Deal appoints 17 to boards

Earl Graham, Construction Industry Licensing Board -- Electrical Contractors

Graham is the current president of Grayco Electrical, Inc. He is past president of the Legends Business Owners Club, Fellowship of Businessman and the 1836 Club. He and his wife, Patricia Ann, have four children. They reside in Braselton.

Hal Cosper, Construction Industry Licensing Board -- Electrical Contractors (reappointment)

Cosper is the chief building official for the City of Marietta. He holds state licenses for conditioned air and refrigerant recovery and recycling, and is a licensed electrical contractor and auto emission advanced specialist. His professional memberships include the American Public Works Association, Atlanta Electrical Contractors, Building Officials Association of Georgia, Metro Atlanta Inspectors Association and NW Georgia Inspectors Association. He is past president and founder of Northwest Georgia Inspectors Association and past president of Building Officials Association of Georgia. He and his wife, Janet, have three children and two grandchildren. They reside in Marietta.

Laura M. Eubanks, Child Advocate Advisory Board (reappointment)

Eubanks is a school social worker for Gwinnett County Public Schools. She previously served as program manager for the Child Protection Center and as director of Behavioral Health Services for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and has also served as district vice president and then president for the School Social Workers of Georgia. She has served as a board and executive committee member for Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia, on the Gwinnett Interagency Council for Treatment and Prevention, and the Fulton County Child Abuse Protocol Committee. Eubanks earned bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a graduate degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Mark, have two children. They reside in Gwinnett County.

Brad Ray, Child Advocate Advisory Board (reappointment)

Ray is the deputy chief marketing and brand management officer of National CASA. He is the former chief executive officer of SOWEGA CASA and the Southwest Georgia Children’s Alliance, Inc. He serves on the Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia Board. He is a 2007 recipient of the President’s Call to Service Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the White House for volunteer service. Ray earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. He resides in Americus.

Charles Bass, Jr., Board of Physical Therapy

Bass owns and practices at Bass Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. He is a member and past president of the Dublin Exchange Club and chairman for the annual pancake dinner during the city’s St. Patrick’s Day activities. He has served on the board of directors for the AFAC Lighthouse, Trinity Christian School and the Dublin Country Club. He and his wife, Denise, have two children. They reside in Dublin.

Dorothy Gaskin, Board of Physical Therapy (reappointment)

Gaskin is currently the compliance manager for the Rehabilitation Institute at Memorial Health University Medical Center. She has more than 30 years of experience in the field of physical therapy. Gaskin earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Clemson University. She and her husband, David, reside in Savannah with their son.

David M. G. Maschke, Board of Architects and Interior Designers (reappointment)

Maschke became a Georgia registered architect in 1981 and a Georgia registered interior designer in 1985. His Albany-based firm, Maschke Associates, is primarily engaged in the design of commercial, educational, medical, governmental and low/moderate income housing. He has received various awards for service to the architecture profession and design awards for renovation and rehabilitation projects. Maschke earned a master’s degree in Public Architecture from Tulane University. He and his wife, Carolyn, have one daughter. They reside in Albany.

Mary E. Watkins, Board of Chiropractic Examiners (reappointment)

Watkins is the president and owner of Watkins Total Healthcare, LLC. She has served on the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Gainesville Rotary Board. She currently serves as secretary on the William Harris Foundation Board. Watkins earned a bachelor’s degree from Black Hawk College and a doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. She and her husband, Jerry, have three children. They reside in Gainesville.

Walter Young, Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission

Young is a practicing dentist, Georgia licensed insurance broker, international business consultant and is a former Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Liberia. He serves on the Police Athletic League and the License and Review Committee for the City of Atlanta, and volunteers for the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA. Young also serves as a board member of Parents 1st Tee Golf Program and is a former board member of the Martin Luther King Center. He is an active member of the First Congregational Church. Young earned a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace College and a graduate degree from Howard University. He resides in Atlanta.

Rick A. Thompson, Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (reappointment)

Thompson heads the political consultancy firm RTA Strategy, as well as technology units TransparencyPro and FrontRunner. He is the former executive secretary for the Georgia Ethics Commission. Thompson is a member of the Council of Government Ethics Laws, where he actively serves on various committees. He also serves as an adjunct professor teaching Ethics in Criminal Justice. Thompson is a veteran of the Marine Corps and is active on the state and national level of the Marine Corps League. He and his wife, Aly, have two daughters. They reside in Roswell.

Gary Bishop, Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority (reappointment)

Bishop retired as president from CB&T Bank after 39 years of service. He is a member of the Perry Rotary Club and has accumulated 35 years of perfect attendance. Bishop earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Lynda, have three children and five grandchildren. They reside in Perry.

Kenneth Farmer, Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council

Farmer currently serves as a lieutenant in the Fire Training Center with Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services. He has been involved in fire service since 1991 as a volunteer with the Morgan County Fire Department and a career firefighter with the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services. Farmer is a member of the Georgia Search and Rescue Team, the Task Force One in Gainesville and is a former EMT/paramedic. He and his wife, Valerie, have three children. They reside in Madison.

Steve Wirth, Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council

Wirth retired after 26 years of service as the fire chief of the Paris Fire Department in Illinois. He currently serves as the fire chief/EMA director of Heard County Fire & Emergency Services. Wirth serves on the hospital board for Heard County, advisory board for the Fire Science degree at West Georgia Technical College, advisory board for the EMS program at West Georgia Tech College and the Region 4 EMS Advisory Committee. Wirth earned an associate’s degree in Fire Science from John Woods Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife, Mary, have two children and three grandchildren. They reside in Centralhatchee.

Kerry Smith, Board of Nursing Home Administrators

Smith is the director of Long Term Care at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. He serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Health Care Association. Kerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Cindy, have two children. They reside in Demorest.

Kay Norris Watkins, Board of Nursing Home Administrators

Watkins is a retired paralegal with 24 years of real estate closing experience with McCalla, Raymer, Padrick in Atlanta. She has been very involved with her community as a volunteer, including serving as a distribution site coordinator for the MUST Ministries summer lunch program. She and her husband, Tim, have one son. They reside in Marietta.

Holly Thaw, Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians

Thaw is the supervisor of menus and wellness for Fulton County Schools, School Nutrition Department. She serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Dietetic Foundation and is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Thaw earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Jay, live in Atlanta.

Walter J. “Joe” Westbury, Board of Funeral Service

Westbury is the current owner and operator of Sherrell-Westbury Funeral Home and Jackson Monument and Vault Co. He is a former co-owner of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Westbury serves as chair of the Butts County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Partners for Smart Growth Board of Directors. He also serves on the City of Jackson Downtown Development Authority and is a member of the Jackson-Butts County Rotary Club. Westbury graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He and his wife, Drew, have four children. They reside in Griffin.