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Wendell Walker
My name is Wendell Walker. I was born in Roanoke, VA on June 13, 1944. I come from a family of 17 children-10 boys and 7 girls. I am the 11th child. My father worked at a construct...view moreMy name is Wendell Walker. I was born in Roanoke, VA on June 13, 1944. I come from a family of 17 children-10 boys and 7 girls. I am the 11th child. My father worked at a construction site and my mother did house work. I went to Vinton Elementary School in Vinton, VA from the first to the seventh grade; the years were 1950-1958. The school had four rooms and an auditorium. The rooms had potbelly coal stoves. Vinton is four or five miles from Roanoke and the nearest school in the county for blacks in that time. VA blacks from 10 to 15 counties attended this one school. At Carver, I played drums in the band for four years and graduated with an academic diploma in a class of 32. The class has started out in the 8th grade with 85 students.
I served in the U.S Armed Services from 1962 to 1966. I served as a clerk in the Medical Corps and in finance. I went to Vietnam and was assigned as a clerk in intelligence, mail service, drafting and aviation. After my military service, I lived in Tacoma, WA for eight months. I left Tacoma, bound for Baltimore, with $2.00 in my pocket. I worked construction for four to five months then found work at the Pepsi Cola Company. For recreation, I would go down to the clubs to watch the musicians play. I went especially to the clubs on Pennsylvania Ave – The Millionaire Club, The Casino, Moon Glow, Buck’s Bar, and Club Leland. This is how I learned to play the piano and the organ. I learned enough to play with a few bands. Some musicians I watched were Johnny Polite, Fuzzy Kane, Charles Blair, Lloyd and Claude Granet, Avin Hamilton, Al McKenny and George Jackson. Eventually, I formed my own band. I earned enough to pay my rent.
I went into business in 1967. I set out to form a partnership, a two-man house painting business. The other guy backed out so I named my company Walker’s Home Improvement Company. I worked out of my house. I obtained my home improvement license in 1968. I am still in business today and loving every minute of it. To expand my business interest, I began to buy real estate in 1970, again in 1972 and during 1983-2003. During 40 years as an entrepreneur, I found personal satisfaction and financial success. Being in the home improvement business made it easy for me to get ahead in the real estate renovating business. I have reached the goal I set for myself. It was to own 20 properties; Now it is harvest time.
I also own and operate a health spa and dance school (hand dancing). I use my interest and skill in the martial arts to give back to the community. The secret to success-personal and business-is to surround yourself always with positive people. Their attitude will rub off on you. If you are always around negative friends and family members, most likely, you too will be negative. Studies show that positive people seem to be more successful in their lives.view less
Books by Wendell Walker
Is It Me or Is It You: Observations, Opinions & Advice on Life, Love and Relationships