Ex - Georgia Gov. George Busbee Dies at 76

[NashVegas]

ATLANTA (AP) -- Former Georgia Gov. George Busbee, a Democrat who campaigned as ``a workhorse, not a showhorse,'' died Friday of an apparent heart attack. He was 76.

Busbee collapsed at the Savannah airport, according to son Jeff Busbee, who said his father had appeared to be in good health before the attack.

Busbee was Georgia's governor from 1975 to 1983. While he was in office, voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed him to become the state's first governor to serve two consecutive four-year terms.

...

``I'd just like to be remembered for two things: one, that I worked hard. I tried,'' he told The Associated Press in late 1982. ``I wasn't the smartest man that's been in this chair, but I tried as hard.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Obit-Busbee.html

[raifield]

1. Great quote, great attitude

``I'd just like to be remembered for two things: one, that I worked hard. I tried,'' he told The Associated Press in late 1982. ``I wasn't the smartest man that's been in this chair, but I tried as hard.

I'm too young to ever have heard of him, but that quote is just perfect. He sounds like a guy I'd want representing me.

Establishing a statewide kindergarten program was Busbee's chief educational reform. Despite the lukewarm support of teachers' organizations and the opposition of House Speaker Tom Murphy, he secured funding for kindergartens in his initial legislative session. The governor's victory was short-lived, however, as a national recession plunged the state into what Busbee characterized as the state's worst financial crisis in forty years. With an estimated state deficit of $108 million, he had little choice but to call a special session that eliminated property-tax relief, pay raises for state employees, and funding for kindergartens. Forced into a policy of retrenchment, he sought economies in all areas of state government and reduced the 1976 budget by $176 million. Later, when the economy improved, he obtained full funding for kindergartens and provided substantial raises for public schoolteachers and college professors.

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-595

See that? Leadership, dedication. Things perhaps, oh, missing from many leaders today.

[Gildor Inglorion]

2. That's a shame...

George was a good man. I've often wondered how different things might have been if he had run for the Senatorial post to which Wyche Fowler was elected. I don't think Busbee would have been beaten by a Repuke (who then proceeded to die in office, leading to the appointment of ol' sorry Zell.......)

[ozymandius]

3. Busbee would have done well as Senator.

Wyche Fowler was a stupid politician, ego-driven and aloof. Busbee would have filled that post well. He was such a pragmatic man.

[Shadder]

4. Really sorry to hear this

We attended a church for several years that he and his wife helped to found and got to know them and their son Jeff and his family fairly well. Planning on attending the funeral.