Trailblazers are the ones who make tomorrow a brighter place for those who follow them. In Gainesville and Hall County, trailblazers are professionals, business leaders, educators, politicians and more.
Here are some trailblazers in the area who have had their names and legacy stamped on our city’s landscape.
E. E. Butler Parkway
Before E.E. Butler became synonymous with a well traveled thoroughfare, the name belonged to a medical professional and the first African American school board member for the city of Gainesville. Dr. Emmett Etheridge Butler ended up in Gainesville in 1936 after completing his terminal medical degree. His goal was to provide proper medical care to the African American community. He was active in the community, organizing the Men's Progressive Club, serving as a deacon at St. John Baptist and on the Fair Street Athletic Association. The former E.E. Butler School was also named in his honor. Butler Parkway begins at Green and Academy Streets and ends at the intersection of 129 and I-985.
John W. Morrow Jr Parkway
Civic icon John Morrow was the first African American mayor of Gainesville in 1985. He also served his city on the Board of Education in 1957, and as one of the first African Americans on the board. He was elected to city council in 1978, and then became mayor in 1985. He passed away in office in 1996, and was succeeded by Myrtle Figueras. The four-lane roadway begins at Queen City Parkway and turns in to Dawsonville Highway.
Green Hunter Lane
This road once led to Green Hunter homes from Athens Street, as well as the Green Hunter Nursery, but it's now it's part of the Walton Summit apartment complex. The Reverend Green Hunter was a pivotal part in the organization of Hall County's African American churches, including Pleasant Hill, Cross Plain, Timberidge, St. John, Mount Zion and Wahoo. A proponent of education, he also founded the private Northwestern School for African-American children.
Frances Meadows Aquatic Center
The perfect place to splish and splash in Gainesville got its name from the first African American Hall County Commissioner. Before being elected in 1992, Willie Frances Jenkins Meadows was also the first African American employee to work at Gainesville College in 1969. Meadows served as a commissioner until her death in 2002. A scholarship was set up at what is now UNG in her memory as well. The aquatic center is a recreational water facility, including everything from indoor swimming pools to outdoor water slides, located on Community Way in Gainesville.
The Education Foundation and Beulah Rucker Museum
Beulah Rucker Oliver first shared her name with the Beulah Rucker Oliver Industrial School in Gainesville, which served African-American students. After she graduated teacher training in 1909, she worked many jobs to earn her own money, so she could establish a school. The industrial school was founded in 1914 at the location where the museum is now. Until it closed in the 1950's, the school changed with the times, including to an all-elementary school and a night school for veterans returning home from war. Knowing the value of a good education, Rucker continued to take college courses until she graduated from Savannah State College in 1944. The museum aims to preserve African American heritage in Gainesville and Hall County.
The Harper-Smith House
The little red brick home across from the Burger King on Athens Street was restored in 2015. Originally, it was the home of Professor W. J. Harper, the first African-American elementary school principal in the city of Gainesville. Later, it was owned by E.J. and Latrelle Smith, who also were passionate about education, and they willed the property to the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Now, the Harper-Smith House serves the church and a namesake non-profit, as well as being listed on the Local Historical Properties of Gainesville-Hall County registry.
Mattie Moon Scholarship - University of North Georgia
This scholarship for University of North Georgia students honors the legacy of educator Mattie Moon. Moon educated the students of Gainesville for 57 years, retiring in 1970. She held a Master's degree, is in the Georgia Association of Educators Hall of Fame, and was active in social clubs and committees. The scholarship was established by the Bridge Builders group following her death in 1986.
Grady Young Foundation and Scholarship
Lifelong Hall County resident Grady Young was known as a devoted Christian, who studied the religion and kept involved in his church community. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1942. The Foundation was created in 2004 in his memory to offer spiritual and financial support to the community, and offers several scholarships. The namesake scholarship is exclusively awarded to graduating Gainesville and Hall County seniors.
Blazing trails for future generations in Gainesville and Hall County
Red elephants have a few locations around the Gainesville City School District to remember special members of the herd. Enota Elementary students can still safely cross the street on the Jacob Wilmont Crosswalk, named after the locally famous crossing guard who served Gainesville City Schools for over 40 years; In 2015, Gainesville Parks and Recreation officials approved the renaming of the Gainesville Middle field in honor of Elbert L. Cabbell, a Fair Street High School coach who led the football team and the girls basketball team to state championships; the Amen Corner inside the new gym at the high school was dedicated in memory of former principal Chris Mance; and most every Gainesville driver recognizes Deshaun Watson Way, named for Gainesville High alumnus Deshaun Watson who now plays quarterback for the Houston Texans. In Hall County schools, the Channing Moss Fitness Center at West Hall High School celebrates the strength of the Army private and West Hall High School Spartan, who was injured in Afghanistan.
We used a variety of media to source our research, including the "Black America Series: Hall County, Georgia" book by Linda Rucker Hutchens and Ella J. Wilmont Smith, the Beulah Rucker Museum list of African American Achievers, officials with the Gainesville City School and Hall County School systems and news stories from our own archives. Individual-specific sources are linked in the trailblazer's profile.
