Dougherty County to Hold Dedication Ceremony for Radium Springs Memorial on Thursday
PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT:
WENDY HOWELL
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
229.302.3006 or 229.854.0006
Dougherty County to Hold Dedication Ceremony for Radium Springs Memorial on Thursday
DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA - Dougherty County will be holding a Dedication Ceremony for the Radium Springs Memorial on Thursday, October 22, 2020, beginning at 10 a.m. beside the gazebo at the Radium Springs Garden. The new Memorial commemorates the five lives that were lost at Radium Springs in the January 22, 2017 tornadoes.
The Memorial features a 12-foot column with a steel wrapping all the way around with the names and birthdates of the five individuals whose lives were lost in the storm. Those residents include Major Paul J. Freeman (July 15, 1935), Patricia Ann Gohman (Nov. 28, 1939), Cathy McMahan Mosley (Nov. 26, 1957), James Edward Mosley (July 24, 1957), and Oscar Reyna (May 16, 1978). Welcome and acknowledgments will be provided by Christopher S. Cohilas, Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners, followed by remarks from Commissioner Edwards, District 2 and Commissioner for the Radium Springs area, Michael McCoy, County Administrator, and a family representative from each of the five families who are in attendance at the ceremony.
“The tornado that occurred on January 22, 2017 brought massive destruction to Radium Springs and to this part of Dougherty County,” said Christopher S. Cohilas, Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners. “It is our hope that this Memorial will bring honor and remembrance to these five lives that were so tragically lost that day.”
Designed by Ron Huffman, senior principal of Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure Solutions, the erection of the memorial also incorporated renovations to the gazebo and ticket booth, which were severely damaged from the storm. Construction work was completed on the entire project by LRA Constructors, Inc. Although the fencing expansion will not be complete in time for tomorrow’s ceremony, the additional green space will allow for Dougherty County Public Works to expand on the beautification of the grounds around the Memorial and beyond, including the replanting of the native camellias that had to be uprooted for the construction.
