The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE CAREER OF JOHN WALKER
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HON. JIM COSTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 21, 2022
Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Walker, a Central Valley born photojournalist who dedicated his career to documenting the world around us. John used his craft and camera lens to capture the joys and sorrows of our community and tell countless stories that helped emotionally connect us all.
John's passion for photography developed alongside his father's, who was an amateur photographer. When John was a sophomore in high school, his dad bought him his first camera and turned one of the rooms in their house into a darkroom. His father helped him develop his photography skills.
After graduating from Fresno State University with a degree in journalism, John got his first newspaper job in 1980 at the Mesa Tribune in Arizona. In 1985, the Fresno Bee offered John a position and he spent the next 37 years as a photojournalist.
John's work is well respected and has received acclaim. He's won many awards, including picture of the year from the National Photographers Press Association, Society of Newspaper Design, Best of the West, and California Newspaper Publishers Association. His work has appeared in newspapers across the United States and published in Time Magazine, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated.
In his 42-year career in journalism, John had to evolve along with new technology. He started out shooting film and developing images in a darkroom, transitioned to digital photos and continued to adapt his storytelling abilities through in-depth video stories.
John's success in photojournalism comes from his deep understanding of people and the power of pictures to tell a story. He has the ability to communicate across language barriers, cultural and political differences. He cares about the people and places he photographs--it's that empathetic approach that captured readers attention and brought our community to life.
I invite everyone to celebrate John's career with me. May his work continue to inspire future journalists to tell meaningful stories and shed light on areas of improvement in society. His images preserve the history of the San Joaquin Valley and offer an empathic perspective that we should forever cherish.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the career of John Walker. May we continue to be inspired by work. His photographs are an outstanding source of pride for the Central Valley.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 166(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 166(2)
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