Dalton Dunbar (l) with the Honorable Tommy E. Miller
The Program
Dalton Dunbar, Rotarian of the Day, introduced his friend, the Honorable Tommy E. Miller, the retired federal prosecutor of Arthur Walker, a member of the infamous Walker Spy Ring.
The Walker Spy ring was led by John Walker over twenty years; John enlisted his brother, Arthur, and son, Michael, along with another naval officer, Jerry Whitworth. John’s ex-wife, Barbara, is the one who called the FBI in Boston and reported the spying in 1985. John’s daughter, Laura cooperated in trapping him. On May 19, 1985, John went to a park north of Richmond and dropped off classified material for a Soviet agent. Due to confusion, the agent did not see the correct signal and thus failed to pick up the drop. (He was sent back to Moscow two days later.) The Department of Justice arrested John in a hotel room.
Judge Miller received a telephone call around 12:30 AM, because federal agents wanted search warrants for John Walker’s house and other locations the next morning. Michael Walker, a sailor in the Navy, was arrested with thirty pounds of classified documents under his bed with his fingerprints all over them. John, Michael, and Jerry Whitworth were all tried in Maryland. But Arthur Walker was tried in Norfolk. He had already confessed to a grand jury, but he wanted a plea deal. He wanted to plead guilty to only one count. However, the Department of Justice wanted this trial to be an example of what treason looked like. So Tommy Miller had to work day and night from May to August on this trial.
Soviet agents later revealed that the Walker ring was the best source for classified information that they ever had. John Walker received $1M over twenty years. Both John and Arthur died in prison. Jerry Whitworth is still incarcerated. Michael was paroled in 2000 after serving fifteen years; he lives on Cape Cod and goes by the name, “Lance.”
It was a fascinating recital which left us wanting more! Thanks to Judge Miller!
The Meeting
Bob Heely led us in singing; he also accompanied Ray Norton, who chose a ‘60’s song for his invocation (“Where have all the flowers gone?”). President Pam led us in the Pledge of Allegiance as well as the Four Way Test.
Our School of the Week is Fairlawn Elementary.
Visitation/Introduction of Visitors
Visitors included Larry Atkinson, a guest of Dalton Dunbar; Jennifer McKee, guest of Ray Norton; and Kimberly and Lester Deane, guests of Ned Alderman. Brian Arsenault from Keene, NH, was a visiting Rotarian.
The visitation report included updates on Jim Allison, Anthony Mia, Jane Dembert, and Martha Haycox (widow of George, a past president and active member of our club). There was also a reminder of former Rotarian Howard Brantley, whose wife, Barbara, passed away in November.
Club Business
Past President Gary Boswick reminded members that we will vote for next year’s board at our Feb. 5th meeting. Walt Sobczyk will be on the ballot for Secretary Treasurer. For directors we will have: Rachel Bellis, Jason Drane, Angela Kerns, Chick Robison, Joey Rothgery, Mark Shaw and Ed Ware. If anyone wants to submit other nominees, please contact President Pam.
Happy Bucks & Fines
Steve Jones (of Jones CPA Group) was happy to contribute because he was interviewed on the 6 pm Channel 13 news last week on the subject of federal workers and the shutdown.
Robert Haynes and Tara Bell of Vertical Real Estate are collecting gift cards, etc., for Coast Guard families suffering from the shutdown and lack of paychecks.
Bill Lehew reported happiness that his nephew was hired as an assistant offensive coach for the ODU football team.
Jenny Lester announced a Celebration of Heroes sponsored by the Red Cross scheduled for March 26th. Flyers were on the tables.
Steve Schultz, sponsor of the Rotaract Club at ODU, announced a Pool Tournament for Polio on Feb. 28th. Kudos to our Rotaract Club for organizing this fundraiser! (Flyers on the tables.)
Past President Gary Boswick contributed happy bucks because a neighbor brought him a book donated by our club with his name in it! See…those books do get read!
Lindsay Russell had ‘not-so-happy’ bucks as he announced he would be moving with his employer, Norfolk Southern, to Atlanta. Lindsay, we will miss you!
Rotary Minute
President-elect Lorna Cochrane is spearheading the revision of our bylaws. She will present a slide show at the Feb. 5th meeting summarizing the main points. She had paper copies for those who have given up email. For the rest, she will send out the revisions. “Exciting reading” she claimed.