Interview by Emily Stewart, Gainesville High School Senior and Abernathy Cochran Intern
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “We were born and raised here. I went to elementary school, middle school and high school with my wife. Then, I joined the Army and we left town. I got to see quite a bit, you know, in 20 years.”
Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “I came back here after I retired and was working for Goodwill of North, Georgia as the regional manager. What I liked most was putting people to work and becoming resources for our clients. Regional, was Dawsonville, Cornelia, Athens, Oakwood and Pleasant Hill. And I just retired last week from that job.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “Mainly Loretta’s Country Kitchen and Curt’s. I like Southern Cooking.”
Q: How long have you still been working in the community?
A: I retired from the Army in 2006, up to present day. I’ve done quite a bit. I’ve done a lot with the American Legion, and I help veterans also in the VA.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
A: “I would say Miss Rose Johnson. She’s over the Newtown Florist Club. We’ve done a lot in the community. We got the Butler Center running, that used to be a segregated school back in the 1960s.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I’m not going anywhere, it’s just unstable. I feel like traveling around the world and I wouldn’t want to put myself or my family in danger. I might go on a cruise, but I’m kind of weary of that.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies, TV shows?
A: “Favorite movies, that’s hard to say. Movies with Denzel Johnson or Malcolm X. I like a lot of documentaries, but it would probably be ‘Star Trek.'”
Q: What advice would you want to give or leave with people?
A: “Be aware of your surroundings, always try to be resourceful, and be kind.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “Probably, Longwood Park, that’s a good place to kind of walk off some stuff.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
A: “Donald Trump because he’s got strong leadership, and I’d meet him at Curt’s.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community? And secondly, what is something you hope our community has or does in the future?
A: “I think being the Chicken Capital of the World helped put people to work. That’s getting to be really diverse. As far as where they’re from overseas, and when you go by there there banners are in Japanese, Arabic, all kinds of languages.
“Secondly, I hope, which is something I’m working on now as a project, I hope we can find affordable housing for people in our community.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Trying not to do so much. I started about three nonprofits, I’m trying to shave those off my hands.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Probably go up to the winery at The Biltmore.”
Q: And what is something you have been proud to check off your bucket list?
A: “Retiring twice…I’m still on the Board of Elections, and Planning & Zoning Commissioner; so that keeps me busy.”
Q:Â What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “Stone Temple Pilots.”
Q: In hard times we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us. hardworking, positive attitudes, helping on the front lines. Who is one of our local shining lights today?”
A: “Commissioner Jeff Stowe.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “Colorado Springs.”
Q: Favorite month, favorite holiday, and best singular day on the calendar.
A: “I was born in January. My favorite holiday is Martin Luther King Day, because that’s my birthday. And the best single day on the calendar is that day.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “My truck, I had a big F=150 before retiring and I’m like, well, I need to scale this down.”
Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
A: “Denzel Washington.”
