Tom Triplett, Savannah-area political leader, dies at 71

<p>Tom Triplett, a leading figure in Chatham County politics for more than three decades, has died. He was 71.</p><p>Triplett, who died Friday of cancer, served 18 years in the state House. Before that, he served as a member of the Savannah-Chatham County School Board and as a Port Wentworth mayor and councilman.</p><p>A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Rincon, a spokeswoman for Thomas C Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes said.</p><p>Triplett chaired the House Transportation Committee. Later, he served for a decade on the State Transportation Board.</p><p>Friends and former colleagues said the North Carolina native was a quiet, effective leader who helped develop transportation in southeastern Georgia.</p><p>"He hauled transportation money into Chatham County by the truckload," said WTOC-TV anchor Sonny Dixon, who succeeded Triplett in his old House seat. "A lot of what used to be two-lane pig trails become four-lane highways on his watch."</p><p>The county named a park for him on U.S. 80 in Pooler and named a section of Georgia 21 the Tom Triplett Parkway.</p><p>"He knew every road and side street in Savannah," said U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga, who also served with Triplett in the state House. Kingston said Triplett "was respected all over the state as an expert and tireless advocate for roads. As our senior member, he was 'in' with the 'in crowd.' "</p><p>Many credit Triplett with shepherding the transportation network that led to growth in west Chatham.</p><p>"He pushed the buttons and got it done," said Ed Feiler, a local businessman and Democratic party activist. "He quietly got the job done and let other people get the credit."</p><p>"Truly, Tom Triplett laid the foundation for that," state Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, said of the ongoing westside boom.</p><p>Triplett's principal full-time job was with Citizens & Southern National Bank, from which he retired after a 34-year career.</p><p>Recently, he was a field representative for former U.S. Rep. Max Burns, R-Ga.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1d0113c)</p>