Roger Marshall: “I was elected mayor of Macon in 1995. Macon is a small town of a little over 100,000 people located 80 miles or so south…”

“I was elected mayor of Macon in 1995. Macon is a small town of a little over 100,000 people located 80 miles or so south of Atlanta. One of the first things I did after being elected was to visit Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. Maynard Jackson was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1973 at the age of 35, the first African American mayor of a major city in Georgia as well as the southeast. He served two 4-year terms and became known for promoting majority-minority partnerships to improve access for African Americans to the world of contracting and supplying governments. Maynard Jackson was elected again as mayor in 1989 and served one term. When I went to see him as a newly elected mayor, it was to get his advice, any advice he would care to offer. I had no particular agenda, just a hope that he would impart some wisdom, given his experience in both government and business. Maynard Jackson spent hours of his time with me that day. Of course, I cannot recall all that we spoke of, but I found his advice very valuable. I will always remember how cordial and engaged he was, someone who really did not need to give me the time of day, but, instead, gave me several hours. Maynard and I became friends who saw one another infrequently but who always responded quickly to one another's calls, e-mails, or letters.”