Dr. Clayton Cox grew up in Forsyth and attended Monroe Academy High School. He graduated from the University of Georgia, majoring in Biochemistry. Dr. Cox received his Doctorate of Medicine from Emory University and shortly after did his Obstetrics/Gynecology residency in Denver, Colorado. Following his years of education, he then served in the Army Medical Core for eight years. At the completion of his service to our country after the first Gulf War in 1991, he moved here to Gainesville, Georgia.
Dr. Cox loves the location of Gainesville, the diversity of the people, the regional medical center and the medical community that is exceptional for the size of Hall County. He also enjoys boating on the lake with his dogs and loves attending college sporting events and football games in Athens. He and his wife, Winter, have four children: Ashley, Torie, Anneliese and Clay. The Cox family is looking forward to the arrival of their first grandchild in March 2017.
We thank Dr. Cox for taking his time to answer some questions about his life, interests and love for Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I decided I wanted to become a physician at 15 years old. My father had terminal lung cancer and was in and out of the hospital during his illness. I had the time to tell him that becoming a physician was what I wanted to do before he passed. I received my undergraduate degree from University of Georgia in Biochemistry and then went on to medical school at Emory University. After my first delivery, I fell in love with the field of obstetrics and gynecology. I love delivering babies and the uniqueness of surgeries and primary care for women.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “Recess, the blue cheese bacon hamburger.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “25 years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, I have watched him grow from a business man, to a local politician, to the lieutenant governor of Georgia.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “I would travel to Israel, the Holy Land, to walk where Jesus walked.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “’Forest Gump.’”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “To respect one another, to look out for another and to be tolerant of other peoples views.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To live long enough to see Georgia win a National Championship in football.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “I love country music. I would see Johnny Cash, George Strait, Brooks and Dunn.”
Q: What former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Corner Drugs, my kids would get ice cream there all the time!”
Q: Choosing anyone, alive and non-relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why this person? Now, where in Hall County would you have this lunch?
A: “Billy Graham because of the incredible way God has used him in his ministry. We would go to the Collegiate Grill.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The proximity to Atlanta, Athens, the mountains, and being able to live on the lake and in the city at the same time.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Living here in Hall County, retired, and taking care of grandchildren.”
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I would love to be able to sing and play an instrument.”
Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern: Bessie Winston
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.
PROJECT PATRONS:
