GwinnettForum | Number 25.50 | June 20, 2025
HOOPER-RENWICK LIBRARY OPENS: Lawrenceville officials officially opened the new Hooper-Renwick Themed Library with a ribbon cutting last week. Helping in the ceremony were City Councilwoman Marlene Taylor-Crawford, Police Chief John Mullin, Mayor David Still, Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Hawkins, and City Manager Chuck Warbington. This is the 15th library of the Gwinnett County Library system. For more details, see Notable below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Ever heard of LOX, Loganville International Airport?
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Peaceful “No Kings” movement may have staying power
SPOTLIGHT: Gwinnett Place CID
FEEDBACK: Trump is titular president, more the front man
NOTABLE: Lawrenceville opens first themed library in Southeast
RECOMMENDED: Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Souther Field in Americus has distinctive history
MYSTERY PHOTO: Older columned building is today’s mystery
CALENDAR: Duluth Rotary Club Car Show is June 21
Ever heard of LOX, Loganville International Airport?
By Robert H. Hanson
LOGANVILLE, Ga. | Ever hear of an airport named LOX? How about Loganville International Airport?
Yes, Loganville, Ga. once had its own airport. It was not a public airport. It was not even a private airport that allowed other planes to land. It was merely a 1,500 foot air strip behind the home of Dean and Inez King on C. S. Floyd Road. Dean loved to fly, so he simply cleared a runway space behind his house to take off and land. He sodded the strip, put up a wind sock to determine the direction and velocity of the wind, and he was ready to go. He took off toward Line Street, where there were no trees.
And go he did! He not only flew his plane (a single engine, high wing aircraft with tricycle landing gear) on various trips (among them to his place in the North Georgia mountains that he named “The King Sky Ranch”), but on many Sunday afternoons he would take members of the general public on short rides over the city. (He may have been using the flights to polish his take-off and landing procedures at the same time.)
Dean was a professional photographer and for a time worked for the Rich’s Department store in Atlanta. He and his wife, Inez Garrett King, moved into the home on C. S. Floyd Road after the death of her father, John Garrett, in the late 1950s. It was then that he built the air strip.
While the strip was not a public airfield, it did have occasional visitors. A light Army airplane developed some kind of mechanical trouble and managed to set down once on the airstrip. It sat there a few days until repairs could be made and then it departed. It was the talk of the town for days.
On other occasions, people flew private planes into LOX (never an official name, by the way) to go shopping for men’s clothing at Walton Manufacturing Company. Dean politely but firmly advised the pilots that this was not a public facility and to please not land here again. To my knowledge, there were no repeat customers.
Dean King was a character around Loganville. He was universally liked, always seemed to have a good disposition, and never met a stranger. Wherever he happened to attend church, he would stand at the front door, red rose bud in his lapel, and greet the arriving parishioners with a smile, handshake, and a warm welcome. He did this whether or not he was a member of that particular congregation. He even greeted folks arriving for services at London’s Westminster Abbey during a visit to the United Kingdom The official greeters, though somewhat bemused, allowed him to continue.
He had an old fashioned high-wheeled bicycle from the 1870s and rode it in various parades and at other public celebrations.
Dean mostly drove Fords throughout his lifetime. My cousin, Morgan Hodges, told me that as a child, he looked forward to Sunday school because his class, taught by none other than Dean King, met in his new 1936 Ford. One of his later Fords was purchased at Stone Mountain Ford, and he modified the dealer’s ID on the truck lid to read, “One Mo’ Ford” by removing strategic letters and adding the apostrophe.
Dean King was liked by everyone he knew. He left this world at the age of 89 years, on June 26, 1996, and it hasn’t been the same since.
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Peaceful “No Kings” movement may have staying power
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JUNE 20, 2025 | There may be more substance than first meets the eye in the current “No Kings” demonstrations across the nation. The immense turn-out in more than 2,100 locations around the nation to protest Donald Trump’s presidency was virtually impromptu and certainly amazing. It shows that everyday citizens, the ordinary voter, has a new weapon in opposing the wannabee king presidency.
Could these particularly peaceful protests of last week against blarney, bombast and bullying of Donald Trump grow into more of an effective movement? Some seem to think so, mainly since this protest seems to burst out of nowhere.
People were grieved over the route the Republicans are taking the country. Those opposing the president haven’t known what to do, and dread the remaining 3.5 years of the president’s term.
“So let’s join this local peaceful protest,” somewhere between four and six million people thought. Look at the accompanying map. It happened all across the country, in small towns and in major large cities, and here in Suwanee, where the demonstration was peaceful with no disruptions! And throughout the country, all were particularly peaceful.
Out of nowhere.
It was right here in Georgia that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used his non-violent approach to take down the government’s position on Civil Rights. He was inspired by Mahatma Ghandi, using nonviolence resistance to overthrow British dominance over India years ago.
What were people protesting on Saturday? Much can be called the cruelty and chaos of the Trump Administration, and everything from often-changing tariffs, to dizzying relaxation of environmental policies, to deporting people, to trying to silence the universities, and on and on.
Another reason people are upset: seeing law enforcement officials donning masks and using rough treatment when arresting people. Georgia can talk to this. It’s against the law in Georgia to wear face masks, dating back to 1951.
The Georgia law reads:
“2022: O.C.G.A §16-11-38 makes it illegal to wear a mask, hood, or any device that conceals a person’s identity on public ways, public property, or private property without the owner’s consent.”
This law passed the Legislature as a measure to identify Ku Klux Klan members. But for law enforcement officials to wear masks? Why? Unbelievable.
The real whammy of “No Kings” demonstrations was that they happened the same day Donald Trump was giving himself a big costly military parade in Washington! Turnout was not impressive, with stands often half full. Apparently some soldiers marching in the parade were telling the president something, since many were seemingly deliberately out of step. The parade was a major juxtaposition to the citizen-led peaceful protests.
Two scholars wrote an article in The New York Times, entitled “Only Nonviolence Will Beat Trump.” They said in conclusion the evidence shows that of societies that have a free press: “….movements are most effective when they remain non violent and build broad coalitions. And governments are most vulnerable when their use of force is perceived to be excessive or cruel.”
Well said.
The type of peaceful protests our nation has seen in the Civil Rights struggle may be a powerful force for today’s new “No Kings” movement.
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Trump is titular president, more the front man
Editor, the Forum:
Donald Trump is nothing more than a titular president, a front man so to speak.
The real men running the store are Russell Vought and Kevin Roberts. Russell Vought basically designed what is called Project 2025 which Trump is following to a T.
The last chapter of the 2025 book was written by Kevin Roberts and it was Roberts who basically said that this revolution will be peaceful and unless the Democrats cause it, won’t be bloody.
Both men have religious backgrounds. Vought got his undergraduate degree from Wheaton University in Illinois and Roberts got his undergraduate degree from a small Catholic college. He got a PhD from the University of Texas and later became president of a second Catholic college.
Roberts is the president of the Heritage Foundation and Vought is also a member of the Heritage Foundation. It is those two and more in the Foundation that want to turn this country back to about 1950 and do away with many bills that congress has passed since that time.
What they want is a Christian Nationalist government. If you are not a Christian Nationalist, you might find yourself a second class citizen, not having all of the benefits of the Constitution. Several other members of the Heritage Foundation are in the cabinet or in other top ranking positions in the Administration. There is more to this than meets the eye if you look around.
– Raleigh Perry, Buford
New MAGA meaning: “Morons Are Governing America”
Editor, the Forum:
After June 14, I read a message that showed dozens of photos of various signs displayed at No Kings demonstrations throughout the country. Maybe the creator of my favorite was thinking of Pete Hegseth among others. It was a play on the MAGA motto, and read as follows: “Morons Are Governing America.”
– John Titus, Peachtree Corners
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Lawrenceville opens first theme library in Southeast
Gwinnett County officials on Monday cut the ribbon on the new Hooper-Renwick Themed Library, in partnership with the city of Lawrenceville, Hooper-Renwick Legacy Preservation Committee and Gwinnett County Public Library Board of Trustees.
The library is the first themed library in the Southeast. It’s located at 56 Neal Boulevard in Lawrenceville.
The project revives and expands the 11,475-square-foot Hooper-Renwick School, which once served as the only public high school for Black students in the Gwinnett County school system.
The new, 27,327-square-foot themed library includes library amenities, community space and exhibits that showcase stories, accomplishments and memorabilia related to the school. Original elements of the building prominent in the final design include exposed rafters above the library portion of the facility, the restored façade of the school building and the original gym floor, which was repurposed as flooring in the upper-level exhibit space.
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson says: “From the history of the school to the personal stories of Hooper-Renwick’s students and teachers, the Hooper-Renwick Themed Library showcases our forward-thinking approach to preservation. Today, we’re cutting the ribbon on a gateway to understanding, reopening a space for learning and inviting all to share in our hope.”
The project was inspired by the engagement of a group of local alumni and stakeholders who wanted to see the former school preserved, forming the Hooper-Renwick Legacy Preservation Committee in 2017.
Preservation Committee Chair Coni Brown, who was a student at Hooper-Renwick School before integration, says: “Hooper-Renwick has always been more than a building; it was a beacon of hope, education and pride for our community during a time when opportunity wasn’t always within reach for everyone. Preserving its legacy means honoring the sacrifices and triumphs of those who came before us. Today, it stands as both a symbol of resilience and a promise to future generations that their history matters.”
The project was funded using $18.8 million from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax along with $1.7 million from the city of Lawrenceville, which also provided the 3.8-acre site, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.
Lawrenceville Mayor David Still highlighted the collaborative approach behind the project. He says: “A tremendous effort was put forth by all parties to bring this vision to reality.”
Jackson EMC wins two national gold awards
Jackson EMC’s communication team has earned top national recognition in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Spotlight on Excellence Awards. The team received two Gold Awards for outstanding efforts to connect employees and serve members through impactful communication and engagement.
This year, NRECA honored Jackson EMC with two Gold Awards. The first recognized JEMClips, the cooperative’s employee newsletter, as the Best Internal News Publication. The second celebrated the cooperative’s New Member Email Campaign as the Most Innovative Use of Digital Engagement.
“These awards reflect our promise to provide super-personalized care — ensuring members and employees feel valued, informed and supported,” said April Sorrow, vice president of communication at Jackson EMC. “It’s an honor to see our team’s expertise recognized nationally for the way we tell our story and connect with the people we serve.”
These honors are the result of a team effort by communication staff members: Jewel Caruso, Karen Ewing, Lila Higginbotham, Wendy Jones, Dekotah Mathis, April Sorrow, Kerri Testement and Lauren White.
Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
From Rick Krause, Lilburn: This New York Times best selling author delivers a focused message, and the author sticks to it. It is clearly a classic self-help book, and her message surely is, at least in part, in numerous other books of its ilk. She carries the message that you, the reader, can improve your life and your relationships by minimizing outside influences, chiefly people who rent space in your head. As we let other people play too large a part in our psyche, she admonishes us to ‘let them’ do what they will and to have their own ideas, thoughts, preferences, opinions, even criticisms; and it’s okay with me. I’ll just let them, and I won’t chase their approval. The author says that you come first—your dreams, your goals, your happiness. She says how it can be done and gives examples. I could just hear her stating, with raised eyebrows: ‘Let ‘em!’
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Souther Field in Americus has distinctive history
Souther Field is the oldest continuously operating civilian airport in the United States that has participated, through flying operations, in both World War I (1917-18) and World War II (1941-45). In a ceremony at the airfield in October 2009, the airport’s name was changed to the Jimmy Carter Regional Airport.
Building on the rapid development of aviation during World War I, the U.S. Army in 1918 constructed Souther Field, just northeast of Americus, as a primary flight-training facility. After the end of the conflict, the U.S. War Department deactivated the field and sold its surplus airplanes to the public.
Because of its geographic and climatic advantages, Souther Field was reactivated during World War II to train aviation cadets of the U.S. Army Air Force and the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Today Souther Field is a public-use airport owned by the city of Americus. Its longest paved runway is 6,021 feet.
Military aviation grew rapidly during World War I. At the beginning of the war in 1914, before the United States entered the conflict, British, French, and German flyers served as “aerial scouts,” tracking enemy troop movements and coordinating artillery in crude and undependable flying machines. The scout role (and aviation technology) quickly evolved to meet urgent battlefield needs.
The result was the development of increasingly maneuverable, powerful, and lethal planes dedicated to aerial defense (attacking or defending scout planes), fighter pursuit, ground attack, and bombardment. Not until the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, did the army energetically pursue this new branch. With only a few dozen planes at the war’s beginning, by 1919 the army was in possession of 11,000 planes and 190,000 aviation personnel. Because war-time aviation demanded more rigorous training, the army inaugurated formal “ground schools” at colleges and universities, and developed a flight-regimen for primary, basic, and advanced training.
In 1917 Sumter County purchased a peach orchard and deeded the land to the U.S. government. In February of the following year workers under contract for the government cleared and graded the land, marked out an “all way” landing site, and erected wooden hangars, barracks, a warehouse, a hospital, a mess facility, and service buildings. The aerodrome was equipped with running water, electricity, telephones, and a post office.
Named after Major Henry Souther, a pioneer in army aviation, Souther Field was ideally situated as a primary flight-training base: it sat on flat, well-drained terrain favored with a mild climate year-round. A rail line connected the field’s new warehouse to Americus.
In May 1918, Major Carlyle Wash completed the first takeoff and landing at Souther Field in a Standard biplane. That same month the army transferred four Aero Service Squadrons to Souther Field from Fort Sam Houston and Kelly Field in Texas; in November they were combined into the New Flying School Detachment. Also in May, Curtiss JN-4 planes (nicknamed “Jennies”) arrived in crates at the field’s railway depot, and mechanics assembled the planes in the hangars.
Aviation cadets began arriving in groups of twenty-five to begin two months of flight instruction. In only a few months’ time Souther Field had become a bustling hub, accommodating 147 planes and about 1,500 service personnel. More than 500 aviation cadets earned their Reserve Military Aviator wings there.
(To be continued)
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Older columned building is today’s mystery
Today we test the limits of our photo spotters ability with this older photograph of an impressive building. Yes, we’ll label this “difficult.” Join the search and see what you can come up with. Send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com.
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, did scholarship research in identifying the most recent Mystery Photo. He wrote: “Today’s mystery photo is of the Hammond River #2 Covered Bridge, also known as the French Village Covered Bridge. It was formerly located along French Village Road, near the suburban town of Quispamsis and approximately 14-miles northeast of Saint John, New Brunswick. The bridge is no longer there!
“The bridge was a single-lane, single-span, 181-foot, Howe-Truss covered bridge that was built in 1912. It was significantly damaged during a construction accident that occurred on October 5, 2016. During a restoration and repair effort, a large, heavy excavator carrying a load of new floor timbers that were intended to repair and replace the bridge deck had exceeded the posted 12-tonne limit of the bridge, causing the excavator to bust through the wooden decking and undercarriage. While most covered bridges in America were lost because of storms and flooding, it is a shame that this was lost as a result of avoidable human error, ironically while attempting to repair the bridge.
“Before the bridge could be restored, the excavator’s owner led the operation to extract the machine. During this effort, inspections revealed that the significant structural damage, coupled with long-term rot and decay, would require substantial costs to properly stabilize and restore the timber trusses. Legislative funding was denied, and the decision made, to permanently remove the historical structure and replace it with a new, modular steel truss, Bailey-style bridge.
“Here is what the new bridge looks like (as of June 2022). It has certainly lost a lot of historical charm!”
The original photo came from Rick Krause of Lilburn.
Others with the correct answer included Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C.; Dick LoPresti of Berkeley Lake; and George Graf of Palmyra, Va.
- 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!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Duluth Rotary Club Car Show is June 21
Duluth Rotary Club Car Show is Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in downtown Duluth. This event is sure to keep your wheels spinning as Exotic Cars, Antique Classics, Foreign Sports, Hot Rods, Muscles and more take over City Hall. This event is free to attend and is hosted by the Rotary Club of Duluth. Proceeds benefit Operation One Voice, a Duluth based nonprofit that aids families of fallen Special Forces.
Writers Workshop: Learn more about writing, network with other writers, and listen to accomplished authors offer tips to improve your writing. In partnership with the Atlanta Writers Club. This workshop is scheduled on June 21 at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Library.
Gwinnett County is partnering with the Visibility Club in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. This event will be at Thrasher Park, 93 Park Drive, in Norcross on June 21 from noon to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more about this year’s celebration by visiting the Gwinnett Pride website.
Author talk: Join Katherine Scott Crawford at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library at 6 p.m. on June 24. She will discuss her historical fiction novel, The Miniaturist’s Assistant. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Norcross PDC (People Drinking Coffee) meets Wednesdays from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at 45 South Cafe to discuss current events that are political, educational and community-focused. Speaking on June 25 will be Andrew Hickey, director of economic development, Partnership Gwinnett. No dues or membership fees; anyone can attend.
Taste of Peachtree Corners will be June 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Atlanta Marriott at Peachtree Corners, sponsored by the Peachtree Corners Business Association. Enjoy an evening of delicious bites and drinks as you get to sample foods from local restaurants and businesses. Upon check-in, you will receive a Passport highlighting participating restaurants and businesses and their offerings. Advanced registration appreciated.
Author Talk: Join author Omar Tyree as he celebrates the 30th anniversary of his iconic bestselling novel Flyy Girl. This will be on July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing
The Park Place Master Plan Recommendations workshop will be July 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The workshop will be at 1790 East Park Place Boulevard. Come to share your thoughts on the recommended design framework for Gwinnett’s southwestern gateway! Your feedback will help ensure that the master plan reflects the needs and collective vision to make this community thrive. The Park Place district generally surrounds the intersection of Park Place Boulevard and Stone Mountain Highway. This is an important southern gateway to Gwinnett. To learn more about the Park Place Master Plan, click here!
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