Thomas I. Sangster

Thomas I. Sangster
July 25, 1931 - July 18, 2014
Vienna, GA- Thomas I. (T. I.) Sangster, age 82, of Vienna, died Friday, July 18, 2014.
Born in Vienna, he was the son of the late Homer and Faustine Britt Sangster and a US Army veteran.
While serving in the US Army Corps of Engineers, he attended the University of South Carolina. He later attended Georgia State University, where he received a BBA in Business Management. He was elected vice-president of the student body. After graduation, he served on the board of directors of the Georgia State University Alumni Association and the Board of Trustees of the Georgia State University Foundation.
Mr. Sangster was one of the youngest members ever elected to the Georgia Legislature. As an active member of the Georgia House of Representatives, he was instrumental in passing laws to assist cities and counties in developing legal property tax systems. Working with Attorney General Arthur Bolton, he oversaw the creation of new maps for all the counties and cities, creating fair market values for all properties. In the early 1960's Sangster was asked by Governor Carl Sanders to become Director of the Property Tax Division of the State Revenue Department. Under his administration, the state established schools for tax officials in conjunction with the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
As president of the Southern Association of State Property Tax Administrators, at the international tax conference in Los Angeles, he was presented the International McCarran Award, the top honor in property tax development in the world.
Mr. Sangster was asked to become a special advisor to the FBI. He was made an honorary FBI retiree and, for years, offered expertise when needed.
At a black-tie fundraising event in 1984(The Atlanta Speech School Gala at Neiman Marcus), he met Gloria Lane and learned about a magazine she was publishing called "Presenting the Season," a publication designed to highlight charities and nonprofits. Within a month, he had joined forces with her; he'd help guide the magazine to becoming a vital force in the community, breaking new ground in the publishing industry, and for the first time, putting the print spotlight on volunteers for charitable events and the corporate sponsors who supported them. Mr. Sangster told everyone that the later-named "Season" magazine was God's magazine because it helped so many people. He was proud to be a part of it and his warm personality along with his genuine love of people contributed greatly to its success.
Mr. Sangster was described as a "true Southern gentleman. Advertising reps in New York and California would call him at the magazine office just to hear his beautiful and distinguished Southern accent.
Weekends found Mr. Sangster back in Dooly County on his beloved farm where he raised the coveted "desirable" pecans. At Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, he was know to bring a truckload to Atlanta to give as gifts to clients and friends. Giving to others was part of his nature.
For many years, he was a member of Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in the Buckhead community of Atlanta. He was a member of the EEE Sunday School Group, along with many corporate executives who were close friends.
He is survived by his son, Tommy Sangster of Vienna; his sisters, Ernestine Forehand of Cordele, Pat Wagstaff of Newnan and Jean Cory (Charles) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; several beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, M. Delma Sangster and Rev. Harold Lamar Sangster.
Funeral services will be at 3 PM Sunday in Smyrna Baptist Church with interment with military honors in Vienna City Cemetery.
In order to further cancer research, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or the Mayo Clinic, (for cancer research) Attn: Department of Development, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.
Friends may register online at www.brannen-nesmith.com
Brannen-NeSmith Funeral Home of Vienna has charge of arrangements.