.

Walker, a man of many interests and talents, enjoyed writing poetry and political commentaries as well as actively participating in golf and fishing. Active in church and community affairs in Wilkes County, Walker was a former Chairman of the Board of Deacons of the North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church. He was a Thirty-Second Degree Mason Shriner and member of the Elk’s Club. Walker was also a former Director of the Wilkes Development Commission, former Chairman of the North Wilkesboro Housing authority, former Chairman of the Wilkes County Planning Commission, and 

former Director of the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

Appalachian State University recognized Walker’s business acumen and financial support of higher education by designating the Walker School of Business in 1976. Also, Wilkes Community College’s Walker Center is named for its major benefactor. Finally, Walker’s philanthropy supported the creation of the Beryl Walker Coronary Unit during the 1970’s at then, Wilkes Hospital.

 Walker received many distinguishing national honors and awards both inside and outside of the home building industry: The NC Home Center Meritorious Award, The Man of the Half-Century, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Business and Finance, Who’s Who in Politics, Who’s Who in Poetry and Who’s Who in the South and Southeast. Walker was also named to the National Social Register. John Alexander Walker’s philosophy of life reads, “To make a contribution towards the financial advancement and moral growth of people and our country, and to treat other individuals with respect and dignity.”

Although not born and raised in Wilkes County, Walker always called North Wilkesboro his home. He and his wife Beryl raised their five daughters in Wilkes: Mrs. Lynn Riker, Mrs. Dorothy Moynihan, Mrs. Gail Owen, Mrs. Deborah Bateman (deceased), and Mrs. Morrison Hall.