Don A. Grantham

Don Grantham was born in Augusta on December 26, 1938. He was an active student at ARC, including playing on the Varsity Football Team, serving as a Second Lieutenant in JROTC, a member of the Chorus, and a performer for the school theater. He also coached the Biddy League Basketball team to a Southeast Championship, taking them to the National Championship Game. He graduated from ARC in 1956.  After graduation, he attended Furman University and Augusta College. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA) in 1962.

 

After graduating, Mr. Grantham went to work with Georgia Pacific Corporation for several years. He married Carol Willcox. They have a daughter, Zoe Garwrych Paul, and a son, Dag, a retired Air Force F-16 pilot. In 1968, Mr. Grantham founded and became President and CEO of Forest Sales Corporation.

 

 Don was involved with several professional associations throughout his career, including the Southern Lumber Manufacturers Association, the National Hardwood Lumber Association, and the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, where he served on the Board of Directors from 1982 to 1993, and the Executive Committee from 1989 to 1993. He also served on the First Bank Board of Directors.

 

As a public servant, Don was deeply involved in public service, beginning with the Georgia Ports Authority from 1974 to 1984, including two terms as Chair. In 1991, he was elected to the Richmond County Commission and served until 1995. In 1998, he became a member of the Richmond County Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals. In 2003, he was once again elected as a member of the Augusta Commission, a position he held through 2010. From 2011 to 2017, he was a member of the Georgia Department of Transportation Board, including one term as Chair.

 

Mr. Grantham has also been active in local non-profit work, including the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board of Augusta (1975 to present), the Exchange Club of Augusta, including a term as President, the University Health Foundation Board, the Forest Hill Golf Club Committee Chair, the YWCA Board of Directors, the Augusta Museum of History Board of Directors, the Augusta University Medical College of Georgia Foundation Board, and the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce. He graduated from the Leadership Georgia program in 1977.

 

He has won numerous awards through the years, including Outstanding Alumnus of Augusta College (1989), Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in 1991, and in 2017, the Lester Moody Award of Excellence, from the Metro Chamber of Commerce, given for a Lifetime of Achievements and Contributions in Augusta.