Shortly after the first national convention, the Atlanta Junior Chamber of Commerce was formed and became affiliated with the newly formed U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1936, the organization has spread throughout the state with a total of 14 chapters. These chapters formed the Georgia Junior Chamber of Commerce as a statewide organization.
The organization continued to prosper until the early 1940s when the war took many of the young men of Georgia away for several years. When they returned, they needed something to spend their time doing and the Jaycee organization became an integral part of many of there lives. June 9th, 1951, at the Miami National Convention, Lee Price Jr., of the Swainsboro Jaycees was elected as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Organization. He became Georgia’s first President of the Untied States Jaycees. The Georgia Junior Chamber of Commerce was now a strong, viable organization. The organization needed a State Headquarters to bring its members together to meet and carry out the business of the organization. In 1955, Perry Junior Chamber of Commerce was successful in their bid to sponsor their city as the future home of the Georgia Jaycees. On January 27, 1957, the building was dedicated as a monument to the many young men who had worked so diligently to spread Jayceeism throughout the State.
Through this new State Headquarters, the Organization’s prosperity and influence continued to grow, not only in the state of Georgia, but in the National Organization as well. For in 1962, Doug Blankenship of the Columbus Junior Chamber of Commerce was elected as the second National President from Georgia. At this time, the State Organization was divided into 14 Regions and had about 173 chapters. In 1969, the State was realigned forming 19 regions and in 1971, the roaring 20th Region came into being. In 1975, reorganization became the order of the day. That year the State was realigned forming 10 regions and 33 districts to be headed up by region and district directors and four state wide Vice Presidents to handle all programming areas. Also in that year, Bob Rushton from the Marietta chapter was elected as State President. He led the Georgia Jaycees to a double-up year and this organization ended the year with approximately 12,000 members and 154 new chapter extensions. The state of Georgia finished number 3 in the National Organization Parade of States. In June 1977, in Seattle, Washington, Bob Rushton was elected National Jaycee President, the third from the great state of Georgia. The state organization continued to prosper and train leaders and in 1979, a young man from Metter, Georgia, John David Miles, was elected President of the Georgia Jaycees. Under his leadership, the National Organization again recognized the Georgia Jaycees excellence as Georgia finished number 5 in the Parade of States. The 1982-83 Jaycee year was another record breaker. Under the leadership of Tommy Todd of Byron, the Georgia Jaycees grew by 3000 members and 144 new chapter extensions. This year the National Organization recognized the Georgia Jaycees as the best State Organization in the country and marched number 1 in the Parade of States. Again, the Georgia Jaycees leadership training proved to be successful for in June 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia, Tommy Todd was elected as Georgia’s fourth National President.
1984 was a year of excitement and change. On July 3, 1984, the United States Supreme Court decided that our Organization would be stronger with open membership. The U.S. Jaycees, on August 16th, in a called meeting of the board of directors the U.S. Jaycees changed its bylaws to allow open membership and on August 17th, 1984, the Georgia Jaycees signed its first female members. The changing of the National by-laws led to another important date in the history of the Georgia Jaycees. On November 18, 1984 the Georgia Jaycee women and the Georgia Jaycees united to form one organization.
As a 15 year Jaycee from Cochran, Ronny Smith arrived on the scene for the 1990-91 year, leading the Georgia Jaycees to a number 5 finish in the nation with growth in membership of over 1000. The 1991-92 State President Marilyn Meek, from the Snellville Jaycees, became the first woman to lead her state to a number 1 finish in the parade of states. During the 1992-93 year under President Randy Vick from the Athens Jaycees work was completed on State Headquarters with a new roof being added and the “Bubba Room” dedicated. During the 1993-94 year the Georgia Jaycees had a major by-laws revision and a record amount was donated to Dream under the leadership of Tricia Evert. During the 1994-95 Jaycee year Sujette Giddens from Fitzgerald was the State President. On Jekyll Island Tom Jordan was elected President to lead the Georgia Jaycees to the winner circle in 1995-96. A new telephone and computer system were installed at Headquarters as the President zoomed around the state. Trent Sanford from the Dalton Jaycees served as State President during the Change Team 1996-97 year. By-laws were introduced to reorganize the Georgia Jaycees. For the 1997-98 year Randy Patterson of the Cartersville Jaycees served as President.
When Lynn Larsen of the Americus Jaycees was sworn in as State President it was truly a year of change. She went on to serve the Georgia Jaycees for 18 months as the new calendar year went into effect. The President-Elect and trimester system went into effect and dues increase was voted in by the U.S. Jaycees. Marci Day of the Eatonton Jaycees defended the Creed for the 2000 year as State President. Ron Cowart of the Statesboro Jaycees was elected State President and rose to the challenge for the 2001 year. Alyson Swank of the Macon Jaycees made sure that everyone knew she was a “Believer” as the State President for the year 2002. Wendell Whitfield from the North Fulton Jaycees led the “PRIDE” Team to many new changes throughout the Organization in 2003. In started with a new chapter recognition program and ended with the largest realignment of districts and regions the Georgia Jaycees have seen to date. Wendell Whitfield was elected again in 2004 being the first Georgia State President to serve two terms and led the Georgia Jaycees to their first growth year since 1992. Beverly Hamby of the Woodstock Jaycees was elected as State President in 2005 and showed Georgia the “Modern Day Heroes” the Jaycees really are, continuing the growth in Georgia.
At the present time, the State Organization is divided into 3 regions with 29 chapters. There are approximately 1085 members throughout the state involved taking advantage of the opportunities the Jaycees have to offer in personal development through Community Service. This organization has enjoyed a fruitful history, and with the continued support of the young men and women throughout the state, its future will be assured. Its’ members are dedicated and determined to make the Georgia Jaycees the organization of choice for all between the ages of 18 and 40.