10/08/1979
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
"I grew to know and greatly admire Ben Fortson."
"The Georgia State Capitol will seem a far more lonely place without 'Mr. Ben.'"
"He loved his State and its people and acted on that love through a lifetime of public service."
"The people of Georgia shared his affection and repeatedly returned him to his post as secretary of state through an era of profound political, social, and economic change."