Savannah, June 5, 2018 - The Georgia Historical Society and Carver State Bank will dedicate a new historical marker on the Georgia Civil Rights Trail commemorating the legacy of the bank’s founder and first president, Louis B. Toomer.
Speakers for the dedication will include Dr. Robert E. James, President of Carver State Bank, Alderman Bill Durrence, Vaughnette Goode-Walker, owner of Footprints of Savannah Walking Tour Company, and Elyse Butler from the Georgia Historical Society, with a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication being offered by Bishop Willie Ferrell of the Royal Church of Christ.
The dedication will take place Thursday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m. in Chatham Square, at the intersection of Barnard and Gordon Streets in Savannah. The public is invited to attend.
The historical marker reads:
Louis B. Toomer: Founder of Carver State Bank
Louis Burke Toomer, African-American leader, local bank founder, and realtor, was born in Savannah in 1897. Raised and educated locally, Toomer established the Georgia Savings and Realty Corporation on February 23, 1927, in the historic black business district on West Broad Street. During segregation, the company provided banking, investment, and insurance services for blacks who were not always allowed access to white banking establishments. In 1947, the name of the corporation changed to The Carver Savings Bank, and it was converted to a State-supervised savings bank. It became The Carver State Bank in 1962. A staunch Republican who served as a delegate at three GOP conventions, Toomer was appointed Register of the Treasury (1953-1956) by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Toomer died in 1961 and a bronze sundial was erected in his honor in 1964 in Chatham Square.
Erected by the Georgia Historical Society and Carver State Bank
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) administers Georgia’s historical marker program. Over the past 20 years, GHS has erected over 250 new historical markers across the state on a wide variety of subjects. GHS also maintains the more than 2,100 markers installed by the State of Georgia prior to 1998. Online mapping tools allow users to design driving routes based on historical markers, and a mobile app helps visitors locate and learn about markers nearby.Visit georgiahistory.com for more ways to use Georgia’s historical markers and experience history where it happened.
ABOUT GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.