Friday, November 20, 2009

COLONEL LUCIAN A. WHIPPLE

Georgia’s Oldest Lawyer




On Friday, September 4th, Col. Lucian A. Whipple, would be one hundred and twenty years old. If he was alive and healthy, he would probably still be practicing law. Next to his family and his community, it was the love of is life - and a long life it was. When Col. Whipple retired, he was the oldest practicing attorney in the United States. He was 98 years old.

Lucian Adolphus Whipple was born on September 4, 1878 on the Whipple family farm on Turkey Creek - a few miles east of the present city of Dudley. When the M.D. and S. Railroad came through in 1891, the community was given the name of Whipple's Crossing. Whipple's father, Stephen Bennett Whipple, was of New England stock. The elder Whipple served as an officer in the Confederate Army during the first year of the Civil War. Whipple and his brother Allen were awarded a contract to furnish salt to the Confederacy for the duration of the war.

After the war, Whipple went west to California to seek a fortune. Within a year, he returned to Georgia. He bought the James Thomas Place about ten miles west of Dublin. Whipple and his wife, Sarah Holliman Whipple, knew the value of an education. Whipple himself had attended Mercer University before the War.
Whipple and his neighbor David Ware built their own schoolhouse. Whipple and Ware chipped in to supplement the teacher's small state salary. Whipple decided to move to Cochran where the New Ebenezer Baptist Association was located.

Whipple left the farm and became one of Cochran's most influential businessmen. Stephen and Sarah raised eight sons. William was a physician. Ulysses V. was Judge of the Cordele Superior Court circuit and a legislator. Allen P. was a teacher and a farmer. Robert L. practiced medicine for fifty eight years and died while administering care to a patient. Clifford was a practicing pharmacist for more than fifty years. Stephen T., the oldest son, never married and worked in the family business for many years. Oliver J. practiced dentistry for more than fifty years.

Lucian A. Whipple was eight years old when his family moved to Cochran. He attended New Ebenezer College for six years. Whipple transferred to Gordon Institute in Barnesville where he was elected senior class president. In 1895, he again transferred, this time to the University of Georgia, where he was again
elected senior class president. Whipple graduated with first honors in 1898. From Georgia, Whipple returned to the homeland of his paternal ancestors and enrolled in Harvard University Law School. He graduated from the prestigious school in 1901.

Whipple returned to Cochran to set up his law practice. Before he was through, Col. Whipple would practice law for seventy-two years. The title of Colonel was honorary. It was a tradition in the South to give a lawyer the title, which was derived from the days when counties were divided into militia districts.

Before and during the Civil War, the militia district provided military security to the county, as well as providing justice of the peace courts and election precincts.

In 1907, Col. Whipple formed a partnership with a Cochran printer, Royal A. McRae. The duo founded the "Cochran Journal." Whipple served as editor of  Cochran's first weekly newspaper. Ironically, after only a short period, he moved his law practice to Hawkinsville. Col. Whipple served his country in World War
I as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. After the war's end, Whipple taught one year at Mercer University in Macon. Whipple decided it was time to come home to Cochran. When he came back, he brought his new bride with him. On the last day of the 1919, Col. Whipple and Lella Jackson Dillard were united in marriage. Mrs. Whipple's father, the Rev. Miles Hill Dillard, was a well-known minister in the North Georgia Conference of The Methodist Church. Mrs. Whipple was well educated in the arts. She taught school in Sparks, Oglethorpe, Jackson, and Hawkinsville. Mrs. Whipple was the first principal of Druid Hills High School.

Col. Whipple, in addition to his love of the law, valued the importance of education. He served as Superintendent of the Bleckley County School System from 1921 through 1925 and from 1929 to 1933. Whipple was appointed by the governor to the State Board of Education in 1931. He served until 1937, when he was elected to the General Assembly of Georgia. Representative Whipple served in the
legislature until 1945. He was responsible for the law allowing non jury trials in Georgia.

The First Baptist Church of Cochran was the beneficiary of Whipple's leadership and generosity. During his life, Col. Whipple served as deacon, church clerk, church treasurer, Sunday school teacher, and Sunday school superintendent.

The Whipples had four children. Lucian, Jr. served as a decorated B-24 gunner in World War II and this year celebrates his fiftieth year in the office machine business in Dublin. Fielding served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in World War II and as an officer during the Korean War. Stephen also served his country
during the War in the Army Air Corps. Anne followed in her mother's footsteps, graduating with honors from Wesleyan College and making teaching her career.

She married Louis Alderman, well-known educator and former President of Middle Georgia College in Cochran.

In September of 1976, Col. Whipple decided to make that last trip to the courthouse. He had been going there for the last seventy five years. He had witnessed a radical change in the way lawyers tried their cases. Cases were tried faster and lawyers and judges were much better educated. Fittingly, Col. Whipple
won his last case. He was ninety eight years old and his health was beginning to fail. During the last two years of his life, he was honored as the oldest alumnus of Harvard School of Law, Middle Georgia College, and the University of Georgia, and the oldest former member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Col.
Whipple passed away on August 24, 1979, eleven days shy of his 101st birthday.

Friday, November 6, 2009

NICK MCRAE

McRae enjoying Yellow Jackets’ success
By Coley Harvey - charvey@macon.com





For now, Nick McRae may not be the most game-used member of Georgia Tech’s offensive line. Just a redshirt freshman, the versatile player is still learning the Yellow Jackets’ spread option system and is hoping to be a key contributor in future seasons. Somewhat pleasantly surprised by the success his team has had, the former Dublin standout is excited to be along for the ride. The Telegraph’s Coley Harvey caught up with the lineman to talk about his current role at Georgia Tech, as well as his high school alma mater:



QUESTION: To begin, just how has this second year at Georgia Tech progressed for you?



ANSWER: Everything has been going real well. We’re 8-1, so we’re winning games, and we have a chance to win the ACC championship if we keep winning games.



QUESTION: What is it like just to be around all of this? The atmosphere has been pretty exciting all year.



ANSWER: It feels great — and not trying to boast about my old high school football program or anything — but I’m used to winning. So it’s kind of like where last year we were so disappointed about the way we played in the bowl game (a 38-3 loss to LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl), we’re really trying hard to make up for it this year. It’s just all about keep moving forward and keep going full steam ahead, just like our motto (this year) says.



QUESTION: Of course you were one of those players who was recruited when head coach Paul Johnson and his offense first arrived at Georgia Tech. While some recruits thought about avoiding the transition, you stuck with it. Did you foresee this type of season to happen so quickly?



ANSWER: I thought we could do well back then. But really, I didn’t think the success would be this early. I thought we’d win games, but not quite like we did last year. But you know, our offensive system is so unique, and not very many people understand how to defend the triple option. It’s a hard offense to defend if you don’t hit the right man and watch your keys. So I knew eventually we were going to have great success, but I really didn’t think it was going to be this early. It’s just been great so far.



QUESTION: Nagging injuries and banged up players have been issues lately on the offensive line. Coach Johnson has talked about it just being part of the 10-week straight grind you guys have been under. How has all this affected you, and the rest of the line?



ANSWER: We’re holding up pretty good, everyone is getting better and better. I think if somebody goes down, we’ve got good enough players to step up and take their spot. Even the injured players are helping the other players out like us young guys who aren’t playing that much. Everyone has been stepping up and practicing hard, and the whole O-line as a group is getting better. Because, you know, everybody was talking at the beginning of the year about how the O-line was weak, so we just had to show what we were about.



QUESTION: You had almost 600 yards of total offense last week, and senior guard Cord Howard and center Sean Bedford have received weekly ACC honors this year. Have you silenced the critics?



ANSWER: People are starting to respect us more. We don’t have the respect we want, but we’re starting to get it more and more every week. People are starting to respect our offense and can see that we can put up a lot of points.



QUESTION: I’m sure some Georgia Tech fans back in Middle Georgia are jealous that you have shared huddles with players like Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer. What do you tell people about playing with guys who could be serious Heisman hopefuls and NFL prospects?



ANSWER: It’s great. They’re great people, and they work hard. Nesbitt is silent, but you know when he says something that he means it. People respond to that. He’s a silent leader, but he leads by action. And Dwyer is our best player, so when he gets himself fired up by making a long run, it just gets the energy up for the rest of us. We all feed off him; all the players.



QUESTION: Do you still talk to some of your former Dublin teammates? (McRae was part of four Fighting Irish teams that went to the GHSA playoffs. The 2006 team won a co-state championship).



ANSWER: Oh yeah, of course.



QUESTION: What about Rashard Smith? (Smith starred at quarterback for the Fighting Irish before receiving a scholarship this fall to North Carolina State. A defensive back for the Wolfpack, he was lost for the season after suffering a game-related injury a few weeks ago).



ANSWER: I spoke with Rashard earlier in the year when he got hurt, and was telling him to just keep his head up. He’s still young, and just make sure you come back from that injury healthy. Of course he was disappointed, but stuff like that happens. He’s just got to figure out how to respond to it. I know he’s going to bounce back. I know what kind of player he is.



QUESTION: Even though Dublin is 7-2, for some down there, this start hasn’t quite been what some fans there are used to. How can you convince them that that there is still a chance they can return to Atlanta and the Georgia Dome this year?



ANSWER: I mean, look at my senior year. We lost the opening game to West Laurens. We were almost in the same boat — except it wasn’t two region games. But they can come back and win from two losses. I remember my ninth-grade year, we had three games and we came back and were able to go to the Dome (for the semifinals). Anything is possible; you just have to keep getting better every week. They’ll be fine. Coach (Roger) Holmes is a good coach; he’s going to have them ready.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

SCOTT BEASLEY

You can bank on his word: TB’s humanitarian ‘contagious with doing good for others’


Kathy McCarron
Tire Business.com



Scott Beasley, 2009 Tire Dealer Humanitarian. Tire Business photo by Kathy McCarron


DUBLIN, Ga.—“He’s the role model that every man needs to be. From his family involvement to business to community, he’s the ideal role model.”

That’s Jep Craig’s take on his longtime friend, F. Scott Beasley. And that sentiment is echoed by many of the townspeople in Dublin, where Mr. Beasley has built up a thriving tire dealership for the past 40 years.

So when Mr. Beasley, president of Duncan Tire Co., recently was named the 2009 Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner by Tire Business, many viewed it as a testament to the decades of good will and generosity of time and talent he has given to the community.

In addition to overseeing the operations of two retail locations and a commercial tire center, Mr. Beasley has served on numerous boards and committees for city and county economic development, the local American Red Cross chapter, the local technical college, the local bank, the local chamber of commerce and the Georgia Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (GTDRA).

He has donated and distributed meal vouchers to the homeless, cooked and given away hundreds of free turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas, offered donuts and coffee to St. Patrick’s Day parade participants in front of his dealership every year and sponsored the annual St. Patrick’s Festival golf tournaments, Industry Appreciation Day events and school booster clubs.

He also has shared his charity on a personal level by waiving costs for tire and auto service for financially strapped patrons, donating free meals, hiring students fresh out of school and helping out at rescue shelters during a hurricane.

As one of many examples, Mr. Craig recalled a visit to Mr. Beasley’s office one day: “He had heard that a family had to take their child 90 miles away for chemo (therapy) in Augusta. And he immediately—I mean without the first hesitation, it was like the second sentence—he told (his store manager and son-in-law) David, ‘We need to find out where that family lives, go get their family car, make sure the tires are good on it, change the oil and make sure that mom can transport that child to chemo and not have to worry about it.
“She’s got enough to worry about. We need to make sure that vehicle is road worthy.’ And that’s how he thinks. It’s second nature to him.”

Another long-time friend, Don Daily, related how after a Dublin High School football game, late at night, Mr. Beasley opened up his shop to change a flat tire on the car of some teenagers who had traveled to the game. They didn’t have the money to pay for the new tire that night so he let them mail it to him later.

A few years ago Mr. Beasley sought help for an employee addicted to drugs. He arranged for the man to enter a treatment program on two different occasions, provided him with clothes and other necessities and kept tabs on him after he moved on to another job.

“Had it not been for his tenacity in trying to help this young man, I do not believe ‘John’ would be sober today,” wrote Frank Fields, CEO of River Edge Behavioral Health Center, who assisted Mr. Beasley in finding the treatment programs.

“Scott is many-faceted and one facet that truly stands out is his love for his fellow man, no matter their station in life,” wrote Tommy Walker of Walker Tire Co. in Sandersville, Ga., in his recommendation of Mr. Beasley for the award.

Mr. Walker related how after his 17-year-old son and his girlfriend died in a car accident, Mr. Beasley, who was scheduled to drive to a convention four hours south of Mr. Walker’s home, instead drove out of his way to visit him and offer his condolences before heading to the convention. “That, to me, speaks volumes of a friend and caring fellow tire dealer,” Mr. Walker said.

Mr. Beasley essentially married into the tire business when he decided to work for his father-in-law and dealership founder, Bill Duncan, in 1970. Now his two sons-in-law, David Polhill and Robert Miller, are working with him and sharing in his community involvement.

“A lot of people have lived here their whole lives and have never given back,” said Kathy Jones, director of the Dublin Downtown Development Authority. “Scott wants to give back to the community that’s been so good to him and in turn he wants to be good to the community. Obviously that’s why he won the award—because he’s a great humanitarian and wants to see our community prosper as well as the people in it.”

“It’s not that I have to do anything,” Mr. Beasley said. “But when you live in a community and you can go, ‘I’m in my 40th year and 38 of those 40 years have been profitable’—now that’s from the community that has supported Duncan Tire Co.

“So if somebody comes in here and needs some help or needs us to sponsor them or help promote them or be part of that, then we need to try to do that. That is nothing more than pay back.

“There are a lot of individuals I’ve done things for that didn’t have anything to do with business. But this town, as far as the growth of this town and this community and this county, is important to me because that is the stability of my business,” he said.

He talked with Tire Business while seated in his dealership office with large windows that provide an expansive view of the downtown area he has helped rehabilitate, including the new farmers market building and landscaping next door.

“The real motivation would be if I can do it, then my family, my daughters and my sons-in-law, maybe will see what it takes or maybe they’ll see what happens when you become involved.

“You can’t sit on the park bench. You just can’t sit on the park bench and just be there.… Somebody built the park and built the park bench. You got to give a hand to help these people whether it’s one-on-one or whether it’s being part of a board that’s helping somebody,” he said.

Rusty Moses, owner of Georgia Tire Co. in Vidalia, Ga., called Mr. Beasley an “unsung hero,” noting that “instead of writing a check, he goes out and orchestrates it. He’s a one-man workhorse.”

“I think because of his continued ambition to be involved and to help people is why he serves on so many boards,” Mr. Craig said. “They see that he’s truly interested in not only helping people but Scott is genuinely interested in helping his community grow…. They know he’ll do what he says he will do. You can bank on his word.”

“He is truly the type of individual a community has to have in order for volunteer organizations to go forward,” said Johnny Payne, who worked with Mr. Beasley as a volunteer basketball league referee.

“He’s not a wanna¬be, he is someone who is a ‘workabe.’ He’s someone behind the scenes more so than sometimes in the front.”

Mr. Payne described Mr. Beasley as “a man’s man but yet has the chivalry that is needed by a true Southern gentleman. Not many of us can distinguish between the business world and so forth, but Scott is very level-headed, interested, loves his community. He loves his family and all those things are tied in and that is why he and this company have been so successful.”

Those who know him praise Mr. Beasley’s friendly personality. “He has a huge heart. He’ll do anything for anybody,” Mr. Miller said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, he’s going to treat you the same. He’s going to give you help, whether it’s the Red Cross or helping out veterans,” Mr. Polhill added.

“Scott is the type of person that acknowledges other people around him,” Mr. Payne said, “and he does things for people without seeking any type of glory but for his own good feelings inside of him.”

“When I walk down the street, if I see a stranger it’s, ‘OK, that’s a stranger walking by.’ And I may not speak to that stranger because they are a stranger,” Mr. Craig said. “Scott never meets a stranger. He’s going to make that person speak to him or even carry on a conversation with him. And he’s always looking for, ‘Does that person need any assistance?’ not, ‘What can that person do for me?’ but, ‘What can I do for that person?’”

He added, “Scott does not brag about what he does. And he gets other people involved.” Mr. Craig gave an example of when Mr. Beasley started distributing meal vouchers to the homeless last year.

“In the beginning, it was only he, Rob and David. But then, all of a sudden, he had engaged all of his employees. They wanted to help. He’s contagious. I think if I had to pick a word to describe Scott, he is contagious with doing good for others.”

Mr. Beasley was chosen for the Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award by judges from the United Way of Summit County (Ohio) Volunteer Center in Akron, which promotes volunteerism in local communities.

“Scott Beasley has been involved and continues to be involved with many community activities both by way of volunteer and philanthropic support,” noted the judges, citing his various charitable activities and involvement with numerous agency boards. “His contribution to the betterment of his community goes on and on.”

Tire Business presented Mr. Beasley with the 16th annual Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award—an engraved medal and a $1,000 donation to a charity of his choice—during the Tire Industry Association’s “Tire Industry Honors” event Nov. 2 on the eve of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.


Scholarship fundraising

Mr. Beasley said he is giving the award donation to the GTDRA Foundation, which awards scholarships every year to qualifying association member employees or their children.

Mr. Beasley continues to be involved with the foundation he helped create about 20 years ago, serving on the board of trustees and helping raise funds from association members during the group’s annual meetings.

“One of the things I truly love is the Georgia Tire Dealer scholarship foundation,” Mr. Beasley said. “I am not a public speaker. That’s something I can’t do. But there is one thing that motivates me every time there’s a Georgia Tire Dealers annual meeting. I’m going to get up and tell you why you need to give me some money for scholarships and that’s the one time I don’t get upset or get uptight. And I guess that’s because I believe in it.”

Mr. Beasley has served as president, vice president and treasurer of the GTDRA, as well as having held a seat on the board of directors. His sons-in-law are now involved in the leadership of the association with Mr. Miller as president and Mr. Polhill as second vice president.


Helping the homeless


After reading a series of newspaper articles on Dublin’s homeless population last fall, “Scott said, ‘You know, we need to see if there’s something we can do,’” Mr. Miller recalled. “He decided what we would do as a business is we’ll go out to a couple of different restaurants and buy some meal coupons. That lets you take the coupon in there and you get a hot meal,” he said.

Mr. Beasley originally planned to host a dinner at a local church and invite the homeless for a meal but was told the homeless may not show up.  “Even though they have nowhere to live, they still have their pride. They don’t want to be seen by people taking pictures,” Mr. Miller said. “So we scratched that plan and that’s when we came up with the idea of buying the coupons and just taking them and distributing them.”

A couple of buffet-style restaurants gave the dealership a fair price on more than $2,000 worth of coupons, according to Mr. Miller.  Local law enforcement officials drove Mr. Beasley around the county in December to where they knew the homeless stayed so he could hand out about 100 coupons.

In addition to the dealership employees, a couple of churches donated some money to offset the cost of the coupons. “It was a little something that got folks involved,” he said.

“For the most part, the people were very appreciative and it made him feel good and it made us feel good and it gave us a little good publicity, but that’s not what we did it for,” Mr. Miller said. Duncan Tire is planning on conducting a similar charity project this winter. “It’s something I think we’ll continue to do as long as we can afford to do it because there is definitely a need out there.”

While distributing coupons, Mr. Beasley also paid a past-due electric bill for a local non-profit shelter for homeless veterans.

Belief in community


“I do believe in my community. I really do,” said Mr. Beasley, who grew up in Dublin, a town in the middle of Georgia with a population of about 17,000. “I do believe it is my responsibility to support anybody that supported me. And this community, this wonderful community, not only my father-in-law but Dave and Rob and I have really benefited from a wonderful community. So we’ve got to pay it back.”

Mr. Beasley served as chairman of the Downtown Development Authority in 2006-07 and was instrumental in the construction of the town’s Market on Madison, an open-air multipurpose structure that houses a farmers market, meetings and other events near downtown. He donated shrubbery to be planted on the grounds.

He also was “instrumental” in ensuring that a downtown parking lot was repaved and outfitted with lights to make it safer for downtown shoppers, according to the Authority’s Ms. Jones.

“He loves Dublin and Laurens County. That is just so obvious,” she said. “…(T)hat’s the great thing about Scott. You can tell he wants every aspect of our community to be successful, whether it’s the downtown, whether it’s the north side, the east side. He’s just dedicated to ensuring that our community is the best it can be and that’s obvious in everything he does.”

After his stint with the city development board, Mr. Beasley was appointed vice chairman and is serving as secretary-treasurer of the county industrial development authority that tries to lure new business and industry into the area.

He served as chairman of the Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce in 1997 and is still active with the organization, according to Chamber President Willie Paulk.

Under his leadership, the chamber began an annual retreat that involves 50 people who meet for two days to discuss how to improve the community. Mr. Beasley also was involved with the chamber’s long-range planning committee when it decided to build a 3,500-sq.-ft. conference center to host chamber and development authority meetings as well as outside social events. Mr. Beasley chaired a fundraising committee to raise money for the facility, which opened in 2006.

“He’s a very generous person, not only of his time and talent but through his business as well. He’s always trying to help others. When he believes in something, he gives it 200 percent,” Ms. Paulk said.

Tech college booster

Mr. Craig, vice president of economic development for the Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin, called Mr. Beasley “an enormous proponent of technical education.” He served on the college’s auto mechanic advisory committee that comprises four to five business owners who meet twice a year. They review the curriculum and the automotive equipment used at the school and make recommendations for any upgrades or changes.

“We try to have our students one step ahead of the industry, that way it is much easier for them to get placement,” Mr. Craig said. The school’s diesel department is the only ASE-certified program in the state, he said, and the automotive repair program is undergoing the review process for its certification.

Mr. Beasley has been involved with the program for the past 10 years, and after serving on the advisory committee he has recommended some of his employees to serve on the board at different times.

He has hired some of its students and has sent employees to the school for training, which he pays for if they pass the class.

Keep Red Cross afloat

Mr. Beasley was “a very active” board member of the local American Red Cross during his term in 1998-2000. When he joined, the local chapter was planning to close. With Mr. Beasley’s involvement, the board conducted active fundraising to keep the chapter afloat, according to the Magnolia Midlands Chapter’s executive director, Debbie Wynn.

In 1999, when Hurricane Floyd spurred one of the largest evacuations along the U.S. coast, many sought refuge in the Dublin area where the Red Cross set up several shelters. “Scott and his wife went over to one of our shelters and helped with the meals, without me knowing it until later,” Ms. Wynn said. The couple helped serve meals, bring supplies and run errands.Even after his stint on the board, Mr. Beasley continues to be involved.

As a Red Cross Hero, Mr. Beasley agrees to raise at least $1,000 for the Red Cross’ annual fundraiser. He displays banners in his shops and raffles prizes as incentives for customers to donate to the cause. He fixes and maintains the chapter’s vehicles at no charge. He also has recommended other volunteers to serve on the board over the years. “There needs to be more people like Scott,” Ms. Wynn said, adding, “His word is as good as gold. He doesn’t make idle commitments.”

A referee with heart

During the 1980s Mr. Beasley, a former high school basketball player, was a volunteer referee for an interdenominational church basketball league that provided a venue for high school students who weren’t on school teams. Mr. Beasley was one of three officials who refereed two or three games a night, three days a week.

“We tried to do everything in the spirit of unity and the officials were a key part of it,” said Mr. Payne, who organized the league from 1980-89. He said he could remember only one time when Mr. Beasley called him to say he couldn’t referee a game night. “So he rearranged his schedule in such a manner, as the professional that he is, so that he could be this volunteer for no compensation except within the heart and in the mind. That, to me, is what a true volunteer is and he exemplified that in his mannerisms,” Mr. Payne said.

“Refereeing basketball was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life,” Mr. Beasley said, noting that it wasn’t just because of the need for physical stamina, but for emotional stamina when dealing with overzealous parents on the sidelines.

“I actually said to a parent one time, ‘Look, I am not a professional basketball referee and odds are you are not a professional basketball player. So let’s find some common ground here.’”

Juvenile court advocate

As if he wasn’t busy enough, Mr. Beasley has begun a new venture—training to become a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for the juvenile court system. Once his many hours of training are complete, he will serve as an advocate for children who come under court monitoring, usually due to abuse or neglect.

“They call you to be a witness to how visitations are going between children and parents, between children and children, or between the court system and children or between (the child welfare agency) and children. You got to be a mentor,” Mr. Beasley said.

“Why I do it is because I think I did a decent job with my own two children and hope to get a chance to be a mentor for my grandchildren…. CASA is strictly volunteers. I think it’s because I feel good about how I raised my children that I could share something relevant with a parent,” he said.

“The last place we need to be sending people is to prison. We need to find some help for these children. If you volunteer you can start with young folks and maybe make a change. And that’s the reason I like CASA,” Mr. Beasley said.

“Part of my training for CASA is a book, 600 pages and the most boring reading I’ve ever done, and attend 10 hours of juvenile court proceedings. I have three hours to go.” ‘You just make time’

“I’m not the person that can sit out here and write a check for a lot of money to do this or do that. But my time and a little effort to help people—I feel like that’s what I have to do.

“This community has supported me for 40 years. My family will continue to support the community,” Mr. Beasley said.

How does he find the time for all his activities?

“You just make time,” Mr. Beasley said. “It’s not that much time. It’s an hour here or a lunch time here. If I’m involved in something, I try to find the most agreeable time for everybody to meet.”

“I make time because all these organizations don’t meet every day. In the course of a month there’s one week a month I have four meetings. The other weeks I have maybe one meeting a week.”

But first and foremost, Mr. Beasley is devoted to his wife, Lynn, whom he married 39 years ago.

“She is my best partner. Anything that I’ve done, she has signed off on. Whenever I’m doing something I feel like, first and foremost, I got to represent my family.

“And I got to represent my community,” he said, adding, “If I take on something, I want to do my very best job. My wife is my No. 1 supporter.…I would not be anybody, I wouldn’t have the things I have, I wouldn’t be somewhat successful if it were not for my wife and two children…. She is the most important person in my life.”

JOEY KNOX


Weight: 157 Senior
Previous Affiliations
Dublin HS
Hometown
Dublin, Ga.


Courtesy: GoMocs.com

Release: 07/16/2007



CHATTANOOGA: Two-time NCAA qualifier and one of five returning SoCon champions ... should be a strong competitor for the Mocs at 157.

2008-09 • JUNIOR SEASON: Southern Conference Champion at 157 ... All-Southern Conference ... NCAA qualifier ... finished with a 21-12 record ... 3-1 in SoCon matches ... spent part of the season ranked in the top-20 ... nine of his 12 loses came against NCAA qualifiers ... third place at the Kaufman Brand Open in Omaha, Neb.

2007-08 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Wrestled at 149 with a 21-11 overall record ... NCAA Qualifier ... was 10-4 in duals ... second on the team with 13 decisions to go with four major decisions and four pins, which tied for second on the team ... fourth place at Midlands defeating No. 4 Brandon Carter (Central Mich.) and No. 3 Mitch Mueller (Iowa State) along the way ... defeated then-No. 9 Will Rowe at Oklahoma 6-0...finished second at SoCon Championships.

2006-07 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Registered a 4-4 mark wrestling at 149 and 157 pounds ... All competition came in tournaments ... Was 2-2 at the Missouri Open with victories over Mark Dickman and Central Oklahoma's Wes Ruth ... At the Southern Scuffle, scored a 10-1 major decision over Boise State and pinned a UNC Greensboro wrestler.

2005-06: Redshirted his first collegiate season with the Mocs.

HIGH SCHOOL DUBLIN : State Champion as a junior and senior ... Placed second as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman ... An eighth-place finisher at Junior Nationals in back-to-back years.



PERSONAL: Joseph Kenneth Knox ... Born Feb. 20, 1986 ... Son of Susan Cremering and Mike Knox.