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Trojans shut out Jones County A DYE-d-in-the-wool War Eagle fan I >n Banquet
for first win - see Sports, page 1B speaks out - see Opinions, page 4A Saturday night in the PCHS cafeteria
Ceaber-Otribune
Serving the Peach County area since 1888
Volume 97 Issue 41 Thursday, October 11,1984 22 pages in 2 sections 25 cents
Ernest Anderson: the story behind the legend
by Vichy Coleman
Occasionally a man will make such
an impact on an area that he becomes
a legend in his own time. For Peach
County, this man is Ernest R.
Anderson, whose accomplishments as
superintendent of the schools span a
40 year career here.
Mr. Anderson was bom in Wrens,
Georgia on October 13, 1914, the sixth
of eleven children of Mr. and Mrs.
Seth Daniel Anderson. He attended
Wrens High School where he played
football, was a member of the debate
team, and was on the track team.
When he graduated, it was with the
distinction of being the second honor
graduate of his class
Upon graduating, Mr. Anderson
attended Georgia Teachers College
(now known as Georgia Southern),
with the intent to study law. His
college days, however, were in the
midst of the Depression, and money
for law school was not readily
available. He decided to teach for a
while and save the money for his
tuition. It was at this time that he
discovered he enjoyed teaching. ‘T
liked teaching and 1 liked my dio students,
and just never wanted to anything
else,” he said. He went on to receive
his Masters Degree from Duke
University and his Sixth Year
Certificate from the University
Georgia.
His teaching career began in 1936,
as grade 1-9 principal in
County After staying there for five
years, he felt the need to move on
high school and so became
principal at Guyton High School.
During his stay at Guyton, he
Marie Johnson of Kinestree,
Carolina, as a Social Studies teacher.
The two were married the
summer on August 14, 1941.
Also, while he was employed
Guyton, he met Laura Lambert Cook,
whose father was the
at Fort Valley. Mr. Lambert
looking for a principal here and
daughter recommended Mr. Anderson.
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These children visited the Fort VeNey Fire Department last Kindergarten. Director Beth Spiders, Music Teacher Ouida
Monday morning in observance of Fire Prevention Week. They Luckie and Aide Ned Sparks accompanied the children at the
are students in the four year old group of the Jock and Jill Fire Department. photo by Tim WHton
Congressman Ray announces
Grants
Washington, October 3, 1984-Third
District Rep. Richard Ray announced
today that the Third District will be
receiving Community Development
Block Grants totalling $7,061,717.00.
The grants are awarded by the
Georgia Department of Community
Affairs and are used for community
improvements. The city of Byron will
receive $400,000.00 to install 22,860
feet of sewer line and to pave 4,200
feet of street. Perry’s award of
$694,822.00 will be used for
comprehensive street improvements
and the rehabilitation of substandard
housing.
Congressman Ray applauded the
work done by state and local officials to
secure these grants. “These awards
would not have been made today if
there had not been a lot of hard work
put in by the area’s state
representatives and senators. These
Ernest and Marie Anderson arrived
in Fort Valley in 1942 and he was
principal for four years. He was then
elected to also serve as superintendent
for the school system until 1967, when
the two jobs were separated Mr
Anderson refused several offers of
other jobs, including one in Dawson
and one in Fitzgerald. ‘ ‘I stayed here
because it really is a good place to
live,” he said "My children were all
bom here and educated here. This was
our home ”
His children, all college graduates,
have taken separate courses in life
The oldest son works in advertising in
Bethesda, Maryland; the oldest
daughter is a housewife in Jackson¬
ville; his other son is working with
Service Resources in Atlanta, and the
youngest daughter teaches in Baldwin
County. There are six grandchildren in
all, with one scheduled to graduate
college this May.
Marie Anderson was employed here
as a Social Studies teacher for 24
years, until her retirement last May.
”1 loved it,” she said. "The two of us
have touched many lives. We have
taught most of the residents of Fort
Valley and their children. I have been
asked by some people where we will go
to retire. We arc not going anywhere.
This is our home.”
The list of accomplishments
achieved by Ernest Anderson while he
has been Superintendent is almost as
long as his 40-year career here. They
include seeing that all schools are
accredited and Standard; leading the
successful passage of three local bond
issues for education; initiating the use
of computers in the system with 42
currently in use in three schools;
constructing additional buildings and
athletic facilities for the schools;
initiating standardized testing to
ascertain the achievement levels of
students, and establishing an excellent
spelling program.
Mr. Anderson is a member of the
people worked closely with the mayors
and city and county officials to impress
upon the state of Georgia the needs in
this area. These funds will be put to a
September accidents
GSP
The Georgia State Patrol at Perry
announced today that 5 traffic
accidents in Peach County were
investigated during the month of
September. These accidents resulted
in 4 injuries and no deaths.
i n the area of enforcement by Post
i 5 > Sergeant First Class C.E. Parker
said his officers had made 89 arrests
and issued 75 warnings during the
month.
Various courts in Peach County
disposed of 108 pending traffic cases
Kiwarns Club and the Fort Valley
United Methodist Church, where he
was a Sunday School teacher for many
years. He served as President of the
Georgia Association of School Super
intendents. Chairman for two years of
the Georgia Education Association’s
Legislative Committee, and was
President and Secretary of region high
schools association for four years,
"One reason we have such a good
educational system here is stability,”
he stated, “A lot of our teachers have
The many phases of
Ernest Anderson's life
are evidenced in these
early photos • «M
good use here and I am proud that we
were able to get such a huge level of
funding for the Third District," said
Ray.
during the month with the following:
19 guilty pleas, 84 bond forfeitures, 1
case dismissed, no cases no record,
and 4 nolo contendre pleas. Sergeant
Parker explained that cases and
arrests would seldom be the same
number for each month because some
cases are carried over into the next
month to coincide with court dates.
He also pointed out that fines and
forfeitures amounted to $7,660.50 for
the month of September which was
paid to the courts of Peach County.
been here for many years.” B. J.
McClendon, the new Superintendent,
has been here for 24 years. ”1 am sure
there will be some charges in the next
1 Vt years under his leadership,” said
Mr Anderson. “He will be a good
superintendent and 1 hope the people
will cooperate with him. 1 have had
good support from the Board of
Education and the entire community
and feel this is necessary for a good
system.”
A banquet honoring Mr. Anderson
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brother Ml track star
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Ml and “Daddy 99
Ml winning coach
Byron annexation discussed
by Cornelia b. Nichols
At the October 2 meeting of the
Byron City Council, two residents,
Dave Chadwick and Harley Thomas,
inquired about the long-range plans
for growth of the city and expressed
the desire of some Old Oak residents
for annexation into the city.
Councilman H. C., “Sonny” Akins
noted plans for house numbering,
improved lighting and street paving.
Clerk, Frances McDaniel, promised
new maps to more easily identify the
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Dave Chadwick (far right) was one of the Byron citizens who attended the recent ci
ty council meeting. He inquired about plans for future development and possible
annexation of Old Oak. phots by Pott Nichols
Y
is scheduled for Saturday, October 13,
which also happens to be his 70th.
birthday. His reign as Superintendent
will come to an end on December 31.
When asked how he views the
ceremonies planned for him and his
upcoming retirement, he had this to
say: ”1 appreciate all the things
everyone is doing for me in my
retirement. I feel very humble about it
all. I have enjoyed all the years here in
Fort Valley, and would be less than
honest if I said there were never any
city limits. Speaking to the matter of
possible annexation, she replied, “you
need a good public relations job for
annexation.”
Mayor James E. Williams proclaim¬
ed the week of October 7-13 Ernest R.
Anderson Week. Council unanimously
approved Akins’ and Howard Hem¬
bree’s motion to accept the Downtown
Development Authority’s request to
make accessible to Mike Huff the sum
of $110,000 to purchase 3.1 acres on
White Road and to construct mini¬
storage warehouses there. Council
problems. But this is really a good
place. I’m sure I will miss all of it when
I retire but it's just a matter of making
up your mind that this is just another
stage of life.”
A stage of life for Ernest Anderson,
the end of an era for Peach County. He
will be sorely missed by students and
educators alike, and we would like to
wish him luck in his retirement.
stipulated that the property remain in
the city tax digest.
McDaniel, reporting recommenda¬
tions of the Revenue Sharing
Handicapped Compliance Committee,
urged that ramps be installed at the
City Hall, and the Public Safety
Building. These additions and minor
changes must be made by 1986; the
Handicapped Compliance Coordinator
recommended that changes be
completed by June, 1985- She
reminded councilmen that handicapp¬
ed persons must notify the city 24
hours in advance if they wish to use a
public facility at which special
arrangements must be made.
The mayor cited notification of the
$400,000 Community Development
Block Grant that the city has received.
Noting that he had made application
for the grant last June, Williams said,
“It pays to get up and try again,”
when applications do not meet with
immediate approval. Funds will be
used for sewerage in the Toomerville
section of Byron. Councilman Jesse
Hall expressed the need for sidewalks
there. In discussing a possible
drainage problem on Georgia 42 near
the new Middle Georgia Bank
building. Akins noted that the proper
inspection had taken place and the
appropriate authorities had indicated
no problem. Hembree stated the need
to petition the state to raise Georgia 42
a total of 12 inches.
Several appointments were made.
William Nelms, Fred Burnette and
Pam Rummel were appointed to the
Planning and Zoning Commission;
terms to expire in September, 1988.
J.C. Lassetcr, Sr., was appointed
Executive Director of the Byron
Housing Authority Commission. ^