Frank Eldridge Jr.

News Obituary Article

Longtime Senate secretary dies of heart attack

By NANCY BADERTSCHER

Frank Eldridge Jr., a fixture at the state Capitol and secretary of the state Senate for 14 years, died early Saturday of an apparent heart attack, a Senate aide said.

He was at his home in Waycross, after returning Friday from work at the Capitol, according to Merri Brantley, Senate communications director.

Eldridge, who was 73, was a state senator from 1965 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992, was executive director of the Georgia Public Service Commission, the state's utilities regulator.

Eldridge was a board member of two banks and owner of Eldridge Hardware and Building Supply Co. in Waycross. But politics and public service owned his heart.

"Frank Eldridge devoted a lifetime of service to the people of Georgia," said Gov. Sonny Perdue. "He was a true servant leader, who earned the respect and admiration of his peers and the public he served with such dedication for over 40 years. I considered him a trusted friend and often sought his wise counsel when I served in the Georgia Senate and as governor."

Former Gov. Zell Miller knew Eldridge as a senator.

"He was a very good public servant. He was not a little-minded person," said Miller, who went on to serve in the U.S. Senate

"Frank loved the Senate. He was a creature of the Senate. He was a student of its rules, its history and its members. It's a loss for all of us who knew him and for the state," said Miller.

In 1993, Eldridge returned to the Senate, named by Lt. Gov. Pierre Howard as Senate secretary to finish the term of Hamilton McWhorter, who had retired.

Eldridge went on to win re-election every two years as the Senate's administrative officer and unofficial parliamentarian and the official custodian of all of its bills and papers.

A Democrat, Eldridge continued to be elected after Republicans took control of the upper chamber in 2003.

Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) remembered Eldridge as a dedicated public servant.

"Every morning, he arrived early at the state Capitol in this old red pickup truck, ready to do what was best for the members of the Senate" Johnson said. "He was a loyal friend who loved to share stories of the old days in the General Assembly and was wise beyond his years on the way the Senate should run."

Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Ellenwood), who was elected in 2004, said Eldridge helped him get accustomed to the Senate. "Frank was very instrumental in helping me and my wife get acclimated. My wife in particular wanted to know about events for the legislative wives. He was very helpful, always courteous. We just lost a warrior."

Said Robby Rivers, clerk of the state House of Representatives for the last 20 years: "Frank Eldridge was a dedicated public servant who loved the state of Georgia. He will be sorely missed in every way."

Eldridge was a 1950 graduate of Gordon Military College in Barnesville.

He served on the board of directors at First National Bank and was founder, director and vice chairman of the board at Waycross Bank.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Music Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. The funeral will be 4 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of Waycross, with interment to follow at Oakland Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Leland Eldridge; a son, Pete Eldridge of Waycross; a daughter, Zeda Matich of Blackshear; a sister, Margaret Denton of Waycross; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Staff writers Derrick Henry, David Markiewicz, Jim Tharpe and Sonji Jacobs contributed to this article.

© 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution