George D. Walker Papers

Collection

Identifier: MC 1802

Staff Only
Select files to request

Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection include biographical information, World War II correspondence, counter intelligence corp manuals, financial materials, deeds, and photographs.

Dates

1919-1989
Majority of material found within 1942-1945

Creator

Walker, George David, 1910-1989 (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials are primarily in English. Some collection materials are in German.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

George David Walker was born September 2, 1910, to David Gibson Walker and Frances Lorena Bolick Walker. Walker grew up on Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas and was valedictorian of his high school class. After high school, Walker obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931 from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Sigma fraternities. He pursued his juris doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas in 1934 and returned to Helena to practice law at the firm of Burke, Moore, & Walker. On September 4, 1942, Walker married Rebecca Smith of Marianna, Lee County, Arkansas. That same year Walker was commissioned into the United States Army. During World War II, Walker served as an officer in the Army Counter Intelligence Corp (CIC) in Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. As a member of the CIC, Walker help to capture Nazi Gestapo, SS, and other high ranking officials. By the end of the war, Walker rose to the ranks of 1st Lieutenant and received five campaign stars and a Bronze Star.

After the end of World War II, Walker returned to Helena to practice law and soon following his return, Rebecca and Walker divorced. A year later on December 26, 1946, Walker married Mary Cathryn McElduff. Together the couple had three children, George David Walker Jr., Rosemary Frances Walker Elsberg, and William Gibson Walker.

Walker continued to practice law in Helena until 1947 when he accepted an appointment as Assistant United States District Attorney in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. In 1951 Walker moved to Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas to join the law firm Frierson, Walker, & Snellgrove.

Walker served as President, among other positions in the Phillips County, Craighead County, and Northeast Arkansas Bar Associations In 1983, Walker received the Arkansas Outstanding Lawyer Award from the Arkansas Bar Association. In addition to his professional service, Walker was a senior warden of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and a member of the Lions Club and Elk Lodge in Jonesboro.

On April 4, 1989, Walker died at the age of 78 and was buried in Jonesboro.

Extent

9.5 Linear Feet (9 boxes and 1 OV item)

11.5 Gigabytes (1,647 digital files)

Additional Description

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged by topic.

Acquisition Information

The George D. Walker Papers were donated to Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, on December 8, 2008, by William G. Walker of Rogers, Arkansas. In 2015, Walker donated digital files, primarily scans of original materials that the donor had created.