Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 331: Rutledge, Cliff; condolences
Last action March 4, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution honors the late Cliff Rutledge, a longtime Columbus-area radio broadcaster and Phenix City Schools educator, and directs that a copy be sent to his family.
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 Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate marking the death of Cliff Rutledge, who died on February 18, 2024, at age 92. It recounts his seven-decade career as a radio broadcaster in the Columbus area, where he called high school and college sporting events, and his 40 years working for Phenix City Schools as a principal and program director. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. Its operative effect is that the Senate formally expresses its regret at his passing and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Rutledge's family.
What the bill does
- Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's regret over the death of Cliff Rutledge and honors his life and memory.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Rutledge's family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or ongoing legal obligation; it is a ceremonial statement only.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names the family of Cliff Rutledge, who will receive a copy, and the Secretary of the Senate, who is tasked with preparing it. It has no broader legal effect on other Georgians.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences for Georgians generally. Its significance is symbolic, offering official recognition from the state Senate of Rutledge's decades of work in broadcasting and education in the Columbus and Phenix City area.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount Rutledge's career, including his start in radio in the 1950s and his work at WOKS starting in 1964.
- The whereas clauses note his 40 years with Phenix City Schools as principal of Susie E. Allen Elementary School and director of Head Start and adult education programs.
- The resolved clause has the Senate formally honor his life and express regret at his passing.
- The further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate 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 Cliff Rutledge and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
Topics
- Georgia Senate resolution
- condolences
- Columbus Georgia
- broadcasting history
- Phenix City Schools