Interview with Sam Doss, May 6, 2015

Partial Transcript: When I see you I think of Thomasville.

Segment Synopsis: Doss talks about his childhood growing up in Thomasville, Georgia. He recalls how the attack on Pearl Harbor made him want to join the navy, and how at the age of of 17 he enlisted and was assigned to be a hospital corpsman and stationed at Mare Island, California.

Keywords: Atlanta, Georgia; Eleanor Roosevelt; Farragut, Idaho; Gleen Arven golf course; Great Lakes

Partial Transcript: So from the Navy?

Segment Synopsis: Doss talks about moving back to Atlanta after finishing his Navy service and attending the University of West Georgia. He talks about meeting his wife while in college, and moving together to Rome, Georgia.

Keywords: California; Emory University; bus

Partial Transcript: So when did you get for the first time interested in politics?

Segment Synopsis: Doss says that he first became interested in politics through the local chapter of the Jaycee Organization (United States Junior Chamber) in Rome, Georgia. He talks about running for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1962 and losing. He was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1968 and got a retirement bill passed.

Keywords: City Commissioner; County Commissioner; Jimmy Carter; Lester Maddox; platform

Partial Transcript: Let's talk about your role in the establishment of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Segment Synopsis: Doss talks about being part of the team that set up the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia under Governor Zell Miller. He says that there was not enough financial support to keep the Hall of Fame running and it closed down. The contents of the Hall of Fame are now stored at the University of Georgia

Keywords: country music; talent

Partial Transcript: We haven't talked about your working in the state government in the Department of Commerce.

Segment Synopsis: Doss discusses working in the state Department of Commerce with Abbott Massey. He also talks about being on the Education, Appropriations, and Fiscal Affairs committees while he was in the State Senate. Doss talks about the friendships he made with the other senators. Doss also explains why he wanted to get a ten year term limit passed for members of the General Assembly.

Keywords: Bob Bell; Chairman; Hugh Gillis; secretary; vice chair

Partial Transcript: You served under what two lieutenant governors?

Segment Synopsis: Doss talks about the three lieutenant governors he served under: George T. Smith, Lester Maddox, and Zell Miller. He describes George Smith as a great leader. He says that he was not very impressed with Lester Maddox at first but that they developed a friendship after retiring from politics.

Keywords: Judiciary; health

Partial Transcript: Looking back over your career in the senate of what are you most proud of those ten years?

Segment Synopsis: Doss says that he is most proud of his work on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committees because he was able to stop money from being "loosely spent." He discusses being selected as one of Georgia's five most outstanding young men in 1962, and being Georgia's first Jaycee International Director. Doss also talks about his son's involvement in politics.

Keywords: Rome, Georgia; transportation board