GEORGE MELVIN WALKER
by Christian Morrow, Courier Staff Writer
George Melvin Walker, who enjoyed long careers in the steel industry and as a rehabilitation counselor, and still managed to fit in being elected as Beaver County’s first African American mayor, died Sept. 4 after an extended illness. He was 80.
When asked what kind of guy he was, his daughter, Lorraine Walker, said that when his second wife became too ill to travel while they were visiting her daughter in California, he would commute to see her. Until he, too, became too ill to travel.
“He worked full-time at Gateway right up until he got sick—he was always about work,” she said. “He was about God, family, work—and after that, sports and music.”
A lifetime resident of Rochester, and a former U.S. Marine reservist, George Walker began working in the steel industry right out of high school at PB&I Industries in 1955 and remained there until the industry collapsed in 1986.
He then transitioned into counseling, first with Drug & Alcohol Services in Vanport, then with Gateway Rehab in Center Township, working there until his retirement in 2016. Lorraine Walker said he was an engaging speaker, and those who knew him or heard him at meetings knew of his “Walkerisms.” He even had one about public speaking, she said: “Keep it bright, bold and brief.”
“Another one was, ‘there is no costlier tax than the listening tax—because if you don’t listen, you will pay more in the end,’” she said. “And of course, ‘love God with all your heart.’”
But his life was also about service beyond the needs of those fighting addiction. He did that through his long association with the Baptist church as moderator for the Allegheny Union Baptist Association, as president of the Ministers Layman Alliance of Beaver County, and as a chairman of the Deacon’s Board at the Second Baptist Church of Rochester. He also did it through politics.
“About the biggest thing he did as mayor was getting a roundabout put in to replace that horrible intersection where Pa. (routes) 18, 65 and 68 all came together in Rochester—people would drive miles out of the way to avoid it,” said Lorraine Walker. “But what he really did was create a pathway for other Blacks, like Dwan Walker over in Aliquippa. It was a big deal for us when he (George Walker) became the first Black mayor in the county. It showed people that if he could do it, others could too. He was a trailblazer.”
George Walker was elected to the borough council in 1986. In 2005, he was appointed mayor of Rochester when the previous mayor could no longer serve. He was then elected mayor in 2007 and served two consecutive terms.
He is survived by two daughters, Lorraine G. Walker of Rochester, and Joy Walker Napper (Alfred Napper) of Baltimore; sister, Florence Cuspard-Lott of Bridgewater; stepdaughters, LaRhonda Smith of Van Nuys, California and Cherise Smith (Rick Earl) of Denver, Colorado; two grandchildren one step-grandson.
His funeral service was held Sept. 10 at Second Baptist and he was interred at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park with full military honors.
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