Georgia Chapter No. 22 had a proud beginning as the first chapter to be chartered in the southeastern United States. The first organizational meeting was held on November 5, 1957, at Herrens' Restaurant in Atlanta with thirty four persons in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to nominate officers and set up a permanent organization. Mr. Edwin M. Rams, Regional Appraiser, GSA, agreed to act as temporary chairman. His first act was to appoint Mr. T.M. Niblack to serve as acting Secretary Treasurer. A copy of the model by-laws were distributed to all present, considered, and adopted. It was decided that a meetings would be held the first Tuesday of each month. At this meeting the membership was informed that "No. 21" had been set aside as the Atlanta Chapter's designation. But before the petition for charter was requested. West Virginia applied for charter and were given the designation as Chapter 21. Other business conducted included appointment of a nomination committee to prepare a slate of officers to be presented at the next meeting in December.
At the December meeting the first officers of the Georgia Chapter were elected. The following were the 1957-58 officers.
President - T.M. Niblack, Plantation Pipe Line Company
First V.P. - Edwin Rams, General Services Administration
Second V.P.- Thomas Hall III, Real Estate Appraiser
Asst. Sec. - Lawrence Drew, Southern Bell Telephone Company
Treasurer - Thomas V.Cauble, Adams-Cates Company, Realtors
Director - John p. Matthews, Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation
Director - Douglas F. Worley, Bureau of Public Roads
The chapter was now ready to petition the national organization with a formal application of charter. The resolution was sent on December 5, 1957, to the regional chairman, W.B. Thorton of Houston. The chapter had 94 charter members and these members were from five southern states. The states represented and number of members is as follows: Alabama -1, Georgia - 73, Florida - 3, Mississippi - 15, and Tennessee - 2.
The charter ceremonies were held on February 26, 1958 at the Atlanta Athletic Club. The charter was presented by Frank C. Balfour, founder and Vice-chairman of the national organization. The ceremony was attended by fifteen national and chapter officers from all over the United States. A total of ninety people attended the official beginning of Georgia Chapter No. 22. The key note address was presented by Dexter MacBride, Supervising Right of Way Agent of the California Division of Highways and Secretary of the American Right of Way Association.
The charter meeting was a culmination of several months of hard work by professional right of way people from various public and private agencies. A strong aggressive charter membership enabled the chapter to begin with a solid foundation on which to build for the future success of our chapter. In his keynote address Mr. MacBride stated
We were proud to host the 26th International Seminar on June 15 - 20, 1980 at the Atlanta Hilton Hotel. This was one of the most successful seminars ever presented and this success is a tribute to the dedication and hard working members of our chapter for without them it could not have been possible. Three Frank C. Balfour Right of Way Professional of the Year winners brought honor to our chapter in past years. Mr. Wade Manning was the 1972 winner, Mr. Ron Kester, in 1979 and Mr. Clyde Johnson, in 1995. The men served their chapter at every level of leadership and distinguished themselves at the International level. Mr. Manning served on the International Executive Committee and in 1978 served as International President. Mr. Kester served as chairman of the 26th International Education Seminar and Mr. Johnson has served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the International Transportation Committee, served on the Relocation and Environmental Committee.
At present, our chapter has 194 members as of December, 2000. Of which 29 hold the Senior designation, and over 50 are candidates. Our Chapter has a continuing program of education through courses, seminars, and chapter meeting programs. Each year our two-day legal seminar and Christmas meeting is the highlight of our Chapter each year. We also hold an annual Spherical Environmental Course. At our December dinner meeting each year we hold our installation of officers and present year end awards. Our Right of Way Professional of the Year award is also presented at this meeting. This meeting is well attended and gets every on in the holiday spirit.
As Georgia Chapter No. 22 celebrates its forty third year of existence we reflect back on the ever changing role of the right of way profession and look forward tot he challenges of the future as an opportunity to fulfill the growth and aspirations of our right of way professionals.
PAST PRESIDENTS - GEORGIA PEACH CHAPTER 22
YEAR NAME
1957-58 Thomas M. Niblack
1959 Thomas M. Niblack
1960 Tom H. Hall, III
1961 Joe Laboon
1962 Johns Dabney
1963 George Wasson
1964 Charles E. Smith (deceased)
1965 Wiliam F. Norman
1966 Arthur A. Sargent (deceased)
1967 Ted T. Smith
1968 Sam Franklin
1969 Earl Chaffin (deceased)
1970 Ralph Landon
1971 Bill Porter, SR/WA (deceased)
1972 Wade S. Manning, SR/WA (deceased)*
1973 Jay Fleck (deceased)
1974 William J. Hogan
1975 Jimmie D. Perkins, SR/WA
1976 Joe E. Brown (deceased)
1977 L.P. Humann
1978 Robert A. Coe
1979 Harold D. Freeman, SR/WA
1980 Ronald C. Kester, SR/WA*
1981 Roy E. Dyer, Jr.
1982 Charles L. Moore
1983 Keyes W. Bowman, Jr. SR/WA
1984 Glenn N. Kirkland
1985 Larry L. Hand, SR/WA
1986 Joseph B. Neighbors, III, SR/WA
1987 Wil Arnett
1988 R.E. Gentry, SR/WA
1989 Frank J. Coffey, SR/WA
1990 Joseph D. Sims
1991 H. Steve Ruth
1992 H. Buddy Robinson, SR/WA
1993 W.S. (Bill) Stripling
1994 Rebecca H. Balkcom (Glarrow), SR/WA
1995 Clyde B. Johnson, SR/WA*
1996 Art Kersey SR/WA
1997 Edward Conder (Eddie)
1998 Mark Judson
1999 Cheryl Lee, SR/WA
2000 Louis (Vi) Bean
2001 Kay Sutton Kersey SR/WA
2002 Marie Piper SR/WA
2003 Stan Thomason
2004 T. Eleanor Davis
2005 Caroline T. Abbey
2006 Butch Horn SR/WA
2007 Joe Neicnboas SR/WA
2008 Cheryl M. Lee SR/WA
2009 Andy B. Anderson SR/WA
2010 Andy B. Anderson SR/WA
2011 Susan R. Sears
2012 Wes E. Singletary