A. Maceo Walker

A. Maceo Walker
Born (1909-06-07)June 7, 1909
Indianola, Mississippi, USA
Died June 8, 1994(1994-06-08) (aged 85)
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Nationality American
Alma mater Fisk University (Bach., 1930)
New York University (MBA, 1932)
University of Michigan (1935)
Occupation Businessman
Known for President of Universal Life Insurance Company and TriState Bank of Memphis

A. Maceo Walker (June 7, 1909 June 8, 1994) was an African-American businessman who led expansion of the Universal Life Insurance Company, founded by his father Joseph Edison Walker in Memphis, Tennessee. Together with his father in 1946, he founded the Tri-State Bank of Memphis, still a going concern.

Before joining his father full-time in the business, Walker earned master's degrees in business and actuarial science. When he started work in 1935, he was the only black actuary in Tennessee.

Biography

Antonio Maceo Walker, called Maceo, was the son of Joseph Edison and Lela (O'Neal) Walker, and was born in Indianola, Mississippi on June 7, 1909. His father was a medical doctor and entrepreneur. When Maceo was thirteen, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended LeMoyne High School. In 1930, he graduated from Fisk University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Graduate studies followed at New York University with an MBA in 1932. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan, where he earned another master's degree, this time in actuarial science. At the time of his graduation in 1935, there were no other black actuaries in Tennessee. During the summers between his studies, Walker sold insurance for the Universal Life Insurance Company in Memphis, founded by his father and associates in 1923.

Career

After graduate school, Walker joined the company's audit department. In 1935, he was elected to the board of directors.[1]

In 1938, he married Harriette Ish, with whom he had three children: Lily Patricia Walker, Antonio Maceo Walker, Jr. and Harriette Lucille "Candy" Walker.[1]

In 1946, he and his father opened the Tri-State Bank & Trust Company (now known as the Tri-State Bank of Memphis). In 1952, Walker became president of the Universal Life Insurance Company. Upon his father's death in 1958, the younger Walker also became president of Tri-State Bank.[1]

He ran the Universal Life Insurance Company until 1983, when he turned over leadership to his daughter Patricia Walker-Shaw. Upon her death in 1985, Walker resumed his position as president until he retired for the last time in 1990.[2]

A. Maceo Walker died in Memphis on June 8, 1994.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 DeCosta-Willis, Miriam (2008). Notable Black Memphians. Amherst, New York: Cambria Press. pp. 318–320. ISBN 978-1-60497-505-5.
  2. 1 2 "A. Maceo Walker, Prominent Business Leader, Activist, 85, Dies". Jet. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 86 (8): 18. June 27, 1994.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.