Dr. William “Sonny”
Walker
MAN of Influence and Community Action
Dr. William “Sonny”
Walker
MAN of Influence and Community Action
Contents
Friend to Thousands Montage
2
Enjoying Opportunites to Serve
3
Humble Beginnings
5
1960’s A Challenging Time for Young William Sonny Walker
8
One Dynamic Career
12
Affliations That…
16
…Reflect Greatness
16
Publications That Have Referred to His Greatness
16
…Cause Notoriety
17
Honors and Awards
17
Dr. Walker’s Honorary Degrees 18 Past Professional Affliations
18 & 19
Legacy and Leadership
20
Fighting the War on Poverty
22
Serving With Influential Leaders Colleagues and Friends
24
The Vitae of Dr. William “Sonny’ Walker
Authorized by The Board of the Fulton Atlanta Community Atlanta Authority, Inc. and the Family of Dr. William “Sonny” Walker To learn more about the prolific life of Dr. Walker, click here:
https://youtu.be/v3RaLVlNQSE Composed by Dr. Joyce J. Dorsey Edited by Ms. Kristian Belton
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Graphic Design by Designs by Stacey, Inc. Graphic Designer: Stacey M. Neal
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Frie
Lead
Organiz
and Im
and Se
Se
2
end to Thousands, Maker of ders, Organizer of Major zations, Promoter of Change mprovement, Lover of Justice
ervice to the Less than Fortunate, and
ervant of His Lord and Savior
3
Serve Enjoying Opportunities To
4
One could rightfully say that he was a special young fella and possibly real “spoiled”.
T
Humble Beginnings
o many people,
Wednesday is known as HUMP DAY…..two down and two more to
During his childhood,. Sonny participated in the Cub Scotts and Boy Scouts of
go! But, Wednesday, December
America giving him a basic
13, 1933 was no ordinary “hump
understanding about
day” to Reverend James David
obedience and structure.
Walker and Mary Coleman. This day would prove to be different because their son, William “Sonny” Walker was born
He played nearly every sport on the field or in the streets with his friends. Young William attend-
and at the same hour, so was his greatness!!
ed multiple schools during his
William was delivered by a midwife, named Ms.
Elementary years however, he
Hattie in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Little Sonny (as
always made mention of his love
he was affectionately nick-named) toddled into
for his kindergarten teachers,
the hearts of the entire family as he was raised
Ms. Wiley and Ms. Robinson. He
by his father, grandmother and influenced by
attended Greenville Elementary
his "extended family"...the church.
School from grades 1st through
By the time he was eight years old, his father had married Nettie Harris Walker andthis nurturing woman became the central mother figure who, along with Rev. Walker raised him.
3rd and Missouri Street Elementary School from grades 3rd through 6th. There were no middle schools during those days; so grades 7-12 were completed at Meryle High School where he was very active and performed in school talent shows sports of all sorts, not to mention other social events which made him extremely popular. 5
A well developed athlete in high school,
Sonny was influenced by his first cousin’s
Sonny participated in every
singing and actually sang melodiously in the choir and during his stint as a radio
sport there was to
disc jockey.
master throughout his high school years;
Aside from his activities in High
including football,
School, Sonny was very active
basketball, baseball
member of each of his father’s
and track. He was a
churches (Rev. James David
member of the
Walker pastored several churches
Drama Society, Gospel Choir and Drama and Speech Organizations which equipped him as a competitive member of the debate team. During the summer High School vacations, Sonny visited Agricultural Mechanical & Normal College (AMNC) and was able to learn about the programs, yearning for the collegiate campus life. William traveled extensively throughout High School with the South Western Athletic Conference due to his noteworthy, athletic ability. When not traveling, he’d spend time with his cousins in Chicago during the summer months just hanging out and building family relationships. A part of his bloodline was the Cook family of Chicago from which a very famous member, Sam became one of America’s most popular song artists of his time. They were close and both were sons of Baptist Ministers. Nearly everyone owned a recording of Sam Cook, both gospel and popular “rock and roll”. 6
during this time and Young Sonny often attended and participated as a son should do). He was a member of the Baptist Young People’s Union and a Royal Ambassador and the choirs of Mt. Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Moriah and Union Baptist Churches. It was quite normal to find Sonny and most members of any one of the churches in worship, bible studies or preparation for a revival. Their motto was “faith built on God!” As an active usher and choir member, Walker was a leader for other youth in the congregation.
Perhaps, it was his undeniable leadership abilities that drew others to him and prepared him for a strong position in the community and the future occupations God had planned for him!
Add to his church acquired talents, that of orator and even a bit of preaching. He possessed the talents of his father but never really thought of himself as pious enough to become a minister. This was not agreed upon by all of Sonny’s colleagues though. He is an intriguing speaker. During his senior year of High School, Sonny was the “kicker” for his football team. He was known for kicking precisely and accurately with his bare foot. The team won many close calls because of the kicker. He graduated from Meryle High School in May, 1951 where he was ranked number six, academically, in his senior class.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. This affiliation made him very popular, especially amongst the females both on campus and in the city. One of his fraternal duties was to keep the records for the organization. This task was a passion of his and his gift of remembering names and the personal accomplishments of every member was recognized and propelled
After High School, Sonny enrolled in the Agricultural Mechanical & Normal College.
him into dimensions of leadership that formed the basis of his success in all of his
While there, he majored in English &
professional experience.
History. Sonny focused on his studies
After football season, Sonny worked in
but also loved his involvement with many different clubs and organizations. This was the road to his great popularity and laid the path to a promising career… working with people from all walks in life. Maturing as would be expected, Sonny was the President of the Spotlight Club (Drama Society) and also played football and baseball. These activities caused vast popularity and probably his rise to prominence amongst his peers. During his sophomore year, he was accept-
the school’s library, 25 hours a week to earn extra money. Walker was a very hard worker and received much academic acclaim throughout his college years. During his junior year, he began to focus on preparation for attending law school, but his plans got changed when he fell in love with a young woman named Lorraine. The two love birds were married at the end of their junior year; shortly thereafter their first child, Cheryle was born. He was raised by his grandmother, stepmother and his father, given everything a child could want, and learned every lesson his Pastor-father taught him about church participation and stewardship. Of course,
ed into the 7
1960’s
being a handsome and outgoing lad was appealing to everyone. Sonny Walker completed his college
A challenging
experience as a married man and father. and actualized his preparation for teaching and radio entertainment. Sonny loved his wife, Lorraine who was also a college student, and a DELTA at that! She loved his singing and his suaveness helped to strengthen the union. “I may not have done everything right because we were both quite young when we married.” “ I love the woman I married to this very day and did the best I knew how, using all the resources possible to provide for my wife and children.” In fact, this union produced three more children, James, William Jr. and Lesli. Sonny wanted only the best for Lorraine and conceded every asset available to make her happy.
time for the young William Sonny Walker
He worked very hard to provide the absolute best for
his family and spoiled his children “rotten” as the cliché goes. As an English major he was trained and qualified to Teach school at Horace Mann High School in Little Rock. By 1965, the young professional realized that there were real problems in that system…..commonly known as segregation.
A
t this time, Little Rock had experienced its share of racial tension with the “Little Rock Nine” saga and conflict in the neighborhoods which were common to many American cities. As a leader amongst the
teachers, William Walker confronted racism and outright unfairness and sparked a unified response to their. This matter exposed his leadership talent known as advocacy to some, or protest to others. He joined the leadership of T.A. Patterson and led the movement to gain equal rights. This, of course, mandated a change in his profession, leading to his work in the new “War on Poverty” initiatives. William Walker led the community in magnificent programs to improve the lives of his fellow residents and building programs. It was during the ‘60’s that young Walker rose to prominence. Young people like Linda Torrence got jobs that were considered as “firsts” and many families also rose economically to middle
8
class and business ownership sta-
KOKY. ‘SSS”…. Swing, Soothing,
and West for better jobs, remained in
tus. It was his great fortune to have a
Sonny Boy… was it’s Sunday
their hometowns trying to make
“best friend” by the name
afternoon DJ where he hosted ‘record
a difference while pursuing
of Ozelle Sutton with whom he
hops’ which attracted listeners from
opportunities for a better life. Young
coordinated a movement that raised
Little Rock’s surrounding communi-
Sonny was influenced by his father
the Black community from poverty to
ties.…. And he used that opportunity
and members of the churches The
middle class, and some to affluence.
to not only become well known and
Elder, Rev. Walker pastored to use his
Much of this duo’s success was
connected, but to be a recognized
intellect to progress in society, and
attributed to their bravery and close
voice for his people who were
this Sonny did. It was his father’s way
relationship with the Governor of
suffering under oppressive racial
of handling life that would propel
Arkansas and Statesman, Mr.
discrimination in Arkansas and
Sonny to excellence and a persona
Winthrop Rockefeller. Sutton and
America’s South .
that enabled him to pull others up to
Walker looked out for each other, worked as a team to facilitate change, and caused social, economic and racial change throughout the close-knit town of Pine Bluff, AK. At home, Sonny spared no expenses
William grew up during the roughest times for Blacks in America. Poverty and segregation loomed in Arkansas as much as anywhere in the South as well as other parts of America. Those Blacks who had not migrated North
a potential that elevated the community in which he lived. One might say that William Sonny Walker spoke with style, grace and melody… something like a ‘preacher man’. In his rise to credibility and local
to assure a quality of life for his family as he, himself, enjoyed while growing up. As a child, he confesses that he really never got over the absence of his mother.. He was very popular in Pine Bluff and Little Rock Arkansas and this enabled him to be recognized both by virtue of his intelligence and also by his popularity. Additionally, Sonny was a familiar sound over Little Rock’s Black-formatted radio station
9
fame, Walker worked closely with
“War on Poverty”. Sonny Walker
Governor Winthrop Rockefeller as
was amongst the earliest leaders
a Cabinet Member and Head of
to emerge in this initiative, later
Several Departments of State. Along
to become a prominent leader in
with his closest and lifelong friend,
the nation’s most troubled region
Ozelle Sutton, he was instrumen-
where poverty has always existed
tal in promoting or ushering in civil
in extreme proportions. The
rights changes in Little Rock to
attention to the needs of the
improve race relations in his hometown and later, throughout the
poor existed in large proportions in places like the Appalachian & Blue
Southeast and other
Ridge Mountains, the
cities and
Mississippi Delta, the
communities in the
troubled metropolitan
United States. Black businesses grew, household incomes
areas, small towns and isolated communities. His responsibilities included the
improved, race relations became
coalition building of the leaders
positive and people’s lives changed,
within community action, head
due to the work of Sonny Walker.
start, weatherization, employment
His experiences in his own home state served as the training for his strength in the art of community organizing which was sorely needed to bring people together to solve their own problems. Community organizing and empowerment became a signature goal of President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s prolific creation of the momentous 10
& job training, summer youth programs, literacy programs and where necessary, community activism. His ability to teach went beyond the classroom into town halls, state offices, political audiences, churches and civic clubs. His influence, today reaches beyond the southern region into all regions in the United States.
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One Dynamic Career!
12
Mr. William “Sonny” Walker
B
egan his professional career as an educator in the Arkansas public schools as a teacher, athletic coach and administrator. He also served as President of both the Little Rock and Arkansas Associations of
Teachers. There were many ‘firsts’ in the life of Dr. William “Sonny” Walker. He was the first true advocate for his African American professional peers when the segregated schools of Pine Bluff were simply too much to bear. Dr. Walker spoke strongly for equal treatment, benefits and pay for teachers and educational professions. Though this caused him a certain degree of pressure but he would not give in. Later, he felt that leaving the classroom and educational system was a must, if he were to survive both mentally and bodily. Many media accounts exist to this very day documenting his leadership and outspokenness in public meetings and interviews with the press. As time moved along, Dr. Walker left the school system and was easily recognized as eligible to lead a new organization, part of the new War on Poverty movement.
The Crusade for Opportunity in Syracuse, New York
In 1965-66 Sonny was responsible for organizing and providing leadership for one of the first Head Start programs in the nation, The Crusade for Opportunity in Syracuse, New York where he also led a team that developed the most recent comprehensive strategic plan for the National Head Start Association. Dr. Walker became one of America’s leading Head Start experts during the Johnson Administration. His tenure in Syracuse ended as his need to return home to his family life required the presence of husband/father.
Economic Opportunity Agency of Little Rock and Pulaski County
Back home in Little Rock, Arkansas, he directed the Economic Opportunity Agency of Little Rock and Pulaski County (a community action agency). This position was a catalyst to Sonny’s popularity and credibility as a community organizer and change agent. Politicians relied on his community influence and problem solving abilities. This position propelled him to his next professional step.
Head of the Arkansas State Economic Opportunity Office
As a result of his community and political activity and success, he served in Governor Winthrop Rockefeller’s cabinet as head of the Arkansas State Economic Opportunity Office until 1975.
Division Director for the
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
By the late 1970’s, and after a stint as a Division Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Walker was appointed
Director of the Southeast Region for the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity and the U.S. Community Services Administration
He served as Director for ten years under four U.S. Presidents – Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan. Dr. Walker traveled throughout the Southern states, assessing programs, collaborating with agency leaders, addressing state associations thoughout the ten states over which he led, and assuring governmental grant accountability. His record of achievement was above the mark of excellence as it was also his expectation to perform no less than at the level of excellence.
Vice President of the National Alliance of Business (NAB) By 1981, after continuous efforts by federal
bureaucrats to end War on Poverty Programs, Dr. Walker was appointed Vice President of the National Alliance of Business (NAB) and continued this service for 13 years, where he was responsible for its programs and activities in eight southeastern states. The NAB was a business sector- led partnership dedicated to
Dedicated to Changing People’s Lives in America W
14
ith an outgoing personality, a brilliant eye for strategic moving and shaking, and the gift of reconciling persons or groups with each other, Dr. Walker was viewed in Atlanta as the man who could help groups, men and women overcome barriers to their future
development and success. His role as galvanizer of young African American Professions and his ability to help leaders accomplish their business and community plans earned him more advantages with hardly any thought given to preparation for his next move.
Educational Background
establishing an internationally competitive American workforce. This position propelled Dr. Walker further into prominence. He made sure
A graduate of his hometown
that businessmen were collaborated
institution, AM&N/the
through forums and conventions along with continuous networking and printed
University of Arkansas at
what made Sonny Walker a common
Chief Operating Officer of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. and Advisor to Mrs. Coretta Scott King
name…promoting him as the one any
In 1990, Dr. Walker joined the staff
Arkansas, and The Federal
of the King Center as advisor to Mrs.
Executive Institute. His work
communication. A sought after speaker, Dr. Walker was known for excellent oratorical skills. This personality feature along with his knowledge of who’s who and what’s
organization would want to occupy a seat on their Board of Directors or Advisory Council.
Coretta Scott King. There he assumed the role of as Executive
Pine Bluff, he did further study at Arizona State University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of
was commendable and his speech making gave him
National Consultant for Leap Frog School House
Director and Chief Operating Officer
consultant for Leap Frog School House
He also served as an Assistant to
admiration from and
Mrs. Coretta Scott King for speech
amongst his fellow movers
Sonny also served as a National
with special emphasis on Head Start/ Early Childhood Development and was a lecturer for the National Alliance for Black School Educators with emphasis
of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc.
preparation and development for the powerfully assured widow of the Late
much fame, credibility and
and shakers.
Dr. M.L. King Jr.
on black male challenges.
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Affliations That…
I
…Reflect Greatness
n 1995, Dr. William “Sonny” Walker Founded The Sonny Walker Group, a manage-
ment consulting and networking firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia working on matters pertaining to strategic planning, early learning, education reform, political campaign management, economic and human resources development, worker productivity, partnership development, networking and fund-raising. By this time several more achievements had taken place,
involvement that most people
while also very active in
emanating to the attainment of
cannot find the time to equal.
community and civic affairs
Doctoral Degrees, Awards and
His zeal for social change,
and is a widely sought trainer,
Certifications that earned Dr.
justice and improving the lives
facilitator, public speaker and
William “Sonny” Walker
of his people has been
lecturer. Friends musingly
distinction throughout the
evidenced in the programs he
wonder how he found the time
African American Business,
either participated in or led.
to engage in so many activities,
Social, Educational and
Here are a few, and those
events, Boards of Directors
Philanthropic communities.
omitted are so done with no
and ministries that were vital
Known to most of his
other reason than, he did not
to building strong communities
colleagues as simply “SONNY”,
write them down. Dr. Walker
and helping people improve
Dr. Walker has a list of social
has truly been his own boss
their lives.
Publications That Have Referred To His Greatness Outstanding Personalities in the South
Who’s Who in Black America History Makers….2010…a rare distinction! 16
…Cause Notoriety Atlanta Community Design Center Board of Directors Atlanta Educational Telecommunications Collaborative Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Atlanta
Atlanta School Board/Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee – EduPac
Friendship Baptist Church
Atlanta Victim Witness Assistance Program Board of Directors
Georgia Partnership for Education Excellence
Butler Street YMCA Board of Directors
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
National Heritage Task Force for YMCA / U.S.A.
Leadership Atlanta Alumni NAACP -Life Member and Thousandaire Club
(Member)
Y-USA National Assembly
100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.
Y-USA S.E. Assembly Steering Committee (Chair)
100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Morris Brown College (Board of Trustees/Executive
UAPB Annual Fund National Campaign, Alumni Association and Metro
Committee and Chair of Strategic Planning)
Atlanta Alumni Chapter University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Foundation Atlanta Black Agenda
The Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies (SEACAA) established The William Sonny Walker Community “Self Sufficiency Award” in honor of his work.
Honors and Awards (Partial Listing)
Community Service Award, Atlanta Business League Distinguished Community Service Award, National Urban League Inspiring Self-Sufficiency Award, Southeast Association of Community Action Agencies Kappa Alpha Psi Southeastern and Southwestern Province Achievement Awards. Lyndon B. Johnson Award, National Association of Community Action Agencies Lifetime Achievement Award/National Head Start Association Outstanding Performance Award, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Outstanding Public Servant in the State of Georgia Outstanding Service Award, Atlanta Department of Public Safety President’s Award, National Alliance of Business President’s Award, National Conference of Black Mayors President’s Award, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Roy Wilkins Award, NAACP Lifetime Service Award and “Keepers of the Spirit” Hall of Fame Inductee, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 13th Annual Chancellor’s Benefit for the Arts Chairperson’s Award – Martin Luther King Center.
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Dr. Walker’s Honorary Degrees
Past Professional Affiliations
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Allen University
African-American Panoramic Experience (Board Chair)
Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, B.L. Lee Theological Seminary
American Personnel and Guidance Association (Member)
Honorary Doctorate of Law, Morris Booker Memorial Baptist College
Arkansas Council on Community Affairs (Member)
Arkansas AM&N Alumni Association
Honorary Doctorate of Law, Shorter College
Arkansas Community Action Program Directors Association, Inc.
Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Arkansas Teachers Association (Board of Directors)
Arkansas Department of Classroom Teachers (President) Arkansas Teachers of English (President)
Atlanta Area Boy Scouts Council, and Board Member for Southern Region Atlanta Community Food Bank (Board of Directors) Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (Board of Directors)
The Atlanta Project, Former President JimmyCarter (Executive Committee) Atlanta Public Broadcasting Association (Chair) Atlanta Vehicles for Hire Appeals Board (Chair) Bennett College (Chair, Board of Trustees).
Business and Professional Men’s Club (Secretary)
Carver Community Foundation (Board of Directors) Center for Excellence in Government (Principal)
Central Arkansas CAMPS Committee (Vice Chair)
Atlanta Combined Federal Campaign (Vice Chair; Chair) Atlanta Federal Executive Board (Policy Committee) Southeast Federal Regional Council (Chair).
Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, Corporate Roundtable (Vice President) Georgia Association of United Way Agencies (Vice Chair) Georgia 21 Commission on Building a Quality Georgia Workforce (Harris)
Governor’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Georgia (Harris) Governor’s Commission on Private Initiatives for Georgia (Miller)
Governor’s Task Force on Literacy for Georgia (Miller)
Governor’s Commission on Education Reform (Barnes) Imperials Social Club – Little Rock (President)
“My Family Has Been the Motivating Reason For All of My Achievements” 18
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Little Rock Alumni Chapter (Polemarch); National Social Action Commission (Chair) and Member, Grand Chapter Nominating Committee The King Center (Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer) The King Center’s Community Empowerment Initiative (Chair, AdvisoryBoard)
Past Professional Affiliations Leadership Roundtable Association (President) Little Rock Literacy Action of Atlanta (Board of Directors) Atlanta Private Industry Council (Board of Directors) Atlanta NAACP Membership Campaign (Chair) SCLC Member (Board of Directors) Atlanta Mayor’s Committee on Empowerment (Chair) Metro Atlanta Council for Battered Woman (Board of Directors) Metro Atlanta Crime Commission (Board of Trustees Vice Chair) Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (Board of Directors; Chair, Operations Committee) NACOP Task Force Committee on Grass Roots Participation (Chair) National Conference of Black Mayors/ Economic Development Task Force (Chair) National Conference of Christians and Jews (Co-Chair, Arkansas Region) National Council of Teachers of English (Board of Directors) National Education Association (Member; Classroom Teachers Advisory Council) National State Office of Economic Opportunity Directors Association (Vice President) NEA Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission (Chair) Office of Economic Opportunity (National Advisory Committee; Executive Committee) Outreach Atlanta/AIDS Assistance (Board of Directors; Chair, Audit and Development Committe 100 Black Men of America, Inc. (Board of Directors) 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. (Vice Chair, Public Policy) Regional Advisory Committee -Adult Education, Syracuse (for Governor Nelson Rockefeller) Resurgens Atlanta (President) Southern Christian Leadership Conference State Advisory Board for Vocational/ Technical Education (Arkansas) State FEMA Allocation Committee for Georgia (Chair) Metro Atlanta United Way (Board of Directors; (Vice Chair)
U.S. Government Senior Executive Service (Charter Member)
The Black/Jewish Coalition U.S. President’s Board of Advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (1956-57) Helped members of the “Little Rock 9” integrate Little Rock Central High School (1963) Managed the first successful campaign for a Black school board member in Little Rock (T.E. Patterson) (1966) Integrated the Little Rock Jaycees (1967) Led the successful effort in Little Rock to get Blacks hired as on- air television personalities, supermarket cashiers, bank tellers, new car salesmen and in 1968, state police (1969) First Black to be appointed to Governor’s Cabinet in South (Arkansas) (1972) First Black to be appointed Regional Director of a major Federal agency (1977) First Black to chair the Southeast Federal Regional Council of Administrators Initiated at Gamma Sigma Chapter (University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff / AM&N College, 1952 Became a Life Member in 1973. Served as Keeper of Records for Undergraduate Chapter (GammaSigma) Polemarch of the Little Rock Alumni Chapter. Has served on The Grand Chapter Nominating and Social Action Committees. Was Closing Banquet Speaker for the 63rd Grand Conclave in Atlanta (1980). Recipient of more than 50 Kappa awards and citations, including the highest awards conferred by both the Southwest and Southeast (Joseph A. Jenkins Award) Provinces. Has made more than 100 speeches at Kappa, 100 Black Men, Community Action and Civil Rights events and has written numerous articles on achievement, brotherhood and other fraternity- related matters. Assisted in the Programmatic Development of Atlanta’s Center for Human and Civil Rights Center for Social Change, 2010 Participated in the “Save Morris Brown” initiative as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors since 2006. Successful outcomes were recorded in early 2016 with the accreditation of the college and the acquisition of a portion of the campus which withstood the threat of demolition or sale due to bankruptcy Participated in the Friendship Baptist Church as member and facilitator to its sale and conveyance of land to make way for Atlanta’s new sports arena and the re-establishment of a new sanctuary. 2014-15 Appointed to Georgia Governor’s (Nathan Deal) Commission on Equal Rights; 2015-16
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Legacy
D
& Leadership
r. Walker joined the Friendship Baptist Church as soon as he moved to Atlanta. Very studiously he made sure the church would have attained community spiritual greatness and that
the preaching was stimulating, and served an historical richness in the making of the great city, Atlanta Georgia. His choice was right and his participation in worship, membership development and the many changes that have occurred is testimony of his right decision. As well, Dr. Walker speaks highly of the founding of this church and its significant sponsorship in fostering the creation of several the higher educational institutions within the City. For instance, Spelman and Morehouse Colleges were founded under the auspices of Friendship Baptist Church. This history, he touted often as a proud association with the Rockefeller family of the state of Arkansas gave him a feeling of closeness to this rich history. Close to the former Friendship Baptist Church location also stands the prominent Morris Brown College Campus. In time for his greatness and intervention, Dr. Walker joined the Board of Trustees at Morris Brown and was closely involved in it’s struggle to retain its standing as a member of the Atlanta University System. In the year 2015, with the strong involvement of the Board of Trustees and the Alliances of Methodist Churches, Morris Brown has persevered through the rough economic times that many Historical Black Colleges and Universities have faced.
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Dr. William Sonny Walker Native of Pine Bluff Arkansas, Resident of Atlanta, GA. Father of two Daughters and two Sons Cheryl Walker
Restaurant Consultant Mother of one Son
James “Jimmy” Walker
Two-Time All-American Defensive Tackle; 8 years Professional Football; Currently County Unit Supervisor/South Bend, Indiana. Father of two.
William “Bill” Walker, Jr. Former County Commissioner; 16 years Arkansas Legislature; Former State Senator, Arkansas and Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; currently Director of Workforce Education for Arkansas, Funeral Director. Father of two. Lesli Walker
Mother of Three Children and Grandmother of three. Dr. Walker is the Grandfather of eight, and Great Grandfather of six.
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I
Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority
n the fall of 2008, Dr. Walker
to one of its member agencies each
joined the staff of the Fulton
year entitled “The William ‘Sonny’
Atlanta Community Action Au-
Walker Award of Community Self
thority as Senior
Sufficiency. In the year 1998,
Advisor to the
Fulton Atlanta earned this
President/CEO. His
distinction and has since
work has been valuable
enjoyed the affiliation with this
to the organization’s
prolific leader amongst
growth and visibility.
historically popular community
Assisting with enhancing
activists. The Fulton Atlanta
governmental, corporate and
Community Action Authority’s
community interactions,
Board of Directors has relied upon
Dr. Walker has used his influence
the wisdom and guidance of Dr.
to help FACAA strengthen the
Walker. His input to organizational
respect it has attempted to build
structure has helped to strengthen
in Atlanta and Fulton County’s
it as a foremost agency within the
systems of management and
national cadre of community action
interagency collaboration.
agencies.
Dr. Walker revived his history of involvement in community action programs in 2008. His own work was so successful that a distinctive award is given
e h t g n i t Figh y t r e v o P n through the Southeastern
Community Action Association
22
y
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Serving WITH INFLUENTIAL LEADERS COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS
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Leader Teacher Friend Speaker Each day “ brings me new opportunities and challenges to be of service
”
This Composite of Professional
Accolades is a dedication to the lifetime services and contributions of Dr. William “Sonny” Walker.
This small booklet can only capture a synopsis of the greatness of one of America’s most prolific community and business leaders.
ENJOYING OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE and INFLUENCE CHANGE The Vitae of Dr. William “Sonny’ Walker
Authorized by The Board of the Fulton Atlanta Community Atlanta Authority, Inc. and the Family of Dr. William “Sonny” Walker To learn more about the prolific life of Dr. Walker, click here:
https://youtu.be/v3RaLVlNQSE
Composed by Dr. Joyce J. Dorsey Edited by Ms. Kristian Belton
designs by Stacey, Inc.
Graphic Design by Designs by Stacey, Inc. Graphic Designer: Stacey M. Neal
www.designsbystaceyinc.com