[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E95-E96]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF DAN WALKER

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2026

  Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of former 
Torrance Mayor Dan Walker, a devoted public servant and veteran of the 
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. His decades of public service have left a 
profound and lasting impact on the City of Torrance and the greater 
South Bay community. He passed away on December 6, 2025, at the age of 
85.
  Born in 1940, in the City of Long Beach, Dan grew up in area 
attending school and eventually attending and graduating from Long 
Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach. He 
served for a time as lifeguard to help pay for his college education. 
After college, Dan joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve and 
later worked for an advertising company in San Francisco. While working 
for this advertising company, Dan had several clients including the 
City of Torrance, which he visited on several occasions and grew fond 
of.
  Dan moved to Torrance in 1970, becoming involved with the Torrance 
Area Chamber of Commerce shortly thereafter. Because of his dedication 
to the community of Torrance, he was appointed as a planning 
commissioner for the city in 1975. A couple of years later, Dan was 
elected to serve as a Torrance City Councilmember serving on council 
for a record twenty-six years. This service would culminate in his 
election as Torrance's Mayor in 2002. During his tenure, Torrance 
remained one of the safest cities in Los Angeles County while 
maintaining fiscal stability and a strong business environment. His 
leadership helped revitalize key areas of the city, including the Del 
Amo Fashion Center and the Torrance Towne Center.
  Mayor Walker was a strong advocate for accessible public spaces. He 
played a vital role in the development of Discovery Park in Torrance, 
and he established the West Coast's first universally accessible 
treehouse in Charles H. Wilson Park. In addition, Walker also supported 
the creation of the George Nakano Theatre and the Torrance Art Museum. 
Alongside these regional roles, he chaired the Ad Hoc Economic 
Development Partnership and spent 15 years as a dedicated member of the 
Friends of Child Advocates Board of Directors.
  Dan's influence extended well beyond the borders of Torrance. In 
1987, he was appointed by then Governor George Deukmejian to the Los 
Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and represented Torrance 
with regional agencies, including the Southern California Association 
of Governments and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.
  Dan Walker's service will continue to have a lasting impact on the 
City of Torrance and the South Bay region. His commitment to public 
service, thoughtful leadership, and focus on long-term community 
improvement helped shape Torrance's growth over his years of service. 
Mayor Walker earned the trust and respect of his residents through his 
dedication and steady leadership. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, 
his stepson, Gary Lorge, daughter in law, Kathy Lorge, and 
stepdaughter, Kathy Hicks. May his memory live on through the many 
lives he touched in his work and service to our community.

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