Austin Nicholas Volk (December 28, 1918 – September 18, 2010) was an American businessman and politician from New Jersey.
A member of the Republican Party,[1] Volk served as the Mayor of Englewood, and in the New Jersey State Assembly for two terms during his political career.
[3] During World War II, Volk participated at the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands as the commanding officer of a landing craft.
He began working at Nicholas Volk and Co., his family's insurance office in New York City.
[1] African Americans had complained of substandard, slum housing and police neglect in the otherwise affluent city.
[5] Volk, who was 17 months into his second term at the time of the unrest,[1] agreed to meet with African American leaders and ministers to discuss their grievances during the Englewood riots.
[6] He vowed to demolish slum properties in the 4th Ward and increase career prospects for residents.
[1] At one point during the unrest, Volk wore his Navy uniform as he walked down Palisade Avenue in the 4th Ward with Englewood police and fire fighters.
[1] Volk felt that walking with the police and fire fighters would project stability and the need to negotiate the end to the riots.
[4] After the riots he appointed a community relations committee to help defuse racial tensions by integrating classes in five elementary schools.