The early
history of the FOP in Georgia is very sketchy for the period prior to the
forming of the State Lodge. Augusta formed the first local lodge in 1954 and
became inactive at some unknown period. The lodge was reactivated on August 8,
1973 by a group of Richmond County Sheriff Deputies and Augusta Police
Officers. They operated for a short period until becoming inactive again. The
next lodge to form in Georgia was Albany Lodge #2 in 1959. The Albany Lodge is
the oldest continuously active lodge in Georgia. In 1963, Macon Lodge #3 was
formed. Then on March 3, 1966 the Southside Lodge #4 was chartered and was
comprised of officers from south metro agencies including Clayton County. On
May 9, 1966, Waycross Lodge #5 was chartered and continues today as an active
lodge. Middle Georgia Lodge #6 was formed in 1968 and comprised the area
around Peach County and Fort Valley. In May of 1968, Hostess City Lodge #7 was
chartered in Savannah. Atlanta Lodge #8 was chartered on December 14, 1968 and
became the last lodge to form before the State Lodge was organized.
On October 4,
1969, the initial meeting to organize and form the State Lodge was held in the
Traffic Squad Room at the Macon Police Department. The meeting was arranged
and initiated by W. M. Clements of Macon Lodge #3. There were only eight
members present from five local lodges. The lodges that originally organized
the State Lodge were Albany #2, Macon #3, Southside #4, Hostess City #7 and
Atlanta #8. The following were the officers elected:
| President |
Aubrey Bassett |
Atlanta #8 |
| Vice President |
John Logan |
Southside #4 |
| Secretary/Treasurer |
John Cress |
Albany #2 |
| Conductor |
D.M. Stafford |
Hostess City #7 |
| Inner Guard |
J.D. Mikell |
Hostess City #7 |
| Outer Guard |
D.P. Bank |
Macon #3 |
| Chaplain |
E.S. Goff |
Albany #2 |
| National Trustee |
W.M. Clements |
Macon #3 |
There are few records documenting the events and activities of the
State Lodge from 1968 through 1970.
The following lodges were chartered during
this period.
| October 22, 1969 |
Karl F. Eidam |
Columbus Lodge #9 |
| January 3, 1970 |
W.E. Peacock |
Dekalb County Lodge #10 |
| April 8, 1970 |
|
Griffin Lodge #11 |
| July 13, 1970 |
|
East Point Lodge #12 |
| August 3, 1970 |
Kermit Sanders |
(Cobb County) Lodge #13 |
| September 20, 1970 |
|
Rome Lodge #14 |
During the
summer of 1970, what was considered the 1st State Conference was
held in Macon. In December of 1970, a State Board Meeting was held in Macon
and elections were conducted to determine officers for the coming year. On
January 1, 1971, the newly elected officers were installed at a State Board
Meeting held in Columbus. The guest speaker at the meeting was Mrs.
Lillian Carter, mother of the Governor-elect of Georgia. Outgoing President
Aubrey L. Bassett swore in the following new officers:
| President |
W.E. Kinsman |
Columbus |
| 1st Vice President |
Jim Tarver |
Cobb County |
| 2nd Vice President |
H.E. Faulkner |
Dekalb County |
| Secretary/Treasurer |
John Cress |
Albany |
| Conductor |
D.M. Stafford |
Savannah |
| Inner Guard |
Mike Wright |
Dekalb County |
| Outer Guard |
D.P. Banks |
Macon |
| Chaplain |
Bert Goff |
Albany |
| National Trustee |
W.M. Clements |
Macon |
The Georgia State Lodge membership is approaching 5000 in 33 local Lodges from
Rising Fawn to the Georgia coast. Our current State Lodge office is in Ellijay
Georgia. The Georgia State Lodge works hard to promote the FOP in the state.
One of the programs they are most proud of provides bullet proof vests to
officers of small police and sheriff’s departments that do not provide them
for their employees. There is no requirement that anyone join the FOP to
receive a vest. Our first goal is to save lives, then try to spark an interest
in joining the organization. The State Lodge is active in the Grand Lodge
legislative efforts by participating in the annual “Day On The Hill” program
in Washington. Georgia FOP members schedule meetings with the state
Congressional delegation to discuss the Grand Lodge national agenda. The
Georgia State Lodge is also very active in the Georgia General Assembly. The
State Lodge Legislative Committee works with a paid consultant to push for
legislation favorable to law enforcement as well as make sure unfavorable
bills are not passed.
