[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 28 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO CHARLES ``DEEDLE'' WALKER

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2017

  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Charles ``Deedle'' Walker who will be turning 90 years old on March 4, 
2017. Deedle Walker was born in East Tennessee in 1927.
  He helped operate his older brother's gas station when the United 
States was at war during WWII.
  He once entered a free throw contest shooting under-handed and 
managed to finish second after sinking 24 out of 25 free throws.
  After graduating from Carter High School, he was offered a 
basketball/football scholarship at the University of Alabama. 
Unfortunately, he became ill from spinal meningitis and did not go 
there. However, he was lucky to later attend Carson-Newman College.
  He hitchhiked to college daily to attend class and starred in 
basketball and baseball under the tutelage of legendary Coach Frosty 
Holt. He also signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh 
Pirates.
  More importantly he met his future wife, Martha Dale Kitts, of 
Knoxville, Tennessee while at Carson-Newman.
  While attending a friend's wedding, in which Martha was a bridesmaid, 
in Washington, D.C., Martha and Deedle became engaged. They were 
married later that day at the Capitol Hill Baptist Church on August 5, 
1950.
  Martha Walker later taught English and was the librarian at Carter 
High School where Deedle attended. Deedle enjoyed a 40-year career with 
the telephone company Southern Bell and its successors, and he was also 
a longtime basketball referee in the Knoxville area.
  Deedle is an early riser and a hard-working man. In fact, he still 
greets anyone who sleeps past 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning with ``Good 
afternoon.''
  Martha and Deedle had five children: Mark, Laura, Christopher (died 
in infancy), Joel and Don. They now have eight grandchildren and five 
greatgrandchildren, with another one on the way.
  I hope everyone will join me on March 4th in wishing Deedle Walker a 
Happy 90th Birthday.

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