Georgia CommonsHR 75: Ham, Phillip Benson, Sr.; condolences
Last action January 28, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors the life of Phillip Benson Ham Sr., a longtime Forsyth attorney, former state representative, and Monroe County civic leader who died in January 2025.
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 is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives marking the death of Phillip Benson Ham Sr. on January 11, 2025. It recounts his six decades practicing law in Forsyth, his ten years as a state representative, his 13 years chairing the Monroe County Board of Education, and his work bringing major economic projects to Monroe County. It also notes his roles in rural electrification and agricultural advocacy through groups like the Central Georgia Electric Membership Cooperative and the Georgia Farm Bureau. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply expresses the House's condolences and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to Ham's family.
What the bill does
- Formally honors the life and memory of Phillip Benson Ham Sr. on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Expresses the House's sincere regret at his passing.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to his family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a ceremonial statement only.
Who it affects
The resolution directly affects the family of Phillip Benson Ham Sr., who will receive an official copy, and reflects the sentiment of the Georgia House of Representatives. It has no regulatory effect on the general public.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or policy consequences for Georgians generally. Its significance is symbolic and personal, offering the Ham family formal public recognition from the state legislature of his decades of legal, educational, and civic service in Monroe County.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount Ham's birth in Smarr, Georgia, his legal career in Forsyth, and his leadership roles in Monroe County government and economic development.
- The resolved clause states that House members join in honoring his life and memory and express regret at his passing.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy available for distribution to his family.
From the bill
“the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Phillip Benson Ham Sr. and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing.”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
- Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)
- Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
Topics
- condolence resolution
- Monroe County
- Georgia House of Representatives
- civic tribute