# 137th Georgia General Assembly

The 137th General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia convened its first session on January 10, 1983, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The 137th Georgia General Assembly succeeded the 136th and served as the precedent for the 138th General Assembly in 1985.

## Party standings
### Senate

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| | Republican Party | 7 |
| | Democratic Party | 49 |
| | Other party$^*$ | 0 |
| Total | Total | 56 |

### House of Representatives

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| | Republican Party | 24 |
| | Democratic Party | 156 |
| | 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 1983-84 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 | Joseph E. Kennedy | 04 | Democratic |

#### Majority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| Senate Majority Leader | Thomas F. Allgood | 22 |
| Majority Caucus Chairman | Render Hill | 29 |
| Majority Whip | William F. English | 21 |

#### Minority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| Senate Minority Leader | Paul D. Coverdell | 40 |
| Minority Caucus Chairman | James W. (Jim) Tysinger | 41 |
| Minority Whip | Haskew H. Brantley, Jr. | 56 |

### 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 | Al Burruss | 20-2 |
| Majority Whip | John D. Russell | 64 |
| Majority Caucus Chairman | Bill Lee | 72 |
| Majority Caucus Secretary | Ward Edwards | 112 |

#### Minority leadership

| Position | Name | District |
| House Minority Leader | Johnny Isakson | 21-2 |
| Minority Whip | Luther Colbert | 23 |
| Minority Caucus Chairman | Dean G. Auten | 156 |
| Minority Caucus Secretary | Betty Jo Williams | 48 |

## Members of the State Senate

| District | Senator | Party | Residence |
| 1 | J. Tom Coleman | Democratic | Savannah |
| 2 | Albert (Al) Scott | Democratic | Savannah |
| 3 | Glenn E. Bryant | Democratic | Hinesville |
| 4 | Joseph E. Kennedy | Democratic | Claxton |
| 5 | Joe Burton | Republican | Atlanta |
| 6 | Richard W. Littlefield | Democratic | Brunswick |
| 7 | Ed Perry | Democratic | Nashville |
| 8 | Loyce W. Turner | Democratic | Valdosta |
| 9 | R.T. (Tom) Phillips | Republican | Lilburn |
| 10 | Paul Trulock | Democratic | Climax |
| 11 | Jimmy Hodge Timmons | Democratic | Blakely |
| 12 | Al Holloway | Democratic | Albany |
| 13 | Rooney L. Bowen | Democratic | Cordele |
| 14 | Lewis H. (Bud) McKenzie | Democratic | Montezuma |
| 15 | Floyd Hudgins | Democratic | Columbus |
| 16 | Ted J. Land | Republican | Columbus |
| 17 | Janice S. Horton | Democratic | McDonough |
| 18 | Ed Barker | Democratic | Warner Robins |
| 19 | James Ronald Walker | Democratic | McRae |
| 20 | Hugh M. Gillis, Sr. | Democratic | Soperton |
| 21 | William F. English | Democratic | Swainsboro |
| 22 | Thomas F. Allgood | Democratic | Augusta |
| 23 | Jimmy Lester | Democratic | Augusta |
| 24 | Sam P. McGill | Democratic | Washington |
| 25 | Culver Kidd Jr. | Democratic | Milledgeville |
| 26 | Richard L. Greene | Democratic | Macon |
| 27 | W.F. (Billy) Harris | Democratic | Thomaston |
| 28 | Kyle Cobb | Democratic | Griffin |
| 29 | J. Render Hill | Democratic | Greenville |
| 30 | Wayne Garner | Democratic | Carrollton |
| 31 | Nathan Dean | Democratic | Rockmart |
| 32 | Joe Thompson | Democratic | Smyrna |
| 33 | Roy E. Barnes | Democratic | Mableton |
| 34 | Bev Engram | Democratic | Fairburn |
| 35 | Frank E. Coggin | Democratic | Hapeville |
| 36 | David Scott | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 37 | Carl Harrison | Republican | Marietta |
| 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. Scott | Democratic | Decatur |
| 44 | Terrell Starr | Democratic | Forest Park |
| 45 | Harrill L. Dawkins | Democratic | Conyers |
| 46 | Paul C. Broun | Democratic | Athens |
| 47 | M. Parks Brown | Democratic | Hartwell |
| 48 | Donn M. Peevy | Democratic | Lawrenceville |
| 49 | J. Nathan Deal | Democratic | Gainesville |
| 50 | John C. Foster | Democratic | Cornelia |
| 51 | Max Brannon | Democratic | Calhoun |
| 52 | Edward Hine, Jr. | Democratic | Rome |
| 53 | Waymond C. Huggins | 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 | Flintstone |
| 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 | Philip A. (Phil) Foster | Democratic | Dalton |
| 7 | J. C. Maddox | Democratic | Calhoun |
| 8-1 | Wendell T. Anderson | Democratic | Canton |
| 8-2 | W.G. (Bill) Hasty, Sr. | Democratic | Canton |
| 9-1 | Joe T. Wood | Democratic | Gainesville |
| 9-2 | Bobby Lawson | Democratic | Gainesville |
| 9-3 | Jerry D. Jackson | Democratic | Chestnut Mountain |
| 10 | Bill H. Barnett | Democratic | Cumming |
| 11-1 | William J. Dover | Democratic | Clarkesville |
| 11-2 | Jack Irvin, Sr. | Democratic | Baldwin |
| 12 | Lauren (Bubba) McDonald | Democratic | Commerce |
| 13-1 | Louie Max Clark | Democratic | Danielsville |
| 13-2 | Billy Milford | Democratic | Hartwell |
| 14 | Charles W. Yeargin | Democratic | Elberton |
| 15-1 | E.M. (Buddy) Childers | Democratic | Rome |
| 15-2 | Forrest L. McKelvey | Democratic | Silver Creek |
| 16 | John Adams | Democratic | Rome |
| 17 | Bill Cumming | Democratic | Rockmart |
| 18 | Thomas B. Murphy | Democratic | Bremen |
| 19 | Boyd Petit | Democratic | Cartersville |
| 20-1 | Joe Mack Wilson | Democratic | Marietta |
| 20-2 | A.L. (Al) Burruss | Democratic | Marietta |
| 20-3 | George W. (Buddy) Darden | Democratic | Marietta |
| 20-4 | Steve Thompson | Democratic | Powder Springs |
| 20-5 | Terry D. Lawler | Democratic | Clarkdale |
| 21-1 | Fred Aiken | Republican | Smyrna |
| 21-2 | Johnny Isakson | Republican | Marietta |
| 21-3 | Bill Atkins | Republican | Smyrna |
| 21-4 | Frank B. Johnson | Republican | Smyrna |
| 21-5 | Tom Wilder | Republican | Marietta |
| 22 | Dorothy Felton | Republican | Atlanta |
| 23 | Luther S. Colbert | Republican | Roswell |
| 24 | Kiliaen V.R. (Kil) Townsend | Republican | Atlanta |
| 25 | John M. Lupton, III | Republican | Atlanta |
| 26 | Sidney J. Marcus | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 27 | Dick Lane | Republican | East Point |
| 28 | Bob Holmes | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 29 | Douglas C. Dean | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 30 | Paul Bolster | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 31 | Mrs. Grace T. Hamilton | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 32 | Helen Selman | Democratic | Palmetto |
| 33 | Julius C. Daugherty Sr. | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 34 | Tyrone Brooks | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 35 | J.E. (Billy) McKinney | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 36 | G.D. Adams | Democratic | Hapeville |
| 37 | Georganna T. Sinkfield | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 38 | Lorenzo Benn | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 39 | John W. Greer | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 40 | Barbara H. Couch | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 41 | Charlie Watts | Democratic | Dallas |
| 42 | Thomas M. Kilgore | Democratic | Douglasville |
| 43 | Paul W. Heard, Jr. | Republican | Peachtree City |
| 44 | John Linder | Republican | Dunwoody |
| 45 | Jerry Max Davis | Republican | Atlanta |
| 46 | Cathey W. Steinberg | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 47 | Chesley V. Morton | Republican | Tucker |
| 48 | Betty Jo Williams | Republican | Atlanta |
| 49 | Tom Lawrence | Republican | Stone Mountain |
| 50 | Frank L. Redding, Jr. | Democratic | Decatur |
| 51 | Kenneth W. Workman | Democratic | Decatur |
| 52 | Eleanor L. Richardson | Democratic | Decatur |
| 53 | Mrs. Mobley (Peggy) Childs | Democratic | Decatur |
| 54 | Hosea L. Williams, Sr. | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 55 | Betty J. Clark | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 56 | Betty Aaron | Democratic | Atlanta |
| 57-1 | Troy A. Athon | Democratic | Conyers |
| 57-2 | William C. Mangum Jr. | Democratic | Decatur |
| 57-3 | Dean Alford | Democratic | Lithonia |
| 58 | Cas Robinson | Democratic | Stone Mountain |
| 59 | O.M. (Mike) Barnett | Republican | Lilburn |
| 60 | Charles C. Martin | Democratic | Buford |
| 61 | Rex A. Millsaps | Democratic | Lawrenceville |
| 62 | Thomas Hulet (Tom) White | Republican | Lilburn |
| 63 | Bill Goodwin | Republican | Norcross |
| 64 | John D. Russell | Democratic | Winder |
| 65 | Neal Jackson | Democratic | Monroe |
| 66 | E. Roy Lambert | Democratic | Madison |
| 67 | Hugh Logan | Democratic | Athens |
| 68 | Bob Argo | Democratic | Athens |
| 69 | Charles Thomas | Democratic | Temple |
| 70 | Gerald Johnson | Democratic | Carrollton |
| 71 | J. Neal Shepard, Jr. | Republican | Newnan |
| 72-1 | Bill Lee | Democratic | Forest Park |
| 72-2 | Jimmy W. Benefield | Democratic | Jonesboro |
| 72-3 | C.E. (Ed Holcomb) | Democratic | Jonesboro |
| 72-4 | W. Rudolph Johnson | Democratic | Lake City |
| 72-5 | Frank I. Bailey, Jr. | Democratic | Riverdale |
| 73 | Wesley Dunn | Democratic | McDonough |
| 74 | Denny M. Dobbs | Democratic | Covington |
| 75 | John L. Mostiler | Democratic | Griffin |
| 76 | Suzi Johnson | Democratic | Orchard Hill |
| 77 | J. Crawford Ware | Democratic | Hogansville |
| 78 | Bill Jones | Democratic | Jackson |
| 79 | Marvin Adams | Democratic | Thomaston |
| 80 | Kenneth Waldrep | Democratic | Forsyth |
| 81 | Ed Mullinax | Democratic | LaGrange |
| 82 | Ben Barron Ross | Democratic | Lincolnton |
| 83 | William S. (Bill) Jackson | Democratic | Martinez |
| 84 | Warren D. Evans | Democratic | Thomson |
| 85 | Charles W. Walker | Democratic | Augusta |
| 86 | Mike Padgett | Democratic | Augusta |
| 87 | Jack Connell | Democratic | Augusta |
| 88 | George M. Brown | Democratic | Augusta |
| 89 | Don Cheeks | Democrat | Augusta |
| 90 | Travis Stanley Barnes | Democratic | Augusta |
| 91 | Claude A. Bray, Jr. | Democratic | Manchester |
| 92 | Calvin Smyre | Democratic | Columbus |
| 93 | W. Randolph Phillips | Democratic | Shiloh |
| 94 | Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. | Democratic | Columbus |
| 95 | Thomas B. Buck | Democratic | Columbus |
| 96 | Milton Hirsch | Democratic | Columbus |
| 97 | Mary Jane Galer | Democratic | Columbus |
| 98 | Robert F. Ray | Democratic | Fort Valley |
| 99 | Denmark Groover, Jr. | Democratic | Macon |
| 100 | Frank C. Pinkston | Democratic | Macon |
| 101 | William C. (Billy) Randall | Democratic | Macon |
| 102 | David E. Lucas | Democratic | Macon |
| 103 | Frank Horne, Jr. | Democratic | Macon |
| 104 | Kenneth (Ken) W. Birdsong | Democratic | Gordon |
| 105 | Bobby Eugene Parham | Democratic | Milledgeville |
| 106 | Jesse Copelan, Jr. | Democratic | Eatonton |
| 107 | Jimmy Lord | Democratic | Sandersville |
| 108 | Emory E. Bargeron | Democratic | Louisville |
| 109 | Randolph C. (Randy) Karrh | Democratic | Swainsboro |
| 110 | John F. Godbee | Democratic | Brooklet |
| 111 | Bob Lane | Democratic | Statesboro |
| 112 | Ward Edwards | Democratic | Butler |
| 113 | Ted W. Waddle | Republican | Warner Robins |
| 114 | Roy H. (Sonny) Watson, Jr. | Democratic | Warner Robins |
| 115 | Larry Walker | Democratic | Perry |
| 116 | George Hooks | Democratic | Americus |
| 117 | Newt Hudson | Democratic | Rochelle |
| 118 | Terry L. Coleman | Democratic | Eastman |
| 119 | DuBose Porter | Democratic | Dublin |
| 120 | L.L. (Pete) Phillips | Democratic | Soperton |
| 121 | Clinton Oliver | Democratic | Glennville |
| 122 | Ron Ginsberg | Democratic | Savannah |
| 123 | Diane Harvey Johnson | Democratic | Savannah |
| 124 | DeWayne Hamilton | Democratic | Savannah |
| 125 | Bobby Phillips | Democratic | Savannah |
| 126 | Anne Mueller | Republican | Savannah |
| 127 | Roy L. Allen | Democratic | Savannah |
| 128 | Tom Triplett | Democratic | Savannah |
| 129 | George A. Chance, Jr. | Democratic | Springfield |
| 130 | Gerald E. Greene | Democratic | Cuthbert |
| 131 | Bob Hanner | Democratic | Dawson |
| 132 | John White | Democratic | Albany |
| 133 | Tommy Chambless | Democratic | Albany |
| 134 | Mary Young-Cummings | Democratic | Albany |
| 135 | Howard H. Rainey | Democratic | Cordele |
| 136 | Earleen Sizemore | Democratic | Sylvester |
| 137 | Paul S. Branch, Jr. | Democratic | Fitzgerald |
| 138 | Hentry Bostic | Democratic | Tifton |
| 139 | James C. Moore | Democratic | West Green |
| 140 | Ralph J. Balkcom | Democratic | Blakely |
| 141 | Walter E. Cox | Democratic | Bainbridge |
| 142 | Willis K. Long | Democratic | Cairo |
| 143 | Allen Sherrod | Democratic | Coolidge |
| 144 | Marcus E. Collins, Sr. | Democratic | Pelham |
| 145 | Hugh D. Matthews | Democratic | Moultrie |
| 146 | Hanson Carter | Democratic | Nashville |
| 147 | Henry L. Reaves | Democratic | Quitman |
| 148 | James M. Beck | Democratic | Valdosta |
| 149 | Robert L. Patten | Democratic | Lakeland |
| 150 | Tom Crosby, Jr. | Democratic | Waycross |
| 151 | Harry D. Dixon | Democratic | Waycross |
| 152 | Tommy R. Smith | Democratic | Alma |
| 153-1 | Lunsford Moody | Democratic | Baxley |
| 153-2 | Roger C. Byrd | Democratic | Hazlehurst |
| 154 | Joe E. Brown | Democratic | Hinesville |
| 155 | Norman "Shaw" McVeigh | Republican | Brunswick |
| 156 | Dean G. Auten | Republican | Brunswick |