Columbus celebrates Ed Harbison, the ‘dean’ of the Georgia Senate
Known as the “Dean of the Senate” for being the longest-serving member of this year’s Georgia Senate, state Sen. Ed Harbison (D-Columbus) was celebrated Thursday at the Columbus Museum.
The Columbus area’s state legislative delegation and former state Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), who was the “Dean of the House” when he retired after 48 years in 2022, hosted the reception in Harbison’s honor.
Harbison, a state senator for the past 33 years, announced in March he wouldn’t seek reelection.
Since 1993, Harbison has represented Georgia Senate District 15, which comprises Macon, Marion, Talbot, Taylor and Schley counties as well as portions of Chattahoochee County and Muscogee County.
“I’m blessed, and I’m honored, to be honored by these people right here in this area, the seven counties that I represented over the last, will be, 34 years,” Harbison said.
As he reflected on his legislative career, Harbison said, “I had a wonderful time trying to do the best I could do, climb many mountains. Some I might not have gotten over, but I gave it a good college try.
“So the bottom line, I’m very happy to reach this milestone in my career, and I look forward to doing many more things. I’m not through with me yet. I don’t think God is through with me yet, so I intend to do the best I can and make sure that I can make a mark wherever I think people don’t have a voice.”
Harbison expressed gratitude for the support he has received from his constituents.
“There have been times when I’ve had campaigns when I was running for office, . . . especially when I started out, the people just really poured out and poured out themselves financially and spiritually and voting-wise to make sure that I could get to where I needed in order to serve the people of the 15th (District).
“I don’t make a distinction between people whether they vote for me or whether they didn’t. I just believe in being a servant. . . . I’m not perfect, but the idea is I serve a perfect God, so I try to do that at all times to make sure I know who’s boss and it relates to the voters. I make sure that I remember where I came from and who sent me at all times.”
Harbison was asked for advice he would give the next generation of leaders.
“You’re going to have high roads, you’re going to have low roads, but in the low road, you’ve got to remember that these things happen to everybody, and what happens in those times, you’ve got. to remember that this is just part of the game.
“It builds your muscles, your spiritual muscles, physically makes you mentally tough to get to the next hill and overcome that one. That’s all it is. So don’t give up. Just keep trying, and remember this: If you fail the first time, that may have been God’s plan, but the next time you’re in the game, . . . you’ve got to remember that God has a prize waiting for you, regardless of whether you think it’s that or not. So just keep the faith and keep looking up.”
Summary of Ed Harbison’s legislative career
Harbison chairs the senate’s State Institutions and Property Committee, and he is the ranking member of the senate’s committees for Banking and Financial Institutions, Insurance and Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Ethics He also is vice chairman of the senate’s Veterans, Military and Homeland Security committee and is an ex-officio member of the senate’s Regulated Industries and Utilities committee.
Legislation he sponsored includes:
- Easing barriers and alleviating bureaucracy for children of military families who transfer from one state to another
- Establishing a separate court for military veterans in Georgia
- Establishing the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame
- Consolidating Chattahoochee County and Cusseta
According to his website, Harbison was born in Prattville, Alabama, and raised in Montgomery. He graduated from the Career Academy School of Broadcasting and attended Troy State University at Fort Benning. He served four years in the U.S. Marines and earned a Purple Heart.
Harbison has worked as a public relations and advertising consultant and a broadcast journalist. His honors include:
- James Costen Government Services Award
- National Infantry Association’s Order of Saint Maurice for distinguished and gallant support of the Infantry
- Associated Press Annual Award for Best Regularly Scheduled TV Newscast
- Jack Brinkley Service Award
- Department of Defense Vietnam Veterans of Appreciation Award
- Legacy of Leadership Award for outstanding service to the African American community
- Inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame for his support of veterans in the state
- Inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
In 1972, Harbison arrived in Columbus as news and public affairs director for WOKS and WFXE. He won awards from the National Association of Black Journalists and United Press International for excellence in broadcast journalism.
When he was hired as an anchor for WLTZ-TV in 1982, Harbison became the first Black newscaster to host an evening program in Columbus. Two years later, he returned to radio as assistant station manager and news director at WAGH, where he hosted talk shows with Gloria Strode and Edgar Champagne.
Calvin Smyre speaks about Ed Harbison
Smyre considered Harbison the “go-to guy” for military affairs, especially Fort Benning.
“That’s one of his hallmarks, the work that he did in the community and specifically for military families and the military,” Smyre said. “He’s one of those guys that is committed to our community, and I’m just happy that to be able to be here tonight to celebrate him.”
Smyre praised Harbison for working with Republicans on legislative issues to benefit as many Georgians as possible, regardless of political affiliation.
“That’s one thing about the Columbus delegation, we have that camaraderie that, most governors say, Columbus speaks with one voice, and we have to continue in that tradition, and Ed Harbison was a part of that fabric,” Smyre said. “He’s a steady person, and he knows the political parameters, and he knows about coalition and coalescing.
“The General Assembly of Georgia is a very disciplined type of organization in terms of how you have to conduct yourself and how you have to go about working and forming coalitions and coalescing with people across the aisle. So that’s the politics of today, and Ed Harbison does it and does it well.”
Carolyn Hugley speaks about Ed Harbison
State Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), the minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, called Harbison “a gentleman” with valuable experience.
“Everybody looks to him because wisdom is something that we don’t buy,” she said. “It’s something that’s earned over time, and he has been there through so many legislative fights and concerns, and he always stands tall for our veterans, for our children, each and every time.
“So this community is losing a gem in Senator Harbison because experience is something that’s very important in a legislative body. So our next senator is going to start from zero, in terms of experience, and he is leaving at the top of the heap.”
State Rep. Teddy Reese (D-Columbus) won last month’s primary election to be the Democratic nominee to succeed Harbison. In the three-candidate race, he defeated Habison’s son Edward and Alyssa Nia Williams. In the Nov. 3 general election, Reese will face Charles Herbert Hand III, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Regardless of who replaces Harbison as the District 15 state senator, Hugley suggested they should learn from his approach to politics.
“The lawmakers now are different, and if I would tell a new lawmaker to emulate anything about Senator Harbison, it’s the fact that he does his due diligence,” Hugley said. “He’s calm. He’s always willing to listen to both sides of the issue before he makes a decision, and that would serve any new person well.”
Debbie Buckner speaks about Ed Harbison
State Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City) said it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with Harbison. She also thanked him for helping her daughter while she worked at the Georgia Capitol.
“I’ve enjoyed the projects that we have worked on together,” she said, “and I am ever-so grateful for the way that he took Olivia under his wing and showed her the ropes in the Senate.”
Vance Smith speaks about Ed Harbison
State Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain) called Harbison “just a true friend.”
“You’re gonna truly be missed, Ed,” Smith said. “You’ve done so much for the community. And just your friendship with our whole delegation, your leadership, it speaks volumes, and I just wish you the best in the future, and call on me at anytime.”
