Special to The City Menus By: Carrollton City Schools
A decades-long public servant whose loyalty to Carrollton City Schools was steadfast and strong is being remembered for his unrelenting support for his alma mater, setting the stage, through deliberate action, for a better future for his fellow Trojans.
James “Jimmy” C. Pope, M.D., who was the longest-serving member of the Carrollton Board of Education, passed away on Feb. 7 at his home in Carrollton. He was 80 years old.
Pope moved to Carrollton when he was just 3 years old. He attended Carrollton City Schools, graduating in 1962, and was an accomplished student and athlete. He was a member of two state champion teams his senior year in football and baseball and, after graduation, went on to then-West Georgia College to earn a math degree before heading to the Medical College of Georgia to study medicine, followed by years of study, medical residencies and training, and four years as a U.S. Army surgeon.
Even though he had the world by the tail and the capacity to do great things just about anywhere, Pope always knew he would make his difference on this earth in his hometown of Carrollton. In 1978, he joined the Carrollton Surgical Group practice and for the next 36 years, until his retirement in 2014, thousands of Carroll County residents were under his care. Yet, despite a busy practice, providing for his family, and holding leadership positions in the medical arena, he sought more.
Pope took his oath of office as a member of the Carrollton Board of Education in October 1983, succeeding another long-time board member, Dr. T.E. Reeve, who retired from public service. Pope served consecutive terms well into his 37th year, making him the longest-serving board member in Carrollton City Schools history.
When Pope first ran for office on Sept. 6, 1983, it was the only time he faced opposition. In a Sept. 1 election preview article in the Times-Georgian featuring the results of a candidates questionnaire sponsored by the Carrollton/Carroll County League of Women Voters, Pope summed up his campaign platform:
“There should be more emphasis on basic educational skills such as math, English and basic sciences,” Pope wrote. “Advanced study in math and science should be more readily available. The community must be made aware of the importance of good public education and be encouraged to participate in the decisions made to improve public education. The school system must be made aware of changing requirements in the job market and modify its studies as necessary.”
Providing quality academic offerings certainly was a focus of his leadership, but so was creating a long-term plan to move all schools to one central campus, a challenge considering all schools were in different locations throughout the city. The plan came to fruition when the board secured property adjacent to Carrollton High School, a controversial decision at the time that is widely appreciated today.
During his long tenure on the board, 18 years as chairman, Pope was personally involved in the decision-making of every school site, from Carrollton Junior High School’s 1986 construction to the final phases of the new replacement Carrollton High School in 2019. He also was an instrumental player at the state level as a member of the Georgia School Boards Association, serving as president in 2010-2011.
In 2018, Pope was named a recipient of the Carrollton High School Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor shared by other exceptional CHS graduates. At a recognition held that spring, it was noted that Pope’s dedication to the school system sounded simple on the surface, but to many, his reasoning was a cornerstone of the community’s strength.
“The schools really are one of the primary things that make Carrollton such a great place to live,” Pope said in a 2014 feature article about his professional retirement. “The city has changed drastically since I was 3 years old, but it has always had great schools and I think it always will.”
On Dec. 10, 2019, Pope retired as a board member and closed his last meeting as chairman. At that meeting, board members reflected on the role Pope played in their own journey as public servants, crediting Pope for his straight-forward mentoring style that proved to be impactful.
Dr. Jason Mount, who represents Ward 3, noted he first met Pope when he came to Carrollton as a new emergency room physician for Tanner Health. Pope served as his mentor in that role as well as when Mount joined the school board in January 2010.
“One of the key things he taught us as school board members is to let school administrators and teachers – the education professionals – do what they think is best in the classroom. He made sure we understood that it is the school board’s job to ensure policies and resources are in place to support them,” said Mount. “This wisdom has prevented Carrollton from having a divided school board. I can say all school districts are not like this.”
Current Carrollton City Schools Supt. Dr. Mark Albertus is the fifth superintendent to work under Pope’s leadership. He notes Pope impacted more than education in the community.
“Dr. Pope’s 36-year career as a general surgeon and the leadership roles he held as a public servant and as a professional were time-consuming commitments that few of us volunteer to do,” said Albertus. “He had been an important mentor to me, sharing institutional knowledge, giving hard advice when necessary, while demonstrating his support of the school system at all costs. He will be missed, but his legacy continues.”
