Columbia native wins entrepreneurship award.

• Position: Brief article

Columbia native Joe Walker is an Army combat veteran and owns 19 Marco's Pizza locations across South Carolina.

He once shut down one of his stores for days to make more than 2,000 pizzas for families in need and donated $10,000 toward a customer's hypertension implant.

Now he's being recognized for his business success and contributions to his community.

Walker was recently named the winner of the Veteran Entrepreneurship Award for the 2019 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference and Magazine Most Valuable Player Awards, according to a news release from Toledo, Ohio-based Marco's Pizza.

The awards recognize franchisees who "demonstrate outstanding performance in growing their organizations and their brands," according to the company.

"The Marco's Pizza family has always welcomed U.S. Veterans with open arms to let them achieve their greatest entrepreneurial ambitions," Tony Libardi, president and chief operating officer of Marco's Pizza, said in the release. "As a veteran myself, it is always incredible to see fellow soldiers like Joe Walker get the recognition they deserve. Marco's Pizza truly sees the value in hiring veterans, as they bring a unique skill...