Walker flagpole unveiled in West Point park

Walker memorial

Inside, he would be tickled pink. But he’d be halfway across the park for a beer by now.”

Jay D. Walker, son of former WP Mayor Paul Walker

WEST POINT – Paul Walker would’ve thought much ado about nothing, but the town of West Point thinks a bit differently.
On Monday night in the city square in West Point, the Freedom Rock Committee and city officials commemorated a flagpole and plaque donation in honor of former West Point Mayor Paul Walker.
Walker died on Feb. 8 of this year after battling an illness. He was serving as the city’s mayor at the time.
The Freedom Rock Committee had some funds left from the Veterans' Memorial and they were looking at adding something to the memorial. Funds donated to the Veterans' Freedom Rock project were leftover and a committee member suggested using those funds in honor of former Mayor Walker.
West Point City Administrator Randy Welding said the pole had been ordered for some time, but they had trouble getting it shipped.
Jessie Gregory of Gregory Concrete Construction poured the foundation for the flagpole and Brian Schmitz of Schmitz Funeral Home donated the plaque with Walker’s name on it.
Gregory poured the concrete with a dark sheen on it to make it stand out.
“We just wanted to do something with it to make it stand out a bit,” Gregory said.
“Paul and I had a good relationship. If he knew I was working in town, he would come and find me to chat, and it wasn’t always about work. That’s just the guy he was.”
Paul’s wife Mary Beth “Bess” (Geers) Walker said Paul might have been a little humbled by the dedication.
“It wasn’t him. He always said it takes this whole community to do things,” she said behind tears. “That’s the way I see it.”
The Walkers’ son Jay D. Walker had a lighter perspective.
“He would say that he didn’t deserve any of this and it was the community that did it all and he just played a role in that,” Jay D. said.
“Inside, he would be tickled pink. But he’d be halfway across the park for a beer by now.”
Current West Point Mayor Joseph Loving said he asked Paul what he would want for a dedication in some of their conversations.
“I often asked Paul when we were in the park or working together, ‘What do you want done when you are done. Do you want a bench or something?’ and he never really gave me an answer,” Loving said.
“Because, to him, it was no big deal.”
Loving said Walker would have been happy with the dedication despite his humble approach.
“He put a lot more time in than people know. He cared for this community and would stop to talk to people if he saw them at the Rock and he wanted this community to look very nice. I’m just trying to continue with that.”
Walker served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1969 in Korea during the Vietnam War. He worked as a driver’s education teacher and coached football, basketball, and track for the Fort Madison Community School System. Paul was an entrepreneur with Sunshine Child Care and also drove for Merschman Seeds. He was the mayor of West Point for 26 years and was the Sweet Corn Festival chicken chairman for twenty years, a member of the North Lee County Foundation, and served on numerous other boards.