Cadle named Person of the Year

Jerry Cadle is a native of Swainsboro, married to Paula F. Cadle who he met on a 4-H trip to Denmark. They have three adult children, Ivy N. Cadle, Donald J. Cadle and Jean Marie Hunter.

Jerry has been devoted to the development of downtown Swainsboro his entire life. He grew up working in his parents’ Western Auto Store on the square downtown, then later, during college, he worked at the store on Moring Street. After earning an accounting degree and a law degree from the University of Georgia, he returned to Swainsboro in 1975 to practice law with Bill Rountree. He will have practiced law for 50 years in April, 2025. Jerry has served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia from 2021 to the present.

Those early years after returning to Swainsboro, Cadle was active in Swainsboro Jaycees. Sev-eral like-minded Jaycees developed an economic development project for downtown by mus-tering community support and involvement to renovate the Courtyard on Green Street. Since that time, Jerry has been involved in renovations around the square, including buildings on Green Street, Roger Shaw Street, South Main Street and West Main Streets, (all four sides of the square.) The only compensation he receives is the satisfaction of knowing that downtown Swainsboro is being revitalized. Later projects include the renovation of his law office and the Ellington Insurance Building.

In addition to his enthusiasm for downtown development, Jerry has been active in several sub-divisions including Country Acres, Marlow Plantation, Deer Creek and Swainsboro Oaks.

His service includes ten years as Chairman of the City Planning Commission and 10 years as Chairman of the Swainsboro Downtown Development Authority and was instrumental in de-veloping the Main Street Market Antique Mall.

As member of the Emanuel County Commissioners, Jerry was active in planning the new Emanuel County House and the renovation of the downtown square and fountain.

In 1980, The University of Georgia of College of Landscape Design developed a plan to include various off-street parking areas. Jerry was instrumental in carrying out that plan which result-ed in off-street parking on Green Street, behind City Hall, adjacent to the Mitchell Building, and the Boneyard.

Other Civic Activities Jerry has been involved with include President of the Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Swainsboro Exchange Club, and Chairman of the East Georgia College Foundation for ten years. He has been an active member of the Swainsboro First Baptist Church, having served as Chairman of Deacons and Chairman of Trustees in pre-vious years. Jerry holds a multi-engine Commercial Pilot’s License and serves on the East Georgia Regional Airport Commission.