ATLANTA — On Jan. 16, the Georgia House of Representatives issued a resolution to honor the life and memory of Abit Massey, a legend in the Georgia poultry industry, being the longtime president and president emeritus of the Georgia Poultry Federation. Massey passed in June 2024 at the age of 96.
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns presented Massey’s son, Lewis, and some of the Massey family with the resolution at the Georgia State Capitol. At the presentation, Burns and Lewis Massey shared kind words and loving memories about Abit and his dedication to Georgia and its people.
“Mr. Abit knew your name,” Burns said. “That’s one of the things that was always so special about him, and he wanted to know about you. He wanted to know about your family, where you came from, what you did. But it wasn’t forgotten, because the next time you spoke to him, he remembered and he talked to you about things that were important to you.”
“Every single day he was at this capitol, he was joyful, and his legacy will live on thanks to you and others at the state capital,” Lewis said. “[Abit] did live a wonderful, fortunate, lucky life, and we are here to thank you for this recognition.”
Massey started his career in public service as executive secretary to then-Georgia Attorney General Gene Cook before being appointed by Georgia Gov.-Elect Ernest Vandiver as the director of the state Department of Commerce, the resolution stated.
However, his career and legacy quickly became synonymous with the Georgia poultry industry once he became executive director of the Georgia Poultry Federation in 1960. His work and dedication helped make Georgia the industry leader that it is today, creating a lucrative industry for the state and a reliable source of income for Georgia farmers.
“He did a great job of being responsible for the great success of that industry that’s so crucial to our state and the well-being of so many families around all of our state, not just in Northeast Georgia,” Burns added.
He led the GPF until 2009 when he became the president emeritus, which allowed him to stay involved with the federation without his previous executive power.
The resolution highlights many of Massey’s accomplishments, including the University of Georgia Distinguished Alumni Merit Award, the Blue Key Service Award, and the inaugural Medallion of Honor from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He also met seven presidents of the United States, including Georgia’s own Jimmy Carter.
In addition to Massey’s family, Mike Giles, current GPF president, attended the presentation of the resolution. Giles and Massey worked together for several years at the federation.
“The House of Representative’s tribute to Abit was very special and appreciated by all who knew and loved Abit,” Giles said. “Abit’s legacy was intertwined with the Capitol for over 70 years, so it was very meaningful for the acknowledgement of his life’s work to take place at the state capitol.”
Abit Massey was a one-of-a-kind man who spent his years dedicated to the betterment of Georgia and its people. This resolution is the perfect way to honor his legacy and remind everyone of how much he did for his state and his community.
