One question raised by the pending sale of Walker Machinery Co. to Boyd Co. of Louisville: Will Boyd continue Walker's local charitable giving?
Steve Walker, president of Walker Machinery, said he sent his company's contribution list for the last two years to Boyd.
"I know they're big givers in their own area," he said. "They gave me an indication they're stepping in our shoes and want to continue the goodwill we've built up. I just hope they can."
Walker makes charitable contributions totaling $300,000 to $400,000 a year through the company and through the Walker Foundation, a charity established by the family about 20 years ago.
"Our philosophy is not to give a whole lot to any one but to spread it through the community," Walker said. "We try to do our best. It was part of our mission statement to do the charity stuff.
"We sort of have a budget. We look at where our sales are and were, where our commitments are, and whether we normally gave or if we had made multi-year pledges.
"We had to cut back this year because of the downturn in the coalfields," Walker said. "I wouldn't get into multi-year pledges this year. Why promise $5,000 a year for three years in a row when you might not be able to do it?
"We give to a lot of local schools. We're in every yearbook. We try to do it where our employees are.
"We always match our workers' United Way contributions," Walker said. That means if an employee gives $100, Walker matches it with $100.
"We were worried about whether we could do that this year because of the economy but we did," he said.
Thomas Wylde Fake Handbags"Logan, Parkersburg and Beckley all have different types of United Ways. We don't have as much employee participation there. So we step up to the plate and make contributions. We've been active in the United Way for years.
"Between Walker Machinery and the Walker replica breitling Foundation, we give to West Virginia University, Marshall University, the University of Charleston, the West Virginia State Foundation," he said.
Walker serves on the West Virginia State Foundation's board of directors. "We're one of the largest donors to their annual dinner," he said.
Walker also gives to the West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities Inc., an organization that represents nine independent colleges and universities in the state.
"The Salvation Army, the Union Mission - you name it, we try to help as many as we possibly can," Walker said. "Daymark, the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home, the Boy Scouts . . ."
Walker said the Walker Foundation will probably stay with the family.
Walker Machinery is a family-owned business established 59 years ago. The company is headquartered in Belle. It sells and services Caterpillar heavy equipment in western West Virginia and southeastern Ohio. About 70 percent of the company's sales are directly related to the coal industry.
Walker announced Monday that the company has signed a letter of intent to sell the business to Boyd Co., which owns a Caterpillar dealership that serves Kentucky and southern Indiana.
"As we go through the transition, I hope I get to sit down in January with Mr. Boyd and talk about practical things and take him through that," Walker said of the donations to charities and nonprofits. "I'
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