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Oral history interview with Larry Walker, 2004 August 5

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@ University of West Georgia. Special Collections

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Larry Walker (1942-) was elected to the state legislature from Perry, Georgia, as a Democrat in 1972 and represented his middle Georgia district until his retirement in 2005. He served as floor leader for Gov. Harris 1983-1986 and as majority leader from 1986-2002. In 2008, Walker was elected vice chairman of the Georgia State Transportation Board.; Interviewed by Dr. Mel Steely on August 5, 2004 at the House Chamber at the Georgia State Capitol.; Walker begins by speaking of his family history and his youth in Houston County, Georgia, especially noting his family's participation in the Methodist Church and the Republican Party. He speaks of his schooling and having grown up during a time of segregation, and speaks of his extracurricular activities. He attended the University of Georgia to study law and became city attorney and municipal judge in Perry, Georgia by his early twenties. In 1972, Walker ran for Sam Nunn's former seat in the House of Representative and was elected to the office. He speaks of his campaign, the issues that arose while running and then of his time as freshman. He discusses several of the politicians that he worked alongside and assesses governors and other leaders he had worked with, especially Tom Murphy. Looking backing at over thirty years in the legislation Walker contends that public education is one of the areas with which he has been most concerned, going on to speak of economic issues and the Georgia state flag. He then discusses becoming majority leader,...
Type:
Video
Contributors:
Steely, MelFitz-Simons, TedUniversity of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
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University of West Georgia. Special Collections

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Digital Library of Georgia