Senator Thorborn “Ross” Tolleson, Jr. from the 20th District represents the citizens of Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Pulaski and Telfair counties. He also represents part
of Houston and Wilcox counties.

Sen. Tolleson, a Republican, serves as the chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment committee. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he serves as the chairman for the National Resources Subcommittee for Appropriations. Sen. Tolleson is secretary of the Veterans and Military Affairs committee. In addition, he serves as a member of the Rules committee and is an ex-officio member of the Regulated Industries and Homeland Security committee.

Sen. Tolleson was born in Perry, Georgia on April 26, 1956. He is the youngest of four children born to Mary Shannon Tolleson of Jeffersonville and Thorborn Ross Tolleson, Sr. of Perry. Maternal grandparents are the late James D. Shannon, Sr. and Lily Wall Shannon of Jeffersonville, Georgia. Paternal grandparents are the late Joseph Meade Tolleson, Sr. and Georgelle Smith Tolleson of Perry. Sen. Tolleson’s grandfather J. D. Shannon, Sr. served in the Georgia Legislature. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1915 and served four terms. He had a seat in the Senate in 1937, serving two
terms.

Sen. Tolleson graduated from the Westfield School, Perry, Georgia in 1975 where he was a member of the golf, football, and basketball teams. He attended the University of Georgia in Athens where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He returned to Perry where he was vice president of Tolleson Supply Company for 19 years. He is a financial advisor for UBS Paine Webber in Macon, Georgia. Ross and Lowell Shepley, also a Perry resident, are the founding partners of the Shepley-Tolleson Financial Group. He also holds the following professional certifications: life, variable annuity, and variable life licenses; Series 7 Securities license; Series 63 State Securities license; and Series 65 Investment Advisor’s license.

Sen. Tolleson was a founder of Crossroads Bank of Perry, Georgia which was chartered in 1986. He served on the Board of Directors for 12 years. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of Security Bank of Houston County. He is a member of the Perry Chamber of Commerce and was a former Director
of the Chamber Board. Ross also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Westfield Schools in 2000-2001. He is a former Exchange Club member and is a licensed pilot and scuba diver.

Sen. Tolleson is a member of the Perry United Methodist Church where he attends the John Wesley Sunday School class.

Sen. Tolleson is married to Sally Funk Tolleson of Perry. They have three children: a son, Trip and twin daughters, Ansley and Kelly.

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