George Busbee
George Busbee ( born August 7, 1927 in Vienna, Georgia, † 16 July 2004 in Savannah, Georgia ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and Governor of Georgia.
Youth
The young Busbee attended Georgia Military College and Abraham Baldwin College before he began his military service in the Navy. After his military service, he completed his education with a law degree from the University of Georgia, which he successfully completed in 1952. He then worked as a lawyer in Albany. In 1956 he decided to go into politics and was elected to the House of Representatives from Georgia.
Political rise
Originally, he wanted to remain politically active for only two years, but changed his mind very quickly. Overall, he was 18 years a deputy in the House of Representatives of Georgia and eight years Governor of that State, in 1983 before he retired from politics. As a parliamentarian, he quickly made his career in 1967 and leader of the Democrats. In 1974, he decided to apply for the post of governor. There within the party succeeded against two rivals, including former Governor Lester Maddox, to enforce and therefore to win his party's nomination. Finally, he also won the actual election to Republican Ronnie Thompson and was the successor to Jimmy Carter.
Governor of Georgia
As Governor, he sat on a harmonious and effective cooperation of all elected officials in Georgia, triggering a problem with which his two predecessors had difficulties. The focus of his work as governor were the education policy, the economic boom, a prison reform and a constitutional amendment. In the area of education policy he promoted mainly the development and expansion of kindergartens. But he also took care of salary increases for teachers and university professors. Economically the country was initially drawn into the depression the mid-1970s, which also had a negative impact on the budget of the state. In the short term had the governor and the budget for education policy cut, but once the economy had recovered, the necessary funds were provided again.
Another focus of his policy was the establishment of high- tech industries in Georgia. For this purpose the country's infrastructure had to be improved. He had to expand the road network and expand the capacity of ports. This led to success. Many companies, banks, film and television companies settled in Georgia or set up branches of their business in the state. The number of resident in Georgia international companies increased from 150 in 1975 to 682 in 1982. George Busbee also strove for a new revision of the constitution of the state. The new constitution of 1976 allowed, among other things, a one-time direct re-election of a governor after the first term. At the same time worked until 1982 on to the new constitution of the country, and in 1983, completely revised and adapted to the needs of the time, came into force. Because of the constitutional amendment Busbee was elected in 1978 for a second term, what it was not difficult due to its popularity. He was the first governor of Georgia, who completed two four -year terms in succession.
Evening of life and death
At the end of his second term in 1983 Busbee different from office and retired to Duluth, where he was working as a lawyer again. In addition, he was an active member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Busbee died in July 2004 suddenly of a heart attack.
George Busbee was married to Mary Elizabeth Talbot, with whom he had two sons and two daughters.