As we commemorate the U.S. at 250, this year’s Gala theme is inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s 1816 letter to John Adams, in which the two Founders mused on what America would become: “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” Join the Georgia Historical Society (GHS), Office of the Governor, and leaders from across our state as we induct the 2026 Georgia Trustees, Saxby Chambliss, attorney and former United States Senator, and Chris Womack, Chairman, President, and CEO of Southern Company.
This elegant, much-anticipated evening will include cocktails, dinner, and an inspiring conversation with the inductees—two exemplary Georgians whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ philosophy of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, "Not for Self, but for Others.”
Save the Date
The 2026 Trustees Gala - April 18, 2026
In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reestablished the Georgia Trustees as a way of recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees.
Introducing
Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss served in the United States Senate for two terms and, before that, served four terms in the US House of Representatives. Born in Warrenton, North Carolina, he received a BBA from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of Tennessee.
Senator Chambliss was working as an attorney in Moultrie when he was first elected to Congress to represent Georgia's 8th District in 1994. Throughout his legislative career, he was recognized numerous times by the public and private sectors for his work on agriculture, defense, budget, and national security issues.
Chambliss was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. During his two terms, he served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He also served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, chairing the committee in 2005-2006. He was one of the first senators since 1947 to chair a full standing Senate committee after serving in the chamber for just two years.
Chambliss has been awarded the American Farm Bureau’s Golden Plow Award, the National Wheat Growers Association’s Wheat Advocate Award, and the National Cotton Council’s Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award. He has also been named to the National 4-H Hall of Fame, the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame. The University of Georgia launched the Senator Saxby Chambliss Leadership Forum in 2015.
Chris Womack
Chris Womack is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Southern Company, one of the nation’s leading energy providers. Prior to his current role, Womack served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Georgia Power, Southern Company’s largest subsidiary. Womack joined Southern Company in 1988.
Prior to joining Southern Company, Womack worked in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served as a legislative aide for former Congressman Leon E. Panetta and as staff director for the Subcommittee on Personnel and Police for the Committee on House Administration.
Womack is vice chair of the Edison Electric Institute's board of directors, second vice chair of the board of directors of Electric Power Research Institute, and vice chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority. He is past chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the East Lake Foundation, and has chaired or served as a member of the boards of the Atlanta Convention of Visitors Bureau, Communities in Schools of Georgia, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
A native of Greenville, Alabama, Womack holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree from The American University and completed the Stanford Executive Program in 2001. He received 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award from Western Michigan, the Let Us Make Man Community Service Award in 2019, the National Award of Merit from Alpha Phi Alpha in 2011, the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award in 2010, and the Black Enterprise/Porsche Intelligent Performers Award in 2010.
Thank you to the Georgia History Festival sponsors and Host Committee for supporting the educational mission and year-round programming of the Georgia Historical Society!
2025-2026
Georgia History Festival Sponsors &
Host Committee
1733
Trustee
Festival
Oglethorpe
Presenting
Platinum
Gold
Foundations and Institutions
Williams Family Foundation of Georgia, Inc.
2025-2026 Georgia History Festival Host Committee
Oglethorpe
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cathy
Diane vS. and Robert M. Levy
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Menear
Benefactor
Mr. and Mrs. F. Duane Ackerman
The Honorable and Mrs. Roy E. Barnes
Mr. and Mrs. Francis S. Blake
Ms. Stephanie V. Blank
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Cooper
Mr. and Mrs. Beverly M. DuBose III
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Harlander
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Hertz
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Holder
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Irby
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Kole
Mrs. Betsy Lancaster
Mr. and Mrs. Angus Littlejohn
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Morris, Jr.
Mr. Sunny K. Park
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rabinowitz
Mrs. Rosaleen R. Roxburgh
Mr. and Mrs. Mark V. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Austin P. Sullivan
Mr. and Mrs. Neal Sumter
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Thompson
Mr. Clyde C. Tuggle and Ms. Mary M. Streett
Mr. and Mrs. Don L. Waters
The Thurston Group
Patron
Dr. and Mrs. Sidney J. Bolch III
Mr. and Mrs. F. Reed Dulany III
Mr. Bob Faircloth
Chair
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin S. Blair
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Blanchard
Mr. Mark L. Burns
Mrs. Frank Cheatham
Mr. and Mrs. Erroll B. Davis, Jr.
Mr. Washington Dender
Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goodman
Mrs. Venessa Harrison and Mr. Charles Harrison
Ms. Julie Hunt
Mrs. Kimberly Greene and Mr. Ted Greene
Mr. and Mrs. Keith W. Mason
Dr. and Mrs. William T. Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. O’Connor
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Price
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Reilly
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Rogers
Mr. William Sprague III
Mr. and Mrs. Kessel D. Stelling, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Wilheit, Sr.
Member
Mr. and Mrs. John G. “Jimmy” Alston, Sr.
Mr. Todd Baiad and the
Honorable Anne Allen Westbrook
Mr. and Mrs. W. Paul Bowers
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cay
Mrs. Vincent J. Dooley
Mr. Kyle Dwyer
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Iocovozzi
Mr. and Mrs. Phil Jacobs
Mrs. Robert O. Levitt
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Marchese
Mr. Frederick L. Muller
Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Nalley
Mr. and Mrs. David Paddison
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan B. Pannell
Mr. and Mrs. Jason C. Pedigo
Ms. Swann Seiler
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Solomons, Jr.
Ms. Elizabeth Stribling and Mr. Guy Robinson
Mr. and Mrs. R. Bartley Turner
Dr. Robert Zerbe
For information on how your company can become a Corporate Sponsor of the Georgia History Festival or to join the Host Committee please contact Ashley Rainge-Shields or 912.651.2125, ext. 116.