2025 Trustees Gala

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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

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Craig Menear

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.

Learn more about the Georgia Trustees

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

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Presenting

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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 Jason Anavitarte
  • The Honorable James Beverly
  • The Honorable Jon G. Burns
  • The Honorable Max Burns
  • The Honorable Chris Carr
  • The Honorable Buddy Carter
  • The Honorable Katie Dempsey
  • The Honorable Tim Echols
  • The Honorable Chuck Efstration
  • The Honorable Frank Ginn
  • 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 Edna Jackson
  • The Honorable Kim Jackson
  • The Honorable Burt Jones
  • The Honorable Harold V. Jones II
  • The Honorable Jan Jones
  • The Honorable John F. Kennedy
  • The Honorable Dr. Rich McCormick
  • The Honorable Butch Parrish
  • The Honorable Chuck Payne
  • The Honorable Jesse Petrea
  • The Honorable Calvin Smyre
  • The Honorable Ron Stephens
  • The Honorable Blake Tillery
  • The Honorable Larry Walker III
  • The Honorable Raphael Warnock
  • The Honorable Ben Watson

Media Sponsors

Special Thanks

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.

Georgia Trustees