LEADERSHIP GEORGIA ANNOUNCES 2017 AWARD WINNERS
Hall County, Jekyll Island and Atlanta Leaders to be Honored in November
(ATLANTA, Ga)- Leadership Georgia, one of the nation’s oldest and most successful leadership development
programs for community leaders, recently announced its 2017 award recipients. Due to their dedicated service to the
state of Georgia, three Leadership Georgia alumni have been selected as the winners of the J.W. Fanning, E. Dale
Threadgill Community Service, and Frederick B. Kerr Service awards.
The J.W. Fanning Award is given to an individual whose statewide contributions through progressive leadership and
service have been broad in scope and rich in achievement. The E. Dale Threadgill Community Service Award is
presented to members who have taken the principles learned in Leadership Georgia and put them to work in their
communities. The Frederick B. Kerr Service Award honors a member who has demonstrated enthusiastic and active
support of Leadership Georgia on a continuing and consistent basis.
This year’s award ceremony will mark Leadership Georgia’s 8th Annual Gala. The Gala will take place on November
3rd at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Ga.
THE 2017 LEADERSHIP GEORGIA AWARD WINNERS
J.W. Fanning Award- R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr.
Charles Loudermilk founded Aaron Rents, the leader in lease
ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, house appliances and
electronics, back in 1967 and now has stores all throughout the U.S.
and Canada. Due to his hard work with Aaron Rents and continued
support of communities throughout the state, Loudermilk was awarded
Association of Progressive Rental Organization’s 2008 Lifetime
Achievement Award, named Business to Business 2008 Philanthropist
of the Year, and the Buckhead Triangle Park was renamed Charles
Loudermilk Park in his honor. In addition to his role as an Atlanta
business leader, over the years Loudermilk has donated over $17
million to local charities and causes. Some of these charitable
offerings include donations to his alma mater, the University of North
Carolina, and the donation of three homes for homeless children in
Demorest. Loudermilk plays an active role in a number of civic and
community organizations, including founder and past chairman of the
Buckhead Coalition, former board member and member of the Atlanta
Rotary Club, a member of the Piedmont Hospital Foundation Board,
and more. Currently, Loudermilk lives in Atlanta and serves as the owner of The Buckhead Theatre and spends his
time committed to the preservation of the Theatre’s splendid architecture and historical legacy.
E. Dale Threadgill Community Service Award – Dixie Truelove
Dixie Truelove is a Hall County native renowned for her dedication to educating the public of the importance of
agriculture in our country and within our community through leading the operations of her family farm. A graduate of
the University of Georgia, Truelove continues to serve the school while on the
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science Board of Directors.
Community service is of utmost importance to Truelove, as shown through her
involvement in various statewide organizations. She currently serves as the
President of the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, and as a board member of Elachee
Nature Science Center, Gainesville-Hall 96 and Brenau University. She is past
president of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County, WomenSource, and
past chair of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. As an active member of
Leadership Georgia, Truelove acted as a Program Chair and Trustee in addition
to being a member of the class of 2004. Fellow LGA members describe
Truelove as living, loving and laboring for Leadership Georgia. Truelove has
gone above and beyond to take the principles she learned in Leadership
Georgia and put them to work in her community. Along with her husband Mike
Smith, who is President and CEO of SteelCell of North America, Truelove is an
active member of Bethel United Methodist Church.
Frederick B. Kerr Service Award – Jones Hooks
With experience in both the public and private sectors, on local, state and international levels, Jones Hooks has an
extensive leadership background. His established resume includes a position
on Capitol Hill with Congressman Ronald “Bo” Ginn, working as Director of the
Kings Bay Impact Coordinating Committee, heading the Albany (Georgia)
Chamber of Commerce and serving as President/CEO of the Hamptons Roads
Economic Development Alliance (HREDA). As part of the Leadership Georgia
Class of 1984 and a Program Chair in 1985, Hooks stood out for always being
eager to help and truly understanding the importance of LGA. He received the
Edward A. Freeman Outstanding Alumni Award from the Leadership Albany
Foundation in 1991, and in 2001 was awarded the Courage in Leadership
Award by Leadership Hampton Roads. Hooks currently serves as Executive
Director of the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA), providing consistent support each
time Leadership Georgia classes visit the island. Due to his noteworthy
leadership in Georgia over the years, Hooks was named an Honorary Life
Member of the Georgia State Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America.
Together with his wife Stephanie, Hooks has two married sons and five
grandchildren.
