“Mr. Rural Electrification in Georgia”

Walter W. Harrison

- Mayor of Millen for 20 years

- Editor of The Millen News for 26 years

- Member of the Board of Directors, Planters EMC, for 47
years - President for 16 years

- Member of the Georgia House Representative for 14 years

- Member of the Georgia Senate for 8 years

- Served on the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association Board of Directors for 31 years

- Manager of Georgia EMC for 25 years

Walter Harrison was "A rural electric pioneer, legislator, civic leader, banker, businessman, editor, historian, humanitarian and church stalwart," as described in Rural Georgia magazine in 1985. Harrison made rural electrification and public service the center of his life.

In April 1985, Gov. Joe Frank Harris dubbed Walter Harrison “Mr. Rural Electrification” after Harrison committed decades to lobbying for, and finally achieving, electricity in rural Georgia. In a 1978 interview, Harrison spoke about the result of his work, noting how electricity drastically altered the lives of rural families, offering “power to provide lights for laying houses, for milking parlors, for the dairies and for many other enterprises on the rural scene. It really transformed rural life,” Harrison said. “It removed the drudgery from the farm and brought urban niceties to the countryside. It gave them a little insight into the more abundant life that had been enjoyed by their neighbors in the cities.”

Born in 1899 in Millen, Harrison's penchant to promote the quality of life in his community began at a young age. After graduating from Oglethorpe University, Harrison served on Millen's City Council from 1928-1929, and was elected mayor in 1930. After 20 consecutive years as mayor, Harrison continued his political leadership in Georgia by serving 14 years as a state representative and 8 years as state senator.

In 1937, Harrison recognized the perils that Georgia's farming community faced. As a state thriving largely on agricultural production, Georgia suffered a disadvantage because it was isolated from the industrial states that were buzzing with electricity. Harrison forged ahead with a plan to electrify rural Georgia, devoting 10 years of unpaid volunteer work to gaining financial support for electrification and advocating legislation of rural development programs. His tireless efforts resulted in the foundation of the Georgia statewide rural electric organization, GEMC, where Harrison served as General Manager for 25 years. In addition, Harrison served at Planters EMC for 47 years.

When Harrison died in 1985, Georgia mourned the loss of a motivated, community-oriented man; a true pioneer of rural electricity. In April of that year he was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Looking back on Harrison's efforts, longtime friend Frank Edenfield commended on Harrison's dedication to rural society, saying, “He devoted his entire life to his community. He brought electricity to [Jenkins County] and a lot of other counties.” In fact, all of rural Georgia recognized Harrison's accomplishments. When he began his work in 1937, only one percent of the state's farm households had electricity. When he retired in 1975, 99 percent of rural Georgia was “on the grid.”

Beyond the realm of rural electricity, Harrison remained driven to work, teach and better the lives of others. Harrison participated in Boy Scouts as a youth, and continued his involvement as an adult, serving as a scoutmaster and council member. He also promoted and secured funds for 4-H and the FFA, receiving the highest honorary awards from both the 4-H Clubs of America and the National FFA. He continued active duty in his church for 62 years, teaching Sunday school up until his death in 1985. In addition, his efforts to bring telephone service to rural Georgia proved instrumental, as did his endeavors to promote rural housing programs.

Though Harrison has passed, his leadership and success has transcended to future generations, motivating and inspiring those who follow in his footsteps.