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Georgia Southwestern State University is deeply saddened by the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States and a cherished alumnus of our institution. He passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. President Carter leaves behind an enduring legacy of leadership, compassion, and service—qualities that will continue to inspire and resonate for generations to come.
In 1941, Jimmy Carter began his freshman year at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, Ga., just a short drive from his hometown of Plains. He chose to live on campus in Terrell Hall to be fully engaged in the college experience. During his time at GSW, Carter was one of four student leaders selected to write his name in the freshly-poured cement of the Wheatley Administration Building driveway. He was a member of the Freshman All-Stars intramural basketball team and worked as a chemistry lab assistant. Carter was also a member of the Ingenuity, Fidelity, Trustworthiness (IFT) fraternity here.
Although Carter transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology and later the US Naval Academy, he never forgot GSW: “I am very proud of Georgia Southwestern and the progress it has made. This is where I got my start, and I have always loved this place.”
The James Earl Carter Library was completed in 1971. The building was officially dedicated on June 7, 1973 while then-Governor Carter was on campus to serve as GSW’s commencement speaker. His father, the library’s namesake, was a Sumter County farmer, businessman, civic leader, strong supporter of education, and representative of Sumter County to the General Assembly of Georgia. He served on the Sumter County Board of Education for 17 years and was chairman of that board at the time of his death in 1953.
When Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, he generously donated $370,000 of his award money to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers during a press conference in 2003 inside the Charles Wheatley Administration Building. The RCI was established on campus in 1987 and has continued Mrs. Carter’s advocacy work for caregivers.
The signature etching Carter made back in 1942 is now on display in the Presidential Plaza. During the dedication in 2017, Carter returned to campus to etch his signature in a new piece of concrete. The two etchings - made 75 years apart - now sit opposite each other across the Plaza.
Established in 2019, the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program exemplifies Carter’s lifetime of leadership in education, politics, and community service. Each year, 20 incoming freshmen who display leadership qualities are invited to join the program.
The inaugural class visited Carter in Plains in October 2019.
The Carters remained faithful supporters of GSW as part of the Founders List with cumulative giving of $250,000 or more.
'He was a neighbor, he was a friend' | Dr. Jason Berggren details President Carter's lasting impact on his local community
'Cross boundaries in service and in love to alleviate suffering and promote peace' | Laura McConatha reflects on President Carter’s passing
