Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Vandiver's appointees, the county unit system, Vandiver's proposed run for governor in 1966, Bo Callaway and Lester Maddox’s 1966 fight for governor, mental health program reform (Central…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include segregation issue, Carl Sanders' pseudo-run for Senate against Russell, Roy Harris, supporting the Kennedy-Johnson ticket, Martin Luther King, Jr., being put in jail and Vandiver’s…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Vandiver's involvement in Georgia’s legislature in the 1950s, Governor Marvin Griffin, the Rural Roads issue, Vandiver's run for governor of Georgia in 1957 (including his opponent William…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Hal Henderson.Topics include Vandiver's involvement in gubernatorial and Senate races, Herman Talmadge’s Senate run in 1980, Vandiver's role as aide to Herman Talmadge during 1948 (for 67 days), Roy Harris, Vandiver's…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Hal Henderson. Vandiver discusses his early life, including the influence of his parents on his life, his ancestry, his military service, his wife, and his involvement in the campaigns of 1936 and 1938.
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Mel Steeley and Ted Fitzsimmons of West Georgia College. Topics include Senator Russell’s impact on Ernest Vandiver, Vandiver's life since being governor, religion, unfulfilled political aspirations, and Vandiver's…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Mel Steeley and Ted Fitzsimmons of West Georgia College. Topics include the Sibley Commission, a governor’s power in the 1960s, Vandiver's involvement with the completion of the Georgia Archives building, President John…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Mel Steeley and Ted Fitzsimmons of West Georgia College. Topics include Herman Talmadge, the salary and perks of being governor, Vandiver's management Talmadge’s 1948 campaign for governor, desegregation, selecting…
Ernest Vandiver interviewed by Mel Steeley and Ted Fitzsimmons of West Georgia College. Vandiver discusses his early life, including his rural upbringing, his family history, his childhood, his religious background and education, and the origins of…
Erwin Mitchell practiced law in Dalton, Georgia, before serving as a solicitor general for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit and subsequently as a Superior Court judge on the same circuit. In 1958 Mitchell was elected as a Democrat to the 85th Congress,…
Powell Moore interviews Eugene Methvin about his Georgia roots and his life as a journalist and writer and editor for Reader's Digest. Eugene Methvin discusses his early life in Vienna, Georgia, and his family history of journalism and newspaper…
Eunice Kang is an orchestra director at Clarke Central High School and Clarke Middle School in Athens, Georgia. Eunice Kang discusses her path to teaching, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some teachers to leave. She describes…
Eunice Lastinger Mixon taught eighth grade science and high school biology, chemistry and physics for thirty years in the Tift County School System, and was an instructor at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. In 1974, gubernatorial candidate…
Eve Byrd talks about her and Tom Bornemann’s reaction to the series of exposé articles published in The Atlanta-Journal Constitution over the care of patients in Georgia mental state hospitals. Byrd describes her experience working with Dr. William…
Fletcher Thompson was elected as a Republican to the Georgia General Assembly as a state senator in 1964. In 1966, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the two succeeding congresses, but was unsuccessful in a bid for…
Ford B. Spinks was born in Tifton, Georgia on April 5, 1927. In 1962, he ran a successful campaign twice – due to reapportionment – for Georgia State Senate. He continued in the Georgia Senate, and served in many committees until leaving the senate…
Ford Spinks interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Jimmy Carter’s decision to run in the 1966 Georgia gubernatorial election, Carter’s early supporters, Carter’s campaign expenses; Spinks’ evaluation of other candidates in the 1966 Democratic…
Bill Burson served as an aide to Senator Herman Talmadge and later to Governor Carl Sanders. In 1967, the newly elected governor, Lester Maddox, appointed Burson Director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. Over the next three…
Frank Albert was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1964. He served as a Republican Senator for eight years, working closely with such politicians as Governor Zell B. Miller, Senator Culver Kidd, and Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Tom…
W. Frank Barron was born in Rome, Georgia, and he graduated from Darlington School in 1948. In 1952, he graduated from Washington and Lee and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Eversole DD789. Barron began his career at the Rome Coca-Cola…
Frank Barron was born in Rome, Georgia and graduated from Darlington School in 1948. Barron worked at Coca Cola 1956 before retiring from his executive position. Barron supervised many projects throughout his career and in this interview, he talks…
Frank Bird is a teacher in Georgia and he talks about his background in teaching, his teaching philosophy, and becoming involved with the Foxfire teaching program. He also talks about incorporating hands-on learning in his classroom. This interview…
Frank McGill talks about growing up on a family farm in Tifton, Georgia. He also talks about his career with the UGA Extension Service, becoming a specialist in peanut production. He talks about the effect of the peanut economy on small towns in…
Frank Moore worked in Jimmy Carter’s gubernatorial and presidential administrations. In this interview he discusses his specific roles as Deputy Chief of Staff to Hamilton Jordan, national finance chairman of Carter’s campaign, and congressional…
Frank Strickland talks about his early life and becoming interested in Republican politics in 1966 due to Bo Callaway’s run for governor that year. Strickland afterward describes what occurred as the Republican Party grew in the 1970s and 1980s,…
Bob Short moderates a panel discussion on the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Panel members are Dr. Fred Craddock, Dr. Charles Gillespie, Dr. Jim Hale, and Dr. David Franklin. Topics covered include the role of…
Ernest Freeman Leverett interviewed by Hal Henderson. Leverett served as assistant attorney general of Georgia from 1955 to 1959. In this interview, topics include Freeman's position in Vandiver’s administration and his relationship with Vandiver,…
Gab Rich talks about her position at Atlanta Legal Aid as a paralegal in the Disability Integration Project. Rich recalls the early days of the Nick Project, a committee-led social project with the mission of providing services to people with mental…
Garland Turk Byrd interviewed by Hal Henderson. Byrd served as lieutenant governor of Georgia from 1959 to 1963. In this interview, topics include Byrd's opinion of Vandiver’s overwhelming victory in governor’s race in 1958, interest groups, the…
Garland T. Byrd interviewed by Hal Henderson. Byrd served as lieutenant governor of Georgia under Governor Ernest Vandiver (1959-1963). Byrd discusses the 1966 Georgia gubernatorial election, including his decision to run for governor, other possible…
Garland Pinholster grew up in Clyatville, Georgia in a farming family. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, served at Fort Benning during the Korean War, coached college sports at Oglethorpe University, and was elected to…
Gary Bertsch was born in Vallejo, California in 1944. Bertsch received a PhD in political science at the University of Oregon. Bertsch created the Center for East-West Trade Policy at the University of Georgia, which was later renamed the Center for…
Gaylon Tootle was born in Georgia and attended the Georgia Academy for the Blind, before attending the University of Georgia. After graduation, he worked for the U.S. Army at Fort Stewart and the Moody Air Force Base. Presently, Tootle works at the…
George Berry discusses the political career of James Carmichael, including his early life, his involvement with Rickenbacker Field and the Bell Aircraft Corporation in Marietta, his work with Governor Ellis Arnall, and the 1946 governor's race…
George Berry discusses the political career of James Carmichael, including the 1946 governor's race against Eugene Talmadge and three governors controversy. Berry served as deputy chief administrative officer in Mayor Ivan Allen's administration and…
George Busbee interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include his impression of Marvin Griffin’s administration, the relationship between Griffin and Vandiver, and the Sibley Commission.
George Hooks was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1980. Under Governor Joe Frank Harris, he served as the assistant administration floor leader. He served five terms in the house, and was elected to the Georgia State…
George Hooks was born May 9, 1945 in Sumter County, Georgia. He graduated from Auburn University and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mercer University. Hooks won election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1980 and served as…
George T. Smith joined the U.S. Navy in 1940 and after two years was placed on the Naval Land Force Equipment Depot. He left the military in 1945 and returned home. In 1948, he graduated from the University of Georgia Law School and went into private…
George Smith interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Marvin Griffin’s administration, the beginnings of Smith's friendship with Vandiver, Vandiver and the legislature, the Honesty in Government Act, the Sibley Commission, Vandiver’s handling of…
Glenn Anthony reported for the United Press International, covering various civil rights groups in Alabama and Tennessee. He entered politics when he went to work for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, lobbying for business interests. He was involved…
Glenn W. Ellard interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Ellard's experience in the state legislature, his impression of various people in Marvin Griffin's administration, Griffin and Vandiver’s fight over the budget, members of Vandiver’s…
Giffin begins by discussing his early life in Canada before returning to the United States for his higher education. He talks about first interning for Sam Nunn’s office while in law school then permanently joining Nunn’s staff as chief legal counsel…
Greg Bluestein is a political reporter at the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, covering local, state, and national politics. His work can be accessed in the print version of the AJC, the Political Insider blog, and the Politically Georgia subscription…
Bill Shipp interviews Griffin Bell about his career and his tenure as U.S. Attorney General (1977-1979). Bell comments on the integration of Georgia schools and the University of Georgia, the Kennedy presidential campaign in Georgia, and Martin…
Griffin Bell was born Americus, Georgia, on October 31, 1918 and received his law degree at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. In this interview, Bell discusses his early years growing up in Americus, his law career, his role as…
Griffin Bell interviewed by Hal Henderson. Bell is a lawyer who served as attorney general of the United States from 1977 to 1979. In this interview, topics include Bell's relationship with Vandiver before he became governor, Vandiver's “No, not one”…
Gussie Davis Phillips is interviewed by her niece, Mattie Davis Hubbard about her involvement with civil rights and community activism. Phillips discusses her brothers' involvement in the World War II effort. She recalls her brothers' fight for…
Guy Millner grew up in Holly Hill, Florida and attended Florida State University. Miller moved to Atlanta for business reasons, and focused on growing his Norrell Corporation, a supplemental staffing business, during the 1960s and 1970s. Millner…
Guyton Lee Robinson has served as an Aviation Officer in the United States Army since May 2000. Throughout his interview, he recalls his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and the responsibilities of an officer. He also describes attending West…
Henry M. “Hank” Huckaby worked as an assistant dean of admissions at Georgia State for four years. In 1973, he went to work under Governor Jimmy Carter’s administration in the Office of Planning and Budget, serving in subsequent years as director of…
Hans Neuhauser discusses his early life and his decision to attend the University of Georgia in 1964. He recalls his decision to work with the Coastal Plains Conservancy in Savannah in 1972 and explains what sparked his interest in the Georgia coast.…
Harold G. Clarke was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1960. In the legislature, he authored several bills and plans, including Abolish Atlanta and the Clarke Plan. In 1966, he participated in the legislative initiative…
Harold Lloyd Murphy was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1950 and served until 1961. He also served as an assistant state solicitor general of the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit in 1956. From 1971 to 1977, he served as a superior court…
Harriet Van Norte talks about how she came to work in the Department of Public Health as the admissions coordinator of the state mental health hospitals, and remembers the growth in community services in the early 1970s. Van Norte talks about how she…
Harry Donival Dixon entered U.S. Maritime Service and served in World War II in 1943. In 1963, he was elected as a Democrat to the Georgia House of Representatives. He served as chairman of the Regulated Beverages committee for 27 years, and rewrote…
Geisinger's political involvement has included membership on the National Legislative Conference on Campaigning Financing and Ethics. He was the first advisor to the National Legislative Leaders Conference and was honored as an outstanding leader…
Helen Lewis was born in Cumming, Georgia, in 1924 and spent most of her career as an educator and activist for civil rights and social justice. Lewis discusses her student activism at Georgia State College for Women in the 1940s. In particular, she…
Henry Getzen Neal interviewed by Hal Henderson. Neal was an advisor to Vandiver during his gubernatorial campaign and later served as assistant attorney general under Vandiver (1959-1964). In this interview, topics include Neal's relationship with…
Henry Getzen Neal interviewed by Hal Henderson. Neal was an advisor to Vandiver during his gubernatorial campaign and later served as assistant attorney general under Vandiver (1959-1964). In this interview, topics include Vandiver's lobbying style…
Herb Mabry studied labor law at Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta and entered union politics in 1950 through his carpentry work with Sears Roebuck and his membership with the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. In 1969 he…
Herman E. Talmadge interviewed by Hal Henderson. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1947 to 1955 and as United States Senator from 1957 to 1981. Topics include the beginnings of his friendship with Ernest Vandiver, Vandiver’s involvement…
Herman E. Talmadge speaking at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Symposium on History and Government. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1947 to 1955 and as United States Senator from 1957 to 1981. Topics include Talmadge’s retirement…
Herman E. Talmadge interviewed by Hal Henderson. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1947 to 1955 and as United States Senator from 1957 to 1981. Topics include the three governors controversy (1946-1947), Melvin Ernest (M.E.) Thompson and…
Herman E. Talmadge interviewed by Hal Henderson. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1947 to 1955 and as United States Senator from 1957 to 1981. Topics include the genealogy and history of the Talmadge family, Talmadge’s childhood,…
Herman E. Talmadge interviewed by Hal Henderson. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1947 to 1955 and as United States Senator from 1957 to 1981. Topics include the political relationship between Eugene Talmadge and Ellis Arnall, the 1942…
Herman E. Talmadge interviewed by Hal Henderson. Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1947 to 1955 and as United States Senator from 1957 to 1981. Topics include Georgia gubernatorial candidates in the 1966 election, Talmadge's opinions on…
Homer Meade Rankin interviewed by Hal Henderson. Rankin was the editor and publisher of the Daily Tifton Gazette (c. 1959-1963) and president of the Georgia Press Association. He also served in the Georgia general assembly in the early 1960s. In this…
Howard H. "Bo" Callaway interviewed by Hal Henderson. Callaway is a businessman and politician who has held several public offices including U.S. Congressman (1965-1967) and U.S. Secretary of the Army (1973-1975). Topics include Callaway’s decision…
Hugh Gillis was elected twice to the Georgia Senate, the first time in 1957, and the second in 1962. He would hold that seat for the next forty-two years, making him the longest-serving member of the Georgia General Assembly. In the senate, he was…
Hugh Peterson Jr was born in Washington, DC to Congressman Hugh Peterson, Sr. and Patience Elizabeth Russell Peterson. Peterson spent half of his childhood in Ailey, Ga and Washington, DC. After going to Yale University and Harvard Law School,…
Hunter Holder has served as a Chief Warrant Officer in the Army National Guard since February 2011. Holder describes his occupation as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot, the extensive training he underwent at Warrant Officer Training School, and…
Ivan Allen, Jr., interviewed by Hal Henderson. Allen served as Governor Ellis Arnall’s executive secretary from 1945 to 1946 and later served as mayor of Atlanta from 1962 to 1970. Topics include Ellis Arnall as governor (1943-1947), Arnall’s…
Evans begins the interview by talking about his childhood and early involvement with politics. Evans then discusses the plans and factors of growing the Georgia Republican Party. He specifically talks about party organization and how that process has…
James Roy Rowland attended South Georgia College and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. In 1952, he received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He practiced medicine in Dublin, Georgia, from 1952 to…
J.A. (Sonny) Dixon was born in Savannah on August 5, 1952. He grew up in Savannah and attended the University of Florida. He served two terms as mayor of the Garden City, Georgia and five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. Dixon retired…
Jack Etheridge served as a law clerk for a State Superior Court Judge and Federal District Court Judge. He became an associate with Smith, Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers & McClatchy (now Kilpatrick & Stockton) and later spent ten years as partner with…
John H. (Jack) Kingston was born on April 24, 1955 in Bryan, Texas. His family relocated to Athens, Georgia, after his father, Dr. Albert Kingston, joined the University of Georgia faculty. Kingston attended the University of Georgia where he earned…
Dr. Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje grew up in Jesup, Georgia, learning piano from an early age. She attended Boggs Academy, Fisk University, and the Hampton Institute. She is currently a professor and the Chair of Ethnomusicology at the University of…
James C. Cobb was born and raised in Hartwell, Georgia. A “Triple Dawg,” Cobb earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at the University of Georgia. A historian, Cobb has held numerous teaching positions around the country, and he is the…
James Dunlap interviewed by Hal Henderson. Dunlap was a classmate of Ernest Vandiver's at UGA and was a member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. In this interview, topics include life at UGA with Vandiver, his role in Vandiver’s…
Carter discusses his life as the son of President Jimmy Carter, from campaigning for his father to establishing free elections in Liberia. Throughout his life, he was active in many of his father’s affairs, from the peanut business to political…
James H. "Jimmy" Gray, Sr., interviewed by Hal Henderson. Gray was editor and publisher of the Albany Herald from 1947 to 1986 and also served as the mayor of Albany (1973-1986). Topics include Gray’s decision to run for governor in 1966, possible…
James Lester “Jim L.” Gillis, Jr. is the grandson of Treutlen County founder and state representative Neil Gillis, the son of State Senator and Highway Commissioner Jim L. Gillis, and brother of Hugh Gillis. He discusses his time working as an…
James Owen interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Vandiver’s accomplishments, the desegregation of the University of Georgia, and Vandiver’s style and personality.
James Owen interviewed by Hal Henderson. Topics include Owen's time at UGA with Vandiver, Vandiver’s run for lieutenant governor in 1954, Vandiver’s run for governor in 1958, Marvin Griffin, and the Sibley Commission.
James Tysinger discusses his early life and political career. He became interested in politics during Barry Goldwater’s campaign and became active with the Dekalb Republican Party. He was later elected to the Georgia Senate, where he served from 1968…
Jane Kidd is the daughter of former Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver and his wife, Betty Vandiver. She is a graduate of Grady College at the University of Georgia and became politically active on the Lavonia City Council as well as managing the…
Jane Brevard Vandiver Kidd was involved in politics early, serving as chair of Youth for Herman Talmadge in Talmadge’s 1968 Senate campaign, and campaigning for her father during his 1972 U.S. Senate campaign. She graduated from the University of…
Jane Brevard Vandiver Kidd interviewed by Hal Henderson. Kidd is the daughter of Betty and Ernest Vandiver. She served on the Lavonia City Council, managed Don Johnson's congressional campaign, served in the Georgia general assembly, and served as…
Janis Ware is the publisher of The Atlanta Voice, a newspaper serving the city's African American community since 1966. She is also the Executive Director of SUMMECH Community Development Corporation, an organization that works to build affordable…
Jarrett McNutt served in the army during World War II before becoming a minister and working for the Clinical Pastoral Care Organization. He talks about his family history and his career as a minister.
Jay Beck was born in Albany, Georgia, and was a close friend of Hamilton Jordan. Beck served on Carter’s staff during his presidency, and later worked as financial consultant for the Carter Center. Beck discusses Hamilton’s Jordan’s role as campaign…
Jeff DiSantis was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in various locations around the country while his father served in the military. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from the Emory University School of Law.…
Jeffrey Rowser is a band director at Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia. Rowser discusses why he became a teacher, his music education, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. He describes music as a positive outlet for students,…
Jeremy Reynolds is from Jonesboro, Georgia. He served for four years in the United States Marine Corps, enlisted as an electrician and later assigned to Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. In this interview, Reynolds discussing his…
Jerry Gonzalez was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M in 1995 and an MPA from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in 2005. He joined the Mexican…
Jerry Keen was born and raised in metro Atlanta. Keen attended Mercer University in Macon and Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. He has worked as a financial management professional. A past Chair of the Georgia Christian Coalition and Director of…
Galloway talks about the relationship of media to politics, how political reporting has changed since he entered the business, and comments on the role that technology has played in news reporting. He comments on factors for success of an elected…
Jim Galloway was born in Ohio and grew up near College Park, Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and worked as a photographer, writer, and editor at the Red & Black. Galloway interned…
James Francis “Jim” Martin drafted legislation as part of the legislative council before joining Legal Aid, an organization representing low income families. In 1983, he ran for office, and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a…
James G. “Jim” Minter worked as a sportswriter for UGA’s The Red and Black newspaper, and then went on to the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution, where he worked with Lewis Grizzard, Bill Shipp, and Reg Murphy. He was appointed executive…
Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter was born in Plains, Georgia. In this interview, Carter talks about historic preservation in Plains, his childhood during the Great Depression, his grandchildren and family events, and reflections on…
Brian S. Wills interviews Jimmy Carter. Carter discusses his first acquaintance with D.W. Brooks, Brooks as special consultant in agriculture, the Presidential Commission on World Hunger, diplomatic relations with China, and the Iranian situation and…
James L. Paulk, known as Jimmy, was born March 26, 1949, in Fitzgerald, Georgia. He received a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Management from the University of Georgia in 1972. At the age of 26, Paulk defeated Senator Martin Young, then the…
Businessman James E. (Jimmy) Stewart, Jr. discusses growing up in South Georgia in the 1930s and 1940s, attending the University of Georgia, serving in the United States Army in Cold War Europe, and running a family-owned, small business in Waycross,…
Joe Frank Harris served as governor of Georgia from 1983 to 1991, and is remembered for creating and implementing the Quality Basic Education Act (QBE), overseeing the building of the Georgia Dome, creating the Technical College System of Georgia,…
Joseph B. (Joe) Wilkinson was born September 3, 1946 in Atlanta. Wilkinson is a graduate of North Fulton County High School and the University of Georgia. Wilkinson has held various roles with the Coca-Cola Company. He also worked as a White House…
Joel Cowan discusses the planning and development of Peachtree City, urban development in Atlanta, and broader infrastructure issues in Georgia, such as transportation, housing, watershed management, and the roles that the public and private sectors…
John Blackmon discusses attending law school at Emory University, working in the state law department and in the Georgia Revenue Department. He mentions his experiences working under Governor Lester Maddox as state revenue commissioner and explains…
John Charles Foster was elected to the Georgia Senate as a Democrat in 1974. He served as chairman of the Education Committee during his entire tenure in the senate. Under Governor Joe Frank Harris, Foster sponsored the Quality Basic Education Act…
John Lewis is best known for his civil rights activism in the 1960s and, since 1986, his work as a U.S. Representative. In this interview John Lewis discusses his early years in rural Alabama and his work as a civil rights leader and U.S.…
John Linder grew up in Minnesota and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967-1969. He moved to Georgia to pursue a dentistry practice, and he settled in North DeKalb County where he became involved in Georgia Republican Party politics in the 1970s.…
John McCarty is an autistic, non-reliable speaker with impaired vision. In this interview, Joan McCarty reads her son, John McCarty’s, account of his struggle with communication before learning the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), which enabled him to…
John Oxendine was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in Tucker, Georgia. Oxendine graduated from Mercer University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Christianity, Greek, and political science. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Mercer…
John Padgett grew up as a Republican in Athens and has served in various roles in local and state party politics, including as Chairman of the Athens-Clarke County Republican Party, as Chairman of the 11th and 12th Congressional District Republican…
John Stuckey grew up in rural Louisiana and served five years in the military, primarily organizing military intelligence at the Pentagon. He attended Louisiana State University and obtained his J.D. from George Washington University. Stuckey became…
John Watson grew up in Centreville in Fairfax County, Virginia, and attended college at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Watson moved to Atlanta in 1993. He worked on Bob Barr’s successful 1994 congressional and joined the Georgia Republican…
John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 28, 1944 and has served in politics since his election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1976. Since then, he has served in the Georgia senate and both houses of Congress,…
Johnny Isakson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and has served in politics since his election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1976. Since then, he has served in the Georgia Senate and both houses of Congress, and has run a successful real…
Johnny Kauffman is a reporter for WABE 90.1 in Atlanta. Prior to WABE, he worked as a producer for Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and National Public Radio (NPR) where he produced Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, and Tell Me More.Kauffman talks…
Joshua Dillard was raised in Snellville, Georgia. He joined the Army and was stationed with 461 Human Resource Company in Decatur, Georgia before entering the ROTC program at Georgia Gwinnett College. He then transferred to the University of Georgia.…
Joshua Norris discusses the interactions between the Department of Justice and the Georgia Advocacy Office over the expośe articles written by The Atlanta-Journal Constitution concerning the treatment of patients at Georgia state mental health…
Joya Harris is a music teacher at Alcova Elementary School in Dacula, Georgia. Harris discusses her path to teaching, the importance of connecting with students, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She describes music as an outlet for…
Joyce Carter Stevens was raised in south Georgia. She served as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Del-Cook Lumber Company from 1964-1981. Stevens' first major involvement with the Republican Party was in fundraising for Mack Mattingly's 1980…
Judith Beale is a Part-Time Music Instructor at Kennesaw State University who previously taught elementary music for 39 years. Beale discusses her years as a teacher, including the challenges and rewards that a music teacher faces. She also discusses…
Judith Spears is a retired choral music teacher at Dacula High School in Dacula, Georgia. Spears discusses her music education, her path to teaching, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She talks about having her son as a student and also…
Julian Bond was a civil rights activist who held leadership roles in several organizations, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored…
Karen Handel served as Secretary of State of Georgia from 2007 to 2010, when she resigned to run for governor of Georgia, a bid which was ultimately unsuccessful. In this interview she discusses her upbringing, public service career, and political…
Kate Dahlstrand is from Tennessee. She is a PhD student at UGA and served in the Army and the National Guard from October 1998 to October 2008 as a field medic. In this interview, Dahlstrand explains why she joined the Army and tells her experiences…
Kathy Blee Ashe was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives in June of 1991. As a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for House District 56, Ashe served on the Education, Children and Youth, Higher Education,…
Katie Williams is a choral director at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, Georgia. Williams discusses her path to teaching, her music education, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also describes her teaching style, learning from…
Keith Mason volunteered for Jimmy Carter and worked for Zell Miller in Miller’s 1974 run for lieutenant governor. He continued to work for Miller, establishing himself as an advisor during Miller’s gubernatorial race in 1990, and becoming Governor…
Keith W. Mason was born in Snellville, Georgia, on September 20, 1960. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and University of Georgia School of Law. Mason, a Democrat, began his career in politics working for Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller…
Kenneth Dious was born in Athens, Georgia and attended Athens-Clarke County public schools. After graduating from high school, he attended Savannah State College and later transferred to the University of Georgia. At UGA he earned a degree in…
Kevin Hays is a music teacher at South Hart Elementary School in Hartwell, Georgia. Hays discusses why he became a music teacher, why some teachers quit, and proud moments. He also describes his influences and how he motivates his students with pop…
Richard B. Russell Library Director Sheryl Vogt interviews Kil Townsend about his life as a lawyer, businessman, author, and maverick Republican legislator in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1965 to 1992. Townsend discusses his early work…
Krissi Davis is an orchestra director at Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis discusses the demographics of the school, why she became a teacher, and why some teachers quit. She also describes her motivations and pride in seeing students…
Larry Walker discusses his long career in the Georgia House of Representatives, which began in 1972, including his role as house majority leader and as a member of Speaker Tom Murphy’s inner circle. Walker served in the house for 32 years and was…
Walker discusses his background and childhood, and talks about running for the Georgia House at Sam Nunn’s behest in 1972, winning as a Democrat. He tells of his first few terms in the legislature and his leadership role in the House. Walker…
Laughlin McDonald has been director of the Atlanta-based Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union since 1972. Prior to that he was in private practice and taught at the University of North Carolina Law School. He has represented…
Laura Stanley is a band director at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. Stanley discusses why she became a teacher, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and hopeful moments. She also talks about motivating her students and mentorship.
Lauren "Bubba" McDonald grew up in Commerce, Georgia, and served as a commissioner in Jackson County before being elected to the state House in 1971, where he worked on the Industry Committee and the Appropriations Committee. He was later appointed…
Lea Agnew was born in Atlanta and grew up in southwest Atlanta. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism. Agnew became active in politics during the 1968 presidential elections, and she eventually…
Leroy Reginald Johnson was born in Atlanta, Georgia on July 28, 1928. He attended Morehouse College, worked in the Fulton County Solicitor-General’s office, and served as a Georgia senator from 1963-1975, becoming the first black legislator in the…
Leroy H. (Roy) Simkins, Jr. was born in Augusta, Georgia, and grew up in Beech Island, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Richmond Academy in Augusta and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. After serving two years in the U.S. Army,…
Lester G. Maddox interviewed by Hal Henderson. Maddox served as governor of Georgia from 1967 to 1971. Maddox discusses the 1966 Georgia gubernatorial election, including his decision to run for governor, his opinions on politics and politicians in…
Lewis Massey helped Joe Frank Harris campaign for governor. In 1990, he went to work with Pierre Howard’s campaign for lieutenant governor. Howard was elected, and Massey was appointed Chief of Staff. In 1994, he successfully managed Howard's…
Robert Lindsay Thomas is a U.S. Representative from Georgia. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (1983-1993). Thomas discusses his involvement with agriculture, his experience in Washington, D.C.…
Lizette Busquets served as a intelligence analyst in the United States Army during the Cold War. She discusses her identity as a Puerto Rican woman in the military, her early training, and a deployment to West Germany. Busquets addresses public…
Lonnie King was born in Arlington, Georgia. He was raised in Atlanta and served in the U.S. Navy. He left the Navy in 1957, returned to Atlanta, and earned his degree from Morehouse College. In 1960 he was present at the founding of the Student…
UGA History Professor Dr. Kathleen Clark interviews Lorena Weeks about her life and her discrimination case against Southern Bell in the 1960s. Lorena Weeks recalls how she started working at Southern Bell Telephone Company. She discusses her early…
Lorie J. Smith was born in Atlanta. She attended the University of Georgia and Georgia State University before entering Democratic politics. Smith has worked, campaigned, and consulted for prominent Georgia Democrats such as former U.S.…
Louise McBee was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives from Athens-Clarke County in 1991. McBee served on and chaired several committees, including the Appropriations Committee, the Retirement Committee, the World Congress Center Overview…
Luis Narimatsu was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He began losing his vision in college as a symptom of glaucoma. After his diagnosis, Narimatsu eventually found work in the 94th Signal Company as a telephone operator. Afterward, Naritmatsu moved to…
Luther Harris is a music teacher at Buford Middle School in Buford, Georgia. Harris discusses the demographics of the school, his workload, and his path to teaching. He also talks about rewards and challenges of teaching and recalls proud and…
M.V. (Trey) Hood III was raised in Waco, Texas. A political scientist, Hood earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, master’s degree from Baylor University, and a doctorate from Texas Tech University. He was a visiting professor of…
Mack Mattingly was born in Anderson, Indiana on January 7, 1931 and had a career in both business and politics in Georgia for many decades. In 1980 he became the first Republican from Georgia to serve in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. In this…
Mattingly begins by discussing his early life in Indiana during the Great Depression and World War II. He then talks about his service in the United States Air Force and why he decided to move permanently to Georgia afterward. Mattingly then covers…
Mandy Gunter is a music specialist at Burnette Elementary School in Suwanee, Georgia. Gunter discusses the diversity of the school, why she became a teacher, and what keeps teachers in the profession as well as what factors lead some teachers to…
Marcus Garrison served in the United States Navy from 2010-2016. He discusses his occupation as an intelligence analyst and the job training that he underwent. Garrison describes his deployments to Syria and Germany, noting the work he did with…
Margaret Holliman is a conservative Georgian who has been active in many political campaigns and organizations. She worked on the campaigns of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. Holliman has also attended several Republican National Conventions and…
UGA Political Science Professor Dr. Ieda Siqueira Wiarda interviews Margaret Bennett about her life in the diplomatic corps and as the wife of Foreign Service Officer and U. S. Ambassador William Tapley Bennett, Jr. Bennett discusses her experiences…
Maria Munoz was a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force from 2009 - 2013. In this interview she describes her MOS (military occupational specialty), her deployments to Afghanistan and South Korea. She discusses her transition to civilian life…
Marie Dobbs Barnes married Roy Barnes in 1970. In 1974, Roy ran a successful campaign for the Georgia State Senate; Marie was active in this and subsequent campaigns, while also raising their three children. Marie became an active advocate for early…
Henry "Dink" NeSmith interviews his mother, Marjorie NeSmith, about her early life, living in Putney, Georgia, and later in Baker County. Marjorie talks about being in college at Georgia Southwestern State University when the US entered World War II,…
