Did you know the legislature is likely to rename much of Interstate 75 through Lowndes County in honor of a former governor, and spend $4,500 for signs to do so?

The Valdosta Daily Times, Lowndes County

NOTICE OF ROAD FACILITY DEDICATION

Notice is given that there will be introduced at the regular 2013 session of the General Assembly of Georgia a resolution sponsored by Senator Tim Golden, 121 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, (404) 656-7580, to dedicate the portion of Interstate 75 in Lowndes County from the West Hill Avenue exit to the North Valdosta Road exit as the Governor Melvin Ernest Thompson Memorial Highway in honor of his achievements, accomplishments, and contributions to Lowndes County and to the State of Georgia; and for other purposes. The estimated cost of such dedication is $4,500.00.

00046038

1/19/13

And such a bill has been introduced in the Georgia House (not the Senate) as HR 47, Governor Melvin Ernest Thompson Memorial Highway; Lowndes County; dedicate, sponsored by (1) Shaw, Jason 176th, (2) Carter, Amy 175th, (3) Black, Ellis 174th, (4) Sharper, Dexter 177th, (5) Houston, Penny 170th.

Here's the part that ties Gov. Thompson to here:

WHEREAS, Governor Thompson was instrumental in the success of the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County, where his leadership as a founding member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority spearheaded much of the urban development and planning for Valdosta and the surrounding areas, including the Azalea City Industrial Park; and

And establishing Industrial Parks was a cutting-edge idea: in the 1950s.

The bill adds:

WHEREAS, a community leader and advocate, Governor Thompson served as chairman of the Education Committee for the Trade School Development Committee, president of the Valdosta Rotary Club, and a member of Kappa Phi Kappa, Kappa Delta Phi, WOW, Civitan, and Shriners; and

A writeup in the VSU Archives explains some of that more:

When Thompson finished his state political career he retired to the city of Valdosta, GA. Retirement for Thompson was merely a change of caps from one type of public service for another. M. E. Thompson made significant contributions to the city of Valdosta. He was a founding member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority responsible for “spearheading” the urban planning and development of much of Valdosta and the surrounding area. The Azalea City Industrial Park was developed while he was a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority. A street in the Azalea City Industrial Park was named after M. E. Thompson to acknowledge his great contributions to the city of Valdosta. As chairman of the Education Committee for the Trade School Development Committee M. E. Thompson worked very hard to establish the Valdosta Technical College in 1961. The real estate business owned by M. E. Thompson was responsible for numerous developments in and around Valdosta including the building of houses in the Lincoln Park Sub Division and the M. E. Thompson Subdivision. M. E. Thompson served as president of the Valdosta Rotary Club from 1959-1960. He also a member of Kappa Phi Kappa, Kappa Delta Phi, WOW, Civitan, Shriners, a Baptist Sunday School teacher and a Mason. The Boys Club gym was named “M. E. Thompson” by the Valdosta Rotary Club who funded the building project.

The full text of HR 47 is appended.

-jsq

A RESOLUTION

1 Honoring the life of Governor Melvin Ernest Thompson and dedicating a road in his
2 memory; and for other purposes.

3 WHEREAS, Melvin Ernest Thompson was born on May 1, 1903, in Millen, Georgia, the
4 beloved son of Eva Inez Edenfield Thompson and Henry J. Thompson; and

5 WHEREAS, Governor Thompson earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University and a
6 master's degree from the University of Georgia; and

7 WHEREAS, he began his career in the field of education as a principal and coach at Emanuel
8 County Institute, served as superintendent for the Hawkinsville Public School System,
9 worked as a state school supervisor and an assistant state superintendent of schools, and
10 served as secretary of the Executive Department under Governor Ellis Arnall; and

11 WHEREAS, after a two-year term as the state revenue commissioner, Governor Thompson
12 was elected to this state's highest office in 1947; and

13 WHEREAS, during Governor Thompson's tenure as governor, the University of Georgia's
14 veterinary medical school and the Georgia Institute of Technology's engineering building
15 were constructed, educators received salary increases, and the state purchased Jekyll Island,
16 which was turned into a successful, year-round public resort; and

17 WHEREAS, Governor Thompson was instrumental in the success of the City of Valdosta
18 and Lowndes County, where his leadership as a founding member of the Valdosta-Lowndes
19 County Industrial Authority spearheaded much of the urban development and planning for
20 Valdosta and the surrounding areas, including the Azalea City Industrial Park; and

21 WHEREAS, a community leader and advocate, Governor Thompson served as chairman of
22 the Education Committee for the Trade School Development Committee, president of the
23 Valdosta Rotary Club, and a member of Kappa Phi Kappa, Kappa Delta Phi, WOW, Civitan,
24 and Shriners; and

25 WHEREAS, Governor Thompson was united in love and marriage to his wife, Ann Newton
26 Thompson, and he was blessed with a remarkable son, Melvin Ernest Thompson, Jr., and five
27 grandchildren; and

28 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this
29 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized by naming a road in his
30 memory.

31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL
32 ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the portion of Interstate 75 in Lowndes County from the
33 West Hill Avenue exit to the North Valdosta Road exit is dedicated as the Governor Melvin
34 Ernest Thompson Memorial Highway.

35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and
36 directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Governor Melvin Ernest
37 Thompson Memorial Highway.

38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
39 and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the family of Governor
40 Melvin Ernest Thompson and to the Department of Transportation.

-jsq

Short Link: