--- title: SR 1019. Wilder, Jr., John Wesley; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr1019 cite_as: SR 1019, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1019 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1019.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1019/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74350 date: 2026-03-25 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 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/sr1018.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1020.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1019.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 1019 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-25 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ed Harbison - Michael Rhett - Elena Parent - Nan Orrock - Sally Harrell - David Lucas - Jaha Howard text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR1019/2025 upstream_id: 2137362 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - veterans - Georgia Senate resolution - community recognition --- # SR 1019. Wilder, Jr., John Wesley; condolences ## Text Senate Resolution 1019 By: Senators Harbison of the 15th, Rhett of the 33rd, Parent of the 44th, Orrock of the 36th, Harrell of the 40th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and distinguished service of John Wesley Wilder, Jr.; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, John Wesley Wilder, Jr., a devoted husband, father, grandfather, veteran, and community leader, was born on August 28, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late John Wesley Wilder, Sr. and Evelyn Eanes Wilder; and WHEREAS, he received his early education in the Greater Cleveland School System before answering the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Army in 1960; and WHEREAS, John Wilder rendered two decades of honorable and faithful military service, retiring with distinction as a Sergeant First Class, during which time he served in numerous critical roles, including Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Airborne Instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia; instructor at the 8th Army NCO Academy in Korea; and ROTC Instructor at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and WHEREAS, his military career took him across the globe, including assignments at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Benning, Georgia; Okinawa; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Mainz, Germany; Korea; and two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he demonstrated courage and sacrifice in defense of this nation; and WHEREAS, for his exemplary service and valor, he was the recipient of numerous prestigious military honors and qualifications, including the Master Parachutist Badge, Jumpmaster qualification, Pathfinder Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat during the Vietnam War; and WHEREAS, following his distinguished military career, he continued his commitment to public service as a Civil Service employee for 24 years and furthered his education by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science from Troy University; and WHEREAS, John Wilder has been an active and impactful member of numerous civic and fraternal organizations, including serving as former president of the Men's Progressive Club; a member of Sons of King Solomon #358 Masonic Lodge; Eddie L. Roberts American Legion Post #333; former president of the Richard W. Williams Chapter of the Triple Nickle; former state commander of the Donald R. Johnston Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart; and a dedicated member of the Lambda Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, where he was honored as Omega Man of the Year in 2001; and WHEREAS, he has faithfully served for more than 50 years as a devoted member of Greater St. Mark A.M.E. Church, contributing his time and leadership to numerous ministries, including the Steward Board, Trustee Board, Male Chorus, Mass Choir, Usher Board, Kitchen Committee, and Finance Committee; and WHEREAS, he is a man of deep family values, having shared over 60 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Victoria P. Wilder, and together they have raised two sons, Michael K. Wilder and Steven S. Wilder, and are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren, William, Savannah, and Victoria; and WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is proud to recognize and honor individuals such as John Wesley Wilder, Jr. whose life of service, sacrifice, and dedication to community exemplifies the very best of this nation and this state. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend John Wesley Wilder, Jr., for his extraordinary life of service and extend their sincerest appreciation for his military, civic, and community contributions. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to John Wesley Wilder, Jr. ## 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 Senate resolution honors John Wesley Wilder, Jr., a Vietnam veteran and longtime community member, for his military service and decades of civic and church involvement. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate honoring John Wesley Wilder, Jr., who served two decades in the United States Army, including two tours in Vietnam, and later worked 24 years as a Civil Service employee. It recounts his military honors, including the Purple Heart, and his long record of civic, fraternal, and church involvement in his community. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply commends Wilder for his life of service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to him as a keepsake. ### What it does - Formally commends John Wesley Wilder, Jr. for his military, civic, and community contributions on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Wilder. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a ceremonial honor resolution. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors John Wesley Wilder, Jr. and, by extension, his family and the organizations he belonged to, including his church, military fraternal groups, and civic clubs. It has no effect on the broader public. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or practical effect on Georgians generally. Its significance is symbolic, giving official state recognition to one individual's military service and community contributions through an action of the Georgia Senate. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites Wilder's biography, military career, honors including the Purple Heart, and civic and church service. - The resolved clause commends Wilder for his life of service and extends the Senate's appreciation. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Wilder. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-25) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-25) - Sponsors: Ed Harbison, Michael Rhett, Elena Parent, Nan Orrock, Sally Harrell, David Lucas, Jaha Howard - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74350 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1019.md?full=1