Preston in Webster County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Walter F. George
1878-1957
Photographed By David Seibert, circa November 1992
1. Walter F. George Marker
Walter F. George was born 1.5 miles north in a sharecropper's cabin. George was a teacher near Preston, then a lawyer and judge. From the Georgia Supreme Court he ran for the unexpired term of Senator Thomas E. Watson in 1922. George served 34 years in the U.S. Senate and was member of 12 committees and chaired five. He chaired the Senate Finance Committee and guided legislation to finance W.W. II. As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee he pushed for lend-lease legislation that kept U.S. allies strong in W.W. IIOne of Senator George's toughest re-election campaigns was in 1938. He had opposed some of President Roosevelt's New Deal policies and F.D.R. strongly supported his opponent Lawrence Camp. George defeated both Camp and Eugene Talmadge.
Senator George never forgot his rural roots and supported rural legislation such as REA and TV/A. Throughout his career he returned to Preston and delivered speeches at the courthouse. Senator George was appointed as special ambassador to NATO by President Eisenhower after retiring from the senate in 1956.
Erected 1983 by Georgia Department
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Former U.S. Presidents: #34 Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the Georgia Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 32° 3.963′ N, 84° 32.217′ W. Marker is in Preston, Georgia, in Webster County. Marker is on Hamilton Street (U.S. 280) 0 miles east of Washington Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the grounds of the Webster County Courthouse, in Preston. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6330 Hamilton Street, Preston GA 31824, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Webster County (a few steps from this marker); First Confederate Flag Raising in Georgia (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); Lannahassee (within shouting distance of this marker); Archery, Georgia (approx. 6.1 miles away); Jimmy Carter's Boyhood Farm / From Here To Plains (approx. 6.6 miles away); Jimmy Carter Slept Here (approx. 6.6 miles away); Always a Reckoning (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Preston.
More about this marker. The marker originally stood at the intersection with Cass Street (Georgia Highway 41) at the southeast corner of the courthouse square, but has been moved to the front of the courthouse.
Photographed By David Seibert, June 19, 2012
2. Walter F. George Marker in its new location
Photographed By David Seibert, June 19, 2012
3. Walter F. George Marker
Photographed By David Seibert, June 19, 2012
4. Walter F. George Marker
The Webster County Courthouse, built in 1915, is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,282 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on June 24, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Photos: 1. submitted on September 22, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 24, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
