| Notes |
- The following is taken from an un headlined column found in the Taylor scrapbook. It is probably from the Champaign News Gazette sometime in 1955 -- LKL
"Friends and associates of the Extension Service, UI College of Agriculture and the Illinois Agricultural Association, and the state Department of Agriculture, joined with the Association of Soil Conservation Districts Tuesday evening in paying tributes to Ernest D. Walker, conservation extension specialist who retires from active service at the end of August.
"Walker and Mrs. Walker, present as guests of honor at the annual banquet of the Association of Soil Conservation Directors, were presented with a memory book, containing letters from directors of the various county soil conservation districts. Binoculars, especially geared for 'bird watching' were also presented.
"Approximately 300 guests were present for the banquet in the Illini Union, held as the highlight of the three day convention.
"Speakers included Otto Steffey, president of the Illinois Agricultural Assn., who served as a county Farm Bureau official in Henderson county at a time when Walker was stationed there as a farm adviser.
"Another resident of Henderson county, Wendell Wetterling, followed the IAA president in lauding Walker's contribution of service to organized agriculture. He was a lad, 13, when Walker formed the first 4-H club in Henderson county.
"W.G. Kammlade, associate director of Illinois Extension Service, presented a certificate of service to the guest of honor.
"Other speakers include Dean L.B. Howard of the College of Agriculture, Leslie Hieser, superintendent of the Illinois Division of Conservation; Dorsey Kirk, Illinois Master of the National Grange, and B.B. Clark, conservationist of the Illinois Soil Conservation Service.
"Stillman Stanard, director of the state Department of Agriculture, addressed the banquet, stressing services to conservation that had been carried on by Walker...."
Retired from U.I.: Prof. E.D. Walker Dies
"Prof. Ernest Dewitt Walker, 80 of 1502 Delmont Ct., Urbana, who retired in 1955 from the University of Illinois agricultural extension faculty, died at 3:15 a.m. Saturday [March 30, 1968] in Cole Hospital after a year of failing health.
"Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Renner-Wikoff Chapel with Dr Kermit Gregory in charge. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.
"Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
"The son of Matthew and Frances Thompson Walker, he was born June 12, 1887, on a farm in McDonough County. He was graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture with the Class of 1910.
"From 1921 until retirement in 1955 Prof Walker was in agricultural Extension work at the University of Illinois--first as a farm adviser in Henderson County followed by two years as state compliance director for the wheat and corn control program.
"He joined the agronomy staff in November 1936, and in 1941 became State Extension Soil conservationist for the University of Illinois, continuing in that position until retirement in August, 1955.
"His honorary affiliations were Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Epsilon Sigma Pi. He was a member of the Soil Conservation Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy.
"After retirement, Prof. Walker devoted his time to photography, woodworking, barbershop singing, and served as editor of the Northern Illinois Chapter newsletter of the Soil Conservation Society.
"He was a long-time member of the choir of the First Methodist Church, Urbana, and for 14 years served on the Boy Scout committee for Troup 10, Urbana. He also was a member of Urbana Exchange Club.
"Prof Walker leaves his widow, Nellie, to whom he was married on June 12, 1914, and three sons, Ernest Warren of Urbana, Richard Battson of Seattle Wash., and John Robert of Colorado Springs Colo.
"He also leaves seven grandchildren, two nephews, Fred Walker Irish of Washington D.C., and Stanley Walker of Media, and one niece, Sister M. Laura, a member of the Benedictine Order in Chicago.
"The family suggests that any memorial gifts be made to the Salvation Army or the University YMCA,
"Active pallbearers will be Andy Kmetz, Prof Ralph C. Hay, Homer Kuder, Eldon Colgrove, Kermit Kruger, and George Goddard.
"Honorary pallbearers will be Prof J.C. Spitler, Bruce B. Clark, Alex Wilson, Prof Walter Balduf, T.E. Meyers, Prof Benjamin Koehler, J.B. Cunningham, and A.U. Thor."
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Taylor Family Genealogy
1887 - 1968 (80 years)
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