Ag News
Goodman donation to ag foundation will fund scholarships
Posted on Feb 03, 2021 at 0:00 AM
Growing up during the Great Depression taught the late Dr. Jim Goodman the value of hard work and the importance of a quality education. That’s why Nora Goodman, of Paulding County, is honoring her husband’s memory with a noteworthy gift to the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture scholarship fund.
Dr. Goodman’s desire to become a dentist was inadvertently sparked by one of his childhood teachers. When his teacher said her students could have a day off from school, if every student provided proof they had a dental exam, Jim feared he might be the reason no one got a holiday.
As a child, Jim’s family could not afford routine dental checkups for him.
“Jim’s understanding father sold some hogs and farm equipment so Jim could go for a checkup. While sitting in the office, Jim knew then and there he wanted to be a dentist someday,” Nora recalled. “He also knew becoming a dentist would require a good education.”
Dr. Goodman worked hard to achieve his dream of becoming a dentist, holding down a full-time job at a nuclear plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, while he pursued a degree at the University of Tennessee. After graduating from UT, Jim entered the UT College of Dentistry in Memphis, where he lived and worked part-time at a mortuary in addition to working another part-time job.
After serving a three-year stint as an Army dentist in Germany during the Korean Conflict, Dr. Goodman practiced dentistry in Chattanooga for a number of years until friends and family urged him to relocate to Paulding County. Once he moved to Paulding County, “Doc” as his friends called him, got back to his ag roots. He bought a farm to raise cattle and grow hay in addition to practicing dentistry.
Dr. Goodman served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors from 1982 until his death in May 2003 and as president of Paulding County Farm Bureau from 1986-2003. He was also an active member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and served as GCA president in 1995.
“We both felt for a person to move forward in their life they need to be armed with the best equipment and the most knowledge,” Nora said. “An education in agriculture fosters an appreciation for the land and for the life it provides. Being a good steward of the gifts we are given is the greatest lesson to learn.”
Nora has been an active Farm Bureau member since 1971. She’s served in multiple roles for PCFB from Women’s Committee chairman to serving as county president from 2003 through the present. She also represents the 14 counties in GFB’s District 3 on the state board, a position she’s held since 2003.
Nora commends the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture for the work it is doing to improve ag literacy.
“The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is doing a great job of improving ag literacy in our state through the Ag in the Classroom program that focuses on teaching elementary students about agriculture and the Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom that is taking the farm experience to students across the state,” Mrs. Goodman said. “The foundation is also doing a great job of investing in future Georgia ag leaders by offering scholarships for students pursuing ag-related degrees at eligible colleges, technical colleges and the UGA Vet School.”
March 1 is the deadline for students to apply for one of the 24 scholarships the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is offering this year. The foundation is offering scholarships for graduating high school seniors, rising college juniors and seniors, technical college students and UGA College of Veterinary Medicine students specializing in large/food animals. Visit www.gafoundationag.org/scholarships.html for more information and to apply.
To learn more about the foundation visit www.gafoundationag.org.
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