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Gary McCullough will be remembered and greatly missed by those who knew him.
Dahlonega lost one of its champions last week. Former Mayor Gary McCullough died Nov. 18, 2021.
“He was a fine man, and we’re going to miss him,” said one of his long-time friends Jimmy Faulkner.
Moving to Dahlonega in 1970 as local manager of Georgia Power, the then-28-year-old wasted no time in becoming involved in the community. He joined the Jaycees when he first moved here, becoming an “Exhausted Rooster” when he became too old for membership 10 years later. He was also a member of Rotary and Lions; the Chamber of Commerce; both college and high school Booster Clubs; Dahlonega Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School President; served as several committee chairs; and numerous other organizations.
“He cared for people, and wanted to help people,” said Bill Lewis. “I think some of that came from his job with Georgia Power. He was the only person working there in the beginning. He read meters and everything.”
Lewis and McCullough met in the early ‘70s. Their children were in the same grade and the boys played the same sports. Later Lewis would serve as City Manager while McCullough was a member of the City Council.
McCullough became a city councilman, taking Murl Jone’s seat when he resigned in 1990. It was his first political office, but it would not be his last. He served 14 years as councilman. In 2004 he was elected Dahlonega’s mayor, a post he also held for 14 years, being reelected in 2008 and ’12 without opposition. He retired in 2018.
MADE TO BE MAYOR
As a city representative McCullough was an avid promoter and supporter of Dahlonega.
“Other than his family, the care and feeding of Dahlonega was his main concern,” said Joel Cordle.
Cordle worked with McCullough beginning in 2003 as Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program.
Current mayor Sam Norton came onto the city council during McCullough’s own term as mayor.
“He was a huge advocate and promoter of Dahlonega. Anywhere we went, if it was a public gathering, he found a reason to mention Dahlonega and tell people what we were doing,” he said.
“He was intensely loyal to the city,” said long-time city attorney and the McCullough's neighbor Doug Parks. “He would always talk about the good things in Dahlonega when we were at at any function. It was sort of like people away from here looked at Gary and saw Dahlonega.”
McCullough was inducted into the Georgia Municipal Government Hall of Fame in 2011. The list of his accomplishments is a long one.
His support of historic preservation as a councilman led to adoption of the city’s Historic Preservation Ordinance and Commission in 1998. That led to Dahlonega being designated a Certified Local Government which resulted in significant downtown economic development investments and growth.
He led the planning and construction of Morrison Moore Parkway, the perimeter road around the city, relieving much of the commercial traffic on the Public Square.
As mayor his leadership expanded the work of the Downtown Development Authority, the hiring of full time staff and the creation of a 20-year master plan.
McCullough’s leadership led to the adoption of financial policies making the city’s water and sewer services user-based instead of taxpayer funded. Because it is now self-supporting, the city was able to issue bonds to build the new $27 million waste water treatment plant that will serve the city (and county, for a fee) through 2040.
His knowledge and advocacy gained Dahlonega many grants from both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. to accomplish local projects, including the knockout roses that line downtown roads and signage at the entrances to Dahlonega.
“People may not realize how very, very smart Gary was. I learned just how smart when we negotiated various contracts for the city. He would pick up on things a lawyer would miss,” Parks said. “He was very sharp on business issues, every analytical.”
IN TUNE WITH TOWN
Under his watch the city received many awards and recognitions, experienced positive growth while maintaining its historic downtown.
But there was more to McCullough than his political side.
Despite all his accomplishments, most county residents and regular visitors to Dahlonega knew him best as Dahlonega's Singing Mayor. At every chance during public concerts he would join the band to sing his favorite song, Blueberry Hill. He also sang in the Dahlonega Baptist choir, and at Bear on the Square’s Sunday Morning Gospel Jam.
“I probably met him the first time at Bear on the Square before I went to work for the city,” Cordle said. “He always sang A Beautiful Life at the Sunday morning Gospel Jam. That was one of his favorites—and he did it great.”
He was also a regular at the Appalachian Jam, learning to play the gut bucket (washtub base) so he could not only sing, but play an instrument as well.
Nearly every person who knew him well said he was athletic and very competitive. Basketball was the first sport his friends mentioned when talking about him.
“He played Park & Rec basketball until he was 50 years old,” Faulkner said, “and he scored 50 points when he was 50.”
He also liked baseball, softball, golf and shooting pool.
“He was an excellent pool player. The guy could shoot pool,” Lewis said.
He often coached and officiated Parks & Rec teams and was a booster for both the college and high school teams.
Sports were not the only thing that brought out his competitive nature.
“He was competitive at city hall, too,” Lewis said.
“And cards,” Norton added.
GREAT TRAITS
Something else people mentioned when remembering the mayor was his candor.
“You always knew where you stood with Gary, because what you saw was what you got. I seldom saw him get angry, but when he did his lips got tight,” Faulkner said.
“He was always honest and straightforward with his opinions, sometimes to the point of being a bit…humorous…in his response to council members,” Parks said.
“He could be painfully honest,” Norton said. “At least a dozen times this past week people called me to ask about his passing. They about all said they’d had their disagreements with him, but that he always remained their friend. That’s a great trait.”
Faulkner agreed.
“He was a true Christian, and a true friend to hundreds of people,” he said. “I could go on all day. Was he perfect? No. But the only one who was perfect got crucified for it.”
One other thing nearly everyone mentioned was how much he loved his family. Janet Jarrard, who worked as Dahlonega’s City Clerk said, “He talked about his family all the time. I could tell he loved them.”
He and his wife, Charlotte, were married 57 years. The couple had three children, Flint, Leah and Molly; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
“Gary had an enormous heart. He supported so many groups and organizations,’ said Parks. “When the lights were turned on he was always there to help until the last few years, when he was unable to be there. He will be sorely missed.”