Georgia CommonsHR 2080: ODYSSEY Media Group, the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, and David A. Ragsdale for over 23 years of journalistic excellence, student creativity, and outstanding service to the people of Athens, Georgia, and beyond; commend
Last action March 31, 2026 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution commends the ODYSSEY Media Group, the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, and their founder David A. Ragsdale for over two decades of student journalism and creative arts work in Athens.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors two student publications at Clarke Central High School in Athens: the ODYSSEY Media Group, a student-run news organization founded in 2003, and the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, a creative writing and art publication re-established in 2001 after a period of dormancy. Both were founded or revived by David A. Ragsdale, who has served as faculty adviser. The resolution recounts the mission and achievements of both publications, including numerous awards from national and regional scholastic press associations. It formally states that the House recognizes and commends the group, the magazine, and Ragsdale for their work in journalism, student creativity, and community service. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to Ragsdale and to staff and volunteers of both publications.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes and commends the ODYSSEY Media Group, the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, and David A. Ragsdale for their work at Clarke Central High School in Athens.
- States the House's praise for the publications' commitment to truth, transparency, accountability, and public dialogue.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to Ragsdale and to editorial staff and volunteers of both publications.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement of commendation.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names David A. Ragsdale, the ODYSSEY Media Group, and the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, all connected to Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia. It also references the Clerk of the House, who must prepare distribution copies.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or financial effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is symbolic: it gives official state recognition to a long-running student journalism program and literary magazine, and to the educator who built them, as a form of public honor.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses describe the 2003 founding of the ODYSSEY Media Group and the 2001 re-establishment of the iliad Literary-Art Magazine by David A. Ragsdale at Clarke Central High School.
- The resolved clause formally commends the group, magazine, and Ragsdale for journalistic excellence, student creativity, and service to Athens.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to produce copies of the resolution for distribution to Ragsdale and to staff and volunteers of both publications.
From the bill
“the members of this body recognize and commend the ODYSSEY Media Group, the iliad Literary-Art Magazine, and David A. Ragsdale for their decades of journalistic excellence, student creativity, and outstanding service to the people of Athens, Georgia, and beyond”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
- Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
- Eric Gisler (D, HD-121)
- Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
- Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
Topics
- student journalism
- Athens Georgia
- Clarke Central High School
- legislative commendation
- scholastic media