Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following executive appointments. Brief biographies are provided below:

911 Advisory Council
Ricky M. Harlowe, 50, Warner Robins, 911 Management Representative –- Harlowe is the director of Houston County E-911. He serves as vice president of the Georgia National Emergency Number Association and is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officers, the Emergency Management Association of Georgia and the Georgia 911 Directors Association. Harlowe is a graduate of the Georgia Police Academy and has completed 1,507 hours of training through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards Training Council. He and his wife, Gail, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Kelly S. Spratt, 40, Darien, Municipal Representative – Spratt is currently mayor of the city of Darien and owner of Open Gates Bed & Breakfast. She serves as a member of the McIntosh County Board of Health, the Georgia DNR Coastal Advisory Council and on the Board of Directors for the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center. She is also a member of the Professional Association of Innkeepers. Spratt earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Georgia Southern University. She and her husband, Jeff, have two children.

Helen L. Stone, 52, Savannah, County Representative – Stone serves on the Chatham County Board of Commissioners representing District 1. She is a member of the board of managers for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Savannah. Stone chaired the Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals. She served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Planning Association and was a member of the Tybee Island Beach Task Force. Stone earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Marshall, have two children.

Tullie M. Warren, 55, Union City, Landline Representative – Warren is a 911 solutions sales engineer for AT&T. She received her Emergency Number Professional certification from the National Emergency Number Association. Warren earned an associate’s degree from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Michael, have one grown child and two grandchildren.

Board of Early Care and Learning
Elizabeth J. Ragsdale, Ed.D., 68, Albany, Second Congressional District Representative — Ragsdale retired from Darton College as chair of the division of humanities and learning support and has experience teaching kindergarten, middle school, high school and post-secondary levels. She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and is a graduate of Leadership Albany. She is also a weekly volunteer at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Ragsdale earned a bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College, a master’s degree from Georgia State University and a doctoral degree from Florida State University. She and her husband, Tom, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Tazwell “Taz” L. Anderson, Jr., 69, Atlanta – Anderson is chairman and general manager of Taz Anderson Realty Company and founder of Taz Media Group. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and was named to the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He serves as head of team marketing for the 2008 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and is a member of the Hall of Fame nominating committee. Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He and his wife, Gregory, have three children and three grandchildren.

State Board for the Certification of Librarians
Hasseltine “Tena” N. Roberts, 69, Macon, Library Trustee – Roberts is retired from Wesleyan College. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Middle Georgia Regional Library and is a member of the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Historic Macon Foundation and Daughters of the American Revolution. She is also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Macon Service League and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan College and a master’s degree from Florida State University.

State Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Garland Thompson, 80, Douglas, Group V Representative (REAPPOINTMENT) – Thompson retired as senior vice president of Trust Company Bank of Coffee County. He is a supervisor for the Altamaha Soil & Water Conservation District. He has been named to the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame, as well as the Georgia Conservation Hall of Fame. He has received numerous awards, including Humanitarian Award from East Central Technical College, Excellence in Community Service Award from Daughters of the American Revolution and being named Volunteer of the Year by Douglas and Coffee County. Thompson earned an associate’s degree from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Anita, have four grown children.