Press Release

Governor Miller to Address Graduates at Oglethorpe University

ATLANTA— Governor Zell Miller, the 79th governor of Georgia and creator of the critically acclaimed HOPE Scholarship Program, will address the 260 graduates, including the first MBA recipients, of Atlanta’s prestigious Oglethorpe University on Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m. on the Academic Quadrangle of the Peachtree Road Campus.

Miller will deliver the commencement address and will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Oglethorpe University alumnus and former chairman of the board of trustees Franklin L. Burke will receive an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree. In addition, the first graduates of Oglethorpe’s MBA program, which began in August 1996, will receive their degrees.

Born in the North Georgia town of Young Harris and reared by a single mother, Governor Miller holds two degrees from the University of Georgia and interrupted college to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He has been a teacher at Young Harris College, Emory University, the University of Georgia and DeKalb College and is the author of four books. His political career has spanned four decades at virtually every level of government: mayor, state senator, lieutenant governor and governor. Miller has served as chairman of many national and regional associations, including the Southern Governors’ Association, the Council of State Governments and the Education Commission of the States. He also keynoted the Democratic National Convention in 1992.

A native of Appomattox, Va., Franklin L. Burke graduated magna cum laude from Oglethorpe University in 1966 and from Stonier Graduate School of Banking in 1973. He is currently president of Ridgewood Development Corporation. Burke was formerly chairman and chief executive officer and director of BankSouth, N.A. He also held the post of senior executive vice president, chief operating officer and director of Bank South Corporation. Burke is an active member in a number of business, charitable, and civic organizations. He has received numerous honors through the years including "Who’s Who in South/Southwest;" "Who’s Who in Finance/Industry;" Oglethorpe University’s

Distinguished Service Award; and the University Talmage Award. Burke served as chairman of the board of trustees of Oglethorpe University from 1989-94.

Oglethorpe University is an independent, highly-selective, coeducational liberal arts institution located in Atlanta at 4484 Peachtree Road NE. Founded in 1835, Oglethorpe University is dedicated to producing graduates who are broadly educated in the fundamental fields of knowledge and the basic concepts and principles of their disciplines.

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