The power line technology program at the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in New Stanton received a shot in the arm Friday that will continue a late graduate’s legacy of helping others.

More than 50 family members, friends, school officials and former West Penn Power co-workers of the late Dillon W. Walton, 27, a former lead lineman for the Greensburg-based utility gathered at the school where a $2,500 donation in Walton’s memory was made to the program that was the foundation for his career.

Walton was killed Oct. 21, 2020, when a tractor-trailer truck slammed into the back of his car, which was stopped in traffic along Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon. Walton was driving home from a co-worker’s funeral visitation in Washington County when the fatal crash occurred.

The donation by the West Penn Power Foundation was announced by First Energy Regional External Affairs Manager Randy Durr. First Energy is the parent company of West Penn.

“We’re here to celebrate the life, and mourn the loss of life, of Dillon Walton,” Durr said.

Durr noted he was not surprised at how many of Dillon’s co-workers attended the ceremony because utility line workers are such a close-knit group — sharing long hours and a dangerous vocation.

“Linemen truly are the backbone of our industry. They don’t just show up for work and put in the time. … It truly is a lifestyle,” Durr said.

Walton’s former teacher, Todd Bartlow, said even as a student in high school “you could tell Dillon was top notch.”

“He was always at the top of his class and a leader back then,” Bartlow said.

During her emotional address to the group, Dillon’s mother, Sheila Albright, picked up a photograph of Walton standing among his co-workers from a mobile memorial and told the utility workers how much they meant to him. The memorial included a portion of a utility pole and displayed some of Walton’s work clothes, helmet, tools and equipment.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the love and support you’ve shown us during this time,” Albright said.

She recalled the last time she stood in Central Westmoreland vo-tech’s lobby was for her son’s induction into the honor society and how excited he was at graduation and looking forward to taking the test to become a lineman with West Penn Power.

Walton’s sister, Kelley, also spoke of Walton’s reputation for helping people, including co-workers, and how the donation will help future utility line workers.

Family friend Craig Laposky said he knew Walton since he was 12 years old.

“I used to fish with Dillon and his dad, Jeff (Walton), and he was just a great guy. He definitely was gone too soon,” Laposky said.

The Columbus, Ohio, truck driver who struck Walton’s vehicle, Charles C. Walker, 59, is awaiting trial on multiple criminal charges, including homicide by vehicle as a result of the crash. State police Walker was driving 62 miles per hour, which was over the 55 mph speed limit when he crashed into the stopped traffic ahead of him.

Walton’s relatives filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Walker and his California employer in August.

During Walton’s Oct. 29, 2020, funeral service hundreds of family members and friends celebrated his life and dozens of West Penn Power utility trucks and ambulances lined up along Main Street outside of Beatty-Rich Funeral Home in Madison in his memory.

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