24 LC 39 4295S
House Resolution 1215 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Jasperse of the 11
th
, Chastain of the 7
th
, Hatchett of the 155
th
, Burns of
the 159
th
, Powell of the 33
rd
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life of the Honorable David E. Ralston and dedicating an interstate connector,
1
bridge, and highway in his memory; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, the Honorable David E. Ralston was born on March 14, 1954, in Ellijay,3
Georgia, a distinguished native son of North Georgia; and4
WHEREAS, he attended Young Harris College and later earned a bachelor's degree from5
North Georgia College and State University and earned his law degree from the University6
of Georgia School of Law; and7
WHEREAS, Speaker Ralston dedicated his life to the service of the citizens of Gilmer and8
Fannin counties, working to make their lives better in any way he could; and9
WHEREAS, he ran a successful law practice providing sound legal advice and counsel in10
Blue Ridge, Fannin County, Georgia, for more than four decades; and11
WHEREAS, in 1992, he began a long and distinguished career in public service when he was12
elected to the Georgia Senate, where he served three consecutive terms; and13
H. R. 1215 (SUB)
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WHEREAS, in 2002, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he was
14
elected Speaker in 2010, a position he held until his untimely death; and15
WHEREAS, as Speaker, he shepherded many pieces of legislation beneficial to the citizens16
of the great State of Georgia through the legislature, including tax relief, criminal justice17
reform, transportation infrastructure funding modernization, and adoption reform; and18
WHEREAS, he had a particular passion for improving the healthcare provided to Georgia's19
citizens struggling with mental health issues; and20
WHEREAS, on November 16, 2022, he died peacefully at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta21
surrounded by his beloved wife Sheree; his children, Matt and Elizabeth; and other family22
members; and23
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished24
Georgian be recognized appropriately by dedicating an interstate connector, bridge, and25
highway in his memory; and26
WHEREAS, his legacy will live on as all who travel such interstate connector, bridge, and27
highway will see his name forever being recognized.28
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL29
ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the portion of State Route 5/McCaysville Bypass in Fannin30
County is dedicated as the Speaker David E. Ralston Interstate Connector.31
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the new bridge over the Toccoa/Ocoee River in Fannin32
County is dedicated as the Speaker David E. Ralston Memorial Bridge.33
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of State Route 52 in Gilmer County from
34
Aaron Road west to the Murray County line is dedicated as the Speaker David E. Ralston35
Memorial Highway.36
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and37
directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Speaker David E. Ralston38
Interstate Connector, the Speaker David E. Ralston Memorial Bridge, and the Speaker David39
E. Ralston Memorial Highway.40
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized41
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the42
family of Speaker David E. Ralston and to the Department of Transportation.43
H. R. 1215 (SUB)
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