Salina Loses Businessman / Philanthropist Charlie Walker
KSAL Staff - Sat 10:46 AM 04/28/2012
79-year-old Charlie Walker was a businessman and philanthropist.
Salina businessman and philanthropist Charlie Walker passed away Friday.
The 79-year-old Walker was the founder of several business franchises, most notably Blue Beacon Truck Washes and Green Lantern Car Wash and Convenience Stores.
In 1999 Walker opened the Rolling Hills Zoo. The facility features over 90 species of rare and endangered animals. In 2005 he added a 64,000-square-foot Wildlife Museum. The museum integrates over 300 species of animals with nature and human cultures. Now called Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, the zoo and museum attract over 150,000 visitors a year to the Salina area.
In 2001 Walker opened a non-profit facility for teens called “The City”.
The Walker family was the leading contributor to a state of the art cancer facility in Salina. The Tammy Walker Cancer Center is named for a daughter who lost a battle with cancer at the age of 11.
Within the past several months Walker gave gifts to the Salina Military Affairs Council and the Coronado Area Council Boy Scouts.
Salina Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dennis Lauver tells KSAL News that Walker was a self made-man, who gave back to the community in so many ways. Lauver says "he was a man of faith, family, and community". He adds that Walker was a humble man who would probably be embarassed about all of the attention he is receiving.
Walker was inducted into the Salina Business Hall of Fame in 2005.
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ShadowCipher
Saturday 28 April 2012 12:18 Report this comment
Mr. Walker did more for the people of Salina than most will ever know. We all can hope there will be more good people like him in our community.
getumgranny
Saturday 28 April 2012 12:46 Report this comment
Carlie told me one time, after his brother Ralph passed away, in the end when we leave this world, and we will all leave some day, live your life how you want to be remembered and never think you are better than anyone else, because it really doesn't matter when you die how much money you have. R.I.P. Charlie!! Thank you for everything you did for our community.
Ksomething
Saturday 28 April 2012 18:50 Report this comment
Rest in Peace sir. You were an example for all to see. We will miss you!
salinasouth
Saturday 28 April 2012 21:38 Report this comment
I had the privilige of meeting Charlie a couple times. Always the gentleman. Not many like Charlie left around. Take care....
citizenjane
Sunday 29 April 2012 09:32 Report this comment
What a wonderful and generous man! He will be missed!
perculator
Sunday 29 April 2012 17:37 Report this comment
Now the 2 sons will run the Blue Beacon in the ground
troy
Sunday 29 April 2012 18:43 Report this comment
The sons won't, their wives will. After everything is divided up, bought out, death taxes are paid.....will be a mess for sure. Charlie was like a Navy SEAL, everyone either knew him, was somehow related to him, though they deserved some of his money, talked to him once, saw him once, knew someone who saw him once, or was at one time actually Charlie Walker himself. Can't contest the fact he did a lot for the community. However, the was a darker side also. I've met a lot of people who worked for him over the years. When he said jump you better jump, doesn't matter if it's your birthday, Christmas morning, your anniversary, or if your wife is in labor. He want's to go look at some land for sale, get up, get dressed, get in the truck. You can open presents when you get back. He will be missed, he was very generous, he worked very hard for what he achieved in life. Let's hope his family can carry on his outstanding tradition.
getumgranny
Monday 30 April 2012 07:02 Report this comment
perculator and troy: Do you honestly think a man of his wealth was not smart enough to have everything set up in trusts and such to avoid all the probate and taxes??!! You can bet he had the best lawyers money could buy to help him with his estate issues upon his passing. And yes, Charlie could be somewhat difficult at times, he demanded and expected quite a bit from some of his employees, but, he also compensated very nicely the ones that were loyal and worked hard for him, the ones that truly EARNED that compensation. He was not born with a silver spoon, like many here in Salina were, he worked hard to build his "empire"!! Like any business man you can bet he had to step on toes to get where he was at, but UNLIKE many of the Salina business people, he gave back to our community very generously!!
getumgranny
Monday 30 April 2012 07:09 Report this comment
And, because he was raised here in Salina, lived here for 79yrs, You can be sure he DID know many people of all walks of life. Hell, I used to see him at the Doctor office on Santa Fe, he would sit in the waiting room like everyone else waiting his turn, and like many, he would visit with whoever happened to be sitting there!! So troy, many people in Salina did at some time or another come in contact with him because of his involvement in many parts of our community, some we may not even know about!! As to his kids, I also hope they do not destroy what their father worked so hard to build, but I'm certain there will be people keeping an eye on everything they do!!
TomCallahan
Monday 30 April 2012 08:48 Report this comment
This page is a joke. Go to the salinapost.com page to view a real tribute.
okiedokie
Monday 30 April 2012 09:33 Report this comment
Agreed, Tom. Those who are concerned about the Blue Beacon empire being "run into the ground" by the "kids" obviously know less than nothing about the business.
troy
Monday 30 April 2012 16:54 Report this comment
Was simply pointing out that not all was so rosey. Many folks were stepped on during his rise to the top. True with any successfull business. There's no way to ever repay what he has done for Salina. There's no way to ever say thank you for what he has done for Salina. I might know more than you think about all this.