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'Mr. Tourism' Bill Hardman dies
8I0P Bill Hardman pic
Hardman

Billy Thompson Hardman, 87, the man affectionally known as Mr. Tourism died Saturday, Oct. 18, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness.

I honestly dont know if there are enough kind words in the English language to describe Bill Hardman, said Dawson County Chamber President, Christie Haynes. He was the first Chamber member to take me to lunch once I arrived in Dawsonville, and he has been an ardent supporter of our community, our Chamber, and all of our tourism efforts. He was a man who put a smile on the face of everyone who came in contact with him.

He was the first tourism director of the state of Georgia, remaining in the job for 12 years. During his time in that position he built the states first welcome centers, launched an advertising program inviting people to visit the state, and promoted Georgia throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Hardman left state government in 1970 and went on the found Hardman Productions, which conducted travel and RV trade shows

and other events.

It was also in the early 70s that he was hired to lobby the state legislature to appropriate $30 million to build the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. There were many in the legislature who wanted the facility in their congressional districts.

Hardman was active in tourism on the national stage as well as in Georgia. He was the first president of the Southern Travel Directors Council. He chaired the Travel Industry Association of America, now the U.S. Travel Association, serving on the board for an unprecedented 40-plus years.

He conducted the nations first Governors Conference on Tourism and created the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) in 1983.

STS is still going strong. The organization grew from seven to 12 states, and began a Marketing College for professional development that meets every summer in Dahlonega.

Bill and his wife Dorothy were married for 52 years. She passed away in 2000, and Bill married Helen Fincher, also a Georgia tourism professional, in 2006.

Hardman was born June 5, 1926, in Colbert, Ga., served in the U.S. Merchant Marines in World War II and attended Piedmont College and Mercer University.

Hardman is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter Mary Escoe, Cumming; son Bill Jr., Atlanta; sister, Margie Bramlett; Winterville; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2 p.m. at Dahlonega United Methodist Church.

Editor/Publisher Kimberly Boim contributed to this report.

Community Events
6 variances approved by board
7ESN Screen shot 2015 09 22 at 1.30.11 PM
BOC

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners Thursday said yes to six of seven variances that will bring Dawson Marketplace one step closer to reality.

"Dawson Marketplace wants to vary from the stipulations given to them by the Board of Commissioners in 2007," Rachel Burton, director of planning and zoning for Dawson County said.

Documents indicate Dawson Marketplace approved variances include:

varying the minimum setback from the right-of-way for Georgia 400 to 90 feet from 100 feet; vary the building facade composition from 80 percent to 50 percent; varying the maximum number of off-street parking spaces to one per 50 square feet of gross floor space; varying the number of monument signs from one to five; varying signage for multi-tenant buildings from two to one and allowing for minor signs, and varying the screening of mechanical equipment from the street for only rear facades facing Lumpkin Campground Road.

The board denied the variance for wall signage with the stipulation that it could be addressed at a later date.

Separately, the board approved two agenda items pertaining to the Margie Weaver Senior Center: a request to hold a raffle and an addendum to the FY 2016 Legacy Link contract.

"Dawson County contracts with Legacy Link each year for our meal service for our seniors," Senior Centor Director Dawn Pruett said. "They are our facilitator for funding for state and federal grants. We are in a district with Hall, Lumpkin, Forsyth and a few others. This is an addendum to the contract that was originally approved months ago."

In other county business, the following requests passed by unanimous vote:

Dawson County Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond was granted approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Grant. Each county in Georgia is required to update their hazard mitigation plan and have it approved by GEMA and FEMA. By doing so, Dawson would be eligible for federal and state funding in the event of a disaster declaration. The total amount is $24,000 ($18,000 federal, $2,400 state, $3,600 county in-kind).

"The grant allows us to be eligible for funding in the event of an emergency like we had last February with the ice," Thurmond said.

Lori VanSickle and Duane Wallace were appointed to the Dawson County Library Board by the commissioners, replacing Kay Black and Eydie Stegall, respectively. VanSickle brings twenty years of leadership and management experience to the board. Wallace has been a licensed counselor for nearly fifteen years both professionally and in a volunteer capacity.

October has been proclaimed 'Clean Water Month' and Dawson County citizens are encouraged to participate in "Imagine A Day Without Water" Oct. 6-8. Other observances include River Clean-up Oct. 14 and Shore Sweep for Lake Lanier Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at War Hill Park.

Separately, the issue of a new fire station was addressed on behalf of Sandra Bryan, a resident of Rainbow Lake Dr. Bryan's residence received a fire rating of 10 due to its considerable distance from a fire station. The implication for those who receive a rating of 10 is higher insurance costs.

Anybody that is beyond five road miles from any of Dawson County's eight fire stations is classified as a ten, according to Thurmond.

"When and if we build a fire station at the Etowah water tank on Elliott Family Parkway, Ms. Bryan would be within the limits," Thurmond said. "We have property, but we don't have funds."

The Board will meet next on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the Assembly Room of the Dawson Government Center, 25 Justice Way at 4 p.m.