GwinnettForum | Issue 16.09 | May 3, 2016
HERE’S WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR in the Suwanee Art on a Limb activity. They are clay double bell wind chimes hanging on limbs at three locations, created by Johns Creek Artist Judy Isaak. The wind chimes are stamped with various nature motifs, as well as the Suwanee “S” and the year. The greatest variety of Isaak’s work can be found in her studio at Tannery Row Artist Colony. Her work is also featured in the Spruill Gallery in Atlanta. The Art on a Limb activity continues through the month of May.
Political activities to highlight upcoming issue on May 6
Editor’s Note: With Georgia’ primary election coming May 24, GwinnettForum will have in the next edition many candidates’ answers to six questions we put to them all. The next edition will also list the endorsements of GwinnettForum in contested races.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Peachtree Corners Mayor Answers Questions on Proposed Bridge
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Visit to Cuba Shows Happy, Friendly People, But Crumbling Buildings
ANOTHER VIEW: State Should Call Bluff of Filmmaker’s Many Tax Breaks in Georgia
SPOTLIGHT: The Gwinnett Braves
FEEDBACK: Letters On Bridges, Cubans, Artists and Candidates
UPCOMING: Aurora Theatre Announced Themes, Times for Summer Acting Camp
NOTABLE: Mural in Toyota Promotion To Remain in Norcross’ Skin Alley
RECOMMENDED: Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew by Michael Morpurgo
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Horace Ware Born Lowly, Rises to Federal Judicial Bench
TODAY’S QUOTE: When To Start on Your Retirement Activity
MYSTERY PHOTO: Several Significant Hints In This Edition’s Mystery Photo
LAGNIAPPE: Peachtree Corners Rotary Hosts First Career Exploration Night
TODAY’S FOCUSPeachtree Corners mayor answers questions on proposed bridge
By Mike Mason, mayor, Peachtree Corners
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., May 3, 2016 | We’ve received a number of queries on the proposed pedestrian bridge that will connect the Town Center to the Forum and also to the city’s multi-use trail system.
Following are the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Q: Why do we need a pedestrian bridge? The simple fact is the bridge is needed for safety. There are over 45,000 cars that travel Peachtree Parkway daily, and that number is projected to increase to 50,000 within five years. It would only take one distracted driver who doesn’t see pedestrians making their way across the street for a tragedy to occur. It is imperative that the city provide a safe means for pedestrians to move easily from the Town Center to The Forum. The Town Center is expected to draw thousands every day. It is not practical to assume people will get in their cars and travel the short distance to cross the street.
Q: Why not consider building a tunnel? Because of a creek that runs underneath Peachtree Parkway, building a tunnel would present a number of issues, one of which would be a continuous problem of dampness due to the close proximity of the creek. Adding a bridge, on the other hand, adds value to the city in terms of appearance and recognition. It is also part of the multi-use trail system and connects the trailheads for walkers, cyclists.
Q: Why not build just a simple bridge structure that will allow people to safely get from the Town Center to The Forum? We have an opportunity to not only build a safe means to cross the street but one that’s a pleasant and enjoyable experience. By building more than just a walkway, we have the opportunity to create a distinctive landmark that will serve the community well for years to come. By keeping our city attractive to new businesses and those looking to relocate, the positive impact will be felt by all of us as we watch our community become a more viable and favored place to live.
Q: Can we afford it? Yes, a pedestrian bridge is a transportation project and qualifies for SPLOST funding. Our SPLOST is dedicated to transportation. These SPLOST dollars have helped us launch an aggressive transportation improvement plan to address the traffic problems that existed before Peachtree Corners became a city. Non-residents contribute a significant amount. Of the 36,200 jobs in our city, only about 12 percent of the jobs are filled by residents. The sales tax they generate helps pay for road improvements. Peachtree Corners property owners already enjoy a zero millage rate. No additional city taxes will be needed to pay for the pedestrian bridge.
Q: Where are we in the process? We are still gathering information to help complete the design phase. No decisions have been made and no votes have been taken. The process for developing a bridge actually started with the 2013 Comprehensive Plan which recommended that the City conduct an in-depth analysis of the Town Center area. The Town Center study was completed in 2015 and included the recommendation that a pedestrian bridge be built over Peachtree Parkway as part of a multi-use trail system. In fact, adding a pedestrian bridge was rated as the highest priority by survey participants. The city has held two community meetings so far. Stay tuned, we’ll be holding more information-gathering events in the coming months to get your input.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to write me or one of the council members.
Visit to Cuba shows happy, friendly people but crumbling buildings
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher,
MAY 3, 2016 | While visiting Cuba last week, we didn’t get much contact with everyday Cuban people. My wife and I were on a visit with primarily American newspaper people.
Other than Cubans at our hotel and restaurants, meeting and talking with Cubans was not part of our trip to this island nation of 11 million people. It somewhat reminded me of a visit several years ago to China, where we had no contact with individual Chinese. Wonder if both were deliberate?
There were two big take-aways from visiting Cuba on the five day trip.
First, Cuban people we saw on the streets going about their daily lives are busy and well-dressed. They have excellent education (all must attend school until 17, and the literacy rate is 99 percent.) They are not paid well according to our standards, and must often stand in line to buy items. But overall, they seem content. We also need to add that most Cubans have never known life except under this Communist country, now for 59 years.
Second, perhaps 75 percent of buildings in downtown Havana are crumbling from neglect. Many stand vacant, often with roofs caved in. There is no individual ownership of buildings allowed by their government, though people may own apartments within buildings. Yet the facades of these structures, many built in the 1920-50s, are architecturally beautiful. Perhaps 15-20 percent of the buildings are artfully restored, many colorfully. How some buildings get saved, while others adjacent crumble….we never learned. While the buildings are shabby, the streets are clean!
A few short thoughts:
- Yes, 1950-60 American autos are still in use, often in bright colors. But the vast majority of vehicles today are late-model imports, from Korea, France, Japan, and many other countries.
- Cuba concentrates on educating its people, and taking care of their health. Its modern medicine is excellent, while providing doctors for many Central and South American countries.
- Cuban agriculture is cutting-edge, concentrating on crops organically on small plots within the cities. It’s super successful. Fertilizer is in short supply. Yet Cuba still does not grow enough food for its people, hence needing imports for a growing line of staples. Its mechanization of farming is non-existent.
- It’s getting easier to visit Cuba. Tourism is small now, but could pave the way for a better trade balance. Opening up the country could be a godsend. Yet Cuba must provide better access with upgraded facilities. Its main airport near Havana looks and dates from the 1930s.
For Cuba to really make progress and improve living conditions for its people, the Communist bureaucrats must figure out a way to institute some form of ownership of buildings. It seems too large a task for government to undertake restoring perhaps 50-75 percent of all the deteriorating buildings within Cuba. Perhaps some day personal wealth may be able to change this. Buildings are a tremendous problem, which the government does not appear to be able or interested in solving.
Yet even its leaders say Cuba must change in many ways. But unless the pace of change greatly improves, the plight of the government, its structures and its people, may be seriously threatened.
We were pleased to have visited in Cuba. We see tremendous opportunity, even if only small changes are made. Its contented people, we hope, can rise to the occasion.
Maybe if we had been on a health mission, or on an educational or agricultural tour, we would have had a better understanding of the nation. Actually talking with its people would have helped. That would have improved our trip. If you go to Cuba, try to arrange more contact with its people.
State should call bluff of filmmaker’s many tax breaks in Georgia
By Debra Houston
MAY 3, 2015 | So let me get this straight. Unless state legislators bow down to Hollywood values, Rob Reiner and other filmmakers will pull out of Georgia? I guess we’re supposed to exchange our free republic for a Hollywood-ocracy. They don’t call it Hollyweird for nothing.
I say bon voyage! We did fine before Hollywood bullied its way into Georgia, and we’ll do fine once they’re gone. We have enough zombies running wild in Fayetteville. I say move them to New Orleans and let them have with the gators. Reptiles aren’t choosey about who they eat. Come to think about it, that would make a great reality show. Fear Factor and Survivor all rolled into one.
Filmmakers are saving a boatload of money through tax breaks here in Georgia, so perhaps we should call their bluff when they have temper tantrums over our laws. Make a mental note of that for 2017, Governor.
Furthermore, I’m completely ticked off with Bruce Springsteen. He cancelled a concert in North Carolina because that state dared to write a law prohibiting men from entering women’s restrooms. Am I so antiquated that I think a state should protect the privacy of women?
I boycott you, Springsteen! You can dance in the dark by yourself, dude. You weren’t the only one born in the USA. You’ve seen your glory days. Now take the E-Street back up to Jersey. And if you were really born to run, please do so above the Mason-Dixon Line. Satisfy that hungry heart of yours by staying away from restaurants that serve grits.
Your fans may call you The Boss, but you’re not the boss of me.
Gwinnett Braves
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. The Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The team plays their home games at Coolray Field, located on Georgia Highway 20 just east of the Mall of Georgia. Another season of family-friendly fun and kid-friendly activities is in full swing! Highlights of the Promotional Schedule for May include Friday Fireworks (presented by Fox 5 Atlanta) after the games on May 6, May 20 and May 27, “Star Wars Night” on May 7, Mother’s Day on May 8, the Camo Hat Giveaway (presented by Coolray Heating and Cooling) on May 28 and Memorial Day Fireworks on May 30. The full 2016 Promotional Schedule is online at GwinnettBraves.com.
- Follow the G-Braves at twitter.com/GwinnettBraves and facebook/com/GwinnettBraves1. Ticket packages are on sale now, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.
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Items opposing bridge in Peachtree Corners are misstated or incorrect
Editor, the Forum:
Recent issues of GwinnettForum have contained articles or letters opposing the Peachtree Corners bridge. Unfortunately, in their zeal to condemn the bridge and the city leaders, these writers have either misstated facts or misled with incorrect or inflammatory statements.
Consistent in these pieces was an implication that somehow “millions of dollars” were about to be spent that the city will have to “tax and spend” to pay for. This is simply not true.
The truth is that the city is fulfilling its Planning and Zoning mandate quite admirably with no increase in property taxes. Let me repeat that for clarity – the City has a zero millage rate. Look at your property tax bill – it’s right there in black and white – $0.
The City has viable funding for its projects in the form of existing business licensing fees, insurance premium taxes, franchise fees and our share of SPLOST. None of these are new – they’ve been collected by Gwinnett for decades. The only difference is our leaders now have a say in how these funds are spent to improve our local community, rather than watching resources generated in our part of the county funneled off to fund priorities set in Lawrenceville.
Yes, funds were used to purchase property across from the Forum that kept a large apartment development out and provided space for a Town Center. Yes, funds were used to help secure Simpsonwood as a county park, saving that valuable riverfront land from development. And yes, funds are proposed to build the bridge linking both sides of Peachtree Parkway. All of these initiatives reflect solid city leadership and sound principles of planning.
Clearly, we still have a loud minority that wants to re-fight the existence of the city and have seized on this issue to say “I told you so.” What they fail to recognize is Peachtree Corners is, indeed, fulfilling its mandate for planning and zoning with this project and doing so in a fiscally responsible manner. Furthermore, these decisions are being made locally by people who live here, which is why the voters approved the city in the first place.
— Rob Keith, Peachtree Corners
Cubans pretend to work, while the governor pretends to pay them
Editor, the Forum:
In an attempt to be better informed, I wanted to get to Cuba “before McDonald’s” and visited in 2015. Saying the intent of creating a more harmonious relationship between the U.S. and Cuba—while offering a better life for the country’s 11 million, is a grand idea. Yet, I learned how complicated this will be.
The highly educated population has grown up in a dramatically different world than any can realize. While many may agree that Communism is a failure at every level, this is what Cubans know. We were told a pediatric doctor (a relative) of our tour guide, makes $40/month. After we all gasped, he continued by wonderfully summing up life in his world, “We pretend to work and the government pretends to pay us.”
These are wonderful people, who view items like mayonnaise and peanut butter as luxuries, who often commute hours on non air-conditioned buses, who can’t drink their water, who watch on average six buildings collapse in Havana due to disrepair, who risk their lives by floating on rickety boats in hopes of a better life in this country.
It will be a long and difficult road…of that I am certain.
— Howard Hoffman, Norcross
Praises artists who inspire us with their talents and emotion
Editor, the Forum:
Like so many others, I am incredibly grateful that artists such as Karen Burnette Garner pull from a well of talent and emotion to produce pieces that change lives. Monet, van Gogh, Dali, da Vinci forward to Pollack, Warhol and O’Keefe… critics have always been in abundance. (See previous GwinnettForum article and photo of her art.)
A painting by Karen Burnette Garner hangs in my bedroom and brings awe and wonder every single day. It was purchased this past year when I very much needed healing and happiness. New details reveal themselves daily, even with the change of the light from day to night.
Talent is a great blessing, as is the dedicated artist creating regardless of opinion.
— Kelly King Herndon, Clermont
Wants candidates who run on what they truly believe
Editor, the Forum:
Does Cagle’s religious liberty stand hurt his 2018 governor’s chances?
No, you did not say it, but you did say it. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle would have a better chance of being elected governor next year if he took a public position contrary to how he truly believes.
I much prefer a politician who runs on what he truly believes. We are covered up in politicians who tell us what they think we want to hear and then do differently once elected.
— Alex J. Ortolano, Duluth
- Send Feedback and Letters to: elliott@brack.net
Aurora Theatre announces themes, times for summer acting camp
School will soon be out for the summer and kids of all ages are invited to burn off school-year stress alongside Aurora Theatre during its sizzling 2016 Summer Camp series, happening this June and July. From Improv practice to collaboration with peers during group performances, students will be taught and trained by some of the region’s top professionals!
Below is a list of the camps being offered:
Grades 1–5 (Mini: grades 1–3, Master: Grades 4–5): Camp Aurora is a weeklong session giving students the opportunity to have valuable stage experience, all the while encouraging teamwork and collaboration with peers. These half-day sessions will allow students to become hands-on and create portions of the sets, costumes and props! Tuition is $200 per morning or afternoon session.
Bilingual Camp: In Aurora’s first-ever bilingual camp, students will be active participants in character creation for exciting, whirlwind productions of fairy tales from Hispanic culture presented to family and friends! Tuition is $200.
Acting Edge Camp: Tweens and teens are invited to explore the craft of acting through hands-on experience with various styles like Stanislavski, Shakespeare, Stage Combat, Improvisation classes and more! This two-week camp will culminate with a showcase of scenes and sketches in the Aurora Studio for friends and family to see. Tuition is $500.
Guerrilla Theater Camp: In this wildly upbeat camp, students will learn many styles that shatter the convention of the fourth wall – from Commedia dell’Arte to Improv comedy and even flash mobs! Tuition is $300. To register for either the Acting Edge or Guerrilla Theater camp, visit bit.ly/auroracamps or call the box office at 678-226-6222.
Musical Camp: For the third year in a row, Aurora Theatre Academy invites students of all ages to participate in a summer musical led by the region’s finest professional actors. Tuition is $600.
Aurora offers students both financial need and talent-based scholarship opportunities. Through the continued support of Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Suwanee and other generous groups, Aurora Theatre Academy is able to offer students the valuable experience of honing their craft with seasoned professionals.
- For more information and dates of specific camps and to register, visit www.auroratheatre.com
or call 678-226-6222.
Aimee Copeland commencement speaker at GGC’s May 12 fete
Copeland
Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) May 12 commencement ceremony will feature a keynote address by Aimee Copeland. She will address the more than 400 GGC students who will receive their bachelor’s degrees in the ceremony, which will be held at 10 a.m. on the college’s main lawn. Copeland gained national attention four years ago for her brave battle with necrotizing fasciitis – also known as flesh-eating bacteria – following an accident on a zip line in the Little Tallapoosa River. This annual GGC ceremony includes several “firsts” for Georgia Gwinnett, including its first class of bachelor-degreed nursing students and its first chemistry major. Four U.S. Army ROTC cadets will be commissioned as part of the event, including GGC’s first two female cadets.
Libraries closed next week; new hours at all branches begin May 16
Gwinnett County Public Library branches will close on Monday, May 9 through Sunday, May 15 for a system-wide technology upgrade. Book drops will remain open and customers will have their full pick up time available for items placed on hold. Digital resources and databases will remain available at www.gwinnettpl.org. All branches will reopen on Monday, May 16 with the new uniform system hours recently approved by the Library Board of Trustees.
Beginning May 16, system-wide Gwinnett Library hours will be: Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon until 5 p.m.
NOTABLE
Clean and Beautiful honors local heroes and Connie Wiggins
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful honored local heroes and community partners while paying homage to the environmentally-focused nonprofit organization’s outgoing Executive Director of the last 30 years, Connie Wiggins last week. The honorees included:
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Chairman Bartow Morgan presents Connie Wiggins with a remembrance of her years as head of the organization. Former Chairman Jim Steele and Board Member Dick Carothers are also shown.
Green Business of the Year: CH2M: Local team members for this global engineering and project delivery company actively participate in environmental education sessions at local schools. In 2015, CH2M also provided team leaders and volunteers for Great Gwinnett Wetlands, Beaver Ruin Watershed Cleanup, and Governor’s Environmental Address.
Green Community Partner of the Year: Gwinnett County Health Department: In 2015 this department hosted 22 cleanups and donated 101 volunteer hours to remove 3,930 lbs. of trash from their nearby roadways through the Adopt-A-Road program. Their involvement also includes Great Gwinnett Wetlands, Governor’s Environmental Address and Beaver Ruin Watershed Cleanup.
Green Educator of the Year: Pharr Elementary School: A participant in the Green and Healthy Schools program since 1999, over 40 percent of Pharr’s campus is dedicated to outdoor learning –which includes a walking trail and extensive learning gardens featuring more than 800 plants that were all started in the school’s greenhouse. Pharr Elementary students harvested over 750 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables from their gardens in 2015 – most of which was donated to Southeast Gwinnett Co-op to feed local families, including the families of some of the school’s students.
Green Youth Leader of the Year: Janis Yoon: As president of Peachtree Ridge’s Green Team and Habitat for Humanity Club, Miss Yoon is a charter member of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful’s Green Youth Advisory Council – serving as a great leader and mentor for the group. She plans to pursue an Environmental Studies degree with dreams of one day delving into the field of alternative energy.
Green Government of the Year: City of Norcross: The city regularly hosts a Mega Recycle and Clean Up Event and is well-known for its lush canopy of trees – for which it has been named a Tree City USA Community for the last 11 years. It also received the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Green Communities program Gold Certification.
Environmental Legacy Award: Connie Wiggins: a resident of Gwinnett County for 40 years, Wiggins has spent the past three decades at the helm of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful as its executive director. Under her watch, a trove of new environmentally-focused programs was developed – including the most recent Great Gwinnett Wetlands, Youth Advisory Council and ME (My Environment) Campaign. Described by Keep America Beautiful (KAB) COO Becky Lyons as one of KAB’s most successful affiliates, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful has amassed a collection of 128 trophies, honors and awards – including 65 national awards. In addition to an original Environmental Legacy Award designed by artist Alan Bush and titled “The Guardian”, Wiggins was further honored with a Key to the City from Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson and the announcement that a pavilion at Level Creek Park in Sugar Hill will bear her name.
Mural in Toyota promotion to remain in Skin Alley in Norcross
“Verb” the mural completed last month on the Skin Alley ArtWay by artist Peter Ferrari.
Film crews are regular guests in Norcross. But once the crew leaves, everything is put back exactly as it was, as if they had never been in the quaint town. That was not the case when Toyota filmed a commercial in Norcross’ Skin Alley, the alley way right behind the main street. Toyota recently commissioned Peter Ferrari to paint this mural for a viral commercial. Now that the filming is complete, Toyota is gifting the artwork to the City of Norcross.
The story-tall mural called “Verb” spans the Norcross Masonic Lodge and onto Publix Credit Union buildings on Skin Alley. Designed to promote Toyota’s hybrid Prius, the colorful mural represents action.
Cindy Flynn, chair of the Norcross Public Arts Commission (NPAC), says: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Toyota gifted this mural to Norcross. This mural is an unexpected kick-start to making Skin Alley an exciting ArtWay for Norcross.”
NPAC plans to continue to transform the sparse downtown alley into a vibrant, meaningful, and welcoming space. It will be a pedestrian-oriented, creative hub that supports year-round global entertainment and cultural programs. The ArtWay is inspired by the concept of ‘Art is a Way’ for artists and community members to lift each other up, start conversations, share stories, bridge differences and find common ground.
NPAC plans to engage local artists as well as artists in future projects to contribute to the ArtWay.
Mural artist Ferrari grew up in Atlanta and attended Emory University. He has produced several murals around the metro area and operates Forward Warrior, an organization that paints murals while engaging the community. NPAC’s first commissioned mural will begin production coming months. The mural will be on the yellow cinder block building at 20 Skin Alley, and will heavily involve the community to inspire the artist’s design concept.
Snellville forms Youth Commission Ambassadors from South Gwinnett
Some 25 South Gwinnett High students have a new title: Youth Commission Ambassador. Councilwoman and SGHS teacher Cristy Lenski spearheaded the creation of the organization after inspiration from Mayor Tom Witts, She says the group has been charged with “forging tomorrow’s leaders today.” The ambassadors will learn the ins and outs of local government, be groomed as future community leaders and prepare for a lifetime of public and community service. They will also advise city leaders on issues affecting young people.
Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew
Stories by Michael Morpurgo
This is both a collection of short stories, plus messages from the author of how and why he wrote these insightful stories. Born in war-torn London, when age one, he was taken to Cumberland to get away from Germany’s bombing of the city. He became a writer and later moved to Devon to start a farm where city children could visit for a short stay. He’s the author of the book-to-play-and-movie War Horse, and Why the Whales Came and other books. Perhaps the most poignant story concerns the author being shipped off to a boarding school at a young age, and how he, and like mates, missed home so much, and hated the school. The title story shows what modern developments, like atomic generation plants, can do to a quiet community…..and how short the plant’s lifespan can be. It’s well-written and thoroughly enjoyable book, one you will long remember.—eeb
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (100 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. –eeb
Horace Ward born lowly, rises to federal judicial bench
In 1950 Horace T. Ward became the first African American to challenge the racially discriminatory practices at the University of Georgia (UGA). Although the all-white UGA School of Law rejected Ward’s application and a federal court subsequently upheld the university’s decision, Ward’s challenge to the university’s segregationist policies began a legal process that would eventually bear fruit in 1961. He would later become the first African American ever to serve on the federal bench in Georgia.
Horace Taliaferro Ward was born in LaGrange on July 29, 1927, the only child of Minnie Ward, who worked as a domestic. He never knew his father. Ward lived with his mother’s parents until he began school at age nine. Though he began school late, he was a bright and eager pupil. He graduated valedictorian of East Depot Street High School in 1946.
Ward enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta and majored in political science and in 1949, enrolled at Atlanta University earning a master’s degree in 1950. On September 29, 1950, Ward formally applied to law school at UGA. The university registrar, Walter N. Danner, forwarded Ward’s application to the Board of Regents—a procedure that was not followed for white applicants. When L. R. Seibert, executive secretary of the Board of Regents, offered Ward out-of-state tuition assistance, Ward refused it and insisted that his application be judged on its merits.
Despite Ward’s repeated requests for updates on the status of his application, the regents continued to stall. Finally, on June 7, 1951, Danner informed Ward by letter that his application had been denied. The university’s decision came more than nine months after Ward had filed his application.
For the next twelve months Ward tried in vain to get university officials to give him a reason for their decision. Up to this point, university officials, including President O. C. Aderhold and University System of Georgia chancellor Harmon Caldwell, had insisted that Ward was simply “not qualified” for admission, despite his stellar academic performance at both Morehouse and Atlanta University. University officials steadfastly denied that UGA excluded blacks; the fact that no black had ever been admitted to the university was merely coincidental.
(Fearing that he would never be admitted to UGA, Ward had quietly enrolled at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., in the fall of 1956.)
In the early 1960s Ward was a partner of the law firm of Hollowell, Ward, Moore, and Alexander. For nine years (1965-74) he served in the Georgia Senate. The high point of his career came in 1979, when U.S President Jimmy Carter appointed him to a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, thereby making Ward the first African American ever to sit on the federal bench in Georgia. In an interesting twist of fate, Ward later presided over several cases in which UGA was the defendant. Judge Ward took senior status, reducing his workload, in 1994.
Ward was awarded an honorary law degree from UGA in 2014 because he had made “substantial contributions to our university community by delivering lectures to our students and by sharing his story with our historians,” according to UGA president Jere W. Morehead.
Ward died of natural causes near Atlanta in April, 2016, at the age of 88.
- To access the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Several significant hints in this edition’s Mystery Photo
It’s a tall, red brick structure, a symbol of its bygone past. Note that it is surrounded by beautiful vegetation. Now your job is to tell us where you think this photo was taken. Send your thoughts to elliott@brack.net, and be sure to include your hometown.
The last issue’s Mystery Photo was from a tourist location, that of Aix-en-Provence, France, sent to us by Tom Merkel of B
erkeley Lake. Recognizing it were Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill and George Graf of Palmyra, Va., who writes: “The Three Graces Fountain is centered in the mystery photo. Paul Cezanne (1839–1906) was born and painted in this city. According to legend, Saint Mitre (433–466), a field worker living in Aix-en-Provence, was charged with witchcraft for making a miracle come true. He was beheaded. He then picked up his head and took it to a church in Aix, Église Notre-Dame de la Seds.”
Peachtree Corners Rotary hosts first Career Exploration Night
The cafeteria at Norcross High was crowded during the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club first Career Exploration Night recently. More than 300 students participated, while 60 local businesses came together for the event. Club President Mark Thornell of the Fowler YMCA states: “It was a home run for the students, business leaders, and for our club.” The Rotary Club of Peachtree Corners meets every Monday at noon at the Carlyle House in Downtown Norcross.
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