Retired Librarian Leaves Estimated $4M Fortune to UGA Libraries in Athens, Ga.

Native Athenian Sidney Samuel Thomas gave money to the UGA Libraries for years. But after Thomas died last year, library officials learned he had amassed a fortune worth $4 million. And that he was leaving it all to them, according to a story in the Athens Banner Herald.

Chantel Dunham, director of development for the libraries, says Thomas's gift is the largest the libraries have received. He also gave the library $1 million to help build the new Richard Russell Special Collections Building, and also donated a huge collection of biographies.

According to the story, there will be an estate sale on Saturday, beginning at 9am, at Thomas' modest Five Points home, at 545 Cloverhurst Avenue. The curious will find that the retired Georgia State librarian, who never married, had a keen eye for lovely, well-made things, as well as for books.