HR1992: HR1992 Hearn, Major General George J., Jr.; honoring life, military service, and civic contributions; condolences

26 LC 129 1510 House Resolution 1992 By: Representatives Williamson of the 112 th, Bonner of the 73 rd, Cannon of the 172 nd, DeLoach of the 167th, Lumsden of the 12th, and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life, military service, and civic contributions of Major General George J.1 Hearn, Jr. of Monroe, Georgia; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Major General George J. Hearn, Jr., of Monroe, rendere d distinguished and3 honorable service to the State of Georgia and the United States through more than four4 decades of military leadership, public service, and civic devotion; and5 WHEREAS, General Hearn began his military career in 1925 as a p rivate in the Georgia6 National Guard's Howitzer Company, 121st Infantry Regiment, in Monroe, rose through the7 enlisted ranks, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1932, ultimately attaining the8 rank of Major General, the highest rank a Guardsman can achieve; and9 WHEREAS, during World War II, General Hearn was called to active federal service in the10 United States Army, where he served with distinction as an anti aircraft artillery battery,11 battalion, and group commander, including command of an antiair craft artillery group12 responsible for the air defense of the Panama Canal Zone, and he was honorably discharged13 on March 9, 1946, in the grade of Colonel; and14 H. R. 1992 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1510 WHEREAS, during the Korean War, General Hearn was again called to active duty, serving15 as executive officer of the 108th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, contributing to the air defense16 of metropolitan areas in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; and17 WHEREAS, following his return to state service, he was elevated to brigade commander in18 1952 and promoted to brigadier general, and he was federally recognized as a major general19 in 1961; and20 WHEREAS, General Hearn was initially appointed Adjutant General of Georgia by21 Governor Herman Talmadge on June 21, 1954, was reappointed by Governor Marvin Griffin,22 and later reappointed by Governor Ernest Vandiver, and across his distinguished tenure he23 served under five Governors of Georgia-Herman Talmadge, Marvin Griffin, Ernest24 Vandiver, Carl Sanders, and Lester Maddox-providing approximate ly fifteen years of25 leadership as Adjutant General and State Director of Civil Defense; and26 WHEREAS, General Hearn holds the distinction of being the longe st-serving Adjutant27 General in the history of the State of Georgia, and his tenure was marked by exceptional28 leadership, continuity of command, and transformational growth of the Georgia National29 Guard; and30 WHEREAS, as Adjutant General and the senior military officer of the State of Georgia,31 General Hearn played a central leadership role in the 1961 reac tivation of the Georgia32 Military Institute, working in conjunction with Governor Ernest Vandiver to reestablish the33 state's officer training pipeline during a period of heightened national security demands; and34 WHEREAS, under his leadership, the revived Georgia Military Institute began training its35 first class in 1961, commissioning new officers beginning in 1962 and continuing a legacy36 H. R. 1992 - 2 - 26 LC 129 1510 that has produced more than 1,200 second lieutenants who have s erved in conflicts from37 Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan; and38 WHEREAS, the Georgia Military Institute program, now assigned t o the 122nd Regional39 Training Institute, continues to uphold rigorous academic and physical standards consistent40 with its historic reputation as the "West Point of the South," reflecting General Hearn's41 enduring impact on officer development in the Georgia National Guard; and42 WHEREAS, during his tenure, General Hearn strengthened the readiness, professionalism,43 and infrastructure of the Georgia National Guard, including the expansion and modernization44 of armories across the state; and45 WHEREAS, on November 10, 1968, the National Guard Armory in Monroe was formally46 dedicated in his honor as the Major General George J. Hearn Armory, and Governor Lester47 Maddox, in his principal address, commended General Hearn's "sp irit" and his constant48 dedication to the protection of the freedoms enjoyed by the people of this state, noting that49 such character "earns him the gratitude of the people of Georgia"; and50 WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard is currently relocating the Monroe Armory and51 constructing a new approximately 36,000-square-foot readiness center on approximately 2752 acres located at 1245 South Madison Avenue in Monroe, Georgia; and53 WHEREAS, the General Assembly finds that the naming of public m ilitary facilities is a54 well-established and appropriate exercise of state recognition authority, intended to honor55 individuals whose service has materially advanced the mission, readiness, and institutional56 legacy of the Georgia National Guard; and57 H. R. 1992 - 3 - 26 LC 129 1510 WHEREAS, the General Assembly further finds that Major General George J. Hearn, Jr.'s58 extraordinary record of wartime service, his historic and longest-serving tenure as Adjutant59 General, his leadership in reestablishing the Georgia Military Institute officer training60 program, and his lasting contributions to military infrastructu re and readiness uniquely61 qualify him for such recognition; and62 WHEREAS, the General Assembly determines that the continued nam ing of the Monroe63 armory facility in his honor will preserve the historical conti nuity of prior legislative and64 executive recognition, reinforce the heritage of the Georgia Na tional Guard, and inspire65 future generations of Georgia Guardsmen; and66 WHEREAS, General Hearn's distinguished career brought him natio nal recognition,67 including the award of the Distinguished Service Medal of the National Guard Association68 of the United States in 1968 for his outstanding service and contributions to national guard69 policy; and70 WHEREAS, in addition to his military service, General Hearn ren dered notable civic and71 public service as a former Mayor of Monroe, a member of the Mon roe City Council, a72 member of the Walton County Hospital Board, a past Georgia Department Commander of73 the American Legion, and a long-time Elder and Sunday school te acher at Monroe First74 Christian Church; and75 WHEREAS, General Hearn's life and career reflected the highest ideals of patriotism,76 leadership, and selfless service to community, state, and nation; and77 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the extraordi nary accomplishments of78 this distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized by this body.79 H. R. 1992 - 4 - 26 LC 129 1510 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that80 the members of this body honor the life and legacy of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr. and81 commend his extraordinary military service in World War II and the Korean War, his historic82 leadership as Adjutant General of Georgia, his pivotal role in the reestablishment of the83 Georgia Military Institute, and his devoted civic service to Monroe, Walton County, and the84 State of Georgia.85 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing findings and in recognition86 of his enduring contributions to the Georgia National Guard, th e members of this body87 respectfully urge and recommend that the appropriate authorities designate and name the new88 Monroe readiness center located at 1245 South Madison Avenue in Monroe, Georgia, in89 honor of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr.90 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized91 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the92 family of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr., to the Adjutant General of Georgia, and to the93 citizens of Walton County.94 H. R. 1992 - 5 -