This Is a Tribute Page To The Legend
THE OLE COON HUNTER CAS WALKER
Orton Caswell "Cas" Walker was one of the most flamboyant politicians in mid-twentieth century Knoxville as well as a major force in promoting country music in East Tennessee. Born in Sevier County, Walker grew up in a working family, and he never left these roots as he met with success in his later career. He left home at the age of fourteen to work at the Champion Pulp and Fiber Company works in North Carolina, where he regularly sent back money to help his family. In his twenties Walker took jobs in various Kentucky coal mines, saving his money to the amount of $850, which he then invested in a Knoxville grocery store in 1924.
His career in Knoxville is the stuff of modern legend. Known for his low prices, the rural atmosphere of his stores, his aggressive marketing, and innovative advertising, Walker soon parlayed one store into a prosperous grocery store chain. His success in business led Walker into the stormy turmoil of mid-twentieth century Knoxville politics, where he glorified in his image as a hick, redneck, or just plain idiot. Melding his advertising for his stores and for his political views into a consistent image of the downtrodden underdog working mightily to displace the "elite," Walker won a seat on the Knoxville City Council in 1941 and immediately began to build a powerful base of political support within the city, especially with working class whites and blacks. In 1946 he became mayor of Knoxville, but within months he faced cries for his recall due to his fight with his own city manager. In that fall's city council elections, he lost his seat on the council and therefore could no longer serve as mayor.
Walker, however, soon made a political comeback, winning back his council seat in 1947 and reestablishing his formidable political machine by the early 1950s. In 1956 Walker, during a heated council debate, engaged in a fistfight with fellow council member J. S. Cooper, a former supporter. While the fight brought negative publicity to the city from regional and national media, it did little to undermine Walker's local popularity. In the late 1950s he played a pivotal role in defeating the city's and county's consideration of creating a metropolitan government. When the issue resurfaced twenty years later, Walker still opposed and helped to gather the opposition to defeat it. There was no more powerful single individual in Knoxville politics between 1940 and 1970 than Cas Walker.
His popular radio and television programs were key parts of his success. Advertising his weekly specials through both radio (WIVK-AM) and television (WBIR), Walker hosted an extremely popular daily program, the Farm and Home show. The programs helped to launch the careers of the Everly Brothers and introduced the twelve-year-old Dolly Parton to a wide East Tennessee audience. Thus, when Walker died in 1998, many commentators spoke more of his role in country music and bluegrass music than his turbulent years as a politician. Known for his contributions to the country music promotions
in East Tennessee and his antics in politics in the 1940's. His popular radio and television programs were key to his success in the grocery business and the music business. Cas hosted a television show which was extremely popular on WBIR and on radio station WIVK-AM. Mr. Walker's radio shows featured such bluegrass favorites as the Osborne Brothers, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and several other local favorites. An excerpt from "My Life History" book about Supraderm Salve... "I like to advertise Supraderm because it is a good product and it sells good. Supraderm is for the temporary relief of minor skin irritations such as poisonous insect bites and skin rashes. It contains zinc oxide, menthol
and a special base containing petroleum, precipitated sulfurs, benzine and benincain. I believe in some old time remedies."
Overall, however, Cas was an embarrassment. A photo of his fisticuffs with a fellow member of the Knoxville City Council landed him on the cover of Life Magazine. He once gave a contribution or did some favor for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and required them to play an orchestral version of “Turkey in the Straw†in return. Worst of all were some of his grocery store ads. I remember billboards and TV ads in the 1970s depicting young black boys grinning and eating slices of watermelon that looked to be three feet wide. “Thumpin‘ good†ran the ditty that accompanied the television versions. I remember cringing at the impression of Knoxville that those billboards along I-40 must have conveyed to millions of travelers passing through.
Cas lived a long life, finally dying at age 96 in 1998. Most of his sins have been forgiven, and he now seems to be remembered as a colorful character who remained true to his populist beliefs.
No one has yet written the definitive book on Cas Walker. Given his influence on politics and music, it could be a most fascinating volume.
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