For Immediate Release
Contact: Public Relations 404-969-4001

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Muholland Receives Public Service Award

Joe Mulholland, District Attorney for the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, was recently awarded the Executive Director’s Public Service Award by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. The announcement was made on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at the 47th Annual Summer Conference held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia, and sponsored by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council.

“The Executive Director’s Public Service Award recognizes extraordinary commitment to the communities which are served by the recipient,” said Rick Malone, the Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia. “Public service doesn’t keep regular hours,” said Malone.

Mulholland was nominated for the award by his office staff. The award was presented in front of approximately 900 conference attendees. Malone continued by reading from the nomination letter that was submitted by Mulholland’s staff.

“After Hurricane Katrina, Joe saw that people were doing a lot to help the larger towns struck by the storm, but he didn’t see much help going to the smaller places,” said the nomination letter read by Rick Malone. “He decided he wanted to do something for a small town, like the small towns he serves in Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, and Grady and Mitchell Counties. Pascagoula, Mississippi, a city that sustained serious damage from the August 2005 hurricane was chosen as the town Joe wanted to adopt, which lead to the beginning of the “Adopt-A-Town” initiative. His idea caught on fast, and the Adopt-A-Town Relief Effort was soon in full swing,” read Malone.

“He closed a couple of offices in his building and consolidated the operations at his Bainbridge office,” said his office staff. “Churches began to join in the effort by donating much- needed goods. Radio stations, retail stores, s heriff’s departments and private citizens from five counties collected food and supplies. Cairo , Georgia provided a warehouse to store the supplies. Trucking instructors from Bainbridge College drove tractor-trailers loaded with the donations to Pascagoula. Joe consistently made rounds to solicit help from groups for the things Pascagoula needed. He also convinced the sheriff’s departments in the South Georgia Judicial Circuit to send deputies to help in the cleanup effort and to assist law enforcement officers in Pascagoula for several months,” said the nomination letter.

“Approximately 6,000 people were still homeless in late October, living in tents and on the streets,” read the letter. “Volunteers from Joe’s circuit remained in Pascagoula to help feed between 700-1,000 people each day — more than two months after Hurricane Katrina hit.”

“When Thanksgiving arrived, under Joe’s leadership, the people of the South Georgia Judicial Circuit shared their Thanksgiving bounty. Turkeys, prepared dinners and other needed items were delivered to the people of Pascagoula,” said his office staff.

Malone continued reading the nomination letter. “As the weather began to get colder, and December arrived, the victims of the hurricane asked for Bibles. They were sent. But, Joe, ever mindful of the welfare of a child, knew that the holiday season was fast approaching. He worked with sheriff’s offices, churches, clubs, schools, a college and the Marine Corps to collect two semi-truck loads of Christmas toys. Joe and his many “elves” arrived in Pascagoula, on schedule, with a toy for every child,” said his office.

“He continued sending truckloads of supplies filled with items that were needed by the people of Pascagoula for nearly a year” said his staff. “Total donations included in the five separate trips amounted to more than $350,000 in food, supplies and cash, as well as countless manpower hours.”

Joe Mulholland’s office staff submitted three pages of Mulholland’s accomplishments to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for review. His other accomplishments include mentoring at-risk students at the Performance Learning Center Alternative School; coaching a Mock Trial team that finished second in regional competition this year; starting a child advocacy center that is scheduled to open later this year; lobbying for and against significant legislation at the State Capitol; and he lobbied for and received $70,000 in grants to start a domestic violence awareness program in his circuit.

“Georgia’s prosecution community is very proud of Joe and his staff,” said Malone. “It is with great pride that the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council presents the Executive Director’s Public Service Award to Joe Mulholland, District Attorney for the South Georgia Circuit.”