hr1559.html

08 LC 34 1785S

The House Committee on Transportation offers the following substitute to HR 1559:

A RESOLUTION

Dedicating certain portions of the state highway system; and for other purposes.

PART I

WHEREAS, William "Billy" L. Powell, Jr., began working with the Georgia Department of Transportation in 1963, and he worked his way up the ladder from engineering aide to transportation engineer II; and

WHEREAS, he retired in 1996 after 34 years of faithful service, after which he worked with CPI Construction Company and Zel Engineers; and

WHEREAS, his first love in life was his family, his dear wife, Mary Alice, and his two daughters, and they were always on his mind, and his second love was fishing; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Powell was tragically killed by an unknown gunman a few days before Thanksgiving, 2005; and

WHEREAS, he is remembered in his community as a man of strong family values and moral fiber.

PART II

WHEREAS, Trey Bartlett was a member in the United States Armed Forces, and he was serving his country in Iraq on July 15, 2007, when he lost his life at the young age of 25; and

WHEREAS, Trey returned to military duty in Iraq after coming home at the time of his father´s death; out of his dedication to serve our great country during this time of conflict, he chose to return to duty at a time when he could have been honorably discharged, but he would not have it any other way; and

WHEREAS, Benjamin Blake Bartlett, Sr., Trey´s father, passed away on April 13, 2007, at the age of 63; and

WHEREAS, Anna Ruth Lee Bartlett (Ann), Trey´s mother, passed away on May 13, 1991, at the age of 47, when Trey was only nine years old; and

WHEREAS, Trey´s only sibling, his sister, Lura Lee Bartlett, passed away on September 23, 1997, at the age of 31; and

WHEREAS, prior to enlisting in the military, Trey resided in Talbot County, Georgia, with his father on the family homestead that is located on SR 41 between Woodland and Manchester, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, it is only fitting that this young soldier have a road dedicated in his honor to serve as a lasting tribute of his service to his state and his country.

PART III

WHEREAS, Leonard R. "Nookie" Meadows was born December 8, 1926, in Meriwether County, Georgia; he was the son of James Alvin and Mozelle Wise Meadows; and

WHEREAS, he was a lifelong resident of Manchester, Georgia, and retired after a successful career as the president of the Meadows Companies, which included Meadows Motors, Inc., Meadows Ford, Inc., Meadows Insurance Agency, Smith-Steele Meadows Funeral Home, and Meadows Farms; and

WHEREAS, for most of his life, Nookie took an active interest in his community and its citizens, relentlessly volunteering his time and energy so that others might experience a better quality of life, and he built a viable business network that provided local employment and stimulated economic growth that benefited the lives of many people throughout the community and state; and

WHEREAS, he served as Representative of House District 91 from 1987 until 1992; and

WHEREAS, he was a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association, the Georgia State University Foundation Fund, and the Columbus Bank and Trust Advisory Board; a past president of the Manchester Industrial Corporation; a member of the Meriwether County Chamber of Commerce; a past president of the Kiwanis Club, where he held perfect attendance for 43 years; a member of the committee to save the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation, now the RWSIR; chairman and chairman emeritus of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation Fund from 1986 to 1992; a past president of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund; a past president of the Manchester Jaycees; a member of the Stephens Lodge #586 of the Free and Accepted Masons, the AL Sihah Shrine Temple, the Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge, the American Legion, and the Pontiac Masters; a recipient of the Chevrolet Supremacy for over 22 years, the Honorary State Trooper award, the Flying Colonel award, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, and the James T. Evans Rotary Award for Community Service; a member of the Manchester School Board, the Advisory Board of the Bank of Upson, and the Georgia Baptist Meriwether Hospital and Nursing Home Board; and he spearheaded the relocation of Horizon Medical to Manchester; and

WHEREAS, it is only fitting and proper to celebrate the life of this Georgian and to recognize his great contributions to this state and to his community by dedicating the Leonard R. "Nookie" Meadows Memorial Highway in his memory.

PART IV

WHEREAS, Franklin Lee Dixon passed away on September 14, 2007; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Rabun County Department of Education to honor Franklin Lee Dixon for his distinguished service to the citizens of Clayton and Rabun County; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Lee Dixon was born in Fannin County, Georgia, and was the son of the late Bruce Burrell Dixon and Laura Freeman Dixon; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Lee Dixon is survived by his wife, Joyce Ann Simmons Dixon; a son, Adam Dixon, and his wife, Jodi, of Clayton, Georgia; and three daughters, Dawn Shaw and her husband, Lee, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, Tara York and her husband, Bryne, of Tiger, Georgia, and Chantel Thompson and her husband, Robin, of Clayton, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, also surviving is one brother, Benjamin Bruce Dixon, of Dawsonville, Georgia, and ten grandchildren, Daniel C. Ramey, Jared Shaw, Connor Shaw, Anna Kate Shaw, O´Neil York, MacKenzie York, Keldon Dixon, Clayton Hunter Dixon, Abby Thompson, and Marley Thompson; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Lee Dixon was the Transportation Director for the Rabun County School System, and for 30 years, he drove Rabun County students to school and for many extracurricular activities and was active in the Athletic Booster Club where he filmed football games for many years, and he always took pride in all of the children of Rabun County, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Lee Dixon took a special interest in caring for and assisting children with learning disabilities and never failed to conscientiously accept every driving assignment requested of him; and

WHEREAS, he was a member of Flat Creek Baptist Church, a Master Mason and member of Blue Mountain Lodge #38, and a veteran of the United States Army Reserve; and

WHEREAS, it is only right that this man´s fruitful life be celebrated as he makes his home in heaven.

PART V

WHEREAS, Michael R. Fortson was a native son of Rabun County who graduated from Rabun County High School in 1983 and immediately went to work for the City of Clayton Police Department; and

WHEREAS, he later was accepted into the Georgia State Patrol where he served with distinction from 1986 until his untimely death on July 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Michael R. Fortson was a great asset to the community, a devoted husband and father, a caring brother, and a loving son to his parents, Willie and Hattie; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Rabun County to honor Michael R. Fortson for his distinguished service to the citizens of Clayton, Rabun County, and the State of Georgia.

PART VI

WHEREAS, William "Billy" Harvey Jewell, Sr., was born on July 30, 1930, to William Riley Jewell and Johnnie Reva Newburn and spent the majority of his life living in Willacoochee, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jewell served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952 and was a decorated war veteran of the Korean War having been awarded two Bronze Stars, the Korean Service Medal, and the Infantryman´s Badge for his patriotism and courage; and

WHEREAS, during the early 1970´s, Mr. Jewell became a police officer in Willacoochee and ultimately not only became Willacoochee´s police chief, but also chief of police in Pearson, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jewell was well respected and loved in his community and dedicated his life to ensuring that all in his community were safe; and while the number of his selfless deeds are countless, his heroism in saving the life of a child while camping in particularity shall always be remembered; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jewell lived his life as an example to all and taught many lessons in life, not only to his family, but to all in his community who had the pleasure of knowing him; he was a man of integrity and love that will not soon be forgotten.

PART VII

WHEREAS, the veterans of service in the United States military have given of their time, energy, and sometimes their lives to secure the blessings of freedom for all the citizens of this great country; and

WHEREAS, the sacrifices these great men and women have made to protect our nation should never be taken for granted or allowed to fade into distant memory; and

WHEREAS, it is only fitting that a lasting tribute to memorialize the unselfish patriotism of these special men and women should be created to perpetuate the memory of their great sacrifices to protect our freedom.

PART VIII

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that State Route 104 in Richmond County is dedicated as the William "Billy" L. Powell, Jr., Highway.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of SR 41 from the northern city limits of Woodland, Georgia, to the southern city limits of Manchester, Georgia, in Talbot County be dedicated as the SFC Benjamin "Trey" Blake Bartlett Jr. Memorial Highway.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of SR 85 East between Manchester and Woodbury in Meriwether County, Georgia, be dedicated as the Leonard R. "Nookie" Meadows Memorial Highway.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the bridge on US 441 near Rabun County High School in Rabun County be dedicated as the Lee Dixon Memorial Bridge in memory of his service to the people of Rabun County and the State of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of SR 15/US 441 within the Clayton City limits in Rabun County be dedicated as the Trooper Michael R. Fortson Memorial Highway.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the westbound lane of the easternmost bridge crossing the Alapaha River on Highway 82 in Atkinson County be dedicated as the Corporal William "Billy" Harvey Jewell, Sr. Bridge in his honor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of SR 243 between SR 57 at the Twiggs-Wilkinson County line and SR 24 in Baldwin County be dedicated as the Veterans Memorial Highway.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the road facilities named in this resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copy of this resolution to the Department of Transportation, to the family of William "Billy" L. Powell, Jr., to the family of Benjamin Blake Bartlett, Jr., to the family of Leonard R. "Nookie" Meadows, to the family of Lee Dixon, to Kathleen Fortson, to Willie and Hattie Fortson, to the family of Mr. William "Billy" Harvey Jewell, Sr., and to the Boards of Commissioners of Wilkinson and Baldwin counties.