 Governor George D. and Mrs. Mary Beth Busbee Portraits
Collection DescriptionHistorical NoteGeorge D. Busbee was born in Vienna, Georgia on August 7, 1927. From 1945 to 1952, Busbee attended the University of Georgia, where he earned both a bachelor's degree and a law degree. At the university, he met Mary Elizabeth Talbot, and they were married in 1949. After their marriage, the two settled in Albany, Georgia, where George practiced law and won a seat in the Georgia Legislature. George served in the Georgia House of Representatives for eighteen years. In 1975, he became the 77th Governor of the State of Georgia, serving until 1983. He was the first Georgia governor to serve two consecutive four-year terms. During his gubernatorial terms, Busbee established a statewide kindergarten program and completed the interstate highway system among many other accomplishments. Mary Elizabeth Busbee was born on February 16, 1927 in Ruston, Louisiana. Mary Beth earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana Tech University and afterwards continued into graduate studies in the Pathology Department at Charity Hospital of Louisiana in New Orleans. Mary Elizabeth was an active member of the American Cancer Society, the Mother's March Against Birth Defects, the Lung Association of Georgia, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Scope and ContentThe Governor George D. and Mrs. Mary Beth Busbee Portraits collection consists of two framed oil paintings on canvas, depicting the former Governor and First Lady of Georgia. Administrative InformationConditions Governing AccessThese items are stored in an offsite location and require 24-hours notice before they can be retrieved. Preferred CitationGovernor George D. and Mrs. Mary Beth Busbee Portraits. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641. Related Materials and SubjectsSubject Terms | ||||||||||||||||||