Julius F. Bishop

Athens - Julius Francis Bishop, 93, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2008. He died at home after a lengthy illness. A native of Athens, he was a son of the late Julius Frederick Bishop and Mattie Lou McLeroy. Mr. Bishop graduated from Athens High School and the University of Georgia, where he was a pitcher on the 1934-1936 baseball teams. During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy.
He began his business, professional and civic career working with the United States Postal Service in Athens. During that time, he purchased several boxes of abandoned chicks from the post office. This was the beginning of a poultry business that became Bishop's Hatchery and Athens Poultry, Inc. In the early 1950s, he was a leading advocate for the poultry business in the South and played a part in bringing the Poultry Research Center to the University of Georgia.
He was a member of the Board of the former National Bank of Athens and later President and Chairman of the Board for Athens Federal Savings and Loan, the predecessor of Athens First Bank and Trust. He served as mayor of Athens for 12 years (1964-1976), during which time he was instrumental in the industrialization of Athens/Clarke County, worked for the common good and advocated fairness for all citizens.
He served on the State Board of Industry and Trade, the Board of Regents for the University of Georgia System, the Board of Education of Clarke County, as well as the boards of Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens Technical College, The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, UGA Research Foundation, YMCA and a number of other professional and civic organizations. He was a lifelong member of Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Board and various committees of the church and faithfully taught the Butler-Bell Men's Bible Class for many years.
Mr. Bishop will be remembered as a man of vision and leadership who loved his family, church and community - as well as the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves! He believed that God had blessed him beyond any reasonable explanation and that it was essential to give back. His family will remember him as a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His gift for story-telling and his wonderful sense of humor were a blessing to everyone. In his later years, he derived much pleasure from watching things grow - whether it be his flower and vegetable gardens or his beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty-six years, Dorothy Prickett Bishop; two brothers, Ralph and Emmett Bishop; son-in-law, Bobby Mann; and grandson, Joshua Bowie. He is survived by four daughters, Betty Mann of Athens, Barbara and Ron Bowie of Boone, N.C., Linda and Marion Ivey of Athens and Miriam and Bob Richards of Watkinsville; eleven grandchildren, Ginger Mann Pierce, Rob Mann, Lara Bowie Taylor, Bishop Bowie, Johnson Bowie, Holly Ivey Hedges, Melissa Ivey Smith, David Ivey, Brad Richards, Jill Richards Lester and Andy Richards; fourteen great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Jean Bishop and Sue Prickett; long-time caregiver, Mary Arnold; and many, many faithful friends.
Memorials may be made to the Julius F. Bishop Memorial Fund at Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church, 973 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA 30606 or to the Julius F. Bishop Scholarship, Athens Technical College, 800 US Highway 29 North, Athens, GA 30601.
Visitation will be Friday, July 11, 6-8 p.m. at Lord and Stephens, West. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 12, at 1 p.m. at Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Alan Smith and Dr. Ronald Bowie officiating. The family will also receive friends at the church after the service. Family interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park with the grandsons as pallbearers.
Lord & Stephens, WEST, has charge of arrangements.