Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

Atlanta, GA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following executive appointments:

Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority

Charles G. Newton, IV, 37, Thomson, GA, A t Large – Newton is currently the v ice p resident of McDuffie Feed & Seed, Inc.  He previously worked as an aircraft performance development engineer at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  Newton is c hairman of McDuffie County Board of Commissioners, serves on the McDuffie County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the McDuffie County Board of Health.  He served on the G eorgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Ranc her State Committee, and he is c hairman of the Forward McDuffie Board of Directors.  Newton received his undergraduate degree from the United States Air Force Academy in a eronautical e ngineering.  He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children.      

Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Board

Terance E. Cawley, 74, Valdosta, GA, Aviation District 8 — Cawley is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, having served a as pilot for 28 years. He is currently a T6A Texan II Flight Simulator instructor, where he has accumulated over 4,500 hours of flight simulator time.  He was previously employed at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing Corporation, where he supervised the deactivation of the F16C flight simulator site.  Cawley was a pilot with the United States Air Force.  He is a life member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Air Force Association, the Military Officers Association, and the Daedalians.  He received his undergraduate degree in business administration from the College of Saint Thomas, attended the U.S. Air Force Squadron Officers School, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.  Cawley and his wife, JoAnne, have four daughters and survive one son.

Edwin Ray Fletcher, 73, Tucker, GA, At Large — Fletcher is a retired U.S. Air Force Officer, having served 20 years as a pilot.  He subsequently worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation in the Bureau of Aeronautics, now the Office of Aviation Programs.  He has logged over 10,000 flight hours.  Fletcher is a member of the Georgia Airports Association, the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, the Museum of Aviation, the Atlanta Aero Club, and the Silver Wings Fraternity.  He received his undergraduate degree in aviation management from the School of Engineering at Auburn University and attended the U.S. Air Force Flying School, the FAA Airport Planning Course, the FAA Airport Inspection Course, and Airport Managers Seminars at Auburn University.  He and his wife, Cherry, have two children and one grandchild.

Henry Edward Lowe, 53, Macon, GA, Aviation District 5 (REAPPOINTMENT) — Lowe is currently the president and CEO of Lowe Aviation.  He is a founding member of the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia and serves on the Board of Directors.  Lowe is also a founding member of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in Warner Robins, a member of the National Air Transportation Association, a member of the Advisory Board for the Middle Georgia Technical Institute, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Georgia Aviation and Technical College.  He has also served four terms as president of the Georgia Air Transportation Association.  Lowe has been a pilot since 1966, and has logged 3500 flight hours.  He received his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Georgia.  Lowe and his wife, Merrie, have one child. 

James Richard Norton, Jr., 41, S nellville, GA, At Large (REAPPOINTMENT) — Norton is a general partner with Southern Century Press, LLC, president of JAG Aviation, LLC, president of James R. Norton, Jr., Inc. and president of Air Harbor, Inc.  He is past chairman of the Gwinnett County Airport Authority, a board member of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, chair of the Snellville Development Authority, group leader of the Snellville Commerce Club, and board member of the YMCA.  Norton is a Leadership Gwinnett graduate and a Skilled Heavy Equipment Operator with a current commercial drivers license.  He received his undergraduate degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia.  Norton and his wife, Melissa, have two children. 

Richard Arnold Roberts, 69, Dunwoody, GA, At Large (REAPPOINTMENT) — Roberts was a pilot with the Department of Transportation for over 20 years until his retirement.  He is also retired from the Georgia Air National Guard as Chief Master Sergeant after 32 years of service.  Roberts received an Air Forces Achievement award, a Combat Readiness award, a National Defense Service award, and an Air Reserve Force Meritorious Service award.  He is a member of the Air Force Association and the Air Force Sergeants Association.  Roberts volunteers at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins and was previously director of development of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.  He attended the U.S. Air Force Technical School training, aircraft maintenance courses, flight engineer school, and has airline transport, single, and multi-engine ratings as a pilot.  Roberts and his wife, Joyce, have two children.

Georgia Golf Hall of Fame Board

Laura Mays Coble, 40, Augusta, GA, At Large Representative — Coble works as an independent contractor in insurance sales.  She serves as a committee member for the Augusta State Women's Golf Program and as Tournament Director for the Augusta State Women's Golf Invitational.  Coble recently won the Georgia State Amateur and the Georgia Women's Open golf tournaments.  Coble received her undergraduate degree in education from Augusta State University.  She and her husband, Rusty, have one child.

Professional Standards Commission

Mary E. Gomez, 49, Lithonia, GA, Elementary School Teacher (REAPPOINTMENT)- Gomez is a first grade teacher at Edward L. Bouie Sr. Elementary Traditional Theme School in Decatur.  She was formerly a kindergarten teacher at Medlock Elementary School in Decatur and is a member of the Georgia Association of Educators.  Gomez received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and earned a master's degree in education from Central Michigan University.  She and her husband, Michael, have three children. 

Council on American Indian Concerns

Nealie Monroe McCormick, Jr., 47, Pelham, GA, American Indian Representative (REAPPOINTMENT) – McCormick is a member of the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe Tribal Council and was elected chairman of the Council on American Indian Concerns in 1996.  McCormick serves as Chief of Police for the Pelham Police Department.  He is a member of the Georgia Chiefs of Police Association, the Georgia Jail Association, and serves on the Southwest Georgia Drug Task Force Board.  McCormick is a member of the Police Benevolence Association and serves on the Small and Minority Business Development Advisory Committee.   He is a graduate of Albany Regional Police Academy.  McCormick and his wife, Marian, have two children.

Board of Trustees of the Judicial Retirement System

Daniel Joseph Craig, 49, Augusta, GA, District Attorney Representative — Craig is currently the district attorney in the Augusta Judicial Circuit.  He has designed and taught the paralegal program at Augusta State University and served as the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Grovetown.  He served as past chairman of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia and is a member of the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation, receiving the Board of Directors' Trial Advocacy Award for 2003-2004.  Craig was also recognized as the District Attorney of the Year by the District Attorneys Association of Georgia.  He received his undergraduate degree in accounting and business administration from Augusta College, and a Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law.  Craig and his wife, Crystal, have three daughters.

Board of Trustees of the Sheriffs Retirement System of Georgia

Thurman Scott Chitwood, 49, Dalton, GA, Sheriff Representative (REAPPOINTMENT) — Chitwood is sheriff of Whitfield County.  He previously served the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office as deputy sheriff, security director, and chief deputy.  Chitwood has served one term on the Board of Trustees of the Sheriffs Retirement System of Georgia. He received a degree in Criminal Justice from Dalton College.

State Board of Optometry

H. Kemp Jones Jr., 56, Swainsboro, Optometrist Representative — Jones is a doctor of optometry with a private practice.  He is past president of the Georgia State Board of Optometry, a member of the American Optometric Association, a member of the Georgia Optometric Association, and the current President of the First District Optometric Society.  Jones previously served on the Swainsboro City Council and is past director of the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce.  He was named "Georgia Optometrist of the Year" by the Georgia Optometric Association.  Jones received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his doctorate in optometry from the Southern College of Optometry.  He and his wife, Irene, have two children. 

State Board of Examiners of Psychologists

Donald Steven Meck, 55, Bonaire, GA, Psychologist Representative (REAPPOINTMENT) — Meck has been in private practice in clinical psychology, neuropsychology, and forensic psychology for 20 years.  He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, the State Bar of Georgia, and the National Academy of Neuropsychologists.  Meck is a fellow of the Georgia Psychological Association and past chairman of the Psychology Professional Standards Committee of Coliseum Psychiatric Hospital.  He is the recipient of the 2003 Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards Roger Smith Award for outstanding contributions to the practice of psychology.  Meck received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University, a master's degree in psychology from St. Mary's University, a doctorate in psychology from Texas A&M University, and a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School.  He and his wife, Deborah, have three children.