Friday March 29th, 2024 7:55AM

Legislators, Banks County pause to honor Clerk of Court Tim Harper

HOMER – Banks County Clerk of Court Tim Harper got the surprise of his professional life Thursday afternoon when he unknowingly arrived as the guest of honor at a ceremony in his honor.

State Sen. John Wilkinson and District 28 Rep. Chris Erwin honored Harper for his many years of service to the county and beyond.

“I have never been so surprised,” Harper said. “I was thinking I was coming to the commissioners’ office for a meeting and I walked in and I still didn’t know what was going on until I saw Chris and John, so it’s a great surprise.”

Both Wilkinson and Erwin presented Harper with resolutions honoring outstanding public service.

Harper, who first was elected in 1993, was awarded the 2018 Stetson F. Bennett Superior Court Clerk of the Year Award by the Superior Court Clerks’ Association of Georgia in recognition of his leadership and dedication.

“We’re very, very proud of one of our citizens and also very lucky to have him in our community and what he does,” Erwin said. “We’re blessed in this county, this district, this part of the state, to be represented by this gentleman and the service he provides here and the difference he makes for this community.”

Speaking directly to Harper, Erwin said, “You consistently devote an unmeasurable amount of hours and time to your service for your community. Your talents, your energies are all focused on bettering this community, Tim, and that means a lot to us and it’s meant a lot in the past.”

Erwin also discussed Harper’s other accolades and service outside the county.

“He also received the 2017 Constitutional Officer of the Year for the state of Georgia,” Erwin said. “He was appointed by Gov. Kemp to serve on the Superior Court Clerks’ Retirement Board. He served as president of the Superior Court Clerks Association from 2015 to 2017 and serves as president of the Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia and that started in 2018 and 2019.”

But not all the recognition had to do with Harper’s work in the court system.

“He has been the Voice of the Leopards for 25 years,” Erwin said, which drew applause from the roughly 75 people in attendance.

“Anywhere you go in the state of Georgia, when you mention Tim Harper’s name people say, ‘we know Tim Harper’,” Sheriff Carlton Speed said. “Tim Harper is well respected. He represents Banks County above and beyond. He is a super, super guy. You can call him anytime, day or night, and he’ll do anything in the world for you. Not only is he the clerk of court, I consider Tim Harper a friend – and he’s a friend to a lot of people.”

David Collins, pastor at Homer United Methodist Church, also had words of praise for Harper and his service to the community.

“I can tell you that Tim is more than just a clerk,” Collins said. “He’s a resource officer for anything and everything you need. He cares about people.”

Piedmont Circuit Superior Court Judge Wayne D. McLocklin said he has benefited by the way Harper runs the clerk’s office.

“It’s important that everyone knows how dedicated Tim is to the people of Banks County, to the courts,” McLocklin said. “The clerk of court’s office is just run in a very, very efficient manner, but more than that it’s run by Tim with a servant’s heart. He’s always trying to help everybody that comes in there and run the clerk’s office in a way that benefits the people of Banks County.”

Athens-Clarke County Clerk of Court Beverly Logan and retired Elbert County Clerk of Court Pam Anderson were among those who spoke during the brief ceremony.  

Commission Chairman Jimmy Hooper, Commissioner David Duckett, Coroner and friend Mark Savage and others also spoke, some with humorous stories about Harper.

“To have all my family and my friends and our judges here is just a huge honor and I appreciate it,” Harper said.

Harper and his wife Judy have been married for 19 years.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Business News, Local/State News, Politics, Georgia News
  • Associated Tags: Banks County, Sen. John Wilkinson, Rep. Chris Erwin, Clerk of Court Tim Harper, Banks County Clerk of Court's Office
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