--- title: SR 406. Leger, Charles M. "Buddy"; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr406 cite_as: SR 406, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr406 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr406.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr406/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71394 date: 2025-03-20 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/sr405.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr407.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr406.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 406 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-20 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Carden Summers - John Kennedy - Sam Watson - Russ Goodman - Steve Gooch - Blake Tillery - Chuck Hufstetler - Billy Hickman - Max Burns - Larry Walker - Shawn Still - Chuck Payne - Lee Anderson - Marty Harbin - Bill Cowsert - John Albers - Freddie Sims - Bo Hatchett - Josh McLaurin - Colton Moore - Ed Harbison - David Lucas - Timothy Bearden - Matt Brass - Randy Robertson - Ben Watson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR406/2025 upstream_id: 2010548 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Senate resolution - agriculture - watermelon industry - pecan industry - condolence resolution --- # SR 406. Leger, Charles M. "Buddy"; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3317 Senate Resolution 406 By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Kennedy of the 18th, Watson of the 11th, Goodman of the 8th, Gooch of the 51st and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens2 with the passing of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger on February 28, 2025; and3 WHEREAS, Charles M. "Buddy" Leger was born on June 9, 1931, in Knox County,4 Kentucky, a beloved son of Noah Delbert and Uhla McKeehan Leger; and5 WHEREAS, during his extraordinary career, he dedicated more tha n 75 years to the6 agriculture industry, leaving a legacy of impact on the watermelon and pecan industries in7 Georgia and beyond; and8 WHEREAS, prior to establishing Leger & Son Inc., which continue s to actively grow,9 harvest, and market both watermelons and pecans, he served with the Federal State10 Inspection Service, where he graded fruits and vegetables, and as manager of the Cordele11 Farmers Market with the Georgia Department of Agriculture; and12 WHEREAS, Charles M. "Buddy" Leger held vital roles in the agriculture industry, such as13 chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans, president of the14 S. R. 406 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3317 Georgia Pecan Growers Association, president of the Georgia Watermelon Association, and15 the first president of the National Watermelon Research and Promotion Board; and16 WHEREAS, his expertise was recognized at the highest levels, as he was appointed to serve17 on the Transition Team for Agriculture from the Reagan administ ration to the Bush18 administration as well as on many state and national councils; and19 WHEREAS, he was the recipient of the National Watermelon Associ ation Outstanding20 Service Award in 1979, 1986, and 1990 as well as the University of Georgia College of21 Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Medallion of Honor Awar d in 2006, earning22 induction into the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2012; and23 WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife of 57 y ears, Marjorie, and the24 two were blessed with four remarkable children, Susan, Sherrie, Maria, and James; and 25 WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Charles M. "Buddy" L eger will long be26 remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who27 had the great fortune of knowing him.28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body29 join in honoring the life and memory of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger and express their deepest30 and most sincere regret at his passing.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed32 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the family of33 Charles M. "Buddy" Leger.34 S. R. 406 - 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 Senate resolution honors the life and memory of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger, a longtime figure in Georgia's watermelon and pecan industries who died on February 28, 2025. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate marking the death of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger, a Kentucky-born agriculture leader who spent more than 75 years working in Georgia's watermelon and pecan industries. It recounts his career, including founding Leger & Son Inc., working for the Federal State Inspection Service, managing the Cordele Farmers Market, and holding leadership roles such as chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans and president of the Georgia Watermelon Association. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Leger's family. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's condolences on the death of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger. - Recites his career history in the watermelon and pecan industries and his leadership roles in agricultural organizations. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Leger's family. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulation, as is typical for a personal condolence resolution. ### Who it affects This resolution primarily affects the family of Charles M. "Buddy" Leger, who will receive an official copy, and reflects recognition from the Georgia Senate. It does not impose obligations on any other group, agency, or industry. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect; it is a formal, symbolic gesture by the Georgia Senate. Its practical significance is limited to publicly honoring Leger's contributions to Georgia agriculture and providing his family with an official memorial document. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause states the Senate 'joins in honoring the life and memory' of Leger and expresses regret at his passing. - A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Leger's family. - The preamble (whereas clauses) details his biography, career milestones, awards, and family, but carries no binding legal effect. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-20) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-20) - Sponsors: Carden Summers, John Kennedy, Sam Watson, Russ Goodman, Steve Gooch, Blake Tillery, Chuck Hufstetler, Billy Hickman, Max Burns, Larry Walker, Shawn Still, Chuck Payne, Lee Anderson, Marty Harbin, Bill Cowsert, John Albers, Freddie Sims, Bo Hatchett, Josh McLaurin, Colton Moore, Ed Harbison, David Lucas, Timothy Bearden, Matt Brass, Randy Robertson, Ben Watson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71394 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr406.md?full=1