# 135th Georgia General Assembly

The 135th General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia convened its first session on January 8, 1979, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The 135th Georgia General Assembly succeeded the 134th and served as the precedent for the 136th General Assembly in 1981.

## Party standings
### Senate

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| | Republican Party | 5 |
| | Democratic Party | 51 |
| | Other party$^*$ | 0 |
| Total | Total | 56 |

### House of Representatives

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| | Republican Party | 20 |
| | Democratic Party | 160 |
| | Other party$^*$ | 0 |
| Total | Total | 180 |
$^*$Active political parties in Georgia are not limited to the Democratic and Republican parties. Libertarians, and occasionally others, run candidates in elections. However, for the 1979-80 session of the General Assembly, only the two major parties were successful in electing legislators to office.

## Officers
### Senate
#### Presiding Officer

| Position | Position | Name | District | Party |
| | President | Zell Miller | n/a | Democratic |
| | President Pro Tempore | Al W. Holloway | 12 | Democratic |

#### Majority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| Senate Majority Leader | John R. Riley | 1 |
| Majority Caucus Chairman | Render Hill | 29 |
| Majority Whip | Loyce Turner | 08 |

#### Minority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| Senate Minority Leader | Paul D. Coverdell | 40 |
| Minority Caucus Chairman | James W. (Jim) Tysinger | 41 |
| Minority Whip | Robert H. Bell | 05 |

### House of Representatives
#### Presiding Officer

| Position | Position | Name | District | Party |
| | Speaker of the House | Thomas B. Murphy | 18 | Democratic |
| | Speaker Pro Tempore | Jack Connell | 87 | Democratic |

#### Majority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| House Majority Leader | Clarence R. Vaughn Jr. | 57 |
| Majority Whip | Nathan Knight | 67 |
| Majority Caucus Chairman | Bill Lee | 72 |
| Majority Caucus Secretary | Ward Edwards | 110 |

#### Minority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| House Minority Leader | Herbert Jones, Jr. | 126 |
| Minority Whip | Dick Lane | 40 |
| Minority Caucus Chairman | Joe Burton | 47 |
| Minority Caucus Secretary | Kenneth Nix | 20-3 |

## Members of the State Senate

| District | Senator | Party | Residence |
| 1 | John R. Riley | Democratic | Savannah |
| 2 | Charles Henry Wessels | Democratic | Savannah |
| 3 | Glenn E. Bryant | Democratic | Hinesville |
| 4 | Joseph E. Kennedy | Democratic | Claxton |
| 5 | Robert H. (Bob) Bell | Republican | Atlanta |
| 6 | Richard W. (Bill) Littlefield | Democratic | Brunswick |
| 7 | Frank Eldridge Jr. | Democratic | Waycross |
| 8 | Loyce W. Turner | Democratic | Valdosta |
| 9 | Frank Sutton | Democratic | Norman Park |
| 10 | Henry P. Russell, Jr. | Democratic | Boston |
| 11 | Jimmy Hodge Timmons | Democratic | Blakely |
| 12 | Al Holloway | Democratic | Albany |
| 13 | James L. Paulk | Democratic | Fitzgerald |
| 14 | Hugh A. Carter | Democratic | Plains |
| 15 | Floyd Hudgins | Democratic | Columbus |
| 16 | Ted J. Land | Republican | Columbus |
| 17 | Janice S. Horton | Democratic | McDonough |
| 18 | Ed Barker | Democratic | Warner Robins |
| 19 | Ronnie Walker | Democratic | McRae |
| 20 | Hugh M. Gillis, Sr. | Democratic | Soperton |
| 21 | Bill English | Democratic | Swainsboro |
| 22 | Thomas F. Allgood | Democratic | Augusta |
| 23 | Jimmy Lester | Democratic | Augusta |
| 24 | Sam P. McGill | Democratic | Washington |
| 25 | Culver Kidd | Democratic | Milledgeville |
| 26 | Richard L. Greene | Democratic | Macon |
| 27 | Lee Robinson | Democratic | Macon |
| 28 | Kyle T. Cobb | Democratic | Griffin |
| 29 | Render Hill | Democratic | Greenville |
| 30 | J. Ebb Duncan | Democratic | Carrollton |
| 31 | Nathan Dean | Democratic | Rockmart |
| 32 | Joe Thompson | Democratic | Smyrna |
| 33 | Roy E. Barnes | Democratic | Mableton |
| 34 | Edward H. (Ed) Johnson | Democratic | Palmetto |
| 35 | Perry J. Hudson | Democratic | Hapeville |
| 36 | Jack L. Stephens | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 37 | Todd Evans | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 38 | Horace E Tate | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 39 | Julian Bond | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 40 | Paul D. Coverdell | Republican | Atlanta |
| 41 | James W. (Jim) Tysinger | Republican | Atlanta |
| 42 | Pierre Howard | Democratic | Decatur |
| 43 | Thomas R. (Tom) Scott | Democratic | Decatur |
| 44 | Terrell A. Starr | Democratic | Forest Park |
| 45 | W.D. (Don) Ballard | Democratic | Covington |
| 46 | Paul C. Broun | Democratic | Athens |
| 47 | M. Parks Brown | Democratic | Hartwell |
| 48 | Steve Reynolds | Democratic | Lawrenceville |
| 49 | Howard T. Overby | Democratic | Gainesville |
| 50 | John C. Foster | Democratic | Cornelia |
| 51 | James Beverly Langford | Democratic | Calhoun |
| 52 | Dan H. Fincher | Democratic | Rome |
| 53 | E.G. Summers | Democratic | LaFayette |
| 54 | W.W. (Bill) Fincher, Jr. | Democratic | Chatsworth |
| 55 | Lawrence (Bud) Stumbaugh | Democratic | Stone Mountain |
| 56 | Haskew H. Brantley, Jr. | Republican | Alpharetta |

## Members of the House of Representatives

| District | Representative | Party | Residence |
| 1-1 | Wayne Snow Jr. | Democratic | Rossville |
| 1-2 | Forest Hays Jr. | Democratic | Chattanooga |
| 2 | Robert G. Peters | Democratic | Ringgold |
| 3 | Tom Ramsey | Democratic | Chatsworth |
| 4-1 | Carlton H. Colwell | Democratic | Blairsville |
| 4-2 | Ralph Twiggs | Democratic | Hiawassee |
| 5 | John G. Crawford | Democratic | Lyerly |
| 6-1 | Roger Williams | Democratic | Dalton |
| 6-2 | R.L. (Shorty) Foster | Democratic | Dalton |
| 7 | Ernest Ralston | Democratic | Calhoun |
| 8-1 | Joe Frank Harris | Democratic | Cartersville |
| 8-2 | W.G. (Bill) Hasty, Sr. | Democratic | Canton |
| 8-3 | Wendell T. Anderson | Democratic | Canton |
| 9-1 | Joe T. Wood | Democratic | Gainesville |
| 9-2 | Bobby Lawson | Democratic | Gainesville |
| 9-3 | Jerry D. Jackson | Democratic | Chestnut Mountain |
| 10 | Jack Irvin, Sr. | Democratic | Baldwin |
| 11 | Bill Dover | Democratic | Hollywood |
| 12 | Lauren (Bubba) McDonald, Jr. | Democratic | Commerce |
| 13-1 | Louie Max Clark | Democratic | Danielsville |
| 13-2 | Billy Milford | Democratic | Hartwell |
| 13-3 | Charles C. Mann | Democratic | Elberton |
| 14 | Lucian K. Oldham | Democratic | Rome |
| 15-1 | E.M. (Buddy) Childers | Democratic | Rome |
| 16 | Ken Fuller | Democratic | Rome |
| 17 | Lynn Gammage | Democratic | Cedartown |
| 18 | Thomas B. Murphy | Democratic | Bremen |
| 19-1 | Joe Mack Wilson | Democratic | Marietta |
| 19-2 | Max D. Kaley | Democratic | Marietta |
| 19-3 | Bill Cooper | Democratic | Marietta |
| 20-1 | Johnny Isakson | Republican | Marietta |
| 20-2 | Carl Harrison | Republican | Marietta |
| 20-3 | Kenneth Nix | Republican | Smyrna |
| 21-1 | Eugene (Gene) Housley | Democratic | Marietta |
| 21-2 | A.L. (Al) Burruss | Democratic | Marietta |
| 22 | Mrs. Dorothy Felton | Republican | Atlanta |
| 23 | Luther S. Colbert | Republican | Roswell |
| 24 | Kiliaen V.R. (Kil) Townsend | Republican | Atlanta |
| 25 | John Savage | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 26 | Sidney J. Marcus | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 27 | Michael C. Nichols | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 28 | Alveda King Beal | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 29 | Douglas C. Dean | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 30 | Paul Bolster | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 31 | Mrs. Grace T. Hamilton | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 32 | Mildred Glover | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 33 | Julius C. Daugherty Sr. | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 34 | Lottie Watkins | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 35 | J.E. (Billy) McKinney | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 36 | G.D. Adams | Democratic | Hapeville |
| 37 | David Scott | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 38 | Henrietta M. Canty | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 39 | Bob Holmes | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 40 | Dick Lane | Republican | East Point |
| 41 | Greg Pilewicz | Democratic | College Park |
| 42 | Virlyn B. Smith | Republican | Fairburn |
| 43-1 | Charles L. (Charlie) Carnes | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 43-2 | Bettye Lowe | Republican | Atlanta |
| 43-3 | John W. Greer | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 44 | John Linder | Republican | Dunwoody |
| 45 | George B. Williamson | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 46 | Cathey W. Steinberg | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 47 | Joe Burton | Republican | Atlanta |
| 48 | Betty Jo Williams | Republican | Atlanta |
| 49 | Ewell H. (Hank) Elliott | Republican | Decatur |
| 50 | John Hawkins | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 51 | Mrs. Mobley (Peggy) Childs | Democratic | Decatur |
| 52 | Eleanor L. Richardson | Democratic | Decatur |
| 53 | Doug Vandiford | Democratic | Avondale Estates |
| 54 | Hosea L. Williams | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 55 | Betty J. Clark | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 56-1 | William C. Mangum Jr. | Democratic | Decatur |
| 56-2 | Joe Johnston | Democratic | Decatur |
| 56-3 | Tommy Tolbert | Republican | Decatur |
| 57 | Clarence R. Vaughn Jr. | Democratic | Conyers |
| 58 | Cas M. Robinson | Democratic | Stone Mountain |
| 59 | R.T. (Tom) Phillips | Republican | Stone Mountain |
| 60 | Charles Martin | Democratic | Buford |
| 61 | Vinson Wall | Democratic | Lawrenceville |
| 62 | Hugh Logan | Democratic | Athens |
| 63 | Bob Argo | Democratic | Athens |
| 64 | John D. Russell | Democratic | Winder |
| 65 | Thomas (Mac) Kilgore | Democratic | Douglasville |
| 66-1 | Gerald Johnson | Democratic | Carrollton |
| 66-2 | Charles Thomas | Democratic | Temple |
| 67 | Nathan G. Knight | Democratic | Newnan |
| 68 | J. Crawford Ware | Democratic | Hogansville |
| 69 | Edwin G. (Ed) Mullinax | Democratic | LaGrange |
| 70 | Claude A. Bray, Jr. | Democratic | Manchester |
| 71-1 | James R. Fortune Jr. | Democratic | Griffin |
| 71-2 | John L. Mostiler | Democratic | Griffin |
| 72-1 | William J. (Bill) Lee | Democratic | Forest Park |
| 72-2 | Jimmy W. Benefield | Democratic | Jonesboro |
| 72-3 | Jim Wood | Democratic | Forest Park |
| 72-4 | W. Rudolph Johnson | Democratic | Jonesboro |
| 73 | G. Richard Chamberlin | Democratic | Stockbridge |
| 74 | Philip Johnson | Democratic | Covington |
| 75 | Bobby Carrell | Democratic | Monroe |
| 76 | Ben Barron Ross | Democratic | Lincolnton |
| 77 | Wm. S. (Bill) Jackson | Democratic | Martinez |
| 78 | Bill Jones | Democratic | Jackson |
| 79 | Marvin Adams | Democratic | Thomaston |
| 80 | P. Benson Ham | Democratic | Forsyth |
| 81 | W. Jones Lane | Democratic | Statesboro |
| 82 | Paul E. Nessith, Sr. | Democratic | Statesboro |
| 83 | Emory E. Bargeron | Democratic | Louisville |
| 84 | Warren D. Evans | Democratic | Thomson |
| 85 | R.A. Dent | Democratic | Augusta |
| 86 | Mike Padgett | Democratic | Augusta |
| 87 | Jack Connell | Democratic | Augusta |
| 88 | G.F. (Danny) Daniel, Jr. | Democratic | Augusta |
| 89 | Don Cheeks | Democrat | Augusta |
| 90 | David J. Swann | Republican | Augusta |
| 91 | W. Randolph Phillips | Democratic | Shiloh |
| 92 | Calvin Smyre | Democratic | Columbus |
| 93 | Albert W. Thompson | Democratic | Columbus |
| 94 | Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. | Democratic | Columbus |
| 95 | Thomas B. Buck | Democratic | Columbus |
| 96 | Gary C. Cason | Republican | Columbus |
| 97 | Mary Jane Galer | Democratic | Columbus |
| 98 | Bryant Culpepper | Democratic | Fort Valley |
| 99 | Burl Davis | Democratic | Macon |
| 100 | Frank C. Pinkston | Democratic | Macon |
| 101 | William C. (Billy) Randall | Democratic | Macon |
| 102 | David E. Lucas | Democratic | Macon |
| 103 | Kenneth W. Birdsong | Democratic | Gordon |
| 104 | Frank Horne | Democratic | Macon |
| 105 | Jimmy Lord | Democratic | Sandersville |
| 106 | Randolph C. (Randy) Karrh | Democratic | Swainsboro |
| 107 | A.D. Clifton | Democratic | Metter |
| 108 | Wilbur E. Baugh | Democratic | Milledgeville |
| 109 | Bobby E. Parham | Democratic | Milledgeville |
| 110 | Ward Edwards | Democratic | Butler |
| 111 | Don Castleberry | Democratic | Richland |
| 112 | E. Roy Lambert | Democratic | Madison |
| 113 | Ted W. Waddle | Republican | Warner Robins |
| 114 | Roy H. (Sonny) Watson, Jr. | Democratic | Warner Robins |
| 115 | Larry Walker | Democratic | Perry |
| 116 | William Murray | Democratic | Americus |
| 117 | Ben Jessup | Democratic | Cochran |
| 118 | Terry L. Coleman | Democratic | Eastman |
| 119 | J. Roy Rowland | Democratic | Dublin |
| 120 | L.L. (Pete) Phillips | Democratic | Soperton |
| 121 | Thomas Clifton | Democratic | Lyons |
| 122 | Arthur M. Gignilliat Jr. | Democratic | Savannah |
| 123 | Albert (Al) Scott | Democratic | Savannah |
| 124 | Joseph A. (Joe) Battle | Republican | Savannah |
| 125 | Bobby Phillips | Democratic | Savannah |
| 126 | Herbert Jones, Jr. | Republican | Savannah |
| 127 | Bobby L. Hill | Democratic | Savannah |
| 128 | Tom Triplett | Democratic | Savannah |
| 129 | George A. Chance, Jr. | Democratic | Springfield |
| 130 | Bob Hanner | Democratic | Parrott |
| 131 | Tommy Chambless | Democratic | Albany |
| 132 | John White | Democratic | Albany |
| 133 | R.S. (Dick) Hutchinson | Democratic | Albany |
| 134 | Lillian H. Parkman | Democratic | Albany |
| 135 | Howard H. Rainey | Democratic | Cordele |
| 136 | Earleen Sizemore | Democratic | Sylvester |
| 137 | Paul S. Branch, Jr. | Democratic | Fitzgerald |
| 138-1 | Lunsford Moody | Democratic | Baxley |
| 138-2 | Joel R. Greene | Democratic | Jesup |
| 139 | René D. Kemp | Democratic | Hinesville |
| 140 | Ralph J. Balkcom | Democratic | Blakely |
| 141 | Walter E. Cox | Democratic | Bainbridge |
| 142 | Willis K. Long | Democratic | Cairo |
| 143 | Robert C. (Bob) Sise | Democratic | Thomasville |
| 144 | Marcus E. Collins, Sr. | Democratic | Pelham |
| 145 | Hugh D. Matthews | Democratic | Moultrie |
| 146-1 | Henry Bostick | Democratic | Tifton |
| 146-2 | Monty Veazey | Democratic | Tifton |
| 147 | Henry L. Reaves | Democratic | Quitman |
| 148 | James M. Beck | Democratic | Valdosta |
| 149 | Robert L. (Bob) Patten | Democratic | Lakeland |
| 150 | Tom Crosby, Jr. | Democratic | Waycross |
| 151 | Harry D. Dixon | Democratic | Waycross |
| 152-1 | James C. Moore | Democratic | West Green |
| 152-2 | Tommy R. Smith | Democratic | Alma |
| 153 | James R. (Jim) Tuten, Jr | Democratic | Brunswick |
| 154 | Dean G. Auten | Republican | Brunswick |