09 LC 34
2233
House
Resolution 830
By:
Representative Smith of the
168th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
the honorary name of County Road 212 in Bacon County as the James Deen Road and
urging that a sign be erected below the official name of Swamp Road given by the
Bacon County Board of Commissioners which would read as follows: "In Honor of
James Deen"; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
James Deen was born on September 7, 1924, to his proud parents, Roy Stanford
Deen and Arrhena Tanner Deen. He had two brothers, Roy Sammy Deen and Delano
Deen, and one sister, Doloris Deen Long. He graduated from Bacon County High
School in 1943; and
WHEREAS,
he was inducted in the Army at Fort McPherson, Georgia, on June 15, 1943, and
from there was sent to serve in combat in northern France. During his time of
service he was decorated with the EAME Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Good
Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Meritorious Unit Award. He
received an Honorable Discharge on June 28, 1946; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Deen graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in education
and also attended Baylor University's Science Program in 1964. He then became a
very respected teacher with the Atkinson County and Coffee County school systems
where he touched the lives of many students until his retirement;
and
WHEREAS,
during his life Mr. Deen was known for being very active throughout his
community where he volunteered in many areas, including serving as a Sunday
School Teacher at Kirkland United Methodist Church, an advisor to the Hi-Y Club,
the administrator of summer work programs for high school students, and the
president of the Atkinson County Retired Teachers Association; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Deen is notoriously known for the part he played in the rallying together of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars members in Bacon County. He worked faithfully to
get them united and reorganized together to serve as members of the VFW Post
#4625. He solicited local governing bodies and state officials for funding to
update and renovate the local post building and led a county-wide project to
have honorary road names given in recognition of members that had been killed in
action, wounded in action, or were prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Deen was married to the lovely Maxine Tanner Deen, and they became the proud
parents of four wonderful children: James William Deen, Roy Wendell Deen,
Charles Dewy Deen, and Angela Elizabeth Deen Dratch. They were blessed with
four adorable grandchildren: Raymond William Deen, Kathleen Elizabeth Deen,
Benjamin Deen Dratch, and Samuel Jay Dratch; and
WHEREAS,
on September 11, 2001, James Deen passed away and our country lost a very noble
and loyal friend. We feel that after his many years of selfless service where
he sought no honor or recognition of his many works, it is only fitting and
proper that the State of Georgia join Bacon County in paying tribute to this
man's courage, valor, and dedication to God and his country by placing this
honorary road name as a lasting memorial to the well-lived life of James
Deen.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body recognize the honorary name of County Road 212 in Bacon County as the
James Deen Road and urge that a sign be erected below the official name of Swamp
Road given by the Bacon County Board of Commissioners which would read, "In
Honor of James Deen."
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 Bacon
County Board of Commissioners and the family of James Deen.