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Meet Walter Dalton
When Charles Dalton died, he left behind a widow and two young children. A civic leader and State Senator, he also left behind a legacy of values  that define a successful life. His son, Walter, embraced those values--service, commitment and hard work—and they have guided him throughout his life.
Growing up in Rutherford County, Walter was a leader. A popular student who did well in school, he quarterbacked his high school football team. His good grades and leadership qualities led him to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After receiving a degree in Business Administration, Walter went to work in banking. He later returned to Chapel Hill to earn a law degree.
In 1971, Walter married his high school sweetheart, Lucille.  Thirty-five years and two children later, they are still an inseparable partnership. Like their parents before them, Walter and Lucille raised their children, Brian and Elizabeth, in Rutherford County.
Walter built a successful law practice and, following the example set by his father, he and Lucille became deeply involved in their community. He became lay speaker in the Methodist church, a Cub Scout leader and served as board chair of the local community college. Lucille, a former teacher, led the family into politics when she won a seat on the school board. In 1998 she was named North Carolina's school board member of the year, winning the Raleigh Dingman award.
In 1996, Walter, too, ran for office winning his father’s old seat in the State Senate. Walter rose fast into the ranks of leadership. In only his second term, Walter was appointed Co-Chair of Education. Walter now played a crucial role in improving our schools and promoting education policies.
Under Walter’s leadership, the Committee pushed through legislation that reduced class size, raised teacher pay and added accountability in the classroom. North Carolina’s school children began to see real improvement in their education and the state became a model for education reform.
 In 2002, Walter was named Co-Chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee just as North Carolina and the nation were in the midst of recession. Using sound judgment, Walter worked with the Governor and other leaders to make the right choices for North Carolina. They kept taxes in check, met financial obligations and maintained the state’s record of fiscal stability. Today, North Carolina is one of the few states with a AAA bond rating and is consistently cited as having one the best business climates in the country.
When federal trade policies began sending local manufacturing jobs overseas, Walter fought for the areas that have been hardest hit. He supported tax incentives that brought new industries into these regions and helped existing companies grow and expand. As a board member of the Rural Economic Development Center, the North Carolina Economic Development Board, and the North Carolina Tourism Board, Walter is working with leaders across the state to find long-term solutions to the problems facing our transitioning economy.
Walter believes that a key part of the solution is preparing our children for a new knowledge-based economy. As a member of Governor Easley's Education First Task Force and Co-Chair of the Eduation Committee, he authored the Innovative Education Act whose Learn and Earn program enables high school students to work toward associate degrees while they earn their diplomas. This program has been recognized by the Gates Foundation which awarded an $11 million grant to North Carolina to assist in its implementation.
Recently, when Chimney Rock, a natural landmark, came up for sale, Walter successfully led the effort to add it to our state park system. It was not a new fight. Throughout his career, he has fought to preserve North Carolina's natural beauty, working to add gameland to the South Mountain State Park, enlarge Lake James State Park and create Hickory Nut Gorge State Park.
Forward-thinking ideas like these have earned Walter the respect of leaders and support of organizations across the state. He has received numerous awards recognizing him for his ability to help people and find solutions to problems. For example, both the Parks and Recreation Associations and the Housing Coalition named Walter Dalton as their legislator of the year.
Today, Walter is in his sixth term in the Senate, serving as Co-Chair of Appropriations. Lucille is still his greatest ally and recently served as President of the Sir Walter Cabinet, an organization of the spouses of the state's highest elected officials. Brian and Elizabeth are building lives of their own.
For Walter Dalton, the Lt. Governor's job offers another opportunity to serve. It's what he has always done. It's what he will always do. And North Carolina is a better place because of it.
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