E. S. Johnny Walker
Encyclopedia
E. S. Johnny Walker was a Democratic Politician
from the U.S. State
of New Mexico
and a Veteran
of the Second World War.
, and attended public schools there until his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1926. He graduated from Albuquerque High School
, and attended the University of New Mexico
and then the George Washington University
(then known as the National University).
In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army
and served during the Second World War in the North African and European Theaters of operation until the end of the war. He was discharged in 1945.
in 1948 from Silver City in Grant County. Walker was made Majority Whip. He served two terms, until 1952. His most notable accomplishment in the State Legislature was sponsoring legislation to allow women to serve on juries.
In 1952, he was elected as New Mexico's commissioner of public lands, served two terms in that office, and then was made commissioner of the bureau of revenue for New Mexico. In 1960 he was elected Commissioner of Public Lands again and again served for two terms.
In 1964, he was elected to the House of Representatives
by the state's voters at large to the seat previously held by Joseph Montoya
, who successfully ran for the Senate
that year. He served two terms in Congress, during which he was a member on the Armed Services Committee. He sponsored legislation that created Pecos National Monument.
In 1968, New Mexico drew congressional districts for the first time, and its two representatives were no longer elected at large. Walker's new district consisted of southern New Mexico, an area in which he had lost support because of his position in favor of gun control
and the Pentagon's closure of Walker Air Force Base
near Roswell
which Walker was ademantly opposed to. Ed Foreman
, a former congressman from Texas
, ran the most expensive campaign seen in New Mexico history to that point, and defeated Walker in November 1968 by a mere half point margin.
Walker would remain minimally involved in state politics for the rest of his life, but never run for elected office again.
Walker died of leukemia
in Albuquerque at the age of 89. He was cremated. Senator Jeff Bingaman
honored his memory on the Senate floor.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and a Veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
of the Second World War.
Early life
Walker was born in Fulton, KentuckyFulton, Kentucky
Fulton is a city in Fulton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census. It was once known as the "Banana Capital of the World" because 70% of imported bananas to the U.S. used to be shipped there . U.S...
, and attended public schools there until his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1926. He graduated from Albuquerque High School
Albuquerque High School
Albuquerque High School is a public senior high school near Downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a part of the Albuquerque Public School district. Enrollment at AHS stands at 1,803.-History:...
, and attended the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
and then the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(then known as the National University).
In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served during the Second World War in the North African and European Theaters of operation until the end of the war. He was discharged in 1945.
Political career
Walker was elected to the New Mexico House of RepresentativesNew Mexico House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives is the lower house of the New Mexico State Legislature.There are 70 members of the House. Each member represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico.The Speaker of the House is Ben Luján .-Composition:...
in 1948 from Silver City in Grant County. Walker was made Majority Whip. He served two terms, until 1952. His most notable accomplishment in the State Legislature was sponsoring legislation to allow women to serve on juries.
In 1952, he was elected as New Mexico's commissioner of public lands, served two terms in that office, and then was made commissioner of the bureau of revenue for New Mexico. In 1960 he was elected Commissioner of Public Lands again and again served for two terms.
In 1964, he was elected to the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
by the state's voters at large to the seat previously held by Joseph Montoya
Joseph Montoya
Joseph Manuel Montoya was a Democratic U.S. Senator for the State of New Mexico from 1964 until 1977.-Education:...
, who successfully ran for the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
that year. He served two terms in Congress, during which he was a member on the Armed Services Committee. He sponsored legislation that created Pecos National Monument.
In 1968, New Mexico drew congressional districts for the first time, and its two representatives were no longer elected at large. Walker's new district consisted of southern New Mexico, an area in which he had lost support because of his position in favor of gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
and the Pentagon's closure of Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base located three miles south of the central business district of Roswell, a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, US...
near Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
which Walker was ademantly opposed to. Ed Foreman
Ed Foreman
Edgar Franklin "Ed" Foreman is a motivational speaker in Dallas. He served one term representing a district in west Texas in the United States House of Representatives in 1963-65 and he served one term representing the southern district of New Mexico in Congress from 1969-71.-Early years in New...
, a former congressman from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, ran the most expensive campaign seen in New Mexico history to that point, and defeated Walker in November 1968 by a mere half point margin.
Walker would remain minimally involved in state politics for the rest of his life, but never run for elected office again.
Walker died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in Albuquerque at the age of 89. He was cremated. Senator Jeff Bingaman
Jeff Bingaman
Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr. , is the senior U.S. Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party...
honored his memory on the Senate floor.