Walton shares memories of business, politics, life
CLOVERDALE -- Walton Stove Sales is a small shop located behind the post office in Cloverdale. Inside it, the walls are lined with wood stoves and fire places. Just above them hanging on the walls are dozens of pictures. Some are new, and some are old.
Don Walton is the owner of this shop and its memories. He is a native of Cloverdale and has operated the Buck Stove shop for 25 years.
Among the pictures in Walton's shop are plaques and awards, all of which are lining the mantles of each fireplace.
He has been honored twice with the Sagamore of the Wabash award, which is the highest honor given to an individual chosen by the governor of Indiana. Governors Evan Bayh and Joseph Kernan presented the Sagamore awards to him in 1990 and 2004 respectively.
The Association of Indiana Counties presented him the Arthur R. Himsel award in 1992. It is an award given to an elected official serving in a county office.
"Every time I receive an award, it is for the county," he said. "It was what I was representing."
The 1957 Belle Union graduate entered politics in 1976, when he was elected to the Putnam County Commissioners. Following his 28 years with commissioners, he ran for Putnam County Council. He served one term.
Though he was not re-elected, Walton feels the sun on his days in county government has not gone down.
"I really enjoyed the 32 years as an elected official and serving Putnam County," he said. "I am always open."
He will continue to serve on some local boards including Operation Life and Economic Development. With the rest of his time, he will be in the stands at his grandchildren's sporting events.
A sports fan himself, Walton has been a Chicago Cubs fan since he was old enough to listen to the radio. He also admitted to being a former Indiana Hoosiers fan, but now is a Purdue fan. (His youngest son, Mitchell, attends Purdue.)
He was also an IHSAA basketball official/referee for 17 years.
Cameron Chestnut, Walton's oldest grandson, is a junior at South Putnam High School and plays varsity basketball and baseball. Ryan and Derek Chestnut play basketball at South Putnam Middle School. Walton's daughter, Regina Chestnut and her husband, John, reside in Cloverdale.
Two of Walton's grandkids, Nolan and Isabella Walton, live in Michigan, where his son, Waylon and his wife, Jennifer reside.
"My wife and I will be visiting them a lot more, too," Walton said.
He and his wife, Micalene, have been married 47 years. They enjoy traveling to Branson, Mo., Little Nashville and Gatlinburg, Tenn. It is their shared love of blue grass and country music that keeps them going back.
"We like to get out and go," Walton said.