The Sidney herald., 1955-10-06

John L. Walker
and Protective Order of Elks in
many years. Elected unanimous
ly at the 91st Grand Lodge
convention in Philadelphia in
July, 1855, Mr.. Walker became
the third Virginian to head the
Order in its 87-year history.
Grand Exalted Ruler Walkers
experience in youth work with
the Virginia State Elks association
is reflected in the detectives he
set for his administration as head
of the Order. Terming the ma
tons problem of juvenile delin-
quency a challenge to Elk leader
ship, MIR. Walker called for an
expansion of Elk youth-serving
programs. He emphasized that the
1870 Elks lodges throughout the
country could help to meet this
challenge by developing youth
programs pinpointed to the needs
Of their particular communities.
AS a part of this program,
Grand Exalted Ruler Walker
launched a Embarrassing campaign
for the Elks National Founda-
ton, to increase the Foundations
capacity to assist Elk programs
for rehabilitation of physically
handicapped children, for college
scholarships for deserving young
sters and similar activities. The
Foundation is a permanent trust,
only the income from which is
used for benevolent purposes.
Like all of his predecessors, Mr..
Walker rose to the Grand Exalted
Rulership after years of service to
his lodge, his state ElkS aSsocia-
ton and the Grand Lodge. Init
ated in Roanoke Lodge in 1881, he
was elected exalted ruler in 1896.
After several years as chairman
of the ritualistic committee of
the Virginia State Elks associa-
ton, Mr.. Walker was elected
president Of the association in
1941.
Since 1945, Mr.. Walker has
served as chairman of the associ-
atoms scholarship committee,
which provides financial assis-
lance to boys and girls who want
to go to college. His interest in
under-privileged youth resulted in
a campaign that ended with the
establishment in 1949 of the Vir-
ginia Elks Boys camp at Clifton
Forge. Each year, Virginia's EIks
T hosts at the camp to more
than $50 boys. Mr.. Walker has
served on the camp board of di-
rectors since its establishment.
After serving as district deputy
grand exalted ruler in 1945-46,
Mr.. Walker was appointed to the
Grand Lodge committee on Judi
ciary, serving from 1927 to 1850,
when he was elected to the
Grand Forum, Supreme Court
Of the Order. He became chief
justice of the Grand Forum in
1854, and resigned in March, 1855,
when he became a candidate for
the Grand Exalted Rulership.
John Luther Walker was born
August g., 1905, at Lynwood,
Rockingham county, Va. He at
tended Roanoke College in Salem,
Va, and in 1923 received his law
degree from the University of
Virginia, where he was elected
to Phi Beta Kappa and the Order
of the Golf. He was notes editor
OF the Virginia Law Review, was
elected to membership in the Ra-
ven Society, honorary scholastic
and leadership group, and was a
student instructor in his senior
year at law school.
After two years of law practice
IN West Palm Beach, Fla. Mr..
Walker became associated in 1890
with the Roanoke law firm that
is now Woods, Rogers, Muse and
Walker. Mr.. Walker was president
of the Virginia State Bar associa-
ton in 1947-48, and is a member
of the American Bar association.
the American Law Institute and
is a director of the American
Judiciary Society.
In 1884, Mr.. Walker married
Katherine Crawford. They have
two children, John i. Walker, Jr..
10, a student at the University of
North Carolina; and Jane Craw-
ford Walker, II, a student at St.
Mary's Junior College, Raleigh,
N. c.