THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604030146
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
James M. Walton, who recently was elected president of The Chesapeake Men for Progress, already has plans for how he'll lead the organization for local black men.
``The trend is to focus attention on what people can do to help themselves rather than asking what others are going to do to help,'' said Walton.
The Chesapeake Men for Progress was organized in 1963.
``Our focus is to serve as role models for young minority men,'' said Walton. ``But we also participate in local elections and in some instances, run candidates.''
Walton's first priority as president is to resume a scholarship program for area students.
``We used to offer a scholarship every year, but the program fell through the cracks the last few years,'' said Walton. ``I'd like to raise enough funds so that next year we can offer a $1,000 scholarship to three or four youths.''
Besides re-introducing the scholarship fund, Walton wants to encourage young black men to consider running and owning small businesses.
To do that, Walton is planning a series of seminars on entrepreneurship, sponsored by The Chesapeake Men for Progress.
``It's important to know, not only what you can do, but how to get started, get funding and really begin to work towards something,'' said Walton.
Membership is another issue Walton will tackle as the group's president. There are about 150 members of the Chesapeake Men for Progress and Walton said more young black men are joining.
``I'd like to see membership grow,'' said Walton, who grew up in Norfolk but left the area in 1948 for Chicago.
``I left because I wanted to go to law school. In 1948, blacks weren't allowed to go to law school in Virginia,'' he said.
Walton lived with his sister and brother-in-law for several years while in Chicago and worked for a garment store pressing clothes. Eventually, he entered law school at De Paul University.
After graduating, Walton started his own practice, then joined the assistant prosecutor's office for the state of Illinois.
The hard work paid off when Walton was appointed a judge for the state of Illinois, a position he held for 20 years before retiring in 1985.
As a judge, Walton handled cases ranging from traffic violations to misdemeanors. Walton spent his final years as a judge handling cases in juvenile court.
``I've always been drawn to help children,'' he said. ``I figured I could make a difference for a few of them that came through the court.''
When Walton moved back to Hampton Roads in 1985 to open his own practice, he said the state he left decades earlier had changed.
``I started noticing changes in the 1970s in regard to racial discrimination,'' he said. ``I'm very proud of Virginia. I think she's come a long way. I'm very pleased and encouraged.''
Walton believes things will get better.
``We're not where we should be. But the way to get racial discrimination to go away is to function as if it is over, as if the era of racial discrimination is a thing of the past.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
James M. Walton retired in 1985 after 20 years as a state judge in
Illinois.
by CNB