The Chop House at The Battery’s Truist Park was the venue on the evening of May 9th for the annual James Magazine “Influential Georgians” reception. Almost 100 attendees– ranging from various state and local elected officials to prominent business, political, judicial and cultural leaders– were welcomed by James Founder/Chairman Matt Towery and CEO/Publisher Phil Kent.
Kent presented the James “2024 Georgian of the Year Award” to Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry, who he called “a steady, visionary leader with an exemplary record whose work affects every Georgian.” Loree Ann Paradise, chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, presented McMurry with an official proclamation saluting his impressive public service career. And state House of Representatives Speaker Jon Burns assisted Kent in presenting the commissioner his award.
Kent also bestowed three “2024 Lawmaker of the Year” awards. One recipient was state Sen. Sonya Halpern, D-Atlanta, who was elected in 2020 and who Kent praised as “a pro-business lawmaker who works across party lines.” She serves on several important panels ranging from the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee to the Health and Human Services Committee.
A second honoree was state House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R- Dacula, who has served as a representative since 2013. A former Judiciary Committee chairman, the one-time Gwinnett County assistant district attorney has sponsored and shepherded a wide range of bills that were signed into law over the years.
A third honoree was state Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens. Only 29-years-old and described by Kent as “a rising Republican rock star,” the one-time University of Georgia student body president is now serving in his third term. Just earlier this year Gaines is credited with introducing and guiding to passage a statewide prosecutors’ oversight panel.
Another special guest, along with Speaker Burns, was Senate Democratic Leader Gloria Butler who delivered remarks. Several other Democratic and Republican state legislators were present, along with former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga. Other attendees included prominent Georgia CEOs and businesspeople, various judges and lawyers, Republican and Democrat activists, high-powered lobbyists of government affairs firms and several political candidates.
The event’s main sponsor was the Atlanta-based Hall Booth Smith law firm, whose chairman John Hall just had his first novel published. Attendees left with complimentary copies of his Gnats, Humidity, and Murder set in 1970s Georgia. Event co-sponsors were Lexicon Strategies, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Fralick Bozeman Public Affairs, Georgia Transportation Alliance/Georgia Highway Contractors Association/Georgia Construction Aggregate Association and Georgia Power.
Photo credit: Jason Locklear
