by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce has tapped Walton’s Auto Service, located at 918 US‑11, as the recipient of its 2026 Award of Merit. Advance tickets for the annual banquet are now on sale ($30 each) until Monday, April 27, available at Community Bank, GSL, Northern Credit Union, Mrs. Beasley’s Liquor Store, the Chamber Office, and online. The 116th Annual Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 5:30 p.m. (social hour), 6:30 p.m. (roast beef dinner), with the awards celebration to follow.
The Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce’s announcement that Walton’s Auto Service would receive the 2026 Award of Merit landed with a sense of inevitability for many in the community. For more than two decades, owner Rick Walton has been a steady, generous presence in Gouverneur—someone who fixes far more than cars.
Rick’s story begins in the North Country, where he was born, raised, and graduated from Gouverneur Central High School in 1982. His passion for mechanical work took root even earlier. At just fourteen, he became one of the youngest students ever allowed into BOCES night classes. SWT Principal Joe Laurenza granted special permission, and instructor Mike Perrigo welcomed him into the shop. Rick worked on real vehicles for community members, gaining hands‑on experience long before most teenagers even had a driver’s license. He remembers helping older students and adults with their cars, learning not only the mechanics but the responsibility that comes with being trusted to repair someone’s vehicle. He later continued his training at SWT BOCES, building the foundation for a career defined by skill, dedication, and a deep respect for the trade.
After graduation, Rick went straight to work—literally. He walked across the stage on a Friday and reported to his first job at the Town of Fowler Highway Department on Monday morning. There, he repaired equipment alongside longtime town mechanic Carmen Wells. From there, he spent four years at D.J. Walters, followed by eight years with Ed Perrigo at M.E.M. Auto, where he also handled U‑Haul rentals. He later moved to Harrisville to do body work for Donnie Mallette before taking a job at the Balmat zinc mine. The mine work was challenging, but Rick remembers it fondly. The experience left an impression—one of many that shaped his work ethic and resilience.
Customers from every stop along the way still follow him today—some driving from Harrisville, others from the far edges of St. Lawrence County—because they trust the man who has worked on their vehicles for decades. That loyalty is something Rick never takes for granted.
In August 2004, Rick purchased the former Con Mahoney GMC property and opened Walton’s Auto Service. From humble roots, the operation has grown into a bustling shop with six service bays, nine employees, and a reputation for honest, dependable work. The business offers a full range of automotive services: brakes, inspections, oil changes, tires, diagnostics, alignments, suspension work, exhaust repairs, engine and transmission service, air‑conditioning repairs, and general maintenance. If it rolls, Rick and his team can fix it.
Rick expanded early, adding U‑Haul rentals in 2005. The service quickly became one of the busiest in the region, with trucks and trailers constantly moving in and out. The self‑storage business came later, born out of a difficult experience with a failed land‑contract deal. Instead of giving up, Rick built his own storage facility—now nearly 50 units strong. Rick has a long‑term vision to keep expanding his business in ways that meet community needs.
But the Award of Merit recognizes something deeper than business growth. It honors Rick’s unwavering commitment to the community—much of it done quietly, without fanfare. He donates to nearly every local benefit, supports cancer fundraisers, and contributes regularly to the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, helping fund the Veterans’ Dinner, Senior Dinner, and a full Thanksgiving meal each year for raffle. He has paid for U‑Haul trailers so food pantries can transport donations, sponsored car shows and fishing derbies, and supported demolition derby drivers and race participants across the region. School activities, sports teams, and student fundraisers all benefit from his generosity.
One of the most meaningful parts of Walton’s Auto Service is its commitment to young people. Each year, the shop welcomes BOCES interns, giving students real‑world experience in a supportive environment. Rick also hosts students from the Life Skills program, who work alongside staff in roles tailored to their abilities. When two Life Skills students graduated last year, the team celebrated with a full barbecue—a testament to the relationships built over the years. Rick believes strongly that young people need opportunities to learn by doing, just as he did at their age.
Outside the shop, Rick’s hobbies reflect the same hands‑on passion that has defined his career. He restores old cars, proudly driving his 1955 Oldsmobile to local shows whenever he can. He’s a familiar face at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 and Oxbow Car Cruise. He also collects vintage items—everything from old dinner pails to wall art—treasures that speak to his appreciation for craftsmanship and history. These hobbies aren’t just pastimes; they’re extensions of the same curiosity and care that fuel his work. They also connect him to a community of collectors, car enthusiasts, and friends who share his love of old machines and the stories they carry.
Rick’s generosity comes naturally. When the Gouverneur Tribune‑Press asked what makes him so passionate about giving, he didn’t hesitate. “That’s just something I’ve always liked doing. I like to help them out,” he said. “Especially in such a small community, you know, it’s everybody stick together and help people out. We’ve always done that. My whole family’s been like that. They’ve always helped people out. My father especially, always. My father’s always helped and donated.” Those weren’t just words for Rick — they were memories. Stories of his father quietly helping families in need, stepping in without being asked, and giving without expecting anything in return left a lasting impression on him. Rick grew up watching generosity modeled not as a grand gesture, but as a way of life. It shaped him, guided him, and ultimately became the heartbeat of his business. He carries that legacy forward every day, often in the same quiet, unassuming way his father once did.
Today, Walton’s Auto Service runs on the strength of a tight, hardworking team that has poured years of dedication into the shop. Mr. Walton noted that April McIntosh has been with the business since the day it opened, becoming an essential part of its heartbeat and daily rhythm. She “wears lots of hats,” managing bookkeeping, scheduling, customer service, computer troubleshooting, and the countless behind‑the‑scenes tasks that keep everything moving. The employees form the backbone of the operation. They work shoulder to shoulder, step in for one another without hesitation, and bring a level of loyalty and camaraderie that defines the shop’s character.
As for retirement? Rick laughs at the idea. “I just can’t sit still,” he said. April agrees. “We’d both be bored.” Instead, Rick is focused on future expansion: more storage units, additional service bays, and continuing to grow the business in ways that serve the community. Rick hopes to keep improving the property, and creating more opportunities for young people to learn the trade. He sees the future not as a winding down, but as a continuation of the work he loves.
For 22 years, Walton’s Auto Service has been more than a repair shop. It has been a place of mentorship, generosity, and quiet acts of kindness that ripple through the community. And that is why the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce has named Walton’s Auto Service its 2026 Award of Merit recipient—because Rick Walton has spent a lifetime not just fixing cars, but strengthening the community he calls home.
Walton’s Auto Service Owner Rick Walton will be joined at the Chamber Banquet by his wife, Danielle, and their children—Jamie, Jennifer, Parker, and Dillon. They’ll celebrate alongside his dedicated employees and the many North Country community members who have supported the shop throughout its 22 years.
Walton’s Auto Service will join a long line of Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce members honored with the Award of Merit—an award presented to a business with longstanding community involvement or a notable record of civic accomplishment. Past recipients include: Eldon B. Conklin (1991), Robert A. Porter (1992), Gale Ferguson (1993), Dr. Alexander Dodds (1994), Eleanor Jackson (1995), Korleen Spilman (1996), E.J. Noble Hospital Auxiliary (1997), Ice Storm Community Leaders (1998), Joe Laurenza (1999), Della Evans (2000), Gouverneur Rotary Club (2001), Dr. Tim Monroe (2002), Kinney Drugs, Inc. (2003), Dale & Kay Bush (2004), Fred Easton (2005), Cives Steel Company (2006), Nancy J. Cappellino (2007), Judy Peck (2008), Dr. Robert Saidel (2009), Joe & Carolyn Pistolesi (2010), Harland Brown (2011), Dick & Brad Conklin (2012), Spilman’s Garage (2013), Gouverneur Auto Parts (2014), Casablanca Restaurant (2015), Fun Unlimited (2016), Newvine’s Auto Parts (2017), New York Pizzeria (2018), Wilson & Glenda Bickford (2019), Hometown Heroes (2020–2021), Blevins Ford/Team Blevins (2022), Charles A. Gardner, Attorney (2023), Clark Porter (2024), and Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center (2025).
The public is encouraged to attend the 116th Annual Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Wednesday, May 6. For more info about the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce, visit gouverneurchamber.net.