Fond Farewell

As we returned to work this week at the Russell Library, we were sad to learn of the passing of Ed Jenkins, who represented Georgia's 9th Congressional District in the U.S. Congress from 1977 until 1993. Our staff would like to extend heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.

Edgar Lanier "Ed" Jenkins was born in Young Harris, Georgia on January 4, 1933. From 1952 to 1955, he served in the Coast Guard. He attended both Young Harris College and Emory University, and graduated from the University of Georgia Law School in 1959. After graduation, he served as an administrative assistant to Congressman Phillip M. Landrum from 1959 to 1962. He practiced law in Jasper, Georgia, and served as an assistant United States attorney in Atlanta. He was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democrat in 1976. While in congress, he was active in the Ways and Means Committee, passing and supporting bills involving taxes, trade and land and mountain preservation. He also served as chairman of the Textile Caucus and as a deputy whip in the House. After 16 years in congress, a large mountain tract in North Georgia was designated the "Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area." Jenkins was a member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and a partner in the firm of Winburn & Jenkins in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Jenkins was interviewed as part of the Reflections on Georgia Politics (ROGP) oral history series in 2006 and again in 2008. You can stream these interviews using the links below:

Ed Jenkins Interview, Part 1: http://podcaster.gcsu.edu/podcastdata/UGA/Channel_2630/podcast_27204/27204.mov

Ed Jenkins Interview, Part 2: http://podcaster.gcsu.edu/podcastdata/UGA/Channel_2630/podcast_22036/22036.mov


From left to right: Ed Jenkins, Bob Short, Cathy Cox, and Zell Miller at the Reflections on Georgia Politics luncheon, May 2010.