05 LC 14
9010
Senate
Resolution 126
By:
Senator Thomas of the 54th
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
the memory of Clint H. Bryant and designating the bridge by which SR 2 crosses
over the Conasauga River at Beaverdale as the Clint H. Bryant Memorial Bridge;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Clint H. Bryant was born January 13, 1910, in a farmhouse on the road which was
later to be known as Georgia Highway 2, and he lived in this house until his
death on August 20, 2004, at the age of 94; and
WHEREAS,
he was the son of Onie Evans and George Washington Bryant, who were among the
pioneering families who settled northern Murray County in the middle to latter
part of the 1800's, and the grandson of Joseph John Bryant, who once owned a
large tract of land within the area, including several farms along the Conasauga
River; and
WHEREAS,
as a boy, Mr. Bryant became familiar with the Conasauga River and its crossing
places, fishing and swimming in its waters and riding in the wagon across
Wheat's Ford on his way to church; and
WHEREAS,
as he grew, he learned to appreciate his family's legacy and connection with the
surrounding fertile land and became a successful farmer, raising hogs and cattle
and harvesting soy beans, corn, and cotton on his river bottom farm, which
received the Georgia Centennial Farm award in 1993; and
WHEREAS,
in the mid-1950's, Mr. Bryant donated nearly eight acres of his beloved farm as
right of way for the building of Georgia Highway 2, and he allowed men from the
road crew to stay in a house on his property and would regularly transport them
to the store in Beaverdale for lunch; and
WHEREAS,
he was sitting on the porch of the old Beaverdale store the day that the old
bridge collapsed from the weight of road machinery, and he helped to transport
an injured
man
to safety and volunteered to help retrieve machinery and parts from the river
bed as part of a "rescue crew"; and
WHEREAS,
in his later years, Mr. Bryant built a dock on the Conasauga River which became
the very popular neighborhood swimming hole, now known as "Bryant's Bluff," and
is used by the community, its churches, local Boy Scout troops, and 4-H groups
for picnics, baptisms, family reunions, recreation, and community service
projects; and
WHEREAS,
throughout his life, Mr. Bryant was a good neighbor and friend who was the first
to volunteer a helping hand to those in need and who provided generations of
young farmers with careful and knowledgeable advice; and
WHEREAS,
through his kindness and generosity, Mr. Bryant improved the quality of life for
the citizens of his community and has left a lasting mark on the history of
Murray County.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY that the members of this body
join in honoring the memory of a great Georgian, Mr. Clint H. Bryant, for his
many contributions to Murray County and the State of Georgia.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge by which SR 2 crosses over the Conasauga
River at Beaverdale is hereby named the Clint H. Bryant Memorial Bridge, and the
Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to place and maintain
appropriate signs so designating the bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the family of the late Mr.
Clint H. Bryant and the Department of Transportation.