Meet Walker
Walker E. Reid III is the Mayor of Gastonia, NC. He was the first African American Mayor elected to a first term on November 7th, 2017 and sworn in as Mayor on December 4th, 2017. He was re-elected to his second term as Mayor on November 5th, 2019.
Mayor Reid is retired as an Assistant Fire Marshal Fire & Life Safety Educator (23 years) for the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal's Office on November 30th, 2009. Prior to this, he was a Firefighter (3 years) and Fire Inspector (6 years) for the City of Gastonia. He was also a Fire Service Instructor at Gaston College (15 years).
Mayor Reid is a 1975 graduate of Hunter Huss High School, and received his A.A.S. Degree in Fire Science Technology from Gaston College. He is a Graduate of the North Carolina Fire College and the North Carolina Fire Prevention School at the Institute of Government, at UNC Chapel Hill.
Mayor Reid is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and the R. Kennett Scott Fire Prevention School. He retired as a Level III Certified NC Fire Inspector and Level III Life Safety Educator.
Mayor Reid is married to Doris Hill Reid (March 5th, 1978) and has three adult children.
"I love Gastonia because it's the only place that I've lived and wanted to be. My Mom and Dad raised nine kids in the Highland Community in Ward 4, and all of us were very productive citizens. Even after working in the adjacent county for 23 years, I never had a desire to move. There's No Place Like Home!"
– Mayor Walker Reid
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Serving Gastonia
The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) is the policy board for the Charlotte Area Transit System and has responsibility for reviewing and recommending all long-range public transportation plans. The Board is provided public input and guidance by two citizens committees; the Citizens Transit Advisory Group and the Transit Service Advisory Committee. Together these public bodies help shape the direction of public transit in the region.
Mayor Reid is a member of the MTC, advocating for Gastonia.
Experience
Mayor of Gastonia, NC - November 2017 - Present
Elected to City Council - November 1995
Re-Elected to City Council - November - 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 (7 terms total)
Mayor Pro-Tem 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007-2011 (4 of 7 terms)
Former City Council Committees:
*Chairman,Central City Revitalization & Housing Committee 1995 - 2011
*Vice Chairman,Audit & Bids Committee 1995 - 1999
*Vice Chairman,Insurance Committee 1995 - 1999
*Member,Inter-Governmental & Economic Development Committee 1995 - 1997
-Chairman 1999 - 2001, 2005 - 2007, 2007-2011
-Vice Chairman 2001 - 2005
*Member,Utilities Committee 1995 - 1997
-Vice-Chairman 1999 - 2001
-Chairman 2003 - 2009
*Member, Personnel Committee 2001 - 2007
*Vice-Chairman, Equal Opportunity Development Committee 2001 - 2011
*Member-Awards, Ceremonies & Promotions, 1995 - 1999
-Vice-Chairman, 1999 - 2001
*Mayor's Youth Council Liaison, 4/2002 - 2011
*Member, All America City Team 2000 & 2010
Image (R&B Band) 2011 - Present
Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame Committee Member 2013-2017
Hunter Huss Dawg Pound Alumni
Member of Men's Fellowship 911
Grand Jury Assistant Fore Person July - December 2015
Fore Person January - June 2016
Charter Member of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church
Former Board Chairman, Gaston Boys and Girls Club
Former Member of Salvation Army Advisory Council
Former Member of the Board of Directors, Schiele Museum
Former Member of the Advisory Board of the Highland Family Resource Center
Founder of C.U.P.P. Communities United for Positive Progress
Co-Founder of the Highland Festival
Former Board Member of the Upward Highland Foundation
AWARDS
*Gaston Boys and Girls Club Distinguished Service Award President, Board of Directors 2003
*Upward Highland Foundation Community Service Award 2009
*Gaston Highland Foundation Community Service Award 2009
*Hope 4 Gaston Community Service Award 2011
*NAACP Gaston County Community Service Award 2012
*Gaston County Missionary Baptist Association Community Service Award 2012
*Gaston County Organization of Concerned Citizens Humanitarian Award 2013
*Epsilon Upsilon Chapter Omega Citizen of the Year 2013
*Diversified Business Professional Association Board of Director's Excellence Award 2017
*The Leadership and Excellence Award presented by KM Elite Circle of Champions 2018
*Trailblazer Award from the Genesis Project 2018
*Citizen of the Year from the I.B.P.O.E.W Civil Liberties Department, Greensboro 2018
*Lifetime Achievement Award from G.R.A.C.E Awards 2019
*Gaston Together, Gaston Clergy, and Citizens Coalition Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Award- 2020
*The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Recipient- 2021
*United Way of Gaston County, Harold T. Sumner Award- 2022
