GwinnettForum | Number 21.5| Jan. 18, 2022
CAPTURING THE 2022 SNOW on January 16 in Gwinnett is this photograph from Roving Photographer Frank Sharp, who didn’t drive around on icy roads, but shot this, but took it from his home in Lawrenceville. Several MLK observances were canceled because of the weather. Hardest hit areas around here were in Hall County, where hundreds were without power for several hours. Now forecasters are predicting more possible snow on the next weekend.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Hudgens Center accepting entries for $50,000 Georgia art award
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Bill Kirby corrects myth about George Washington
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Gwinnett College
FEEDBACK: Enjoyed Candler article, bringing back memories of hometown
UPCOMING: Darnae Parks is new diversity director at PCOM
NOTABLE: Gwinnett Chamber welcomes 38 new members to its board
OBITUARIES: Cecil Morris, Nancy Anne Morris
RECOMMENDED: Travels with George (Washington) by Nathaniel Philbrick
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Georgian does important work with mosquito eradication
MYSTERY PHOTO: Clues abound, so where was this photo taken?
LAGNIAPPE: Civic concept
CALENDAR: Emergency Rental Assistance program will be on January 19
Hudgens Center accepting entries for $50,000 Ga. art award
DULUTH, Ga. | Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for Art and Learning is now accepting entries for the sixth cycle of its prestigious visual arts prize. With a cash award of $50,000 and a solo exhibition for one talented Georgia artist, the Hudgens Prize is one of the largest monetary awards given to an individual artist in the nation. The purpose of the competition is to elevate and promote the arts and artists of Georgia, while providing a transformational opportunity for the winning artist.
Laura Ballance, The Hudgens’ executive director, says: “As we mark ten years of the Hudgens Prize, having reflected on the impact of this award in our 2021 Hudgens Prize Retrospective, we are beyond thrilled to launch our next Hudgens Prize competition for the 2022-2023 cycle. The Hudgens Prize serves to support and promote Georgia artists, but the real significance of this competition is seen throughout our larger community.
“The arts in Georgia support a growing and thriving creative economy and enriching, quality of life experiences for all. I am inspired by the transformational opportunities the Hudgens Prize provides to artists throughout Georgia, and humbled by the long-lasting impact the Hudgens Prize brings as we better understand the benefits of the arts within our local communities.”
2015 Hudgens Prize Recipient, Bethany Collins said of her award: “The inseparable impact and value of the Hudgens Prize is in the cash award being paired with a lengthy conversation between finalists and jurors. It’s our conversation unfurling over the long-haul that I hold as so particularly valuable.”
Kate Driscoll, director of Exhibitions and Public Programs at the Hudgens, adds: “The magnitude of the Hudgens Prize represents our dedication to highlighting and uplifting local artists. The Hudgens Prize is a symbol of the importance we place on our mission of bringing together art lovers, leaders, and learners and supporting gifted Georgia artists in their careers.”
The Hudgens Prize competition is open to all individual artists, age 18 and up, living as full time residents in the state of Georgia. Visual artwork of any medium will be considered. Works previously exhibited at the Hudgens are ineligible for inclusion in Hudgens Prize Exhibitions. All work must have been completed within the last two years. Entry requires a $30 non-refundable fee, and entitles each artist to submit up to ten examples of their work.
Competition entries are to be submitted online via digital upload, and will be accepted until March 13, 2022. Artists may visit the Hudgens’ website to access the application link.
Four finalists will be decided by early April, 2022 from the online submissions. In fall of 2022, there will be a competition exhibition with the four finalists. The winner will be decided based on their work displayed in the competition exhibitions, and studio visits/artist talks.
The winner will be decided in October of 2022 and will have a solo show in the fall of 2023.
- For more information and the full rules of entry, contact Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, Kate Driscoll, at kdriscoll@thehudgens.org.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Bill Kirby corrects myth about George Washington
Washington on Mount Rushmore/Unsplash.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 18, 2022 | It’s surprising when it happens: you’re enjoying reading a good book, and suddenly, the author mentions someone you know well. It doesn’t happen every day.
Last week we were reading the book recommendation of today (see below), Travels with George (Washington) by Nathaniel Philbrick. And there on page 246, he’s talking with newspaperman Bill Kirby when he was with The Augusta Chronicle. He once was a city editor and editorial page editor of the Gwinnett Daily News and a colleague of mine. Bill was telling the author about the trip when Washington was in Augusta. As it turns out, Bill Kirby set Philbrick straight on what was developing as a myth around our first president.
Philbrick had developed this theory that among the entourage of Washington, though not written down anywhere by the president, included a dog. After all, Washington was known to love dogs, and Philbrick theorized that Washington had a dog along with him on the arduous trip. Philbrick had a name for the dog: “Cornwallis,” having run across an account of the dog. The name was a nod to Washington’s victory on October 19, 1781, over the British General Charles Cornwallis, who surrendered his army of some 8,000 men to General George Washington at Yorktown, giving up any chance of winning the Revolutionary War.
Kirby
But Bill Kirby put an end to the theory of a dog traveling with Washington.
As the author Philbrick understood, the only reference to a dog on Washington’s trip was an item in The Augusta Chronicle in 1892. A story reported the gravestone of Cornwallis. Beneath the stone was a small brick vault with the remains of a large dog.
This must have excited Nathanial Philbrick. But Bill asked Philbrick: “Did you notice the date of the article?” It was April 1, 1892. Yep, an April Fool’s joke! As Philbrick wrote: “Forget everything I’ve told you until now about George Washington’s dog, Cornwallis.”
By the way, on retracing Washington’s route, Philbrick and his wife, Melissa, took along their own dog on the trip!
Thank you, Bill Kirby, now retired and living in Columbus, for your contribution on setting history straight!
From Walter Geiger, editor and publisher of the Barnesville Herald-Gazette, comes this wonderment: “For the umpteenth time last week I wondered why the flags around town were at half staff. (A flag on land is at half staff. A flag on a boat is at half mast.)
“Back in the day, it was a big deal when the flags went to half staff. It required the death of a president, some great statesman, medal of honor winner or the like.
“Now the flags are at half staff more than they are at full staff. And it is hard to find out why. Local, state and federal officials can order the lowering of the flag, and do so more often, perhaps, than they should. In making the honor so easily bestowed, we have taken the honor out of it.
“So I will continue to wonder who is being honored when I see the lowered flag. I’m betting a lot of you are right there with me.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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Candler article brought back hometown memories
Editor, the Forum:
Thanks to Dean Sam Candler for his reminder that “people are kind.” His walk along the Chattahoochee River provided him (and us) with both comfort and reassurance. For me, it also brought back memories of a park in my hometown of Winter Park, Fla. The Exedra monument at Kraft Azalea Park offers seating overlooking Lake Maitland. On it is inscribed this invitation “Pause friend, and let nature inspire you.” It does the heart good.
– David C. Will, Lawrenceville
Send us your thoughts: We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net.
Parks is new diversity director at PCOM
Parks
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine has recently named Darnae Parks as the director of diversity and community partnerships at PCOM Georgia. In this role, Parks will work to implement educational, assessment and quality improvement programs and initiatives as they relate to cultural competency and diversity, and inclusion.
Parks said, “As a proud member of several minority groups, I have experienced speed bumps and roadblocks that only delayed my determined outcomes.” He added, “My goal in this position is to make sure that our faculty and staff have the best resources to ensure that our future medical providers, pharmacists, psychologists and scientists are properly prepared to assist our growing diverse communities.”
Parks most recently served as the associate director of admissions at PCOM Georgia. In this position, he oversaw the application process for the Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, as well as the Physician Assistant Studies and Medical Laboratory Science graduate programs. In addition, he developed partnerships with organizations to promote academic program growth.
Parks serves as a member of the President’s Task Force for Underrepresented Minorities in Recruitment and Retention, as well as chair of the PCOM LGBTQIA+ Council. In addition, he serves as a health advisory board member for Gwinnett County Public Schools. He was honored by the 2017 – 2018 PCOM Georgia Student Organizations Council with a Staff and Services Recognition Award.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Newberry College, Newberry, S.C.. In addition, he earned a master’s of strategic leadership development from Clayton State University.
Gwinnett Chamber welcomes 38 new members to its board
The Gwinnett Chamber welcomed 38 new members to its 2022 Board of Directors with a comprehensive board orientation meeting. The program outlined the organization’s purpose, activities, and board responsibilities throughout the year.
Nick Masino, president and CEO, says: “We have intentionally worked to grow our board of directors over the last two years so that it reflects the diversity of our community. To that end, our board now boasts the most diverse group of members in the Chamber’s 74-year history, and I look forward to working with them as we champion business together in Gwinnett and metro Atlanta.”
New members joining the Gwinnett Chamber Board of Directors for the 2022 fiscal year include:
- Hilda Abbott, Rudhil Companies, LLC;
- Mason Ailstock, Rowen Foundation, Inc.;
- Tasha Allen, Georgia Chamber of Commerce;
- Houston Bass, Truist;
- Jasmine Billings, Gwinnett Young Professionals;
- Chris Braun, Renasant Bank;
- Ray Cobb, JBM Marketing Solutions;
- Dr. Saadiq El-Amin, El-Amin Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute and Regenerative Medicine;
- Terry Fox, Fox Building Company;
- Joe Godfrey, Oconee State Bank;
- Marcus Hinton, Agios Pharmaceuticals;
- Mathias Hoffman, German American Chamber of Commerce;
- Cynthia Kaye, Alive Studios;
- Alvin Keitt, ARK Temporary Staffing, LLC;
- Trey King, Gwinnett Municipal Association;
- Michael Knowles, Fifth Third Bank;
- Todd Long, Atlas;
- Veronica Maldonado-Torres, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;
- P.K. Martin, Hood Insurance Agency;
- Nancy McGill, Cartridge World Lawrenceville;
- Linnea Miller, Long Table, LLC;
- Tim Minard, Eclipse Gaming;
- Imran Niazi, Blackwater Construction Group, LLC;
- Rick Packer, The Packer Group;
- Faruq Patel, FLA, LLC;
- Cole Porter, Porter Steel, Inc.;
- Senator Sheikh Rahman, Gwinnett Senate Delegation chair;
- Jessica Rantamake, Geo-Hydro Engineers, Inc.;
- Kamden Robb, Gas South;
- Kim Rousseau, Perkins Will;
- Linda Schoepf, Little Caesars;
- Chandler Snell, E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc;.
- Bryant Spann, CarMax;
- Greg Swinks, Tayva Holdings;
- Bruno Taillefer, Taillefer Commercial Group;
- Deon Tucker, Georgia Power;
- Wanda Weegar, Georgia Banking Company; and
- Bob Williams, Pond and Company.
The Gwinnett Chamber will hold its first full board meeting of the year on Thursday, January 20, at the 1818 Club.
Gwinnett’s Sever is 2021 transportation professional of year
Gwinnett Department of Transportation Assistant Director Tom Sever was recognized as the 2021 Transportation Professional of the Year by the Georgia Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed substantially to the safe and efficient movement of people or goods in the state.
With more than 26 years of professional experience, Sever has served Gwinnett County for two decades, previously as deputy director of Traffic Engineering, Operations and Maintenance; division director of Traffic Engineering; and chief engineer of the Traffic Signal and ITS Section.
He has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Sever is the fifth Gwinnett County Government employee to receive this award. He and his wife Tracy have two sons, Austin and Wesley.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Cecil Morris, Nancy Anne Morris
Royce Cecil Morris, 84, of Cumming, former Duluth High School coach for 21 seasons, died January 5, 2022. Ironically, six days later his wife, Nancy Anne Morris, 86, also died. A memorial service for the couple was held January 15 at the Sugarloaf United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ty Blackburn officiating.
Coach Morris, a native of Hazelhurst, Ga., was a retired educator, and over his life, was employed by Jeff Davis High School, North Fulton High School and Duluth High School in Georgia, and Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C. His record as a football coach was 150 games won, 82 losses and 7 ties. He coached Duluth to seven regional championships, and was runner up to the state title for three seasons. Among the players he coached at Duluth was George Rogers, who went to South Carolina, where he won the Heisman Trophy.
Mrs. Morris was a retired Bellsouth operator, and receptionist with Cosmetic Dental Solutions, Dr. Chris Sholota.
They are survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Matt and Cindy Morris, of Duluth, Michael and Christine Morris of Moore, S.C;. daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Kenny Kinsey of Cumming; brother and sister-in-law, Raybon and Joyce Morris of Tallulah Falls; six grandchildren; and Mrs. Morris’ sister, Fannie Mae King of Johns Creek.
Those wishing to make donations in their memory should make checks to the Alzheimer’s Association, 41 Perimeter Center East, #550, Atlanta, Ga. 30346, or visit www.alz.org. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.billheadfuneralhome.com.
Travels with George (Washington) by Nathaniel Philbrick
Some books move along so quickly, and this is one of them. Soon after being sworn into office as president in 1789, George Washington began a tour of the colonies. He visited all 13 states, staying in taverns and homes, and enduring many hardships. The author follows a similar route in 2018-19, in a car, instead of horse-drawn chariot as Washington used with its retinue of eight others. He brings to life the key incidents of both trips. The wanderings went as far north as Kittery, Maine, and south to Savannah, Ga., as the new president was intent of meeting people in each state to shore up the young nation. You learn of the problems of travel in that day of poor roads, often mere pathways. It’s a superb work, a different glimpse of the young country and its towering president. – eeb
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Georgian does important work with mosquito eradication
Joseph Hill White entered the Marine Hospital Service, later known as the U.S. Public Health Service, in 1884, and served until his retirement in 1923. During his distinguished career the Georgia native was appointed assistant surgeon general and was posted throughout the United States and abroad to manage outbreaks of communicative disease. His fieldwork in the use of mosquito eradication measures to combat yellow fever laid important groundwork for scientific research in combating the disease.
White
White was born in 1859 in Milledgeville, where his family was prominent during the period in which the city served as Georgia’s capital (1807-68). His grandfather, Benjamin Aspinwall White, was president of the Georgia State Board of Physicians for most of his career and was appointed Georgia’s surgeon general in 1861.
Joseph White received his initial medical training under his uncle, Samuel Gore White of Milledgeville, and received his M.D. from the Baltimore (Md.) College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1883. He married Emily Hurt Humber in Putnam County in 1885. Early in his career he commanded the South Atlantic Quarantine at Blackbeard Island, supervising the disinfecting of crews and cargoes en route to southern ports of the United States.
In 1899 White was placed in charge of the Marine Hospital Domestic Quarantine Division, based in Washington, D.C. That same year a yellow fever outbreak occurred at the National Soldiers Home near Newport News, Va. Before departing for Virginia, White indicated to fellow physician Walter Reed that he planned to use mosquito control as well as the requisite quarantine to limit the outbreak.
The link between the mosquito and yellow fever had been suggested by another physician, Carlos Juan Finlay, but had not yet been scientifically proved and was considered controversial in medical circles. Despite the close quarters at the home, there were only 11 fatalities. In 1900 Reed and the U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission definitively identified the Aedes aegypti mosquito as the vector for the disease.
In 1905 a yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans, La., proved to be the last in the United States. Fearing the interruption of commerce necessitated by a quarantine, business and civic leaders initially downplayed the situation, allowing the caseload to reach epidemic proportions. White was posted to New Orleans, where he skillfully brought the outbreak under control before the first frost.
In 1914 White was loaned to the Rockefeller Foundation, under whose auspices he was posted to Central and South America to further the foundation’s work against various communicative diseases. In 1921 the foundation appointed him director of the Worldwide Campaign against Yellow Fever.
Through the publication of articles in medical journals and appearances at professional conferences, White devoted his career to convincing the medical community and the general public of the importance of preventive medicine and public health measures in the control of disease.
White died in Washington, D.C., in 1953 and is buried in Milledgeville’s Memory Hill Cemetery.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Clues abound, so where was this photo taken?
A goat, a hill, a road, some water: these are several clues to today’s Mystery Photo. We’ll give you one more clue: this is a dated photograph. Now your job: tell us where (and when?) this was taken. Send your answers to elliott@brack.net, and include your hometown.
We thought the last Mystery would be tough and it proved to be that way. Only Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex., identified the photo, which was sent in by George Graf of Palmyra, Va.
Peel writes: “Today’s mystery is of the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (better known as Stadtpfarrkirche Mariae Himmelfahrt in its native language of German) in the historic center of Bad Tölz, in the Upper Bavaria region of Germany, approximately 26-miles south of Munich.
“The church has its earliest historical references in documents from the 13th century, after which it was redesigned and reconstructed over the centuries. According to a YouTube, the tower that is featured in today’s photo was built in 1466, but it was only crowned with its neo-Gothic spire in 1877. It has three Naves and several small chapels inside, each with a strikingly beautiful gilded Baroque altar. With many Renaissance tombs of noble families from the 16th and 17th centuries to be found inside the church, it attracts hundreds of tourists and locals, especially during the annual patronage feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.”
Civic concept
Here’s a concept plan for the area around the Gwinnett Civic Center. We don’t know the date this was conceived, but several buildings in this plan are already erected, and others are on the horizon. What this tells us is that more growth and buildings are in our future. Note the concept hotel between the arena and the Civic Center….now underway. Watch out! More change is coming to Gwinnett.
The Supervisors of the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District will be conducting their regularly scheduled public meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 beginning at 9 a.m. Because of COVID concerns, this public meeting will be held via Zoom. To join the Zoom meeting, click here.
Project RESET 2.0 Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be held on Wednesday, January 19 at the Norcross Branch Library and Wednesday, January 26 at the Centerville Branch Library. Both programs will start at 10 a.m. and finish at 3 p.m. Bring a sandwich and learn. Project RESET 2.0 will provide rental, utility, and internet services relief for eligible renter households who have become housing insecure as a direct result of the impacts of COVID-19.
Day trips in Georgia: Learn more about exciting and educational Georgia day trips for you and your family on Sunday, January 30 at 3 p.m. at the Suwanee Branch Library, 361 Main Street, Suwanee. Author Tom Poland will revisit disappearing traditions in his book, The Last Sunday Drive: Vanishing Traditions in Georgia and the Carolinas. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Father-daughter dances, sponsored by North Gwinnett Kiwanis will be February 4 and 5 at the Lanier Islands Resort. Cost is $60 per couple, with $10 for each additional daughter. For more information, contact David Williams 404-386-4782 or Chris Witmer 770-337-5313, or email kiwanis.of.north.gwinnett@gmail.com.
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