Honoring David Ralston: Kemp Orders Flags At Half-Staff

ATLANTA, GA — Gov. Brian Kemp ordered Thursday flags to be flown half-staff on all state buildings and grounds in honor of the late Georgia House Speaker David Ralston.

Flags are to be flown through sunset on the day of Ralston's interment.

Ralston died Wednesday due to an "extended illness," Kaleb McMichen, Ralston's communication director, said in a statement.

He was the longest currently-serving state house speaker in the country.

According to the governor, Ralston will lie in state in the Georgia State Capitol's rotunda.

In an executive order, Kemp said Ralston was a Gilmer County native who "was proud to serve his community as the first state house speaker from North Georgia in more than 150 years."

Ralston was originally from Blue Ridge and had two children with his wife, Sheree, Kemp said.

He was an attorney and was an active member of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, according to his biography.

He committed himself to serving Georgians and putting the interests of the state first while serving in both the Georgia Senate and the House of Representatives, Kemp said.

Ralston served in the U.S. Senate from 1992-98. He was named the 2010 Georgian of the Year by Georgia Trend magazine, according to his biography.

He served as an executive committee member for the National Speakers Conference, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Southern Legislative Conference, according to his biography. He is the former chairman of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee and vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

He was responsible for key bipartisan legislation such as adoption reform and the Mental Health Parity Act, Kemp said.

"As we mourn his death, we will also honor the monumental legacy he leaves by striving to always put service above self and bring honor and decency into our public lives," Kemp said in the order.

In a statement, Attorney General Chris Carr said Ralston was "a true statesman." Carr said Ralston was the standard for decorum, leadership and consensus building.

"David Ralston's wisdom was surpassed only by the kindness he showed others, and I feel blessed to have called him my friend," Carr said. "His support of economic development, public safety and mental health reform will leave a lasting impact on our state that will benefit Georgians for generations to come. Joan and I extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Sheree, and their entire family and keep them in our prayers during this incredibly difficult time."