Perry’s Own Iron Lady, Barbara C. Calhoun

Larry Walker | lwalker@whgmlaw.com

 

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Prime

Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 through 1990, famous for her

uncompromising politics and leadership style, became known by the British

people as the Iron Lady.

Barbara Cunningham Calhoun, Mayor of Perry from 1980 through

Dec. 31, 1984, also known for her uncompromising politics and leadership style,

is Perry’s own Iron Lady. 

Barbara Calhoun was born in Lincoln County in 1929. She

attended the Lincolnton public schools until the death of her father when she

was a senior in high school. Because of relatives in Houston County, she moved

to Kathleen and graduated from Bonaire High School in 1946. After advanced work

at a secretarial school in Macon, she went to work at Robins Air Force Base in

1947, starting as a secretary and retiring in 1973 as a programmer.

In 1975, Barbara ran for the Perry City Council, but was not

successful. But, taking advantage of Dot Roughton’s Council resignation to run

a garbage compaction business, she ran again and was elected in 1975, serving

five years on Perry’s City Council.

When asked by me about her decision to seek the Mayor’s job,

Mrs. Calhoun replied: “I didn’t start out to be Mayor, but some things did not

go like I thought they should, so I decided to run. The first time I ran, I didn’t

have opposition, but the second time I had two opponents, and defeated both of

them.” Mayor Calhoun served in this capacity from June 4, 1980 to Dec. 31,

1984.  The Mayor’s term in those

days was two years.

Interestingly, Margaret Thatcher was elected as a member of

the Parliament in 1975 and served in this capacity until 1990.  Thus, Britain’s “Iron Lady” and Perry’s

“Iron Lady” had somewhat overlapping careers. 

I’ve labeled Barbara Calhoun as Perry’s “Iron Lady.” How do

I know, and why do I say this? I was in the State Legislature during the time

of Calhoun’s Mayor tenure, and worked closely with her on joint efforts to put

the Ag Center in Perry. Also, our law firm was attorney for the City of Perry,

I was active in this responsibility, and in working with her, I found her to be

candid, straightforward, a hard worker and a no-nonsense person. I liked her

very much, and I respected her leadership style.

I remember vividly the first time I talked with Calhoun

about the possibility of locating the Georgia National Agricenter in Perry. She

immediately gave her personal commitment of support and her pledge to work in

securing Perry’s Council support, which she obtained, unanimously.

My recollection is that the City of Perry put $575,000 of

its citizens’ money and Houston County appropriated a like-amount (with the

substantial support of Commissioner Arthur A. White Jr.) enabling the city and

county to offer “free land” to the state if the decision was made by the state to

put the facility in Perry. This was essential to the Ag Center’s being located

in Perry, and Calhoun’s early commitment of support was instrumental in the

monies from both political bodies being put into the project. 

I’ve called Calhoun a person who was frank and

straight-forward. This little anecdote supports my learned assessment. The

so-called Equal Rights Amendment was a ‘hot item’ in the Georgia General

Assembly. Even though I had mixed feelings on the subject, given the fact that

my mail (I received more on this subject than any during my 32-year tenure)

literally ran nine to one against, I made it known that I would not support the

proposed amendment. Some of my female legislative friends in Atlanta, upon

learning that Perry had a female Mayor, decided to elicit Calhoun’s support in

an effort to force me to vote in the affirmative. This is what one of my female

friends related to me. When the group contacted Mayor Calhoun, her terse

response, in typical Calhoun fashion, was “I’m not for that damned thing

myself!” That ended their efforts at gaining my vote.

For those who don’t know Barbara Calhoun, I’m concerned that

my portrayal of her does not reflect the warm, fine, fun person that she was

and is.  Those who know her will

tell you about her long love affair with her husband, John Blue Calhoun (who

was a Perry High School graduate and played on Perry High’s 1947 State

Championship basketball team). And, they will tell you about Barbara and John

Blue, who had no children, taking Barbara’s deceased sister’s son, Leon Watson,

when he was 11, and raising him to be a fine man and a fine citizen. And, they

will recount to you how devastated Barbara was when John Blue died in 2006.

I asked Barbara where she got her toughness, steel, if you

will, and she replied, “I was raised that way.” Then, she told me that her

father was a lumberman (that explains a great deal!) who died in 1945, and that

her mother worked for the school system as head of dining facilities (and that

explained more).

I’m near the end, and I have not related that Barbara

Cunningham Calhoun is Perry’s only female Mayor.  Actually, while significant, it’s probably not very

important. What is important is that Barbara Cunningham Calhoun was one of

Perry’s most effective mayors. She got the job done in an honest,

straight-forward and humble way. She was what a public servant should be.

Of course, no mayor serves without his or her council. So,

let me list those who served with Barbara during her tenure. They were: Dr.

James R. Bloodworth, Henry A. Dawkins, C. Ralph Gentry, James B. Hendrix,

Thomas R. Mayo, George F. Nunn Jr., H. E. Smith and T. Draper Watson.

I respect Barbara Calhoun. I enjoyed working with her. I

like her very much. I’m glad that fate, luck, or whatever you want to call it,

sent her to us and made Perry the beneficiary of her good work. Yes, Perry’s Iron

Lady. 

Next week: Meticulous Mayor Meeks Does Fine Job

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