Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2959Billington S. Walker was ,named October 29, 1874, to- Miss AliceMitchell, ,a daughter of the late. Dr. J. W. S. Mitchell, a well known medicalpractitioner who was probably best known, however, as one of Georgia'sforemost Masons, and was the author of several books relating to theMasonic fraternity.- A monument to his memory was erected at Griffin,Georgia, where he was engaged in medical practice for many years. To Mr.and Mrs. Walker there were born the following children: Billington Sanders,Jr., who died in 1913, at Macon, Georgia; Allene, who is the wife of FrankP. Harrold, of Amcricus, Georgia; Mary, who is the wife of J. B. McCrary,of Atlanta; Annette, who is the wife of Paul P. Vose, of Atlanta; Irene,who is the wife of "\Y- H. Field of Cartersville, Georgia; Louise, residing athome, was, like her^isters, graduated from Lucy Cobb College, Athens; andClifford Mitchell. Uniting with the Baptist church in youth, Mr. Walkerhas served as clerk of the local church for twenty-seven consecutive years.His usefulness as a citizen and his-unselfish Christian benevolence have becomeso characteristic that this side of his individuality may best be described inthe words of one who knows him well: "A strong business man, he hasnever made a public speech nor held an office; he spends his time literallyslipping around hunting for chances to do some act of charity or deed oflove which the world will know nothing about.'' It is not strange, then,that this father is his son's ideal of manhood and safe are the interestsof the people in the hands of one who so reverences his parents that hepublicly attributes his success in life to adhering to their high standards.In boyhood Clifford Mitchell Walker attended school at Monroc andwas a diligent student, but more than that, he was practically self-supporting, lie was the town's "newspaper boy," and delivered all theevening papers and rain or shine the subscribers were sure of their journals.Afterward he attended the University of Georgia, from which he wasgraduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1897, and owns fivegold medals attesting his scholarship and ability as a writer and speaker.During the next year he read law in the office of R. L. Cox, at Monroe,and in 1898 was admitted to the bar and immediately entered into practicein the same place. Since 1906 he has been a member of the exceptionallystrong legal combination of Walker & Roberts, his associate being OrrinRoberts. Mr. Walker belongs to the Georgia State Bar Association and theWalton County Bar Association. Individually and as a firm his legal ability has been of value in many important cases of litigation. He is also wellknown as an author in professional circles, having prepared the "CriminalDigest of Laws for Georgia," as well as a criminal form book which havewon the admiration of solicitors general and criminal lawyers of note.These are considered standard publications on the subject by all who arecompetent to judge.Possessing in marked degree, every qualification for public life, Mr.Walker naturally drifted into politics and soon became an important political factor. In 1902, 1903 and 1904 he served Monroe in the office of mayor,and in 1909 was elected solicitor general of the Western Circuit and continued in that capacity during that year and the three that followed. In1912 he voluntarily retired, but in 1914 gave way to the persuasion of hisfriends and accepted the candidacy for the office of attorney general ofthe state, one of the youngest men who ever ran for so important a stateoffice in Georgia. After a remarkable campaign and against a worthyopponent, he was elected with a popular majority of 65,000 votes, carrying120 counties. He had entered whole-heartedly into the campaign, visitingpractically every county from Rabun Gap (named for his ancestors) toTybee light, taking time to become acquainted with the people and theirinterests and making so favorable an impression that 125,000 of his fellowcitizens voted for him. His personality is engaging, his smile is friendly