--- title: HR 709. Bridges, Kenneth Rogers; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr709 cite_as: HR 709, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr709 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr709.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr709/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71595 date: 2025-03-21 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr708.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr710.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr709.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 709 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-21 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Houston Gaines - Marcus Wiedower - Holt Persinger - Chris Erwin text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR709/2025 upstream_id: 2012772 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commendation resolution - Georgia authors - agricultural education - Oconee County --- # HR 709. Bridges, Kenneth Rogers; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3463 House Resolution 709 By: Representatives Gaines of the 120th, Wiedower of the 121st, Persinger of the 119th, and Erwin of the 32nd A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Kenneth Rogers Bridges; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Kenneth Rogers Bridges has captured and preserved the rich history and culture2 of rural Georgia in the 1940s through his vivid storytelling, allowing readers to experience3 firsthand the values, struggles, and experiences of that era; and4 WHEREAS, he writes with a deep appreciation for his early years of financial hardship,5 shaped by the love of a caring family who instilled in him the importance of hard work,6 education, and moral values; and7 WHEREAS, his literary talent enables him to share his memories in a way that draws readers8 into his colorful narratives, ensuring that the stories of a va nishing time remain alive for9 future generations; and10 WHEREAS, Kenneth Rogers Bridges holds both a bachelor's and a m aster's degree in11 vocational agriculture from the University of Georgia, and he h as dedicated his career to12 teaching the subject at several Georgia schools; and13 H. R. 709 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3463 WHEREAS, he has further served as chairman of the Board of Educ ation for Oconee14 County, chairman of farm services for Jackson County, and as a member of numerous15 educational and agricultural boards and committees; and16 WHEREAS, this distinguished gentleman has given inspiration to many through his high17 ideals, morals, and deep concern for his fellow citizens, and he possesses the vast wisdom18 which only comes through experience and the strength of charact er which is achieved19 through overcoming the many challenges of life; and20 WHEREAS, Kenneth Rogers Bridges is a person of magnanimous stre ngths with an21 unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and22 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this23 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately honored.24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that25 the members of this body recognize and commend Kenneth Rogers B ridges for his many26 outstanding contributions to North Georgia and extend the most sincere best wishes for27 continued health and happiness.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized29 and directed to make an appr opriate copy of t his resolution ava ilable for distribution to30 Kenneth Rogers Bridges.31 H. R. 709 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution honors Kenneth Rogers Bridges, a former agriculture teacher and author, for his writing about rural Georgia and his community service. ### Plain-language summary This is a commendation resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any law; instead it formally recognizes Kenneth Rogers Bridges for his career and community contributions. The resolution describes his writing about rural Georgia life in the 1940s, his education (a bachelor's and master's degree in vocational agriculture from the University of Georgia), his career teaching agriculture at several Georgia schools, and his service on boards including chairman of the Oconee County Board of Education and chairman of Jackson County farm services. The House resolves to commend Bridges for his contributions to North Georgia and wish him continued health and happiness. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him. ### What it does - Formally commends Kenneth Rogers Bridges for his writing about rural Georgia history and culture and for his community service. - Recites his educational background, including bachelor's and master's degrees in vocational agriculture from the University of Georgia. - Notes his service as chairman of the Oconee County Board of Education and chairman of farm services for Jackson County. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Bridges. - Extends the House's best wishes to Bridges for continued health and happiness. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Kenneth Rogers Bridges. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is directed to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to him. ### Why it matters This resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally; it is a ceremonial honor. Its practical effect is limited to formally recognizing one individual's career and community contributions and providing him a keepsake copy of the House's statement. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Bridges's writing about rural Georgia in the 1940s and his personal background. - The whereas clauses detail his education and teaching career in vocational agriculture and his service on educational and agricultural boards. - The resolved clause formally commends Bridges for his contributions to North Georgia and extends best wishes. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Bridges. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-21) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-21) - Sponsors: Houston Gaines, Marcus Wiedower, Holt Persinger, Chris Erwin - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71595 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr709.md?full=1