George Herbert Walker | |
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| Born | (1875-06-11)June 11, 1875 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 1953(1953-06-24) (aged 78) New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Washington University in St. Louis |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, banker |
| Known for | Namesake of grandsonGeorge H. W. Bush,et al. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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George Herbert "Bert"Walker Sr. (June 11, 1875 – June 24, 1953) was an American banker and businessman. He was the maternal grandfather of the 41st United States PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush and a great-grandfather of PresidentGeorge W. Bush, both of whom were named in his honor. He was also the amateur heavyweight-boxing champion ofMissouri while studying law atWashington University School of Law.[1][2][3]
George Herbert Walker was born on June 11, 1875, inSt. Louis, Missouri. Walker was descended from aMaryland family. He was the youngest son ofDavid Davis Walker, adry goods merchant fromBloomington,Illinois, and Martha Adela (Beaky). Ely, Walker & Company, which grew into a leading regional wholesaler, was later acquired byBurlington Industries.[citation needed]
Walker, who wasRoman Catholic, was educated atStonyhurst College, aJesuit boarding school in England. He graduated fromWashington University in St. Louis in 1897.
Walker started a banking and investment firm namedG.H. Walker & Co. in 1900.[4] His family had developed many international banking contacts, and he helped organize the1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Walker was known as the power behind the localDemocratic Party.
In 1920, Walker became the President of theW.A. Harriman & Co. investment firm, and quickly arranged the credits thatW. Averell Harriman needed to take control of theHamburg-Amerika Line. Walker also organized the American Ship and Commerce Corp. to be subsidiary of the W.A. Harriman & Co., with contractual power over the affairs of the Hamburg-Amerika.W.A. Harriman & Co. (renamedHarriman Brothers & Company in 1927) well-positioned for this enterprise and rich in assets from their German and Russian business, merged with the British-American investment houseBrown Bros. & Co. on January 1, 1931. Walker retired to his ownG.H. Walker & Co. This left the Harriman brothers, his son-in-lawPrescott Bush and Thatcher M. Brown as senior partners of the new firm ofBrown Brothers Harriman & Co. The firm's London branch continued operating under its historic nameBrown, Shipley & Co.
Walker was a director of the W.A. Harriman & Company; Harriman Fifteen,American International Corporation; Georgian Manganese Corporation; Barnsdall Corporation; American Ship & Commerce Corporation;Union Banking Corporation; G.H. Walker & Company;Missouri Pacific Railroad; Laclede Gas and the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railroad.
In addition to his business concerns, Walker was also a golf enthusiast and a President of theUnited States Golf Association (USGA). The USGA'sWalker Cup (the famous biennial golf match) acquired Walker's namesake for his role in the event's creation.[4] Walker was a member ofDeepdale Golf Club as well asNational Golf Links of America, the location of the first Walker Cup.[5]
He also coheaded the syndicate, (withW. Averell Harriman), which rebuilt the famed sports venue ofMadison Square Garden and theBelmont Race Track, 1925.
Walker married Lucretia Wear (1874–1961), daughter of James H. Wear and they had six children:
His brother-in-lawJoseph Walker Wear was one of the founders of theDavis Cup. His son-in-lawPrescott Bush was a member of the executive committee of the USGA, serving successively as Secretary, Vice President and President, 1928–1935. Walker not only maintained theWalker's Point estate inKennebunkport, but also a mansion onLong Island, and a stunning residence at One Sutton Place inManhattan.[6] In the 1930s Walker purchased the 10,000-acre (40 km2) Duncannon Plantation nearBarnwell, South Carolina, as a private hunting retreat. In the 1940s Walker moved out of the circa 1835plantation house, and the property became ahuntingclub. Much of the land was later purchased by the U.S. Government for development of theSavannah River Site.[7]
Walker died in 1953 inNew York City, aged 78. He was survived by his wife, several grandchildren includingGeorge H. W. Bush, Ambassador to Hungary and Stifel Nicolas CEOGeorge Herbert Walker III, William H. T. (Bucky) Bush, Nancy Ellis Bush, Ray Walker, Betty Walker Holden, and many great-grandchildren includingGeorge W. Bush andJeb Bush.
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