 George J. Berry Papers
Collection DescriptionBiographical NoteGeorge J. Berry was born on July 5, 1937, in Blairsville, Georgia. He graduated from Young Harris College in 1957 and shortly after joined the U.S. Army. In 1962, after being honorably discharged, he went to work in the finance department of the City of Atlanta. He became Deputy Chief Administrative Officer under Mayor Ivan Allen and later became Chief Administrative Officer under Mayor Sam Massell. During the Massell administration, Berry played a key role in helping the transition from a primarily white to a more diverse city leadership during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under Mayor Maynard Jackson, Berry was appointed Commissioner of Aviation for the City of Atlanta (1978-1983). While commissioner, he oversaw new developments and expansion of the terminals and runways of the William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. In 1983, Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Berry Commissioner of Industry, Trade, and Tourism for the State of Georgia. While in this position, he worked to bring international business to Atlanta and promoted the city as a center for the New South Movement. In 1990, Berry ran an unsuccessful campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. Following the campaign, he became the Senior Vice President of Cousins Properties, one of Atlanta's largest property development firms. While serving in this position, he also became Chairman for the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority (MAOGA) where he headed up governmental and financial oversight for the planning and management of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 2003, Berry was awarded the Chairman's Award by the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame for his role in expanding and improving William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport (now the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport). In 2004, he retired from Cousins Properties. He is still extremely active in developing business ventures in Atlanta and serves on many boards of organizations dedicated to advancing business interests in Georgia. Scope and ContentThe George J. Berry Papers document his career serving in various leaderships roles with the City of Atlanta, the State of Georgia and the private sector. The papers include correspondence, reports, board meeting materials, publications, photographs, audiovisual materials, and memorabilia. Of note are materials documenting the development and expansion of the Atlanta Airport, Berry's foreign trips to bring international business to the City of Atlanta and Georgia, and his work managing the financial and governmental responsibilities for the City of Atlanta as host of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Organization and ArrangementThe papers are arranged in seven series: I. Deputy and Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Mayor, City of Atlanta; II. Commissioner of Aviation, City of Atlanta; III. Commissioner, Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism; IV. Chairman, Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority; V. Senior Vice President, Cousins Properties; and VI. Political. Administrative InformationAccess RestrictionsThis collection is open for research. Series V. Senior Vice President, Cousins Properties contains digital files. To access these files, please request the folders you would like through the finding aid using your research account. An archivist will be in contact with you to explain how to access the files. Please note that not all file formats are currently supported by the library for research use. Preferred citationGeorge J. Berry Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. Copyright InformationBefore material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original. Conditions Governing UseLibrary acts as "fair use" reproduction agent. Finding Aid PublicationFinding Aid prepared by Kristi Rico, summer intern, 2015. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject TermsRelated Collections in this Repository
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