12 LC 93
1173
House
Resolution 1678
By:
Representatives James of the
135th
and Williams of the
165th
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
Curtis Lee Atkinson and inviting him to be recognized by the House of
Representatives; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Curtis Lee Atkinson served on the United Stated Senate staff as an
administrative assistant to Senator Herman Talmadge from 1969 to 1981, becoming
the first African American since Reconstruction to serve on the Senator's staff;
and
WHEREAS,
in providing constituent services for Senator Talmadge, Mr. Atkinson worked with
numerous government agencies, including the Small Business Administration, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Economic Development
Administration of the Department of Agriculture, and the State Farm Home
Administration; and
WHEREAS,
he was instrumental in establishing enabling legislation and funding for
Morehouse Medical School, successfully coordinated funding for Morris Brown
College, and secured funds for churches in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, and Macon
as well as for a senior nursing home in Brunswick and a doctors' health complex
in Albany; and
WHEREAS,
he was appointed by Georgia's Secretary of State, Max Cleland, to serve as
Georgia's Assistant Secretary of State on January 11, 1983, becoming the first
African American to hold the position, and served as chairman of Cleland's
Agency Task Force on Economic Development; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Atkinson was appointed as state deputy director for the State of Georgia in
1996 after Max Cleland won the Democratic United States Senate seat, retired
from the federal government in 2001, and was later appointed secretary of
Senator Cleland's Campaign Committee; and
WHEREAS,
a native of Brunswick, Georgia, Mr. Atkinson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Fort Valley State College and a master's degree from Columbia University;
and
WHEREAS, he served as a guardian of
this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Army; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Atkinson is united in love and marriage to his wife of over 42 years, Dr.
Melvis Evans Atkinson; and
WHEREAS,
he is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the
Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service in 1973, the Outstanding
Service in Government Award in 1975, the Award for Outstanding Service to Black
Health Care in 1976, the Leadership Atlanta Award in 1985, and the Presidential
Achievement Award in 1986 and 1987; and
WHEREAS,
it is fitting that this body express its appreciation to Mr. Atkinson for the
great credit he reflects on his community and this state.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body commend the many outstanding accomplishments of Curtis Lee Atkinson
and his over 30 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia and the
United States Senate and invite him to be recognized by the House of
Representatives at a date and time designated by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Curtis Lee
Atkinson.