Orton Caswell "Cas" Walker (March 23, 1902 – September 25, 1998), was a Tennessee businessman, politician, and personality on television and radio. Walker founded a successful chain of small grocery stores that grew to include several dozen stores scattered throughout the Knoxville, Tennessee vicinity as well as parts of Virginia and Kentucky. From 1941 through 1971, Walker served on the Knoxville city council where he became legendary for his uncompromising political stances and his vehement opposition to what he claimed was a corrupt elitism in the city's government. The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour, a local variety show sponsored by Walker, ran in various radio and television formats between 1929 and 1983 and helped launch the careers of entertainer Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers.
Walker was born to a working-class family in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1902. He quit school at the age of 14 and spent several years working at different jobs around the region, namely at the Champion Fibre Company in North Carolina and later at various coal mines in Kentucky. In 1924, he returned to East Tennessee where he established the first Cas Walker's Cash Store in Knoxville with money he had saved.[1][2]
Walker's stores had a simple rural atmosphere that was popular with the city's working class whites and African-Americans.[3] He used his radio show and other innovative methods— such as scattering coupons from airplanes— to advertise his store's weekly specials. By the mid-1950s, Walker's chain had grown to include 27 stores that generated a gross annual revenue of $60 million.[1]
Walker was first elected to the Knoxville city council in 1941. He was elected mayor in 1946, but after a few weeks of tumultuous meetings and the firing of its own city manager, the city council managed to oust Walker in a recall election. He also served as acting mayor in 1959.[4] Walker was reelected to the city council the following year and remained until voluntarily retiring in 1971.[3] He continued to be a force in Knoxville politics into the 1980s.
As a politician, Walker successfully portrayed himself as a champion of small farmers and the working class. This image was enhanced in 1956 when Life Magazine published a photograph of Walker preparing to punch fellow city councilman J. S. Cooper after the two had engaged in a heated debate over property assessments.[5] In his self-published newsletter, The Watchdog, Walker blasted political opponents and raged against tax increases. He also used The Watchdog to launch controversial attacks against his business competitors. In the 1960s, he unsuccessfully opposed plans to fluoridate Knoxville's water supply and played a pivotal role in derailing attempts to consolidate the governments of Knoxville and Knox County.[3] Walker's political mentor-turned-rival, George Dempster, once said, "If I ordered a whole carload of SOB's and they just sent Cas, I'd sign for the shipment."[6]
Walker continued distributing The Watchdog until the early 1980s, when a libel suit forced it out of publication.[3] During the same period, Walker's influence helped defeat a second attempt to merge the Knoxville and Knox County governments.[2]
Radio and televisionedit
In 1929, Walker created a variety show known as the Farm and Home Hour to help promote his cash stores. The show initially aired as a radio program on WROL-AM and later on WIVK-AM. In 1953, the show adopted a television format for WROL-TV (now WATE-TV) and aired on various local channels until 1983. The show featured artists such as Roy Acuff, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, Carl Smith, Carl Butler, Jim Nabors, and Chet Atkins. The show also helped launch the careers of Dolly Parton, who first performed on the program in 1956 at the age of 10, and The Everly Brothers, who were regulars on the show in the mid-1950s.[1][7][8]
Referencesedit
^ abcAjay Kalra, "Cas Walker," The Encyclopedia of Appalachia (Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, 2006), pp. 544-545.
^ abCarroll Van West, "Orton Caswell Walker." The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2002. Retrieved: 17 November 2008.
^ abcdWilliam MacArthur, Knoxville: Crossroads of the New South (Tulsa, Okla.: Continental Heritage Press, 1982), pp. 148-150.
^Mayors of Knoxville 2012-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, Knoxville official website. Retrieved: 12 February 2013.
^The photograph was published in Life Vol. 40, no. 12 (March 19, 1956), p. 38 ("A Look At the World's Week") and credited to Tom Greene, Jr.
^Bruce Wheeler, Knoxville, Tennessee: A Mountain City in the New South (Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, 2005), p. 73.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-03-15. Retrieved 2008-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). 1999-2005. Retrieved: 17 November 2008.
^Hanson, Bradley,. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-11-20. Southern Spaces, November 20, 2008.
External linksedit
The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour — IMDB
Museum of Appalachia — photos of Cas Walker in 1990
Video: "Cas Walker Warning to Thugs"
February 15, 2024
walker, orton, caswell, walker, march, 1902, september, 1998, tennessee, businessman, politician, personality, television, radio, walker, founded, successful, chain, small, grocery, stores, that, grew, include, several, dozen, stores, scattered, throughout, kn. Orton Caswell Cas Walker March 23 1902 September 25 1998 was a Tennessee businessman politician and personality on television and radio Walker founded a successful chain of small grocery stores that grew to include several dozen stores scattered throughout the Knoxville Tennessee vicinity as well as parts of Virginia and Kentucky From 1941 through 1971 Walker served on the Knoxville city council where he became legendary for his uncompromising political stances and his vehement opposition to what he claimed was a corrupt elitism in the city s government The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour a local variety show sponsored by Walker ran in various radio and television formats between 1929 and 1983 and helped launch the careers of entertainer Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers Orton Caswell WalkerMayor of KnoxvilleIn office 1946 1946Preceded byE E PattonSucceeded byEdward ChavannesIn office 1959 1959Preceded byJack W DanceSucceeded byJohn J DuncanKnoxville City CouncilIn office 1941 1971Personal detailsBornOrton Caswell Walker 1902 03 23 March 23 1902Sevier County TennesseeDiedSeptember 25 1998 1998 09 25 aged 96 Knoxville TennesseeResting placeWoodlawn CemeteryNicknameCas WalkerBust of Cas Walker Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 3 Radio and television 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editWalker was born to a working class family in Sevier County Tennessee in 1902 He quit school at the age of 14 and spent several years working at different jobs around the region namely at the Champion Fibre Company in North Carolina and later at various coal mines in Kentucky In 1924 he returned to East Tennessee where he established the first Cas Walker s Cash Store in Knoxville with money he had saved 1 2 Walker s stores had a simple rural atmosphere that was popular with the city s working class whites and African Americans 3 He used his radio show and other innovative methods such as scattering coupons from airplanes to advertise his store s weekly specials By the mid 1950s Walker s chain had grown to include 27 stores that generated a gross annual revenue of 60 million 1 Politics edit nbsp Cas Walker display at the Museum of AppalachiaWalker was first elected to the Knoxville city council in 1941 He was elected mayor in 1946 but after a few weeks of tumultuous meetings and the firing of its own city manager the city council managed to oust Walker in a recall election He also served as acting mayor in 1959 4 Walker was reelected to the city council the following year and remained until voluntarily retiring in 1971 3 He continued to be a force in Knoxville politics into the 1980s As a politician Walker successfully portrayed himself as a champion of small farmers and the working class This image was enhanced in 1956 when Life Magazine published a photograph of Walker preparing to punch fellow city councilman J S Cooper after the two had engaged in a heated debate over property assessments 5 In his self published newsletter The Watchdog Walker blasted political opponents and raged against tax increases He also used The Watchdog to launch controversial attacks against his business competitors In the 1960s he unsuccessfully opposed plans to fluoridate Knoxville s water supply and played a pivotal role in derailing attempts to consolidate the governments of Knoxville and Knox County 3 Walker s political mentor turned rival George Dempster once said If I ordered a whole carload of SOB s and they just sent Cas I d sign for the shipment 6 Walker continued distributing The Watchdog until the early 1980s when a libel suit forced it out of publication 3 During the same period Walker s influence helped defeat a second attempt to merge the Knoxville and Knox County governments 2 Radio and television editIn 1929 Walker created a variety show known as the Farm and Home Hour to help promote his cash stores The show initially aired as a radio program on WROL AM and later on WIVK AM In 1953 the show adopted a television format for WROL TV now WATE TV and aired on various local channels until 1983 The show featured artists such as Roy Acuff Jimmy Martin Bill Monroe Carl Smith Carl Butler Jim Nabors and Chet Atkins The show also helped launch the careers of Dolly Parton who first performed on the program in 1956 at the age of 10 and The Everly Brothers who were regulars on the show in the mid 1950s 1 7 8 References edit a b c Ajay Kalra Cas Walker The Encyclopedia of Appalachia Knoxville Tenn University of Tennessee Press 2006 pp 544 545 a b Carroll Van West Orton Caswell Walker The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture 2002 Retrieved 17 November 2008 a b c d William MacArthur Knoxville Crossroads of the New South Tulsa Okla Continental Heritage Press 1982 pp 148 150 Mayors of Knoxville Archived 2012 05 04 at the Wayback Machine Knoxville official website Retrieved 12 February 2013 The photograph was published in Life Vol 40 no 12 March 19 1956 p 38 A Look At the World s Week and credited to Tom Greene Jr Bruce Wheeler Knoxville Tennessee A Mountain City in the New South Knoxville Tenn University of Tennessee Press 2005 p 73 The Everly Brothers Biography Archived from the original on 2008 03 15 Retrieved 2008 11 17 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link 1999 2005 Retrieved 17 November 2008 Hanson Bradley The Tennessee Jamboree Local Radio the Barn Dance and Cultural Life in Appalachian East Tennessee Archived from the original on 2008 12 05 Retrieved 2008 11 20 Southern Spaces November 20 2008 External links editThe Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour IMDB Museum of Appalachia photos of Cas Walker in 1990 Life photograph of 1956 fracas between Walker and J S Cooper Video Cas Walker Warning to Thugs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cas Walker amp oldid 1195920034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
