Nell W. Walker

Nell W. Walker
Walker, circa 1951
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Fayette County
In office
1958 – March 5, 1962
Preceded byT. E. Myles Jr.
Succeeded byT. E. Myles Jr.
Banking Commissioner of West Virginia
In office
July 15, 1955 – July 1, 1957
Preceded byJohn H. Hoffman
Succeeded byDonald L. Taylor
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Fayette County
In office
1936 – July 15, 1955
Preceded byAllie Dickerson Proctor[a]
Succeeded byT. E. Myles Jr.
Personal details
Born(1888-02-06)February 6, 1888
Fayette County, West Virginia
DiedMarch 5, 1962(1962-03-05) (aged 74)
Baltimore, Maryland
PartyDemocratic

Nell W. Walker (February 6, 1888 – March 5, 1962), nicknamed "Pistol Nell" by her fellow legislators[2], was an American banker and politician from West Virginia. She served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1936 to 1955, and then from 1958 to her death in 1962, representing Fayette County as a Democrat. She also served as Banking Commissioner of West Virginia from 1955 to 1957, the first woman to hold the position.[3]

Early life

Walker was born on a farm near Sewell Mountain in Fayette County, West Virginia on February 6, 1888. She served with the American Red Cross during World War I, spending 13 months in France as part of her duties.[4]

Political career

Walker was nominated for the West Virginia House of Delegates in June 1936. Following the death of incumbent Charles Nelson Proctor, the Fayette County Democratic Executive Committee nominated Walker, a member of the Democratic state executive committee, to take Proctor's place on the ballot.[5] Walker won election that November, alongside fellow delegates R. L. Matthews and J. Alex Tinsley.[6]

She continued to win re-election, serving in the state House until June 1955, when she was selected to be the state's banking commissioner by Governor William C. Marland following the resignation of John H. Hoffman. Upon being offered the role, Walker asked for time to consider it, but ultimately accepted and began serving on July 15, 1955, becoming the first woman to hold the position.[7][3] Walker served as commissioner until July 1, 1957, when she stepped down. Donald L. Taylor was appointed as her replacement.[8]

In 1958, she was elected again to the House.[9] She won re-election in 1960, but stated in January 1962 she had "just about made up [her] mind" that she would not run in that year's elections.[10]

Banking career and "Pistol Nell" robbery

Outside of politics, Walker worked as vice president and assistant cashier at the Winona National Bank in Winona, West Virginia. She worked there for 37 years, until the bank's assets were sold off in 1959.[4] During her tenure, the bank was robbed three times,[2] the third of which took place on March 29th, 1951. At around 2 PM, Walker pointed out to fellow employee and cashier Joseph R. Hisey that a man, later identified as James Burks of Beckley, had been standing in the bank for more than 30 minutes. Hisey asked the man to leave, but Burks simply waited by the door for the other customers to leave the bank. Once the bank was empty, Burke handed Hisey a note informing him the bank was being robbed and held him at gunpoint. Walker realized the bank was being robbed, and went into the back to grab a gun she began keeping after a previous robbery in November 1950. She walked out of the back room and passed the gun to Hisey.[b] Burks noticed Hisey taking the weapon, and pulled the trigger of his own gun, but it failed to fire. Hisey then fired multiple shots at Burks, hitting him in his back and leg. Burks began to run away, but collapsed a short distance from the bank.[11][12] For this, her fellow legislators in the House of Delegates gave her the nickname "Pistol Nell", although they did not use it around her out of respect.[2]

Death

Walker died on March 5, 1962 of a heart attack while visiting her brother in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 74.[2][4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Allie Dickerson Proctor was appointed to serve the rest of her husband Charles Nelson Proctor's term following his death in June 1936.[1] Walker was selected to take Charles Proctor's place on the ballot that November, and Allie Proctor did not run for re-election.
  2. ↑ Sources differ on exactly how Walker passed the gun to Hisey. The Hinton Daily News reported that she set it on a counter, and Hisey grabbed it while pretending to comply with the robber's instructions.[11] The Beckley Post-Herald reported that Hisey grabbed the gun from Walker as he walked by.[12] In her 1962 obituary, the Post-Herald wrote that she slid it across the counter to Hinsey.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "2 Women House Members From One County Makes History In Legislature". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. June 16, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Funeral For Nell Walker Set Saturday In Winona". Beckley Post-Herald. March 7, 1962. p. 10. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Nell Walker Offered State Banking Post". Charleston Daily Mail. June 24, 1955. p. 15. Retrieved August 23, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mrs. Nell Walker, Veteran Member of House of Delegates, Dies Monday". Weirton Daily Times. March 6, 1962. p. 14. Retrieved August 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Woman Selected For Legislature". The Raleigh Register. June 7, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Fayette County Vote". The Independent-Herald. November 11, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Mrs. Walker Named Banking Commissioner - Griffith Resigns State Road Post". Beckley Post-Herald and The Raleigh Register. June 26, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Taylor To Head Bank Commission". Hinton Daily News. June 15, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "With Victory, Worry Begins". Hinton Daily News. November 5, 1958. p. 5. Retrieved August 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Nell Walker May Not Run Next Time". Hinton Daily News. January 11, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "Beckley Bank Bandit Held Under Guard In Fayette County Hospital". Hinton Daily News. March 30, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 Scott, Mary (March 30, 1951). "Another Winona Bank Robbery Foiled". Beckley Post-Herald. p. 16. Retrieved August 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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