Bill Text: GA HR336 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: CPL Jonathan Ryan Ayers Memorial Interchange; dedicate
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)
Status: (Passed) 2009-05-05 - Effective Date [HR336 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-HR336-Comm_Sub.html
09 HR
336/SCSFA/2
SENATE
SUBSTITUTE TO HR 336
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Dedicating
certain portions of the state highway system; and for other
purposes.
PART
I
WHEREAS,
Corporal Jonathan Ryan Ayers of Snellville, Georgia, died serving his country on
Sunday, July 13, 2008; and
WHEREAS,
he was a graduate of Shiloh High School where he served with distinction in the
ROTC program and won the award for "most impressive commander" in 2002;
and
WHEREAS,
he joined the Army in April 2006 and went straight from basic and advanced
individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia, to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd
Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in
Vicenza, Italy; and
WHEREAS,
Jonathan served in the Army for two years, during which time he deployed to
Afghanistan, where he earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and a
Good Conduct Medal for his bravery in combat; and
WHEREAS,
he died of wounds sustained when his outpost was attacked by small-arms fire and
rocket propelled grenades from enemy forces in Wanat, Afghanistan;
and
WHEREAS,
CPL Ayers and his fellow soldiers were completing work on a new base in a
remote, mountainous region bordering Pakistan; and
WHEREAS,
he is survived by his loving parents, Bill and Suzanne Ayers, his brother,
Joshua, and his grandmother, Pattie Weatherly; and
WHEREAS,
it is only proper and fitting to honor this fallen hero who now stands in the
unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow
and increase in its blessings.
PART
II
WHEREAS,
Dave S. Miller was born in the Whitehouse community in 1874 and spent his
entire life there; and
WHEREAS,
he first worked as a blacksmith, and his shop still stands on the east side of
Highway 155 just north of Miller's store; and
WHEREAS,
in 1830 Silas Moseley, the ancestor of the Moseley clan in Henry County, built
the first bridge and corn mill on Big Cotton Indian Creek, and after the Civil
War the Hinton family bought the mill property from the Moseleys;
and
WHEREAS,
in 1925, Dave S. Miller bought the mill property and from that time until his
death in 1966 he ran a very prosperous business which included the corn mill, a
cotton gin, a saw mill, and a planing mill; and
WHEREAS,
Dave S. Miller's son, Carlton Miller, ran the mill from 1925 until 1947, and his
son, David Miller, ran the gin and country store; and
WHEREAS,
the mill complex was the center of activity for the community and the operation
was active until 1960 when Dave S. Miller was too old to work any more;
and
WHEREAS,
it is only fitting and proper to honor Dave S. Miller for the tremendous impact
he and his sons had on their community and Henry County.
PART
III
WHEREAS,
William Raleigh Cook was born in Henry County, Georgia, on July 4, 1888, and
passed away on August 30, 1957; and
WHEREAS,
Mamie Leona Steele was born in Henry County, Georgia, on October 5, 1893, and
passed away on July 19, 1971; and
WHEREAS,
they were married in Henry County on December 18, 1912, and set up a homestead
at Little Cotton Indian Creek and Decatur Road (now Ga. Hwy 155);
and
WHEREAS,
they farmed the local area and lived on Little Cotton Indian Creek throughout
their lives, and they served as managers of the historic Shingleroof Campground
Hotel in the 1920's and 1930's;
and
WHEREAS, they were lifelong members at nearby Salem Baptist Church and greeted and met travelers along Decatur Road for nearly a century; and
WHEREAS, they were lifelong members at nearby Salem Baptist Church and greeted and met travelers along Decatur Road for nearly a century; and
WHEREAS,
the ancestors of both William and Mamie Cook were among the earliest white
settlers of Henry County, Georgia, including John Cook who settled in Henry
County after serving in the War of 1812 and also including veterans of the Civil
War and the Spanish American War. These ancestors lived in the area around
Little Cotton Indian Creek along Decatur Road; and
WHEREAS,
the descendants of William and Mamie Cook include four generations of Henry
County residents, many of whom still reside on and near the original homestead.
Their number includes decorated veterans of the Second World War, the Korean
War, and the Vietnam Conflict. Additionally, many of these descendants have
served Henry County as successful businesspersons, academics, horse and cattle
ranchers, real estate developers, and professionals in banking, technology,
healthcare, and engineering; and
WHEREAS,
it is only proper and fitting that a lasting memorial be dedicated to the memory
of William and Mamie Cook.
PART
IV
WHEREAS,
Bobby Walden, the "Big Toe from Cairo" was born in Boston, Georgia, on March 9,
1938; and
WHEREAS,
he was an all-state halfback at Cairo and also lettered in basketball and track;
and
WHEREAS,
he went to the University of Georgia in 1957 and was part of a Bulldog football
team that included teammates Fran Tarkenton, Fred Brown, Bill Godfrey, Pat Dye,
and Charlie Britt; and
WHEREAS,
at the conclusion of his college career, Bobby joined the Edmonton Eskimos, and
he led the team in punting, rushing, and receiving in 1961 and 1962;
and
WHEREAS,
he then joined the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League and led the
NFL in punting in 1965 with an average of 46.4 yards per kick; and
WHEREAS,
Bobby was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1967 and continued as one of the
premier punters in the league for the next decade; and
WHEREAS,
he was an All-Pro selection in 1974, and he punted for Pittsburgh's Super Bowl
championship teams in 1974 and 1975; and
WHEREAS,
Bobby has returned to his roots to live in Cairo and Bainbridge since his
retirement from professional football in 1977; and
WHEREAS,
Bobby has been married for 44 years to the former Scarlett Bates of Bainbridge,
and they have one son, Bobby Walden, Jr.; and
WHEREAS,
it is only fitting and proper that Bobby Walden be recognized for his
outstanding accomplishments on and off the football field.
PART
V
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia lost one of her great trailblazers and a mighty advocate in
George W. Ford, Jr.; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Ford was a native son of Columbus, Georgia, who was among the first 200
African American men to serve in the Marine Corps and who, after his service in
World War II, became a highly respected member of the Civil Rights movement;
and
WHEREAS,
he inspired fellow African Americans by lighting a torch to follow his example
in such leadership roles as cofounding the Urban League of Greater Columbus,
serving as president of the local National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People branch, and acting as a voice of reason and builder of bridges in
his community; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Ford was the founder and president emeritus of Progressive Funeral Home and
served with distinction as a member of the board of directors for both Aflac and
the Columbus Bank and Trust Company; and
WHEREAS,
the work of this mentor, friend, and teacher was honored with the Jim Woodruff,
Jr., Memorial Award in 2003; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Ford's actions have paved the way for so many others, and his legacy will
live on in future generations of Georgians;
and
WHEREAS, it is only proper that George W. Ford, Jr., be honored for his life well lived and that a permanent monument in his memory be established.
WHEREAS, it is only proper that George W. Ford, Jr., be honored for his life well lived and that a permanent monument in his memory be established.
PART
VI
WHEREAS,
Edward A. Logan was born in Benton, Louisiana in 1898; and
WHEREAS,
he served in the United States Army at the end of World War I and studied
engineering by a correspondence course before moving to Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, to take a job with the Mississippi Highway Department;
and
WHEREAS,
several years later he moved to Atlanta and studied until he received his degree
in civil engineering and he was then employed by the Georgia Highway Department
as a surveyor; and
WHEREAS,
in 1924, Mr. Logan was sent to the Florida line to begin surveying and building
US 17 and during this time he lived in Woodbine, Brunswick, and Riceboro;
and
WHEREAS,
he later lived in Savannah, Waycross, and Fitzgerald and then back to Savannah
where he worked as the district engineer for all three towns; and
WHEREAS,
in 1940, he took leave from the Georgia Highway Department to do defense work
with private contractors; and
WHEREAS,
in 1951, he moved to St. Simons Island and went back to work for the Georgia
Highway Department in 1958 where he was the district engineer for the Jesup
division until he retired in 1968 at age 70; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Logan was a lifelong Presbyterian and served as an elder in the St. Simons
Presbyterian Church, and he was also a Rotarian, a 33rd Degree Mason, a Shriner,
and a member of the American Legion and loved to hunt deer and turkey;
and
WHEREAS,
he was married to Eula Mae Best from Hazlehurst, Georgia, and they had two
children, Edward and Jean; and
WHEREAS,
it is only proper that Edward A. Logan be honored for his life well lived and
that a permanent monument in his memory be established.
PART
VII
WHEREAS,
the Honorable Richard S. Gault was a distinguished Georgian and highly respected
jurist who will long be remembered as the patriarch of the courts of Forsyth
County, as well as a trusted advisor, confidant, and friend to the legal
community; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gault died suddenly on July 23, 2003; and
WHEREAS,
he graduated from Marietta High School, was a cadet at the United States Air
Force Academy, served four years in the Air Force, was honorably discharged with
the rank of captain in 1971, and he earned his Juris Doctorate from the Emory
University School of Law; and
WHEREAS,
he served six years as an Assistant and Special Assistant Attorney General of
Georgia, six years as solicitor and four years as judge of the State Court of
Cherokee and Forsyth Counties, and 14 years as judge of the Superior Court of
the Blue Ridge Circuit; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gault worked tirelessly to ensure that the judicial needs of the citizens
of Georgia and fast-growing Forsyth County were met, and his work was vital to
the formation of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit in 1998; and
WHEREAS,
his keen intellect, integrity, and skill in communicating the needs of the
judicial branch earned him the esteem of his colleagues on the bench and the
respect and admiration of members of the executive and legislative branches of
state government, as exemplified by his membership on the Chief Justice's
Commission on Professionalism from 1997-2002 and on the Supreme Court Blue
Ribbon Commission on the Judiciary; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gault was a dedicated leader in his community as a member of First Baptist
Church of Cumming and president of his Unity Sunday School Class, and he was a
charter member of the Forsyth County Rotary Club, an organizer in the Charter
Class of Leadership Forsyth, and served as director of the Cumming-Forsyth
Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS,
it is only proper and fitting that the memory of Judge Gault be honored by
dedicating a lasting memorial to his life of service to his community and to the
State of Georgia.
PART
VIII
WHEREAS,
Doug Ferguson was born on December 28, 1946, to John Lewis Ferguson and Jessie
Lorene Ferguson of Emerson, Georgia, and he lived his entire life in Emerson;
and
WHEREAS,
Doug married Melissa Stokes on March 19, 1969, and they had two sons, Aaron and
Alexander, who also reside in Emerson; and
WHEREAS,
in 1994, he opened Doug's Place Restaurant in the former Moms Groceries store
building, a landmark in Emerson that is over 100 years old; and
WHEREAS,
Doug was instrumental in establishing an annual "Emerson Reunion" bringing
together former and current Emerson residents for a great time of fellowship and
strengthening of the Emerson identity; and
WHEREAS,
Doug's Place was recognized by the Georgia House of Representatives in 2001 by
means of House Resolution 575 commending Doug's Place Restaurant for being "a
fine eating establishment known far and wide as a place for good food, fast
service, and ample servings; and the success of this venture no doubt is due to
the strong work ethic, fairness, honesty, and talent of the very dedicated
Ferguson family"; and
WHEREAS,
Doug Ferguson passed away on January 14, 2007, but he shall never be forgotten
by the citizens of Emerson; and
WHEREAS,
it is only proper that Doug Ferguson be honored for his life well lived and that
a permanent monument in his memory be established.
PART
IX
WHEREAS,
David Paul (Bubba) Land was born on February 11, 1971, the fine son of Paul and
Linda Land, brother to Shelly, and proud father of Taylor; and
WHEREAS,
David realized his dream of being a police officer when, in March of 1990, he
became an Atlanta police officer; and
WHEREAS,
in 1992, he went to work for the Stone Mountain Police Department where he
worked as an officer until being hired by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office in
December of 1997; and
WHEREAS,
while working with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, David met Paula Shapiro,
who was also working as a deputy with the Sheriff's Office, and in July of 2002,
David and Paula were married in a storybook wedding at Walt Disney World in
Orlando, Florida; and
WHEREAS,
on March 24, 2003, David was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and returned to
the uniform patrol; and
WHEREAS,
on March 26, 2003, at approximately 1600 hours, Sgt. Land responded to a call
for service regarding a fight in progress and as he was traveling west on
Highway 20 (Buford Highway) on his motorcycle with lights and siren activated, a
motorist turned left into his path and he was thrown from the motorcycle and
received fatal injuries; and
WHEREAS,
in May of 2004, Sgt. Land was placed on the Police Officer's Memorial Wall in
Washington, D.C., by his family, friends, and brothers and sisters of the
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office; and
WHEREAS,
in December of 2007, David's brothers and sisters of the Fraternal Order of
Police Lanier Lodge #82 voted and changed the lodge name to the Sgt. D. P. Land
Memorial Lodge #82 in memory of David who served his community and was a friend
to all; and
WHEREAS,
Sgt. Land paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life in the performance of
his duties in the career that he loved, and it is only fitting that a lasting
memorial to honor his memory be established.
PART
IX-A
WHEREAS,
Tom Buck was born on March 2, 1938, and was educated in the public schools of
Columbus, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
his distinguished career included serving 19 consecutive terms of office in the
Georgia House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS,
he provided stellar leadership as Chairman of the House Committee on Retirement,
the House Committee on the University System, the House Committee on Ways and
Means, and the House Committee on Appropriations; and
WHEREAS,
his expertise on the state budget, developed over years of tireless service as a
House budget conferee, and his prodigious knowledge of tax law and policy were
invaluable in developing responsible fiscal policies in times of prosperity and
times of hard choices; and
WHEREAS,
as Chairman of the Muscogee House Delegation, he was always attentive to the
needs of his community; and
WHEREAS,
he has been generous with his time and energy for community endeavors, serving
on the board of trustees for the Columbus State University Foundation, St.
Francis Hospital, and the Columbus River Center for the Performing Arts;
and
WHEREAS,
his dedication, insight, and tenacity are attributes that have made him an
exemplary public servant.
PART
IX-B
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the untimely passing of Honorable Jack Hays Morgan, Sr., on March 3, 2009;
and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Morgan was born in 1919 in Newton County, Georgia, and was known as an
intelligent, fair minded, and dedicated community leader and entrepreneur;
and
WHEREAS,
as a young man, Mr. Morgan worked several odd jobs including picking peaches,
working at a bus station snack bar, and delivering bread for a bakery, before he
entered the Navy to serve as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty;
and
WHEREAS,
upon his return home from the service, Mr. Morgan entered the agricultural field
as a pulpwood cutter and was instrumental in the post-War World II development
of Newton County, opening the county's first pulpwood yard, Morgan Timber
Company, and later founding the area's first grading and paving services with
Morgan Concrete Company; and
WHEREAS,
over the years, Mr. Morgan expanded his business and agricultural ventures to
include cotton and dairy farming, raising cattle, harvesting peaches and
soybeans, and many real estate and development projects; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Morgan's interest in politics and public service began in 1961 when he was
elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, and he continued to serve as a
state and community leader as Newton County Commission Chairman;
and
WHEREAS,
during his eight-year tenure as chairman, Mr. Morgan oversaw the paving of 142
miles of county roads and the start of the county's first ambulance service,
garbage collections, and landfill; and
WHEREAS,
he was a devoted man of faith and civic leader as an active member of
Covington's First United Methodist Church and the Georgia Rural Development
Authority; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Morgan was united in love and marriage to Barbara Davis and was blessed with
eight remarkable children; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Morgan will long be remembered for his love of family and friendship, and
this loyal husband, father, neighbor, and friend will be missed by all who had
the great fortune of knowing him.
PART
IX-C
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Mr. Lamar B. Hays on March 4, 2009; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Hays was born in 1936, in Newton County, Georgia, a beloved son of the late
Lee and Sarah Byrd Hays; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Hays served as a guardian of the nation's freedom and liberty with the Air
National Guard and was a member of the Woodmen of the World; and
WHEREAS,
dedicated to improving his community and the lives of his neighbors, Mr. Hays
served as chief of the Mansfield Volunteer Fire Department and served on the
City Council of Mansfield for many years; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Hays was the owner of Hays Tractor of Mansfield and enjoyed spending his
free time in nature, fishing and gardening; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Hays was united in love and marriage for 47 years to his adoring wife Carrie
Henderson Hays, and he was surrounded by loving families of his daughters Susan,
Sandra, and Sheila, which included his six grandchildren; and
WHEREAS,
this distinguished Georgian gave inspiration to many through his high ideals,
morals, and deep concern for his fellow citizens and he possessed the vast
wisdom which only comes through experience and the strength of character which
is achieved through overcoming the many challenges of life; and
WHEREAS,
he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for
integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness and, by the example he made of
his life, he made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Hays will long be remembered for his love of family and friendship, and this
loyal father, grandfather, husband, and friend will be missed by all who had the
great fortune of knowing him.
PART
IX-D
WHEREAS,
Jeffrey Steven Blanton was born on November 4, 1981, at Cobb County Hospital in
Marietta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
in 1992, when Jeffrey was 11, he moved with his family to Senoia, Georgia, in
Coweta County; and
WHEREAS,
from the ages of 11 through 16, Jeffrey played baseball in the Senoia Recreation
Department league; and
WHEREAS,
in his seventh and eighth grade years he played football for East Coweta Middle
School; and
WHEREAS,
at the age of 15 he gave his life to God, was baptized, and became a member of
Starr's Mill Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
Jeffrey's love of baseball continued from the ages of 16 through 19 as an umpire
for the Senoia Recreation Department league; and
WHEREAS,
during his junior year in high school he joined the Vocational Opportunities
Club of America, and in 1999 he won first place for the East Coweta High School
math team at a competition at St. Simons Island; and
WHEREAS,
at an early age of 16 he showed a real interest in joining the military and
joined the R.O.T.C. in his junior year and stayed until his senior year;
and
WHEREAS,
Jeffrey's hobbies included hunting and fishing and he loved to fish for trout
and hunt for deer; and
WHEREAS,
he graduated from Marietta High School in June, 2001, and after the disasters on
September 11, 2001, he made the decision to enlist in the Marines so he could
fight the war on terrorism for his country; and
WHEREAS,
he enlisted in November, 2001, and in March, 2002, he left for Parris Island
for 13 weeks of boot camp, and afterwards he was sent to Camp Lejeune in North
Carolina for infantry training; and
WHEREAS,
when he completed his training he was stationed in Hawaii where he received more
extensive training and was able to travel to places like Japan and Afghanistan;
and
WHEREAS,
while in Hawaii, Jeffrey met and married an Army paralegal on February 29, 2004;
and
WHEREAS,
in June, 2004, he was deployed to Iraq where he served until he was shot in the
foot and lost three of his toes, for which he received a Purple Heart and was
offered an honorable discharge; but he decided he would stay in the Marines and
that his place was with his men. He went back on duty on December 11 and was
killed during sweep missions on December 12, 2004; and
WHEREAS,
on December 20, 2004, Jeffrey was laid to rest at Marietta National Cemetery;
and
WHEREAS,
LCPL Jeffrey Blanton loved and served his country with great pride, and his
loyalty and service should always be remembered for generations to
come.
PART
IX-E
WHEREAS,
Edith C. Fulgham was a retired nutritionist with the Lanier County School
System; and
WHEREAS,
she cared for her own children as well as all of the school children in Lanier
County; and
WHEREAS,
she was beloved by everyone that had the opportunity to spend time with her;
and
WHEREAS,
it is only fitting and proper that a lasting memorial to this fine lady be
established in Lanier County.
PART
X
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the
interchange at US 78 and Killian Hill Road, in Gwinnett County, be dedicated as
the CPL Jonathan Ryan Ayers Memorial Interchange.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the new bridge in Henry County over Big Cotton Creek be
dedicated as the Dave S. Miller Memorial Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge on SR 155 at Little Cotton Indian Creek be
dedicated as the William R. and Mamie Steele Cook Memorial Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of U.S. Highway 84, in Decatur County,
Georgia, from the Grady County line west to the traffic light at Whigham Dairy
Road, within the limits of the Wiregrass Georgia Parkway, be dedicated as the
Bobby Walden Highway.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interchange at Interstate Highway 85 and St. Mary's
Road in Muscogee County be dedicated as the George W. Ford, Jr.
Interchange.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge in Glynn County over Fancy Bluff Creek on SR
520/SR 25 at milepost 14.75 be dedicated as the Edward A. Logan Memorial
Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interchange at GA 400 and SR 20 in Forsyth County
be dedicated as the Judge Richard S. (Stan) Gault Memorial
Interchange.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge being erected over Hwy 41, in Emerson,
Georgia, be dedicated as the Doug Ferguson Memorial Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge on SR 20 over Haw Creek in Forsyth County,
Georgia, be dedicated as the Sgt. D. P. Land Memorial Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of SR 22 Spur from US 27 (Veterans Parkway)
to Brown Avenue in Muscogee County, Georgia, be dedicated as the Tom Buck
Parkway.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of US 278 in Newton County from its
intersection with Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive to its intersection with GA 142
be dedicated as the Jack and Davis Morgan Memorial Highway.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of GA Hwy 11 inside the city limits of
Mansfield, Georgia, be dedicated as the Lamar B. Hays Memorial
Parkway.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of SR 85 from the Fayette/Coweta County
line to the Meriwether County line be dedicated as the Jeffrey Steven Blanton
Memorial Highway.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge on SR 135 over Big Creek in Lanier County be
dedicated as the Edith C. Fulgham Memorial Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and
directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the road facilities
named in this resolution.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the Department
of Transportation, to the family of Corporal Jonathan Ryan Ayers, to the family
of Dave S. Miller, to the family of William R. and Mamie Steele Cook, to Robert
Earl (Bobby) Walden, to the family of George W. Ford, Jr., to the family of
Edward A. Logan, to the family of Richard S. (Stan) Gault, to the family of Doug
Ferguson, to the family of Sgt. D. P. Land, to Tom Buck, to the family of Jack
Hays Morgan, Sr., to the family of Davis Morgan, to the family of Lamar B. Hays,
to the family of Jeffrey Steven Blanton, and to the family of Edith C. Fulgham.