This Day in Georgia History
January 10, 1967
Lester Maddox Elected Governor General Assembly
Lester Maddox was elected governor by the Georgia Assembly. In the 1966 general election Maddox, a Democrat, had faced Republican Bo Callaway. Callaway won more votes than Maddox, but because of write-in votes for Ellis Arnall, he did not receive a majority of the total votes. According to provisions of the state constitution then in effect, the election was placed in the hands of the General Assembly. On Jan. 10, the overwhelmingly Democratic legislature selected Maddox, who was sworn into office the same day. See Sept. 30 entry for biographical information on Maddox.
