John-Boy is the oldest son and child of John Walton and Olivia Walton. His biggest passion is his love for writing, as revealed in The Homecoming. He was afraid his parents would be upset over his choice, but they were very understanding and encouraged him do whatever he liked. He would often take control of the other children if they were misbehaving or no other authority was around. In Season 1, he is a senior in the Walton's Mountain School, and is on the verge of graduating. After graduating, he attends Boatwright University for several semesters. During this time, he helps out in the lumber mill and runs a small newspaper business in the shed next to the house. The newspaper, called the "Blue Ridge Chronicle", focuses on local stories around Walton's Mountain.