08 LC
95 0423
House
Resolution 1351
By:
Representatives Benton of the
31st,
McKillip of the
115th,
Heard of the
114th,
Kaiser of the
59th,
and Smith of the
113th
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
the life and memory of Judge Joseph J. Gaines; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Judge Joseph J. Gaines was a native of Elbert County; and
WHEREAS,
he served in the U. S. Army in Europe from 1946 until 1948, and upon graduation,
he attended Tufts University in Boston and the University of Georgia, where he
earned his law degree in 1952 and a bachelor of science degree in 1953;
and
WHEREAS,
Upon graduation, he opened a law office in Athens, and in 1963, he was appointed
City Attorney in Athens, where he served in that capacity until he was appointed
to the superior court bench on November 1, 1976; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gaines served as Judge of the Superior Court for the Western Judicial
Circuit for 26 years, being named chief judge in 1991 and serving in that
capacity until his retirement in January, 2003, at which time he took senior
judge status and was still holding court at age 79; and
WHEREAS,
he was active in the local and state bar associations, serving as president of
the Athens Bar Association, an alternate member of the board of governors of the
Georgia Bar Association, president of the Western Circuit Bar Association, and a
longstanding member of the State Bar of Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
he was a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia and the Judicial Planning
Committee serving as chairman and vice chairman, he served as Amicus Curiae of
the Supreme Court in recognition of his distinguished service and contributions
to the improvement of the administration of justice; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gaines was the recipient of the ARCH award for public service from the
University of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, over his long years of service, he was a member of numerous boards and committees including Gridiron Secret Society, the Jaycees, the Bartram Society, the Rotary Club, and he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Athens; and
WHEREAS, over his long years of service, he was a member of numerous boards and committees including Gridiron Secret Society, the Jaycees, the Bartram Society, the Rotary Club, and he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Athens; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gaines was an avid historian, amassing a large collection of books on
American history from the colonial period through the Civil War, and he was
especially knowledgeable of Georgia history and visited many battle sites
throughout South Carolina and Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Gaines is survived by his wife, Agnes; daughter, Karen; sons, Joseph,
Michael, and Mark; and grandchildren, Adrianne, Joseph, Houston, Leslie,
Kathleen, Madison, and Alyse; and
WHEREAS,
all who were privileged to know this distinguished Georgian join his family in
mourning his loss.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body hereby
honors the life and memory of Judge Joseph J. Gaines and expresses its
appreciation of his many contributions to his community, state, and
country.
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 Joseph J. Gaines.