07 LC 35
0580
Senate
Resolution 540
By:
Senators Henson of the 41st, Adelman of the 42nd, Fort of the 39th, Tate of the
38th, Brown of the 26th and others
A
RESOLUTION
Commending,
recognizing, and congratulating Dr. Eugene P. Walker, Ph.D., on the occasion of
his retirement; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Dr. Eugene P. Walker is a man with a great passion for learning, a man of
conviction, a man of outstanding moral character, and a man with tremendous
compassion for others; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Eugene P. Walker is a native of Thomaston, Georgia, residing in DeKalb
County since 1969, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science at
Clark College in 1958, a certificate in Southern History at Johns Hopkins
University in 1968, a Master of Arts degree in History at Atlanta University in
1969, and a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship and Ph.D. in History at Duke
University in 1978; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Walker began his career in public service as a history and social studies
teacher at Drake High School in his hometown of Thomaston, Georgia, while also
coaching its basketball and football teams; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Walker continued his service to the public by teaching history at Clark
College, later becoming vice president of Personnel and Community Relations at
DeKalb College, and then advancing to the position of executive vice president
at the DeKalb Technical Institute; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Walker was elected and served with great distinction as the Senator for the
43rd Georgia Senatorial District from 1984 to 1992 where, as the first person of
color to hold the position of Majority Whip, he was instrumental in garnering
support and votes for major legislation in education, health care, and economic
development; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Walker was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to the Department of Juvenile
Justice as its commissioner in 1995, where he served until 1999 when Governor
Roy Barnes appointed him to the Parole Board, where he served until his
retirement on December 31, 2006; and
WHEREAS,
his commitment to the community is demonstrated by his service on numerous
civic, community, and professional groups including the Georgia and National
Associations of Blacks in Criminal Justice, the American Correctional
Association, and the Parole Association of Georgia, as well as his service as
chairman of the Board of Directors of the DeKalb County Development Authority,
chairman of the West Care-Georgia Children's Center Board of Directors, and the
NAACP, where he serves as a lifetime member; and
WHEREAS,
Eugene Walker is a faithful member of the Greenforest Community Baptist Church
and a devoted husband to his wife of 45 years, Patricia Carter Walker, and a
loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to their three children, five
grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Eugene P. Walker is a public servant of outstanding ability, determination,
and deep social conscience, and it is only fitting and proper that one who has
contributed so much to this state and its citizens be appropriately
recognized.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in
recognizing Dr. Eugene P. Walker for an outstanding career of public service,
commending him for his many generous contributions to the people of Georgia, and
congratulating him on his well-earned retirement.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Dr. Eugene P. Walker.