--- title: SR 203. Rutland Jr., Guy Jehue; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr203 cite_as: SR 203, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr203 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr203.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr203/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70442 date: 2025-02-19 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/sr202.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr204.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr203.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 203 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-19 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Jason Anavitarte - Chuck Payne - Colton Moore - Chuck Hufstetler - Billy Hickman - Carden Summers text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR203/2025 upstream_id: 1974299 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Senate resolution - condolences - Polk County - education --- # SR 203. Rutland Jr., Guy Jehue; condolences ## Text Senate Resolution 203 By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Payne of the 54th, Moore of the 53rd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Hickman of the 4th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr.; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr. on January 24, 2025; and WHEREAS, Guy Jehue Rutland Jr. was born on January 23, 1935, in Polk County, Georgia, a beloved son of Guy Jehue Rutland Sr. and Ida Davis Rutland; and WHEREAS, during his distinguished career in education, he dedicated over 33 years to teaching and coaching in the Polk School District, earning recognition as Coach of the Year in Wrestling from the Georgia Athletic Association, and served for 12 years as part of the Polk School District Board of Education; and WHEREAS, he further served his community as owner and operator of both Rutland Farm, a Georgia Centennial Farm he inherited from his parents, and Christmas Tree City, which has served the community for 47 years; and WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Guy Jehue Rutland Jr. was an active and devoted member of Victory Baptist Church; and WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife, Lynda, and was blessed with two remarkable children, Ashley and Jud, as well as three wonderful grandchildren, Julia, Sam, and Annika; and WHEREAS, he gave inspiration to many through his high ideals, morals, and deep concern for his fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding he demonstrated to his family and friends were admired by others; and WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he made this world a better place in which to live; and WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Guy Jehue Rutland Jr. will long be remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr. and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing. 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 the family of Guy Jehue Rutland 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 the life of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr., a longtime Polk County educator, coach, and school board member who died in January 2025. ### Plain-language summary This is a memorial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes the life of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr., who was born in Polk County in 1935 and died on January 24, 2025. The resolution recounts his 33 years teaching and coaching in the Polk School District, his 12 years on the Polk School District Board of Education, his ownership of Rutland Farm and Christmas Tree City, his church membership, and his family. The Senate formally resolves to honor his memory and express regret at his passing. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to his family. The resolution creates no new rules, funding, or legal requirements; it is a ceremonial statement. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's regret at the death of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr. and honors his life and memory. - Recounts his 33-year career teaching and coaching in the Polk School District and his 12 years on its Board of Education. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to his family. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the family of Guy Jehue Rutland Jr., including his wife Lynda, children Ashley and Jud, and three grandchildren. It also involves the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute a copy of the resolution to the family. ### Why it matters The resolution has no effect on Georgia law, funding, or public policy. Its practical effect is a formal, permanent statement of recognition from the state Senate that will be given to Rutland's family as a keepsake honoring his life and community service. ### Key provisions - The resolved clause states the Senate joins in honoring Rutland's life and memory and expresses regret at his passing. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to his family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-19) - Sponsors: Jason Anavitarte, Chuck Payne, Colton Moore, Chuck Hufstetler, Billy Hickman, Carden Summers - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70442 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr203.md?full=1