Senator John Boozman (R-AR) presented Pine Bluff World War II veteran Fulton Walker with six medals during a special ceremony at Pine Bluff.

During the ceremony, Boozman will presented Walker with the following medals: Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Three Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII and Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar.

“Walker was drafted into the United States Army during WWII and served from 1943-1946. He was deployed in England, France, Germany and other locations in the European theatre,” stated a press release from Boozman’s office. “The WWII veteran worked as a teacher and principal in two rural schools before moving to the Pine Bluff School District. In Pine Bluff, he served as an elementary school principal, including becoming the second African-American in the state to be assigned as the principal of an all-white school. In 1972, he moved into district-level administration and ultimately became the assistant superintendent responsible for federal programs until his retirement in 1986.”

After his discharge from the Army, Walker attended Arkansas AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics and English in 1950. He also earned a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1957, as one of the earliest African Americans to attend the University of Arkansas.

Additionally, Mayor Shirley Washington presented Fulton with a proclamation declaring February 28, 2020 as Fulton Walker Day in Pine Bluff.