--- title: SR 535. Rogers, Denney H.; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr535 cite_as: SR 535, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr535 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr535.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr535/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71967 date: 2025-04-04 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/sr534.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr536.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr535.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 535 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-04 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Matt Brass - John Kennedy - Steve Gooch - Randy Robertson - Jason Anavitarte - Larry Walker text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR535/2025 upstream_id: 2019421 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Senate resolution - local government - Ephesus Georgia - civic recognition --- # SR 535. Rogers, Denney H.; recognize ## Text 25 LC 129 0479 Senate Resolution 535 By: Senators Brass of the 6th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Denney H. Rogers; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Denney H. Rogers has faithfully served as mayor of Ephesus, Georgia, for 352 years since being elected when his father, Lonnie L. Rogers, the first mayor, retired; he has3 maintained that post in each election without opposition; and4 WHEREAS, the Rogers Family has left a long and indelible impact in Ephesus; along with5 their political history, the family also owned and operated a sawmilling and lumber business6 named L. L. Rogers and Son; and 7 WHEREAS, Denney lives in the house that his grandfather, Frank Rogers, built in 1923; and8 WHEREAS, the house recently made history when it was named a Georgia Centennial Farm,9 as it has been farmed in the same place by the same family for more than 100 years; and10 WHEREAS, as mayor, Denney has improved his community by buildin g one of the most11 active libraries in the West Georgia Library System, a city hall that serves the more than 40012 citizens of Ephesus, and a new fire station that serves the surrounding area; and13 S. R. 535 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0479 WHEREAS, he has led his community to pave roads, build ball fields, and construct an event14 barn as well as a community center to serve the families of Eph esus and the surrounding15 area; and16 WHEREAS, he was instrumental in developing water systems whose lines extend far out of17 his community in several directions, has added four wells to that system, paid in full for the18 system, and has done so while keeping his town debt-free; and19 WHEREAS, he continues to serve his community in developing new projects such as the20 proposed Veteran's Park, which is in the beginning stages; and21 WHEREAS, Denney serves his city, county, and state in many other ways including, but not22 limited to, serving on the West Georgia Regional Library Board for many years, in the local23 Lions Club, on the Soil and Water Board, with the Rolling Hills Resource Conservation and24 Development Council with the National Resources Convention Service, as well as serving25 on the Agribusiness Council Board of Directors and chairing a Sacred Harp singing group26 that meets annually in the city of Ephesus; and27 WHEREAS, he is a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for28 integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and29 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this30 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body32 recognize and commend Denney H. Rogers for his 35 years of service to Ephesus, Georgia,33 and the surrounding area.34 S. R. 535 - 2 - 25 LC 129 0479 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed35 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Denney H. Rogers.36 S. R. 535 - 3 - ## 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 Denney H. Rogers, the longtime mayor of Ephesus, for 35 years of service to the small West Georgia city. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Denney H. Rogers, who has served as mayor of Ephesus, Georgia for 35 years without ever facing an opponent in an election, succeeding his father Lonnie L. Rogers, the city's first mayor. The resolution lists his accomplishments as mayor, including building a library, city hall, fire station, community center, and event barn, developing the city's water system and keeping the town debt-free, and planning a new Veteran's Park. It also notes his family's history in Ephesus and his service on several regional boards. The Senate formally commends him and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send him a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Denney H. Rogers for 35 years of service as mayor of Ephesus, Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Rogers. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than legislation. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Denney H. Rogers, the mayor of Ephesus, Georgia, and references his family and the small community of Ephesus, which the text says has more than 400 residents. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians statewide. Its practical effect is limited to a formal, public honor for Rogers and a commemorative copy of the document delivered to him by the Senate. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Rogers's 35 years as mayor of Ephesus and his family's long history in the city. - The whereas clauses detail civic projects he has led, including a library, city hall, fire station, community center, event barn, and water system improvements. - The resolved clause formally commends Rogers for his service to Ephesus and the surrounding area. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Rogers. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-04) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Matt Brass, John Kennedy, Steve Gooch, Randy Robertson, Jason Anavitarte, Larry Walker - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71967 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr535.md?full=1