Georgia General Assembly

Honoring the exceptional life and expressing sorrow upon the tragic passing of Judge Rowland W. Barnes; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2005, the State of Georgia lost one of its finest and most distinguished citizens with the passing of Judge Rowland W. Barnes; and

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; and

WHEREAS, he has been recognized for his outstanding leadership and his deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia and this nation; and

WHEREAS, he diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of his time, talents, and energy toward the betterment of his state and nation; and

WHEREAS, his significant organizational and leadership talents, his remarkable patience and diplomacy, his keen sense of vision, and his sensitivity to the needs of the citizens of his state and nation earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and associates; and

WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and

WHEREAS, the passing of this generous, kind, and devoted gentleman leaves an unfillable void in the hearts and lives of his family and friends.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body honor the exceptional life and achievements of Judge Rowland W. Barnes and offer its sincerest condolences to his family and friends upon his untimely and tragic passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of Judge Rowland W. Barnes.