07 LC 96
2333
House
Resolution 366
By:
Representatives Carter of the
159th,
Stephens of the
164th,
Bryant of the
160th,
Jackson of the
161st,
Gordon of the
162nd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
and remembering the life of Francis Lakey "Frank" Wooten, Jr.; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Francis Wooten, Jr., a devoted family man, businessman, and beloved servant of
the City of Savannah, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2007;
and
WHEREAS,
he was born in East Bend, North Carolina on January 23, 1922, to Francis Lakey
Wooten, Sr., and Crawley Hennings Wooten; and
WHEREAS,
he graduated from John W. Hanes High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina,
received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University, and
pursued graduate studies at the University of Houston; and
WHEREAS,
he served his country honorably as a captain in the United States Infantry
during World War II and the Korean Conflict, receiving the Bronze Star; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Wooten was noted for his extraordinary gift for leading others without
pressure or intimidation but by guiding them gently and effectively;
and
WHEREAS,
he held a number of management positions after his military service and acted as
General Sales Manager of Armour Agricultural Chemical Company in Atlanta and
President of Kaiser Agricultural Chemical Corporation, where he served on the
Kaiser International Corporation Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS,
after retiring from Kaiser, he founded G&C Fertilizer Company, and served
for six years on the Board of Directors of the Fertilizer Institute and as
Chairman from 1977 to 1979; and
WHEREAS,
he actively participated in a number of commercial organizations, serving on the
District Export Council, the Savannah Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,
the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of First Bank of Savannah, and as
the Governor's appointee to the Board of Industry & Trade of the State of
Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
he contributed extensively to the Savannah community through civic groups such
as the United Way, Parent and Child, the Wesley Community Center, the May Street
YMCA, the Library Foundation, the Savannah Foundation, the Coastal Garden and
Bamboo Farm, the Union Mission, the Boy Scouts of America, the Capital Fund
Drive, the Rotary Club of Savannah, and the Salvation Army, where he was
Chairman of the Board and was instrumental in the completion of new facilities
on Montgomery and Bee Roads; and
WHEREAS,
he was a highly moral businessman widely admired for his honesty and integrity,
and was selected as Savannah's Man of the Year in Industry in 1979 and elected
to Savannah's Business Hall of Fame in 2005; and
WHEREAS,
he was a highly devoted member of the United Methodist Church, where he was a
Sunday school teacher for 25 years, a Trustee, Chairman of the Board, Chairman
of Capital Campaigns for church renovation and a new organ, and Lay Speaker;
and
WHEREAS,
he leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife, Lois Cason Wooten; a daughter and
son-in-law, Ann Wooten Langston and Dudley Irvin Langston; and his
grandchildren, Francis "Frank" Byron Langston and Lois Kathryn Langston;
and
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia has lost one of its most distinguished citizens with the
passing of Francis Wooten, Jr.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join together to express their deepest regret at the passing of
Francis Lakey "Frank" Wooten, Jr., and extend their most sincere condolences to
his family.
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
Francis Lakey "Frank" Wooten, Jr.