Godsey to work for the speaker

The Speaker of the House has named Kirby Godsey, who may be the most respected quasi-political figure in Macon (I think he cures diseases and fights crime in his spare time), as a policy adviser.

I've never been to an event where Godsey spoke that people didn't absolutely gush afterward. The Speaker's office says it won't be a paid position and he won't have a specialty, just be an adviser.

The press release:

ATLANTA – Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) today announced that R. Kirby Godsey will serve as his senior policy advisor to the Office of the Speaker.

From July 1, 1979 to June 30, 2006 Dr. Godsey served as the seventeenth president of Mercer University and now serves as University Chancellor.

Mercer had four colleges and schools when Dr. Godsey became president in 1979. During his tenure, Mercer established seven new colleges and schools; the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, the School of Medicine, the School of Engineering, the Tift College of Education, the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology, the Townsend School of Music and moved the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing to Macon.

“I am very honored that Dr. Godsey will be in the position of policy advisor for me and my office. He has made great achievements during his career and I know that his knowledge and talents will be a great asset here in the Capitol,” said Richardson

Dr. Godsey earned his Bachelor's Degree in history and religion from Samford University, his master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, his master of arts in philosophy from the University of Alabama, and his doctor of philosophy from Tulane University. He holds honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from the University of South Carolina, Samford University, and Campbell University, and an honorary doctor of laws from Averett University.