

Cas Walker's short-lived first-term as mayor of Knoxville

Matt Lakin

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on May 27, 2012.

Cas Walker's first term as mayor didn't last a year.The grocer-politician-radio host dominated Knoxville politics from the moment he won election to the City Council in 1941. He'd barely lost his first bid for public office two years earlier but came roaring back to claim the spot as the city's top vote-getter.

Mayor-elect Cas Walker and Miss Libby Walker, the Miami Orange Bowl Queen, pose at the door of Delta's Mayor's Special which Mr. Walker boarded today for Chicago. 1945  (KNS Archives)

The city charter at the time and council tradition typically would have awarded him the mayor's office. The council found a way around that.

More:Cas Walker lives on in oldest-known recording of millionaire Knoxville mayor's voice

Cas Walker fought Sunday movies, daylight saving time, fluoridated water, liquor sales

Voters learned why when Walker finally claimed the mayor's seat in January 1946. He lasted barely 11 months before losing Knoxville's first and only recall election. To this day he remains the shortest-serving mayor in the city's history.

"Everybody don't agree with me all the time," Walker later admitted.

More:Cas Walker comes to town; Sign of the shears put up in 1924

Walker said he entered politics at the urging of friends, including industrialist and sometime city manager George Dempster. He took his seat on the council just after the retirement of Lee Monday, the South Knoxville councilman who made a career out of opposing reformist city manager Louis Brownlow in the 1920s.

Walker made up for Monday's absence. The self-styled man of the people -- who bragged about not even owning a necktie -- made a name on the council for opposing tax increases, interfering with jobs protected by civil service and railing against the "silk-stocking crowd" he blamed for all the city's ills.

Each tirade infuriated the city's business elite and endeared Walker to the working class at the same time. He opposed parking meters and automobile license taxes as unfair to the common people. He won the endorsements of ministers by opposing liquor sales and Sunday movies, even though his grocery stores did business on the Sabbath ? and even though the lack of revenue for theaters meant Knoxville moviegoers sometimes waited six months or more for first-run movies.

George Dempster regrets recruiting Cas Walker

Dempster, the city manager, had proposed a personal property tax as a way to meet a budget shortfall. Walker, who denounced the city tax rate as unfair to the poor, protested he "couldn't afford" the tax burden and turned on his former friend.

More:More historical recordings from the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound

Dempster soon regretted ever recruiting Walker to run. He quit as city manager just after Walker's election, knowing he'd be fired otherwise.

"If I ordered a whole carload of SOBs and they just sent Cas, I'd sign for the shipment," Dempster grumbled.

The responsibilities of being mayor didn't sit well with Walker. The man who opposed everything from pay raises for city employees to daylight saving time now had to take responsibility for the status quo. He'd promised jobs to friends but couldn't deal out patronage due to civil service restrictions.

His short term as mayor kept reporters busy. The council held secret meetings without notice to the city's newspapers. Walker launched a personal war against the News-Sentinel ? which he called "the New York newspaper chain" even though the Scripps chain was based in Cincinnati ? and ran advertisements in the newspaper attacking its editors.

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When police said they found no evidence to support Walker's blanket accusations of corruption and vice, the mayor announced he'd conducted his own private investigation ? but wouldn't discuss the results. One city hall reporter tired of Walker's doubletalk insisted on conducting an interview in writing.

The mayor approved for once.

"I think this business of making me sign my answers is a good thing," he said. "I hope you hold me to it."

Opponents held Cas accountable by launching a recall movement that ultimately forced him from office in December 1946. They didn't enjoy their victory long.

Walker won re-election to the council within a year. He lived to fight on against Sunday movies, daylight saving time, fluoridated water, liquor sales and other evils -- all of which ultimately became law despite his opposition -- and to briefly serve as mayor again in 1959.