Meet Dr. Brock Garrett, a local optometrist that has been practicing in Hall County for more than 40 years!
Garrett was born in Detroit but moved to Georgia at eight months old. He graduated from Newnan High School in 1961 and then later from the
University of Houston College of Optometry and moved back to Georgia after graduating.
“I came to Gainesville because of Lake Lanier. I had skied as a child and wanted to be on the water,” he said. “And I have been ever since.”
Garrett and wife Sonia have two children (Ali Garrett Thompson of Gainesville and Wesley Garrett of Park City, Utah) and four grandchildren.
After 47 years in practice, Dr. Garrett said he has always loved his career.
“I have enjoyed treating eye diseases and prescribing glasses and contact lenses. I have worked with Emory Eye Clinic and the Food and Drug Administration as an investigator for Lasik before Lasik was an approved surgery,” he said. “Now, I practice part time seeing patients that I have seen for 40 years. I have no plans to completely stop but only slow down; I love what I do.”
We’d like to thank Dr. Garrett for sitting down with us to answer some questions about his life in Hall County.
Question: What brought you to Hall County?
Answer: “The lake. I started skiing as an early teenager, we just had a little boat and I skied constantly until about 15 years ago. The last time I tried to ski was about seven years ago and I knew without a doubt I could but I couldn’t get up on the skis, so I blame that on Zack (Thompson, son-in-law), I don’t think it was me, it was him.”
Q:  What do you like about being an optometrist?
A: “The people, I enjoy the people and conversation. I feel like I’ve done a good job and help people see. There’s not much more important than helping people see.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County?
A: “Curt’s in Oakwood.”
Q: What is the first movie that you  saw in the theater?
A: “I’m sure it was ‘Hopalong Cassidy.'”
Q: What is your favorite thing about living in Hall County?
A: “I like the climate for one thing, I like the mountains, I love the water and camping; and we are close to all of that. You have Atlanta, too.”
Q: What is one thing on your bucket list?
A: “I have planned to take my motor home on a trip that would stop for a day to see some of my classmates from optometry school. They live from Central Florida to California.”
Q: When you think about HOME, what three words come to mind?
A: “Family, lake and friends.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.