Terrell County Commission Chair Wilbur T. Gamble Jr. saying farewell after 48 years

DAWSON — Terrell County residents will soon see the end of an era when their commission chairman, Wilbur T. Gamble Jr., a life-long resident of the county, moves on from his post on the commission after 48 years.

His son, attorney T. Gamble, will take his place following the younger Gamble’s victory over Larry Faust in the Nov. 8 election. T. Gamble put his hat in the ring after his father made the decision not to run for a 13th term.

“I was very pleased with that,” the outgoing chair said of the election results. “I didn’t encourage him to run, but I did tell him I wouldn’t (run).”

The elder Gamble, now 82, first ran for office in 1968, at which time there were only three seats on the Terrell County Commission. One sitting commissioner died, and the other two decided not to run, opening all the seats on the board.

Gamble’s primary occupation at the time was farming, and he had worked for several years as a school bus driver. A position in the public eye was a new experience for him.

“I had never held a public office of any type,” he said.

Of all the ways in which he could have served his community, there was a reason Gamble opted to run for the commission.

“I was always a little interested in local politics. There was no family member that I knew of who had been in politics,” the outgoing chair said. “I was asked to run for the school board, and at the time I wasn’t interested in (the school board) because too many decisions were made on the state and federal level.”

The same person asked Gamble to consider a run for the County Commission. Even though his wife, Layla Gamble, opposed the idea, he went for it anyway.

“I did not expect to be here 48 years,” he said.

He said the people in Terrell County have been good to him, which is demonstrated by the number of times he was re-elected.

“I wanted to walk out of this office, not be carried out or be defeated,” the elder Gamble said.

When Gamble started his first term, a regular garbage pickup schedule had not been established in the county and an old hearse was being used as the county’s ambulance service. Fixing both of these things, in a cost-efficient manner, are among a couple of the accomplishments he is most proud of.

“There are things we have now that simply didn’t exist,” he said. “We still have some problems that will continue on, but we have solved some of the problems.

“Government is here to serve, but I always believe in doing it in an economical way. We have to live in our means. I still believe that to this day.”

Using that approach, the county’s courthouse was able to get a makeover during Gamble’s tenure that came in under budget, a recreation facility was established, a library was opened, a county government building came to be, and a number of roads were built and paved.

Some projects were done with the help of state and federal funding, and others, such as the recreation facility, were completed even though there was no apparent and immediate need.

“(At the time of the recreation facility approval) I was almost 70 and had a grandchild,” Gamble said. “Once I had a grandchild, I thought more about the future.”

The county government building on the Albany Highway, which also was built under budget, was the first to provide an office area set aside for the commission chair while also offering a comfortable area to hold public meetings. Nearby, there is a regional office for the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the Terrell County Health Department, the Dawson Municipal Airport and a walking track.

The garbage collection schedule set up for Terrell citizens has been offset by insurance tax dollars as a way to provide the service at a lower cost, the commission chair said.

Gamble admitted there are some things he might have done differently if he’d had the opportunity, but he says proudly there are not any major decisions he would alter. Overall, the veteran public servant said he believes he is leaving the county in a good place, with no long-term debt and while he is healthy enough to do some of the things he still wants to do.

Come January, Gamble said he expects to spend time on the farm and make better use of a place on the beach he and his wife have.

“We don’t go often, but we have it available,” Gamble said of his beach destination.

His grandchildren live less than 10 miles away, so there may be more opportunities to spend time with them. The time commitment and out-of-town trips as part of his involvement with the Georgia Peanut Commission have limited quality family time. Gamble said that may be something also made up for after his current term ends.

“I’m happy with the way I am leaving it (the county), particularly the financial part,” Gamble said.

He said his son is better educated and is a good speaker, two qualities that lead the elder Gamble to believe the incoming chair will do a good job.

“I hope he will follow in my footsteps as far as spending money,” he said. “There are some expenditures you don’t have to have. Some you don’t have to spend, and some can be delayed.”

Stepping down makes some of Gamble’s loved ones happier, including his wife of 61 years. At the same time, Gamble reflected on the opportunities his time in office afforded him — including the relationships he was able to build with other county commission chairs in Southwest Georgia.

His longevity has also earned him statewide recognition, including honors at a district meeting of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia at the Dawson Country Club earlier this month before dozens of county government peers representing roughly 30 counties in the region.

“ACCG is an organization comprised of exceptional members who share a strong passion for enhancing the greater good of Georgia and the constituents of their local communities,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King in a statement. “Chairman Gamble has exemplified this passion through his committed leadership in Terrell County. He is a respected figure who represents what it truly means to be a dedicated public servant.”

As he prepared for his life away from politics, Gamble offered a word of thanks to the people he has served.

“I would like to thank the people of Terrell County for supporting me, for putting up with me for 48 years,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure.”