05 LC 34
0379
House
Resolution 602
By:
Representatives Heckstall of the
62nd,
Holmes of the
61st,
Bruce of the
64th,
Lakly of the
72nd,
Keen of the
179th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
the exceptional life and expressing sorrow upon the tragic passing of Judge
Rowland W. Barnes; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Judge Rowland W. Barnes was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming; he moved to Takoma Park,
Maryland, at the age of nine months and remained there until his mother
remarried a career military man; and
WHEREAS,
thereafter, he attended eight different schools in five different states,
graduating from Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt, Germany;
and
WHEREAS,
Judge Barnes started his freshman year of college at Grand Rapids Junior College
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and finished his undergraduate schooling at Lebanon
Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania; he graduated with a B.S. in economics
and business administration with a minor in history; and
WHEREAS,
when he was about three-fourths of the way through the requirements for an MBA
at George Washington University, he decided to transfer to law school; he
enrolled at George Washington University Law School for his first year and then
earned his degree at Emory University in Atlanta; he was admitted to the Georgia
Bar in November, 1972; and
WHEREAS,
at different times he was a judge in the superior court, state court, magistrate
court, municipal court, and juvenile court; he presided over cases in Fulton
County, Clayton County, Hall County, Fannin County, Gilmer County, White County,
and Pickens County; and
WHEREAS,
his first duty as a judge was on the Municipal Court of the City of Hapeville in
1982; after a time as assistant judge, he became the chief judge from 1990 to
1998; and
WHEREAS,
he was appointed as the chief judge on the Municipal Court of the City of
Fairburn from 1990 to 1998, and he served on the
Magistratés
Court of Fulton County as a part-time magistrate from 1997 to August 5, 1998;
and
WHEREAS,
he was appointed to the Superior Court of Fulton County on August 5, 1998, by
Governor Zell Miller; he was elected to a four-year term in November, 2000;
and
WHEREAS,
he leaves behind his wife, Claudia, his two daughters, Holly and Kiley, and his
four stepchildren; and
WHEREAS,
he was most proud of the following accomplishments: being elected to
Whós
Who in American Colleges and Universities (1962); quarterbacking the Lebanon
Valley College football team that won the only league championship since the
school was founded in 1866; and making it through United States Air Force basic
training; he went on to serve in the National Guard and was called to active
duty with the Air Force during the Pueblo Crisis.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body honors
the exceptional life and achievements of Judge Rowland W. Barnes and offers its
sincerest condolences to his family and friends upon his untimely and tragic
passing.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Judge Rowland W. Barnes.