A portrait of Hamilton McWhorter Jr. hangs in the office of the Secretary of the Senate at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. McWhorter served as Secretary of the Senate from 1967-92. (Photo/Scott Maxwell)
The road signs on Highway 78 between Crawford and Lexington reading “Hamilton McWhorter Jr. Highway” are hard to miss. But because of McWhorter’s “behind-the-scenes” nature, many may not know the extent of his contributions to Oglethorpe County.
Hamilton McWhorter Jr. wore many hats — attorney, intelligence agent, city council member, secretary of the Georgia Senate and die-hard Georgia football fan.
Because of those roles, McWhorter, known as “Hamp” by those close to him, was well known throughout the county.
One of his closest friends was Clifford Brooks, who is survived by his son, Chuck Brooks of Lexington. Brooks has a plethora of stories from growing up around McWhorter, most of them involving Georgia football.
At Brooks’ first game in Sanford Stadium in 1959 at age 11, McWhorter sat next to him. McWhorter attended many Georgia games with Brooks and his father.
“He was a very interesting guy, a very humble guy, a very low-key guy,” Brooks said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better gentleman. I could sit here all day and tell you what a great guy he was.”
After graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1936, McWhorter practiced law in Lexington with his father until he joined the Military Intelligence Service during World War II. McWhorter never lived in Lexington again, settling in Atlanta after the war, but he always considered Oglethorpe County home.
Brooks said McWhorter was always “very supportive in a quiet, quiet way,” and that “if he did something, he wouldn’t want you to know.”
McWhorter represented a district that included Oglethorpe County in the State Senate in 1961-62, and went on to serve as Secretary of the Senate from 1967-92. He was instrumental in passing initiatives that would benefit the county, such as the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department in Lexington. He was also a large contributor to the 2008 restoration of the Historic Oglethorpe County jail.
“He did a lot for Lexington and Oglethorpe County,” Brooks said.
Ralph Maxwell Jr., Lexington resident and former owner and editor of The Oglethorpe Echo, also remembers McWhorter fondly, describing him as “brilliant” and “very compassionate.”
Maxwell recalled that McWhorter would often call The Echo to chat with Maxwell’s father, Ralph Maxwell Sr., and it was usually young Maxwell who would answer the phone. He remembered one phone call in particular when McWhorter told Maxwell he had advice for him.
“Never get old,” McWhorter had said.
McWhorter was born in Lexington in April 1913 and died at the Lenbrook Retirement Community in Atlanta in October 2011.
Shortly before McWhorter died, Billy Bryant, former chairman of the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners, and Clifford Brooks headed up the effort to honor McWhorter by naming a section of the highway after him.
Chuck Brooks and Ralph Maxwell were part of the group who visited McWhorter at his retirement home in Atlanta to surprise him with a plaque of the highway sign. Brooks recalled how a staff member wheeled McWhorter downstairs so his friends could show him what they had done for him.
He remembered McWhorter’s response best of all.
“Oh no, Cliff! Clifford! You can’t do that!” McWhorter said.
Brooks’ father was disappointed. “Why not, Hamp?”
“Clifford, I’m still alive!”
“We know that, Hamp. What’s the problem?”
“I can still mess up! You only name things after people who have died! Never do it while they’re still alive! You may have to take it back down!”