Donald J. Carter, President of Don Carter Realty, was presented a special community award for service to Gainesville-Hall County and the State of Georgia. Carter recently retired from 29 years of service as a Board Member for Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources.
He served terms under five governors, as the Board’s chairman and was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to chair Preservation 2000, which has preserved over 100,000 acres in the state. He chaired the North Georgia Mountains Authority, which oversaw Smithgall Woods, Unicoi, and Brasstown Valley Resort.
An advocate for proper management of our states’ wildlife resources, he was recognized as Conservationist of the Year in 1996 by the Georgia Wildlife Federation and by Governor Joe Frank Harris in 1987 with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Land Conservation Stewardship.
Locally, Carter was instrumental in working to preserve the 1,000 acre N. Browning Property for a park, funding for Ivey-Watson Complex (with wife Lucile) and increasing water allocations for the City of Gainesville to provide much needed water for growth and economic development.
Serving as Chairman of the Greater Hall Chamber in 1964, Carter’s service to our community over the years has provided a good mix of pro-development and pro-environment.