Visionaries

Georgia’s place in history and in the marketplace wouldn’t be what it is today without the contributions of numerous visionaries, who by leadership, skill and courage forged a trail of success and prosperity shared by one and all throughout the state.

There are many famous Georgians who’ve left an indelible mark on the state – and the world. Click on any of the names below and learn more about these visionaries, their times and their accomplishments:

James Oglethorpe (1696-1785)
The state’s first visionary and founding father, James Oglethorpe was a general in the British army when he landed near what is now Savannah in 1733. He had been sent by the King of England to set up a base of operations to protect British citizens and property from the Spanish in Florida. It was Oglethorpe who named “Georgia” after his reigning King George II, a name that would be forever linked as one of the original 13 colonies.

Henry W. Grady (1850-1889)
Born in Athens, this former managing editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the son of a Confederate major who died in 1864 from wounds received at the siege of Petersburg. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Grady became a journalist by trade and ultimately co-owned the Atlanta Daily Herald. Grady used his journalistic platform to promote the “New South” and spark northern investment into Atlanta’s business community. He also helped establish the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta. Grady died suddenly at age 39, but he left behind a great legacy of change for the state he loved.

Juliet Gordon Low (1860-1927)
Juliet Gordon Low, the founder of the American Girl Scouts, was born in Savannah in 1860. Nicknamed “Daisy,” Low found her life’s work in her hometown at age 51 when she began the famed organization for girls. You can visit her home that includes the family’s original furniture.

Bobby Jones (1902-1971)
Considered the best golfer of his era and one of the greatest in the history of the sport, the athletic feats of Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones II are staggering even by today’s standards. This Atlanta native won 13 major titles in just eight years and was the first golfer to win all four major titles, or the “Grand Slam,” in one year. Jones, a consummate gentleman both on and off the course, retired from the game at only 28 to become a lawyer. But his legacy for the game didn’t retire. He wrote books, starred in instructional films and ultimately created the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, home of The Masters.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
No name is more synonymous with the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Atlanta, Dr. King found his life’s calling behind the pulpit as a Baptist minister. His charismatic style of preaching led him to the presidency of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization of religious, civil and political leaders. Dedicated to the peaceful fight for freedom and equality, Dr. King lead protests throughout the Southeast. In 1963 he helped lead the Civil Rights Movement’s largest gathering, the March on Washington, and gave his most memorable speech, “I Have a Dream.” His powerful words shook a nation and led to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing segregation in public facilities. Dr. King’s fight for freedom eventually cost him his life when he was assassinated in April 1968. He is buried in Atlanta at The King Center, a living memorial dedicated to Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence and human rights. Today America honors his memory with a national holiday celebrated every third Monday in January.

Jimmy Carter (1924)
His resume reads like a who’s who in the book of life: graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, submarine officer, Governor of Georgia, President of the United States, world peace negotiator, Nobel Laureate and humanitarian. And he’s still going strong. Carter, the only Georgian to be elected president, was born and raised in the South Georgia town of Plains, where farming was a way of life. Following military service, his time spent as a businessman led him to a life of politics. During his four-year term as governor, Carter drastically streamlined state government – saving taxpayers dollars. That common sense thinking made political sense and eventually led him to the White House. In his later years, Jimmy Carter has championed human rights with the establishment of The Carter Center and his legacy as president can be found by visiting the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum. Both venues are located in Atlanta.

Ted Turner (1938)
If there was ever someone who deserved to be called “visionary” it is Robert Edward Turner, better known as Ted Turner. He may not be a Georgia native (he was born in Cincinnati, Ohio), but he has spent much of his adult life in Georgia and has left an unmistakable mark on the state. Just like President Carter, Ted Turner’s resume is hard to beat: founder of the Cable News Network (CNN) and Turner Broadcasting which operates a half dozen national cable networks; former owner of the Atlanta Braves baseball team and the NBA Atlanta Hawks; captain of the victorious U.S. entry, Courageous, in the 1976 America’s Cup; creator of the Goodwill Games sporting event; former husband of actress Jane Fonda; and now a thriving philanthropist, political activist, conservationist and restaurant chain owner.

Official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development

Official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development