John Thomas (Tom) Minor Iii

Mr. John Thomas (Tom) Minor III, 85, of Dalton departed this life on the 24th day of January, 2015.

He is survived by loving wife of 59 years, the former Ida Rogers, their three children, namely R. Blaine Minor and wife Sara-Ellen, Lynn Minor Bailey and husband Chris, John Thomas (Tom) Minor IV and his wife Martha; seven grandchildren, namely Benjamin and Kathleen Minor, Shannon and Matthew Bailey, Laura Bailey Wilson and husband Kenny, Christopher Minor and wife, Brenna, and John T. Minor V and wife Laura; and by six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Bryan Minor Ratcliffe.

Tom was a graduate of Dalton High School and received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at Mercer University. He received post-graduate training at the Army Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia Law School and following his full time service as a Judge Advocate Officer in the Army during the Korean Conflict he moved to Dalton to be in his uncle Oliver R. Hardin’s law firm in 1954.

Tom practiced law for more than 50 years in Dalton after his discharge from the Army first with his uncle’s law firm known as Hardin & McCamy and later known as McCamy, Minor, Phillips & Tuggle. In 1983 he formed, along with his eldest son, Tom Minor IV, the law firm now known as Minor, Bell & Neal. His special expertise was that of a trial lawyer and an expert in healthcare law.
Tom was proud of his military service having enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard as a private while in law school. He left the Guard to serve in the Army Reserve as a First Lieutenant on active duty with the Judge Advocate General’s Corp during the Korean Conflict. While in the Army as a prosecutor, he learned and received the foundation to become a trial lawyer. At the end of the Korean Conflict, he joined the Headquarters of the 48th Armored Division, Georgia Army National Guard, as a Judge Advocate Officer. He later was stationed at State Headquarters of the Georgia Army National Guard. During his part-time National Guard Career, he rose to the rank of Full Colonel at retirement.

Tom was an active member of the Dalton First United Methodist Church, formerly serving as a member of its Administrative Board and Superintendent of its Sunday School. He also was a part-time Sunday School Teacher.

Tom was extremely active in the civic and political life of Dalton and Whitfield County. In his early years of law practice he was the Assistant Solicitor General of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, and later a Special Deputy Assistant to the Attorney General of the State of Georgia. In addition, he served as the attorney for Whitfield County off and on for 20 years and was Legal Counsel to Hamilton Medical Center for over 30 years. There are over 50 recorded cases in the Georgia Reports of cases that Minor tried. He was a former member of the Whitfield County Democratic Executive Committee. Some, but not all, of his community involvements were past Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Dalton Federal Saving and Loan Association, former member and Young Man of the Year of the Jaycees, former member of the Benevolent and Charitable Protective Order of Elks, former Government Appeal Agent of the Selective Service System, past Director and President of the Georgia Academy of Hospital Attorneys, one of the original Trustees of Dalton State College Foundation, past Trustee and Secretary-Treasurer of the Dalton Whitfield County Hospital Authority, member and past Commander of American Legion Post 112, member, past director, Vice President and President of the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, member, past Director and President of the Rotary Club of Dalton, past Director and Vice President of Dalton Golf and Country Club, former Legal Advisor to the Selective Service Board of Dalton, past President of the Cherokee Area Estate Planning Council, former member of the National Executive Committee of the American Legion, former member of the Board to Determine Fitness for Bar Applicants appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia, and former initial member of the Board of Directors of The Greenhouse.

Memorial services will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Dalton First United Methodist Church with Dr. Robin Lindsey and Dr. Joe Peabody officiating.

The family will receive friends in the atrium of the church on Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Dalton First United Methodist Church, 500 S. Thornton Ave, Dalton, Ga. 30720 or to the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 1168 Dalton GA 30722-1168.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave, Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.