Polk County, Georgia is rich in history heritage sites and things to do. Heaps of records and articles don’t lie. However, with its almost 43,000 population as of 2020, it’s no wonder that it can be a cradle of exceptional individuals forming part of its most prized possessions.
Below is the list of some of the famous people that Polk County has ever produced to date. Interestingly, all of them were born in Cedartown, the county’s seat, except for one.
A. M. Cagle
Alfred Marcus Cagle was an American hymnwriter born in 1884 and was known for his Sacred Harp movement activities. His very first compositions “New Hope” and “Present Joys” were published in the Union Harp (1909) and the Original Sacred Harp (1911).
He also had a bass voice and was a popular shape note hymns composer. His “Sacred Mount” and “Soar Away” were featured in Original Sacred Harp: (Denson Revision 1986). He was also featured in many performances, one of which was on the 1959 United Convention recording.
Betty Reynolds Cobb
Born in 1884, Betty was an activist, author, and lawyer. She was one of the very first female lawyers in Georgia and in the entire US to be accepted to the bar. She was also one of the early members of the League of Women Voters.
She was also known for leading feminist activities and fighting for women’s rights in society, addressing women’s betterment and empowerment, and issues surrounding opportunities in male-dominated careers and specializations.
Edgar Chandler
Edgar Thomas Chandler, Jr. was an American football player born in 1946. He was a professional linebacker for the Buffalo Bills (AFL and NFL), and New England Patriots (NFL). He was also a two-time All-American (1966 and 1967) at the University of Georgia.
George W. Mundy
General Mundy was born in 1905. He attended Georgia’s Emory University in 1923-1924 but was later appointed to the United States Military Academy. That’s where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1928.
He took pilot training in 1928 in Brooks and Kelly Field, Texas. He became a lieutenant general and received the Legion of Merit award.
Ida Cox
Ida M. Prather was an American singer-songwriter and vaudeville performer, born in Toccoa (formerly part of Habersham County, GA) in 1887 but grew up in Cedartown. She was popular for her recordings and blues performances and was even considered “The Uncrowned Queen of the Blues”.
Her career started by playing Topsy, a character from the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Included in her resume were her stints with African-American traveling minstrel shows connected with the vaudeville circuit Theater Owners Booking Association such as the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, the Silas Green Show, and the Florida Orange Blossom Minstrels.
Joseph E. Boone
He was an American civil rights activist born in 1922 and was known to have marched alongside fellow activist, Martin Luther King Jr. He was also a minister at the First Congregational Church in Anniston, Alabama from the year 1955 to 1959 and a pastor at the Rush Memorial Congregational Church of the Atlanta University Center.
One of his most notable roles was being appointed by President Jimmy Carter as Governor’s Council on Human Relations in 1971.
Korbin Forrister
Born in 1992, Robert Korbin Forrister was an American professional stock car racing driver. He started very early and won dirt track racing at the age of 9 and attempted his stock car debut at Mobile International Speedway for Lafferty Motorsports via the ARCA Racing Series.
He raced a total of 6 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for over 3 years with best finish at 85th and in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with 57 races over 7 years with best finish at 45th. He last competed at NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.
Marnie Andrews
She was an American television and stage actress, writer, poet, and teacher born in 1951.
Some of her notable appearances in TV and movies include the following:
- ER
- JAG
- Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story
- Murder One
- Reasonable Doubts
- Shattered Mind
- The Wonder Years
As a writer and poet, her articles were published in CR, Natural History, Amica, and American Theatre, with topics ranging from travels, environmental protection issues, friendships, and working within the community, among others. As a teacher, she taught at the University of Southern California Graduate Film School, New York University, and the University at Albany, SUNY.
Robby Garner
Born in 1963, Garner is an American software developer and natural language programmer. He started programming at 15 years old and formed Robitron Software Research, Inc., a software company, with his father and sister in 1997.
He is best known for his Albert One program which won the Loebner Prize in 1998 and 1999 and is listed for his “most human” computer program in the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records.
Sam Hunt
Sam Lowry Hunt is an American singer and songwriter born in 1984. He once tried pursuing a professional football career, after having played during his high school and college days. He eventually signed with MCA Nashville as a musician in 2014.
He has worked with well-known artists like Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, and Billy Currington for their singles, before venturing into his solo career. He had several records tucked under his belt, one being his debut solo album breaking several records. The lead single from the album peaked at the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts concurrently.
Seale Harris
Born in 1870, Harris was an American physician and researcher best known for his discovery of hyperinsulinism that causes spontaneous hypoglycemia. He got his medical degree in 1894 from the University of Virginia and practiced in Union Springs, Alabama.
Due to his leadership and his writings about a wide array of both medical and political topics, he was dubbed “the Benjamin Franklin of Medicine”.
Sterling Holloway
Born in 1905, Holloway was an American voice, TV, and film actor. Some of his famous appearances include voice acting in iconic shows, which include the following:
- Adult Flower in Bambi
- Kaa in The Jungle Book
- Mr. Stork in Dumbo in The Walt Disney Company
- Roquefort the Mouse in The Aristocats
- the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland
- the title character in Winnie the Pooh
William J. Harris
William Julius Harris was born in 1868 and was known for having been a US senator from 1919 to 1932. He graduated in 1890 from the University of Georgia.
He came from a family of politicians. He was a son-in-law of the Confederate General and Representative from Alabama, Joseph Wheeler, and a great-grandson of a former Representative from North Carolina, Charles Hooks.