Join the Georgia Historical Society (GHS), Office of the Governor, and leaders from across our state as we induct the 2025 Georgia Trustees, Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Jr., Banker, Attorney, and Civic Leader, and Craig Menear, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Home Depot.
Please join us for this elegant, much-anticipated evening that will include cocktails, dinner, and an inspiring conversation with Messrs. Deriso and Menear—two exemplary Georgians whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ philosophy of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self, but for Others.”
In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reestablished the Georgia Trustees as a way of recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees.
The 2025 Georgia Trustees
The original Georgia Trustees, a governing body chartered and appointed by His Majesty King George II of England in 1732 to establish a new colony in North America, founded Georgia upon the principle of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self but for Others.” GHS and the Governor’s Office reestablished the Trustees in 2008. The Governor annually appoints new Trustees whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ ideals.
Thank you to the Georgia History Festival sponsors and Host Committee for supporting the educational mission and year-round programming of the Georgia Historical Society!
2024-2025 Georgia History Festival Sponsors &
Host Committee
Trustee
Festival
Oglethorpe
Presenting
Platinum
Gold
Foundations and Institutions
The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Georgia
J.C. Lewis Foundation
Williams Family Foundation of Georgia
2024-2025 Georgia History Festival Host Committee
Oglethorpe
- Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cathy
Patron
- Mr. and Mrs. Francis S. Blake
- Mr. Bob Faircloth
- Mr. and Mrs. Brian Harlander
- Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan
- Mr. Clyde C. Tuggle and Ms. Mary M. Streett
Benefactor
- Mr. and Mrs. F. Duane Ackerman
- Ms. Stephanie Blank
- Dr. and Mrs. Sidney J. Bolch III
- Mr. and Mrs. W. Paul Bowers
- Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Cooper
- Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Haynes III
- Mr. and Mrs. John H. Irby
- Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Kole
- Mrs. Betsy Lancaster
- Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Levy
- Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rabinowitz
- Mrs. Rosaleen R. Roxburgh
- Mr. and Mrs. Austin P. Sullivan
- Mr. and Mrs. Larry Thompson
- Mr. and Mrs. Don L. Waters
Chair
- Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Baranco
- Mr. and Mrs. Kevin S. Blair
- Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Brown, Jr.
- Mr. Mark L. Burns
- Mr. and Mrs. Erroll B. Davis, Jr.
- Dr. and Mrs. H. Clark Deriso
- Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso
- Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goodman
- Ms. Kimberly Greene
- Mr. and Mrs. Neil Hightower
- Mr. and Mrs. Ted J. Kleisner
- Mr. and Mrs. Keith Mason
- Dr. and Mrs. William T. Moore
- Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. O’Connor
- Mr. and Mrs. Edward Price
- Mr. and Mrs. Kessel D. Stelling, Jr.
- Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Wilheit, Sr.
Member
- Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cay
- Mr. and Mrs. Brent Harlander
- Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Iocovozzi
- Mr. and Mrs. Phil Jacobs
- Mrs. Robert O. Levitt
- Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan B. Pannell
- Mr. and Mrs. Philip Solomons, Jr.
- Ms. Elizabeth Stribling and Mr. Guy Robinson
- Mr. and Mrs. R. Bartley Turner
Honorary Host Committee
- The Honorable Chris Carr
- The Honorable Buddy Carter
- The Honorable Tim Echols
- The Honorable Steve Gooch
- The Honorable Joseph Gullett
- The Honorable Ed Harbison
- The Honorable Matt Hatchett
- The Honorable Penny Houston
- The Honorable Chuck Hufstetler
- The Honorable Jan Jones
- The Honorable Ron Stephens
- The Honorable Blake Tillery
- The Honorable Raphael Warnock
- The Honorable Ben Watson
Media Sponsors
For information on how your company can become a Corporate Sponsor of the Georgia History Festival or to join the Host Committee please contact Ashley Rainge-Shields or 912.651.2125, ext. 116.