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Ralph Twiggs

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Ralph Twiggs
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 1973 – September 17, 2003
Preceded byJimmy Richard Jones
Succeeded byCharles F. Jenkins
Constituency4th district (1973–1993)
8th district (1993–2003)
Personal details
Born
Ralph Jennings Twiggs Jr.

(1928-03-11)March 11, 1928
Hiawassee, Georgia, U.S.
DiedSeptember 17, 2003(2003-09-17) (aged 75)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary Buckner
(m. 1971; died 1999)
Children3
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1952

Ralph Jennings Twiggs Jr. (March 11, 1928 – September 17, 2003) was an American politician from Georgia. He served more than 30 years in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Early life and education

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Twiggs was born in Hiawassee, Georgia, in 1928.[1] As a teenager, Twiggs befriended future Governor and Senator Zell Miller.[2]

In 1951, he graduated from the Southern College of Pharmacy.[1] After serving in the medical division of the United States Air Force in 1952, Twiggs began a career as a pharmacist.[1]

Political career

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Twiggs was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1972.[1] He would go on to win a total of sixteen terms in the chamber, amassing significant seniority.[1] During his final term in office, Twiggs had risen to become chair of the Transportation Committee.[2] He had also previously chaired the Public Safety Committee.[2] A passionate advocate for public education, Twiggs championed Georgia's free kindergarten program.[2]

Death

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Twiggs died of pneumonia in Houston on September 17, 2003, where he was receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Georgia Official and Statistical Register, 1973–1974" (PDF). Georgia Department of Archives and History. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Ralph Twiggs, veteran lawmaker, dies". Access WDUN. September 19, 2003. Retrieved February 21, 2022.