Celebrating 70 years as Warner Robins

jclark@sunmulti.com

The City of Warner Robins celebrated its 70^thanniversary on March 5. With the anniversary came a party at the Wellston

Center.

In 1943, the “sleepy little town of Wellston” became Warner

Robins, said Gov. Nathan Deal in a video recording for the event.

The Wellston Center was packed with residents who spent the

morning recalling the good times that have shaped the city.

“Back then, I think they were worried it wouldn’t survive,”

said City Attorney Jim Elliott. “Although the military is a huge part of the

community, the city became more than just a military town.”

One of the residents present at the center said he was the

sixth doctor in town.

Dr. Dan Callahan moved to Warner Robins on Jan. 1, 1957, to

practice medicine, he said.

He said the city had around 3,000 people living in it at the

time. The 2010 Census has the population at 66,588.

Callahan was also the man that coined the phrase “Every Day

in Middle Georgia is Armed Forces Appreciation Day.” He said they have started

a movement to have “Every Day in the USA is Armed Forces Appreciation

Day.”

HHJ News