I attended the third annual get-together of retired Augusta commissioners, held at – where else? – Sconyers Bar-B-Que earlier this month.
Unfortunately, this was not as exciting as the first and second annual meetings that generated great stories and remembrances of political intrigue and backroom politics.
This year’s meeting resembled a typical meeting of old folks concerned about what was for lunch and little else. If I hadn’t brought a few excerpts of my old columns to read aloud for entertainment, after lunch, everybody would probably have started drifting away to go home for their afternoon naps.
Early on, there was some talk about the referendum for a new James Brown Arena passing and Benji Cranford winning the Thomson mayor’s race, unseating longtime Mayor Kenneth Ussery, but all anybody at the luncheon seemed to know about the mayor-elect was that he has long hair. Someone said he looks like Billy Ray Cyrus back in the day.
Well, not exactly a look-a-like.
Lucky to Be There
Moses Todd and Jerry Brigham founded and organized the annual event so members can spread the word when somebody dies. I think that’s it anyway.
Since everybody there except for me and former Augusta City Councilman Jimmy Murray, Mayor Deke Copenhaver and city Administrator Fred Russell were commissioners at one time or another, nobody will be referred to as “former.”
Everybody Was Thankful
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, it seemed like a good idea to ask everybody to say what they were thankful for and who they thought should be Turkey of the Year in Augusta. Fred Russell was sitting on my right, so I started with him, but he deferred commenting until each of the others had spoken. He said it was a matter of respect, but I suspect it was a matter of waiting to see which way the wind was blowing. Hey, he didn’t get to be Augusta’s longest serving administrator by being politically naïve.
It’s just too bad that Marion Williams, aka “Turkey of the Year Emeritus in Perpetuity” had a vendetta against him or Russell might still be there.
Anyway, suffice it to say that almost everybody at the luncheon said he was thankful for his wife and family. Most also expressed thankfulness for good health at their age. And their words were heartfelt, but since repetition of the same sentiment over and over isn’t all that interesting, I added a little biographical information about some I know best. Unfortunately, only Moses Todd and John Clarke had the nerve to openly nominate a Turkey of the Year. Well, except for Don Grantham who said he’d probably recommend me.
The Boy King
Deke Copenhaver is an eternal optimist, which some people have confused with naivete, or maybe not. Well, anyway, he beat cancer, and medical professionals agree that a positive attitude is essential in that fight. And at the luncheon, he said:
“I’m thankful that after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer on April 19, that two weeks ago at M.D. Anderson in Houston, I was told I am cancer-free and have no side effects from any of the treatment. So, if the good Lord is keeping me around for something, I don’t know what it is yet. But it’s not to name the Turkey of the Year.”
Deke is such a nice guy that in 2014, near the end of his second term what some folks thought was going to be a roast turned out to be a toast. Never have I heard such praise for any one individual, outside of a funeral – or coronation – as was heaped on the mayor at that event.
And he has run five Ironman contests.
He is the Ironman
Moses Todd is notable for many things, not the least of which is his tenure on the old Richmond County Commission and consolidated Augusta government from 1995 to 1998 when he stepped down to run for mayor. He was and is outspoken, controversial, smart (despite the grammar), and witty. He isn’t intimidated by anybody, but he has humility, too.
“Growing up in Oak Park, Georgia, my highest expectation was working on the farm or getting a job at the hardware store,” he said.
Before politics Moses was a community activist in his Barton Village neighborhood, where he declared war on drug dealers. He said he spent so much money on security for his home, he went broke.
He was at China Beach during the Vietnam War and did a lot of volunteer work at the hospital. On 911, he was high up on a tower installing industrial pipe at a Standard Oil refinery in Raway, New Jersey, when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers. “We saw smoke and were discussing whether it was smoke or a cloud,” he said. “When we saw the second plan, we knew. I watched the second plane come across the bay and go into the tower.”
Todd often speaks before commissioners now during the delegation part of meetings about issues that concern him. Of today’s commissioners, he says, “We don’t have the deep thinkers on there we used to have, like Bill Kuhlke, Don Grantham and Willie Mays,” he said. “People who take the time to study the issues.”
As for Turkey of the Year, Moses said, “I think my turkey is penned up.”
The Accountant
In all, Jerry Brigham served 14 years in Augusta government. He was elected first to the old county commission and then to the consolidated Commission two separate times, from 1996 through 2001 and again in 2005 through 2012. For many of those years, he was the most knowledgeable person on the board.
His greatest accomplishment was helping get the city and county water systems combined, which included building the Max Hicks Water Treatment Plant on Tobacco Road. He also voted to issue short-term bonds to have the Gilbert Manor housing project removed so MCG, briefly known as GRU, could expand its health science campus.
“I’m very thankful to my family, to my wife who takes tremendously good care of me. And just to be able to be around and take a deep breath,” he said.
The Chairman
Better not write anything satirical about Don Grantham because his wife, Carol, might take me to task as she did years ago when I’d poked a little fun at the commissioners. I tried to explain that it wasn’t supposed to be taken literally.
“It’s satire, Carol” I said.
“People in Augusta don’t understand satire,” she huffed.
Well, I don’t have anything satirical to write about Don anyway just now. He’s a respected citizen in Augusta and throughout the state, and has served on important boards and authorities, including the state Department of Transportation board where he was chairman; the MCG Foundation Board, the Augusta University Presidential Search Committee and the Ports Authority.
Don said the most significant thing he did as chairman of the DOT board was helping get the Transportation Investment Act passed the first time.
“I shudder to think what kind of roads we’d be riding around on today if we had not passed TIA for our particular district,” he said.
He Beat the Odds – Once
Matt Aitken won the 65% majority Black District 1 seat on the commission in 2009, and tipped the racial balance in Richmond County for the first time since consolidation. But the all-white six man voting bloc didn’t last long. He lost the seat in the next election to Bill Fennoy.
The first time Aitken voted on adopting an annual city budget, he admitted he hadn’t read it before voting on it. I’m quite sure the others hadn’t either. So, for his honesty Aitken received the George Washington Award.
He’s Been Everywhere, Man, and Done Almost Everything
John Clarke always wanted to be the leader of the band, and he was for a long time, traveling throughout the country with his band, but when he became the District 10 commissioner he had to play second fiddle to Ben Hasan and Sammie Sias. He worked hard at being a good commissioner and tried to help people but was often thwarted by the Hasan-led majority.
From a reporter’s and columnists’ point of view, he was a wonderful source who gave forthright, humorous answers.
For example, last year after Parks and Recreation workers cut trees down on the Augusta Common, he said, “Augusta needs a degreed arborist, not someone’s cousin with a chainsaw.”
At a later meeting, he and Commissioner Catherine McKnight both said the commission had talked long enough about hiring an arborist.
“I put it on the agenda to hire an arborist,” he said. “Parks and Recreation and Engineering said they already have an arborist on staff. Well, where is the s.o.b., and what does he do?”
“I’m thankful for God’s grace that allows me to still have family, friends and relationships that I can depend on,” he said. “And I’m thankful that I survived the game of Whack-A-Mole.”
John’s nomination for Turkey of the Year is Parks and Recreation Director Maurice McDowell.
I believe John rocked the boat and ruffled a lot of feathers, which caused him to lose re-election last year.
Now he’s a columnist for The Augusta Press, and it’s payback time.
The Insurance Man
Hap Harris was appointed to the District 7 seat on the commission in 2014, to fill the unexpired term of Donnie Smith who resigned. The next year, Hap lost in a special election to Sean Frantom.
“I’m thankful to be alive with two heart surgeries and stuff two years ago, so knock on wood,” he said.
Mr. Conservative
Ulmer Bridges served on the commission during the early days of consolidation and might have been the only conservative Republican elected from south Richmond County since Reconstruction. At the luncheon, he said, “I’m thankful that since we’re around each other 24/7, I have such a patient and understanding wife. I’m thankful that we’re both in good health. We don’t have any cancers or anything like that, particularly to still have my mind.”
Out of Politics
Joe Bowles said, “I’m thankful for my family, my wife and my children. I don’t have a Turkey of the Year because I don’t pay attention to politics, iwhich is kind of nice.”
Retired and Happy
Richard Colclough said, “Well I’m just thankful to be here at my age and living the life that I want to live. I don’t have to work anymore. I do what I want to when I want to. And not have to go to any meetings if I don’t want to.”
They Called Him the Naysayer
Jimmy Murray was on the old Augusta City Council during the early 80’s.
“I’m thankful I have outlived almost all of the former Augusta city council members, but three. And those three are in hiding, but truly, actually I am very thankful in my old age and retirement that I run the Bible Deliverance Temple food pantry and clothes pantry every Friday of the week from 10 o’clock ‘til 1 o’clock. We give away food, groceries and clothes to right at a hundred families every Friday. So, I’m thankful I still have the vim and vigor to administer that.”
