A. Maceo Walker
Encyclopedia
A. Maceo Walker was an African-American businessman who served as president of the Universal Life Insurance Company of Memphis, Tennessee.
and Lela (O'Neal) Walker, was born in Indianola, Mississippi
on June 7, 1909. His father was a medical doctor and entrepreneur. At the age of thirteen, he moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee
, where he attended LeMoyne High School. In 1930, he graduated from Fisk University
with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Graduate studies followed at New York University
with an MBA in 1932. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan
, where he earned another Master's Degree, this time in actuarial science. At the time of his graduation in 1935, there were no other black actuaries in Tennessee. During the summers between his studies, Walker would sell insurance for the Universal Life Insurance Company in Memphis
, which was founded by his father in 1923. He would later join the company's audit department and in 1935, Walker was elected to the board of directors.
In 1938, he married Harriette Ish, with whom he had three children: Lily Patricia Walker
, Antonio Maceo Walker, Jr. and Harriette Lucille "Candy" Walker.
In 1946, he and his father opened the Tri-State Bank & Trust Company (now known as the Tri-State Bank of Memphis). In 1952, Walker became president of the Universal Life Insurance Company. Upon his father's death in 1958, the younger Walker also became president of Tri-State Bank.
He ran the Universal Life Insurance Company until 1983, when he turned over leadership to his daughter Patricia Walker-Shaw
. Upon her death in 1985, Walker resumed his position as president until he retired for the last time in 1990.
A. Maceo Walker died in Memphis on June 8, 1994.
Biography
Antonio Maceo Walker, the son of Joseph EdisonJoseph Edison Walker
Joseph Edison Walker was a leading African American businessman who founded the Universal Life Insurance Company and Tri-State Bank, both of Memphis, Tennessee.-Biography:...
and Lela (O'Neal) Walker, was born in Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
on June 7, 1909. His father was a medical doctor and entrepreneur. At the age of thirteen, he moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he attended LeMoyne High School. In 1930, he graduated from Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Graduate studies followed at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
with an MBA in 1932. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he earned another Master's Degree, this time in actuarial science. At the time of his graduation in 1935, there were no other black actuaries in Tennessee. During the summers between his studies, Walker would sell insurance for the Universal Life Insurance Company in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, which was founded by his father in 1923. He would later join the company's audit department and in 1935, Walker was elected to the board of directors.
In 1938, he married Harriette Ish, with whom he had three children: Lily Patricia Walker
Patricia Walker-Shaw
Patricia Walker-Shaw served as President of the Universal Life Insurance Company of Memphis, Tennessee.-Biography:Patricia Walker-Shaw was born Lily Patricia Walker as the eldest of three children born to A...
, Antonio Maceo Walker, Jr. and Harriette Lucille "Candy" Walker.
In 1946, he and his father opened the Tri-State Bank & Trust Company (now known as the Tri-State Bank of Memphis). In 1952, Walker became president of the Universal Life Insurance Company. Upon his father's death in 1958, the younger Walker also became president of Tri-State Bank.
He ran the Universal Life Insurance Company until 1983, when he turned over leadership to his daughter Patricia Walker-Shaw
Patricia Walker-Shaw
Patricia Walker-Shaw served as President of the Universal Life Insurance Company of Memphis, Tennessee.-Biography:Patricia Walker-Shaw was born Lily Patricia Walker as the eldest of three children born to A...
. Upon her death in 1985, Walker resumed his position as president until he retired for the last time in 1990.
A. Maceo Walker died in Memphis on June 8, 1994.