--- title: SR 877. Coffin, Tom; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr877 cite_as: SR 877, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr877 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr877.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr877/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73727 date: 2026-03-03 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/sr876.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr878.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr877.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 877 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-03 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Nan Orrock - Kenya Wicks - Donzella James - Randal Mangham - Kim Jackson - Gail Davenport - Tonya Anderson - RaShaun Kemp text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR877/2025 upstream_id: 2125910 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial resolution - Georgia Senate - Atlanta history - labor advocacy --- # SR 877. Coffin, Tom; condolences ## Text Senate Resolution 877 By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Wicks of the 34th, James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th, Jackson of the 41st and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and legacy of Tom Coffin; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Tom Coffin was a lifelong advocate for justice, equality, and the dignity of working people whose 82 years of purpose-driven life were marked by what he often described as making "good trouble"; and WHEREAS, born on September 1, 1943, in Dearborn, Michigan, and raised in Soap Lake, he developed an early appreciation for literature, the natural world, and the power of ideas to shape communities; and WHEREAS, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in literature from Reed College in 1967 and later achieved a Doctor of Philosophy in forestry from the University of Georgia in 1995, reflecting a lifelong commitment to learning and scholarship; and WHEREAS, in 1968, he co-founded and became the first editor of Atlanta's cooperatively owned underground newspaper, The Great Speckled Bird, affectionately known as "The Bird," which became one of the most influential independent newspapers of its era, reaching a weekly circulation of 30,000 and blending political reporting with cultural and social activism; and WHEREAS, through its coverage of the Vietnam War, the women's liberation and gay liberation movements, labor struggles, and local community issues, The Bird embodied Mr. Coffin's steadfast belief in free expression and grassroots journalism, and he later worked to preserve its legacy through collaboration with the Georgia State University Archives to create a digitized collection and oral history project for future generations; and WHEREAS, from 1976 to 1989, Mr. Coffin worked in Atlanta's construction trades, including as a crane operator with Local 926 of the Operating Engineers, exemplifying his deep respect for organized labor and solidarity with working men and women; and WHEREAS, after earning his doctorate, he served as an adjunct professor of sociology at Georgia State University, where he courageously advocated for the rights of adjunct faculty to organize, and he later served as head field arborist for the City of Atlanta, where his commitment to integrity led him to file and ultimately prevail in a whistleblower action; and WHEREAS, he helped organize the first chapter of the Georgia Arborist Association, the state chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, and shared his expertise as an avid tree climber and instructor across the nation, reflecting his enduring dedication to environmental stewardship; and WHEREAS, Mr. Coffin's life was defined not only by activism and professional achievement but also by devotion to family, community, and simple joys—including his reputation as an excellent cook, particularly at breakfast—and by his partnership of 58 years with his beloved wife, Stephanie, alongside his children, grandchildren, and extended family. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body honor the life and legacy of Tom Coffin, whose unwavering commitment to human rights, environmental stewardship, independent journalism, and organized labor leaves an enduring imprint on the State of Georgia and beyond. 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 Tom Coffin. ## 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 late Tom Coffin, an Atlanta journalist, labor advocate, and arborist, for his decades of civic and environmental work. ### Plain-language summary This is a memorial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate honoring Tom Coffin, who died at 82. It recounts his life story: co-founding Atlanta's underground newspaper The Great Speckled Bird in 1968, working in construction trades as a crane operator, teaching sociology at Georgia State University, serving as head field arborist for the City of Atlanta, and helping found the Georgia Arborist Association. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states the Senate's recognition of Coffin's contributions to journalism, labor organizing, and environmental stewardship, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to his family. ### What it does - Formally honors the life and legacy of Tom Coffin on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - Recounts Coffin's career as a journalist, construction worker, professor, and city arborist in the resolution's text. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Coffin's family. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change, as is typical for a memorial resolution. ### Who it affects This resolution primarily affects Tom Coffin's family, who will receive an official copy, and stands as a formal statement by the Georgia Senate. It has no direct legal or regulatory effect on the general public. ### Why it matters Memorial resolutions like this one carry symbolic rather than legal weight. Its significance lies in the Georgia Senate's public recognition of a private citizen's contributions to journalism, labor, and environmental work, and in providing his family a formal keepsake from the state legislature. ### Key provisions - The resolution's 'WHEREAS' clauses detail Coffin's biography, education, journalism career, labor work, and civic contributions. - The resolved clause has the Senate formally honor Coffin's life and legacy. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to Coffin's family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-03) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-03) - Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Kenya Wicks, Donzella James, Randal Mangham, Kim Jackson, Gail Davenport, Tonya Anderson, RaShaun Kemp - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73727 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr877.md?full=1