September 4, 1752

1752 Officially, this day did not exist in Georgia. See Sept. 3 entry for the reason.

September 4, 1836

1836 Prominent lawyer, Georgia politician, and businessman Henry McDaniel was born in Monroe, Georgia. Graduating from Mercer University in 1856, he studied law for a year before being admitted to the bar. Practicing law in Monroe at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, McDaniel joined an infantry regiment as a lieutenant, eventually being promoted to major. In 1863, he was wounded in battle, captured, and sent to a Union prison for the remainder of the war. After the war, he resumed the practice of law. Serving as a delegate in the constitutional convention of 1865, McDaniel was elected to the General Assembly, where he served two years in the House and eight years in the Senate. On the death of Gov. Alexander Stephens in 1883, McDaniel was elected to fill his unexpired term, and then reelected for a full two-year term in 1884. After serving as governor, McDaniel resumed the practice of law. At the same time, he invested wisely and became very wealthy. He served on the board of directors of a variety of businesses and financial institutions, as well as the board of trustees of the University of Georgia. In 1826, he died at age 90 at his home in Walton.

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September 4, 1864

1864 Sherman decided not to pursue the remnants of Hoods’s forces south of Atlanta. Instead, he issued Special Field Order No. 64, which included a directive that his troops were to receive "a full month’s rest, with every chance to organize, receive pay, replenish clothing, and prepare for a fine winter’s campaign." Sherman also issued a special order to the remaining citizens of Atlanta: "The city of Atlanta being exclusively required for warlike purpose will be at once vacated by all except the armies of the United States, and such civilians as may be retained."

September 4, 1883

Georgia cities and towns incorporated by acts approved on Sept. 4: 1883 Bowersville (Hart County) and Raccoon Mills (Chattooga County)

September 4, 1885

Georgia cities and towns incorporated by acts approved on Sept. 4:1885 Austell (Cobb County)

September 4, 1907

1907 Newspaper publisher and former Georgia governor Marvin Griffin was born in Bainbridge, Georgia. In the early 1930s, he took over the family-run weekly Bainbridge newspaper, the Post-Searchlight. Griffin rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel during World War II, afterwards serving as Gov. Ellis Arnall’s adjutant-general (1944-47). In 1948, he was elected to the office of lieutenant governor, and reelected in 1950. In 1954, he ran for governor on a platform to preserve "Georgia’s two greatest traditions--segregation and the County Unit system." During his administration, spending for education expanded greatly, new roads built, and Stone Mountain purchased by the state. But Griffin is perhaps best remembered for his 1956 campaign of "massive resistance" to integration after the two Brown v. Board of Education decisions. Legislation was enacted to close down Georgia’s public schools and institute state support of private schools if the federal government attempted to desegregate Georgia schools. Unable to succeed himself for a second term, Griffin ran again for governor 1962, though losing to Carl Sanders. Afterwards, Griffin announced that he was retiring from politics for reasons of health--"the voters were sick and tired of me." He then returned to publishing his family newspaper until his death in 1982.

September 4, 1932

1932 Former University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley was born in Mobile, Alabama. As a youth, he excelled at basketball. In high school, he made the football team, but initially spent most of his time sitting on the bench. Later, called on to fill the quarterback role, his team won the city championship in 1949. Recruited by Auburn to play both basketball and football, he was chosen as a College All-Star in 1954. After graduation, Dooley became Auburn’s freshman football coach. In November 1963, Auburn head basketball coach Joel Eaves was hired by University of Georgia president O. C. Aderhold to turn the Georgia football program around. Eaves stunned everyone the next month when he offered the job of head football coach to Vince Dooley, who was then Auburn freshman football coach. In the following two decades, the Georgia football program became one of the best in the nation, winning the national championship in 1980. After retiring as head football coach, Dooley was named University of Georgia athletic director, a post he still holds.

September 4, 1976

1976 Responding to Jimmy Carter’s statement that if elected president he would delay social programs to balance the budget, Georgia fifth district Congressman Andrew Young told reporters that "is one of the things we’ll have to fight about." Apparently, any fighting that followed was friendly, for Carter later appointed Young as U.S ambassador to the United Nations.

September 4, 1985

1985 In ceremonies on the northeast corner of Georgia’s state capitol, Georgia officially celebrated the centennial of the laying of the capitol’s marble cornerstone on Sep. 2, 1885. [Scheduling conflicts forced the observance to be held two days late.] In attendance were Gov. and Mrs. Harris, Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, Secretary of State Max Cleland, and Atlanta historian Franklin Garrett. Atlanta Masonic officials also were present to rededicate the cornerstone using Masonic rituals that their predecessors used a century earlier. A parade around the capitol and a "marble" birthday cake completed the commemoration.