GwinnettForum | Number 23.22 | March 19, 2024
HONORED AT THE CAPITOL: The extended family of Lt. Col. James W. Williams of Norcross gathered at the Georgia Capitol for the hanging of plaques recognizing members of the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame last week. Colonel Williams, a jet pilot, was shot down over North Vietnam and survived as a prisoner of war for nearly a year at the Hanoi Hilton. For a look at how the Veterans Hall of Fame began, see Today’s Focus below. (Click to enlarge.)
TODAY’S FOCUS: Arkansan had idea to honor Georgia military veterans
EEB PERSPECTIVE: View corrected list of local Congressional candidates
SPOTLIGHT: NDIMaxim Real Estate LLC
FEEDBACK: Liked story of David Simmons’ Uncle Herb
UPCOMING: German electronics firm moves USA office to Duluth
NOTABLE: Eight honored by Chamber with annual VALOR awards
RECOMMENDED: Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge
OBITUARY: Edna Gannell Cofer
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Gulfstream contributes to several colleges in Georgia
MYSTERY PHOTO: See if you can identify this non-Georgia scene
CALENDAR: Economic Outlook Forecast is March 21 at Maxwell Center
Arkansan had idea to honor Georgia military veterans
Plaques honoring the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame now are hung at the State Capitol. The class of 2023 was inducted at a ceremony in Columbus in November, and included two from Gwinnett, Lt. Col. James W. Williams of Norcross and former County Commissioner Carvis Williams of Snellville.
(Editor’s note: Georgia has had a Military Veterans Hall of Fame since 2012. The idea for it came from a retired colonel now living in Pine Mountain, who had been inducted into the Arkansas Military Hall of Fame. This person is also an inductee of the U.S. Army Ranger HOF and the College Reserve Officers HOF, located in his home town of Jonesboro, Ark. We asked him to explain how the Georgia program, which he founded, came about. –eeb)
By Paul Longgrear
Longgrear when wounded in Vietnam. Photos provided.
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. | In 2011, I was inducted into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame. It was a touching experience, not just because of the induction service, but because of an incident. There was one inductee of the 15 that seemed a little out of place. He and his wife were scruffy-looking and under-dressed. They had with them three little rug rats, 6 to 10 years old, who were uncontrollable and distracting.
That is, until grandpa went up to be acknowledged. This gentleman had earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for honor in combat. While his citation was being read, the urchins calmed down and stared in silence as they heard what their grandpa had done to save the men with him in fierce combat.
Riding back to Georgia, I was quiet and contemplative. My wife asked my thoughts. “I was just wondering if Georgia had a Military Veterans Hall of Fame.” She responded: “I think they are going to.” I was ashamed of the way I had viewed that gentleman before I knew anything about him.
After days of prayer, I contacted Bob Poydasheff, a lawyer in Columbus. He started the paperwork to accomplish what became the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame (GMVHOF), a 501c3 non-profit. Bob is a retired Colonel and graduate of The Citadel. Shortly after that, I called Paul Barnes, an Annapolis graduate and retired Navy Captain, who had commanded both surface and subsurface craft. He immediately agreed to assist me.
The late World War II Sgt. Carvis Williams of Snellville is among the 177 in the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame. His daughters, Joan Ottinger left and Martha Cooper, are between a Junior ROTC Cadet at ceremonies recently for the hanging of the plaques with citations at the Capitol.
Finally, I contacted the man that had nominated me the year before for the U.S. Army Officers Candidate Hall of Fame, retired Colonel Rick White of Johns Creek, formerly of Norcross. I had been in his Officer Candidate School company.
When the GMVHOF was registered as a tax exempt organization, the next contact was with Senator Ed Harbison of Columbus, a two-tour combat veteran Marine with a Purple Heart Medal, the Georgia Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chairman. He asked how much money we wanted from the state. When I emphatically told him “None,” the committee voted us in right then.
In midyear 2012, we started contacting the various Veterans groups. One that really assisted us was the Vietnam Veterans Atlanta Businessmen’s Association. They videoed my appeal for nominations, and it went viral in Georgia.
The first class of 15 per year was inducted in 2012. Today there are 177 veterans who have been inducted in the GMVHOF.
So all of that combined to convince me of what I wanted the GMVHOF to be like. I desire that for each one inducted, it is as meaningful as the one that touched me then in 2012.
- To nominate someone for the GMVHOF, go to https://gmvhof.org.
Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
View corrected list of local congressional candidates
Click here to see the full metro Atlanta congressional map.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MARCH 19, 2024 | Ask the average Gwinnettian who is their representative in Congress, or in the Georgia Legislature, and most people come up blank.
There’s a reason for it. First came the reapportionment that takes place every 10 years after the Census, and the redrawing of district lines so that all the districts have a near equal number of people, both for Congress and the statehouse. For this move, new district maps are presented to the voters.
Then throw in the revamping of these lines by the courts, and what do you have? For Gwinnett’s Congressional Districts, an entirely different map of the districts, far different from the version that was put out by the Legislature. And confusion reigns.
GwinnettForum got caught up in that confusion in the last issue, with us printing incorrectly the names of the candidates seeking to represent us in Congress in the coming election. We apologize for it, and are using this space today to present the correct version.
When we go to the polls in the primary in May, Gwinnett will be nominating Congressional candidates in four districts. They are:
- District 4, from just east of Lilburn, to include mostly unincorporated Gwinnett and the cities of Norcross, Peachtree Corner, Berkeley Lake and Duluth (pink on the accompanying map). The current Fourth District Congressman is Hank Johnson of Decatur, who previously represented much of this area, and is the only Democratic candidate for this seat. The only Republican candidate is Eugene Yu of Duluth, who has run for Congress before. So we have a Johnson-Yu match for the November election.
- District 9 covers most of Gwinnett north of Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Buford, Braselton and Auburn. The current Ninth District Congressman is Republican Andrew Clyde of Jefferson, who will face Democrat Tambrei Cash of Loganville. Neither have primary opposition. (On the map, this district is light green.)
- District 10 is mostly outside Gwinnett, but covers a small portion of eastern Gwinnett, including the city of Dacula (orange on the map). The current Congressman is Republican Mike Collins of McDonough, who faces no primary challenger. Two Democrats vie for this nomination: Jessica Fore and Alexandra “Lexy” Doherty, both of Athens.
- District 13 covers southern Gwinnett, and the cities of Lilburn, Grayson, Snellville, Loganville and a portion of Lawrenceville (dark yellow on the map.) There are nine—yes nine—candidates for this Congressional seat, including the incumbent, Democrat David Scott of Riverdale, who once represented part of Gwinnett. Six other Democrats seek this seat, including Brian Johnson of Clayton County; Karen Rene of Fulton County; Marcus Flowers of Haralson County; Mark Baker of Bibb County; Rashid Malik of Gwinnett County; and Kamma Uloma of Cobb County. There are two Republicans seeking this position, Jonathan Cruz Fletcher of Cobb County and Jonathan Chavez of Rockdale County.
All together, there are 16 candidates seeking the four Congressional seats representing part of Gwinnett.
First one to tell us that we had the Congressional candidates wrong in the last edition was Republican Jeff Criswell of Cobb County, seeking a Sixth District seat. When we sent an invitation for a 30 minute meeting, he wrote back: “I’m not in Gwinnett, nor is the Georgia Sixth.” We went back and forth several times, with us showing him the map from the Gwinnett County web site, which was a proposed map, and we thought it was the final one. It wasn’t, since afterward, the courts changed the boundaries. Indeed, Criswell is not a candidate to represent part of Gwinnett. Thanks for Curt Yeomans of the GwinnettDailyPost for getting GwinnettForum straight on this.
Interestingly, how about this: Lucy McBath, who represents part of Gwinnett now in the Sixth District, is running again, but in the redrawn Sixth, no longer in Gwinnett. And Rich McCormick of Suwanee, now the Seventh District Congressman, is again running in the Seventh, which does not now include Gwinnett.
So with redistricting, gerrymandering and the courts moving boundaries, you can see why the average person is confused about who their legislator is now, and might be next year. My pardons for helping contribute to the confusion.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
NDIMaxim Real Estate LLC
Today GwinnettForum welcomes a new underwriting supporter. It is NDIMaxim Real Estate LLC, a phoenix rising from the collaboration of Atlanta Maxim Realty International, NDI Development LLC, and GA ATL Property Management LLC. It has evolved into a dynamic force in the local real estate scene since its official merger in 2020. Atlanta Maxim Realty International excels in residential sales and acquisition, while GA ATL Property Management oversees around 400 residential and commercial properties. NDI Development manages its shopping centers in the Gwinnett and Metro Region. Prompted by Tim Le in 2019, Tina Dang orchestrated the merger, aiming to pool resources for enhanced competitiveness. NDIMaxim Real Estate LLC now encompasses four divisions: NDIMaxim Commercial, Residential, Property Management, and Access Development LLC. The latter is embarking on its inaugural project, Boardwalk Duluth, a retail and office building adjacent to the Beaver Ruin Wetland Reserve, promising an ideal location with restaurant amenities and access to the 68-acre park, slated for completion in late March 2024, with full enjoyment anticipated in 2025. For retail or office needs, contact Tim Le at 770-912-9684.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here
Liked story of David Simmons’ Uncle Herb
Editor, the Forum:
I really enjoyed the memory David Simmons shared, especially about his Uncle Herb, who “never did hit a lick down there in the bottom of that grave”.
– Elizabeth Truluck Neace, Dacula
All immigrants mainly want is a chance to make a living
Editor, the Forum:
Former President Trump is calling for another insurrection, basically inciting a blood bath. He’s calling the migrants “not people” and that is crude. They take jobs Americans, black or white, don’t want. A Mexican man cuts my yard and leaves here to do 10 more yard jobs a day. He, now a citizen, is making over $1,000 a day when he is cutting grass. He is quick, does not stay on his cell phone, and does the job better than I could. He is an excellent person, morally and ethically. People are not wanting to cut their grass, trim their bushes, and this opens up a market.
I pay him cash and asked him if he paid taxes on that. He tells me he reports all income. His lawn mowers cost over $4,000 each, and he has two, along with the other equipment he needs on a job, blowers, edgers, string trimmers. He is kind, honest, and one of the friendliest people you can know. He makes money and he spends money in this community. That is all the immigrants want—a chance to make a living, earn money and be a good citizen.
– Raleigh Perry, Buford
- Send us your thoughts: We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net.
German electronics firm moves USA office to Duluth
From left are Inaara Babwani, Project Manager for Partnership Gwinnett: Jennifer Mass (Marketing, Leuze); Salvatore Buccheri (CSO, Leuze); President Aaron Henry of Lueze USA; Leuze Owner Stefan Lueze; Ibrahim Zuva, (U.S. vice president of operations and technology, Americas.)
Leuze Electronics, Inc., a provider of sensor solutions based in Owen/Teck, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, has relocated and expanded its U.S. headquarters operation to Duluth in Gwinnett County. The company’s decision to bring its operations from Michigan to 2150 Northmont Parkway in Duluth centered around Georgia’s best-in-class business environment and access to diverse talent. The relocation represents an investment of $1.2 million in capital and will introduce 17 new jobs to the local economy.
Reflecting on the relocation and expansion, President Aaron Henry of Leuze electronics, Inc. stated, “We are excited to expand our U.S. headquarters in Gwinnett County. The region’s dynamic business ecosystem and skilled workforce align perfectly with our growth strategy. We look forward to contributing to the local economy and becoming an integral part of the Gwinnett community.”
Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson expressed her enthusiasm for the company’s decision, stating, “We welcome Leuze electronics, Inc. to Gwinnett County and commend their investment in our community. This relocation underscores Gwinnett’s reputation as a premier destination for businesses seeking strategic growth opportunities.”
Partnership Gwinnett Project Manager Inaara Babwani emphasized the collaborative effort behind attracting Leuze electronics, Inc. to the area, saying, “The decision by Leuze electronics, Inc. to relocate its U.S. headquarters to Gwinnett is a testament to our region’s appeal as a business-friendly environment. We are thrilled to support their expansion and would like to thank our partners with Georgia Power and the Georgia Department of Economic Development for their collaboration with us on this project.”
Eight honored by Chamber with annual VALOR awards
The Gwinnett Chamber hosted the 19th Annual VALOR Public Safety Awards last week. This event was to honor and recognize the exceptional dedication of those who serve in the interest of Gwinnett’s safety and well-being.
Nick Masino, president and CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett, expressed his congratulations to this year’s deserving honorees and extended gratitude to all of Gwinnett’s first responders for their commitment to protect and serve. Masino emphasized, “These courageous men and women are the real ‘champions’ of Gwinnett, and their dedication to safeguarding our businesses and citizens is truly commendable.”
Recipients for 2024 awards included:
- Medal of Merit: Lt. Collin McClendon, Gwinnett County Police Department;
- Communications Officer of the Year: Communications Officer II Heather Cassele, Gwinnett County Police Department;
- Public Safety Officer of the Year: Corp. Michael Ricks, Gwinnett County Police Department;
- Public Safety Unit of the Year: Gwinnett County Police Department Gang Unit;
- Life-Saving Award: Master Patrol Officer Andrew Bray, City of Duluth Police Department;
- Bronze Medal of Valor: Drive Engineer Brandon Hall, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services;
- Silver Medal of Valor: Corp. Aaron Devries, Snellville Police Department; and
- Gold Medal of Valor: Lt. Grant Eichenlaub and Firefighter Driver Engineer Alexander Wright, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services.
Edna Gannell Cofer
Edna Gannell (Ewing) Cofer, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, six days short of age 103. She was born in a small farmhouse on Highpoint Road west of Snellville on March 18, 1921, the first daughter and second child of Thomas Kelly (T. K.) Ewing and Sytha Amanda Brownlee. When she was five years old, she moved with her parents to Atlanta. In 1930 they returned to Gwinnett County to her grandfather’s farm on what is now Webb Gin House Road. She lived the remainder of her life, before entering assisted care, within three miles of where she was born, except for about one year when she accompanied her husband during World War II in the U.S. Army. She began her education in Atlanta, attended Five Forks School and Snellville Consolidated School class of 1938. She married a close neighbor, James Darling Cofer Sr., on December 24, 1938, at age 17.
Cofer
They decided she would assume the classic traditional role of fulltime wife, homemaker, and mother. They had one son and two grandchildren. Edna was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living members of the Snellville United Methodist Church. She and her husband joined the church in the late 1940’s, so were long time active and supportive members. That was her life until the untimely early death of her husband. She was a widow for almost half her life.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years; her parents; her older brother; Jerrill Hollis Ewing; and by a younger sister, Mildred Wynell (Ewing) Lewis. She is survived by her son, James Darling (Jack) Cofer Jr.; and her daughter-in-law, Teresa; granddaughter, Kelly Amanda (Cofer) Lutz (Brian); grandson James Darling (Jim) Cofer III (Lisa)’ brother Thomas Harvis (Pap) Ewing (Carolyn); sister Melba Faye (Ewing) Robertson; Deloris Ann (Ewing) Wilkinson (Jim); and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service to celebrate the life of Edna Ewing Cofer was held on Monday, March 25, 2024 at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel, Snellville. Burial was at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens. For those who prefer to make a memorial, consider a donation to The Community Church (aka Snellville United Methodist Church) in the memory of Edna Cofer. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service in Snellville was in charge of arrangements.
Libertie, by Kaitlyn Greenidge
From Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain: Libertie Sampson is a young woman who is growing up during the reconstruction era of Brooklyn, N.Y. Her mother is a practicing physician and healer who supports Libertie joining her in the practice of medicine. Libertie is unsure about this goal and though she starts school is not able to develop any enthusiasm for her mother’s goal for her life. When a young physician from Haiti arrives to work with her mother while she attends school, the direction of her life changes completely. Through many experiences and alchemical changes in attitude and locale, Libertie comes to understand the true meaning of freedom.
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Gulfstream contributes to several colleges in Georgia
(From previous edition)
The Gulfstream line of aircraft has evolved and expanded dramatically over more than fifty years of production to include the G100, G150, G200, G 280, G350, G450, G500, G550 and G800. (The company replaced the Roman numerals in the names of its fleet with Arabic numerals in 2002.) Costs for these aircraft ranged from $23 million to $72 million. The G550, which made its maiden flight on July 18, 2002, won the 2003 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the highest honor in North American aeronautics. (The company’s Gulfstream V received the same honor in 1997.)
The G550 can accommodate up to eighteen passengers and is capable of cruising at an altitude of 51,000 feet at speeds of up to .885 Mach. In October 2003 the G550 set a time and distance record on a direct flight from Seoul, South Korea, to Orlando, Florida. The flight of 7,301 nautical miles took place in fourteen hours and thirty minutes, with an average air speed of 572 miles per hour.
In 2008 Gulfstream made aviation history when it unveiled the G650, the largest, fastest, and most technologically advanced aircraft in the Gulfstream fleet. That same year the company introduced the G250, later renamed the G280, to its fleet of business jets. Both aircraft made their maiden flights in 2009.
Gulfstream’s market reach is international, aided in large part by its parent company, General Dynamics. On the local level Gulfstream is one of Savannah’s major employers, and in 2010 the company announced that over the next seven years it would once again expand its Savannah facilities, predicting that this expansion would create 1,000 new jobs within the region.
Gulfstream has also contributed in a variety of ways to community affairs, especially education. The company has supported and partnered with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s branch campus in Savannah, Savannah Technical College, and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and many of Gulfstream’s executives have served on local boards. The company has also contributed to the arts and to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, located a few miles from the Gulfstream manufacturing plant.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
See if you can identify this non-Georgia scene
Old business first: last week GwinnettForum printed that no one solved the mystery of a snow-topped mountain peak. That was wrong. One person submitted the correct answer, but we misplaced it. That person was Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill, who was proud she was the only one to get the photo ID right. Here is what we should have printed last week:
Susan wrote: “OK, this mystery was a hard one. Who would think that mountain tops could have so many different shapes? And the shapes can change dramatically, depending on which side of the mountain you’re on. My first thought is that this mountain was in the Pacific Northwest because of the desert-like land shown in the foreground. But I’m going to go with the Lanin Volcano in Patagonia on the border of Argentina and Chile.”
To be the only one who gets the mystery out, then get left out! That’s horrible. Our apologies for this oversight.
As for today’s Mystery Photo, there is some indication that the photograph was not made in Georgia. See if you can identify this mystery, and when you do, send your answer to elliottt@brack.net, and list your hometown.
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. was first in with the identification of the last mystery. He said: “Today’s mystery photo is of the Swaminarayan Gurukul Bal Sanskar Culture Center located at 2320 Meadow Church Way in Duluth. It is the home of the Atlanta branch of the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan, a Hindu religious and educational organization with headquarters in Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
“The Swaminarayan Gurukul organization was first founded in 1947 and started its teachings of Sadvidya (Translation: ‘True Education” or ‘Good Knowledge’) on June 16, 1948, with seven students in a rented house in Rajkot. According to the web site for the Atlanta branch of Swaminarayan Gurukul Bal Sanskar, the cultural center was established in 2017 and has since served over 55 students ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade. Prior to 2017, the building was the site of a Zion International Mission Center that had been established in 2007.
Also getting the mystery dead-on were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; and Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C. The photo was made by GwinnettForum staff.
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: elliott@brack.net and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Economic Outlook Forecast is March 21 at Maxwell Center
Understanding Medicare is the topic at the Lawrenceville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on March 19 at 11 a.m. Get unbiased guidance from a Certified Medicare Counselor about costs and coverage, comparing options, and enrolling in plans.
Economic Outlook forecast will be Thursday, March 21 at the John C. Maxwell Leadership Center, 2580 Sugarloaf Circle in Duluth, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Speaker will be Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute Director Alfie Meek.
Citizenship Clinic will be March 23 at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Lilburn branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Invest in your future by applying for United States Citizenship. Pre-registration is required to attend the workshop.
Preview Days at Georgia Gwinnett College will be Saturday, March 23. The events will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on GGC’s campus. Prospective students will hear from members of the Grizzly family about programs of study, admissions, financial aid, student housing and more. Participants will be able to tour GGC’s campus and talk to student ambassadors about their experiences at GGC. The party-like atmosphere will include food, music and fun giveaways. GGC team members will host selected breakout sessions in Spanish. Organizers said GGC application fees will be waived in March. About 82 percent of GGC students qualify for financial aid.
Lionheart Theatre Company in Norcross will present Chaos Theory’s Improv Comedy on Saturday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of spontaneous laughter, geared towards ages 16 and older. Tickets are $12. To buy tickets, visit lionhearttheatre.org.
Attend the City of Sugar Hill’s 85th Birthday Celebration on March 24 at 1:30 p.m. The City and the Sugar Hill Historic Preservation Society have scheduled the Grand Master of the Masons of Georgia, Benjamin W. Polston II, to perform a rededication ceremony of the original 1940 cornerstone of the Sugar Hill School. The event will take place in Cornerstone Park, across from the Sugar Hill City Hall, near where the school was once located. Following the 1940 cornerstone rededication, the Sugar Hill Historic Preservation will dedicate the Georgia Boot Historic Marker. The ceremony will take place on Temple Drive at the entrance to the Bowl, where there will be vendors and food trucks.
“Growing Your Business with Reference Solutions” is the topic to be presented March 26 at 11:30 a.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Learn how to use the U.S. Business and Consumer Modules to target specific groups of businesses or individuals who may most likely be interested in your products or services.
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