Walker assumes Falkville position

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Jimmie Walker, a retired operations manager for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Decatur, was elevated from his position as council member and mayor pro tem to mayor of Falkville at a council session Tuesday night.
He will follow in the footsteps of Roy Coley, a second-term mayor and utilities manager who gave up his position a month ago to take a job in Florida. His duties will include serving as the administrative head of utilities operations on a part-time basis.
The council also indicated it is accepting applications to fill the vacancy left by Walker.
Walker served on the council for six years. He was appointed in 1998 to fill the unexpired term of Rodney Turner, who resigned. He was elected to a regular term in 2000 and re-elected to a second term in 2004. He served as finance committee chairman for six years and mayor pro tem for five years.
Walker said he doesn't feel uncomfortable stepping up to a higher level of responsibility in city government and looks forward to the challenge.
"I was Roy's backup for nearly five years and I'm up-to-date on financial affairs. My goal is to continue to contribute to the welfare of our citizens."
Walker is a 1956 graduate of Falkville High School and a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in textile management. He was employed with Goodyear for more than 40 years when he retired in 2002. He was an operations manager at the company's Scottsboro plant for nine years and the Decatur plant for 20 years.