Powell, Jody, 1943-2009

Joseph Lester Powell, also known as Jody Powell, was born on September 30, 1943 in Vienna, Georgia. He attended the U. S. Air Force Academy from 1961 to 1964 and graduated with a B.A. in political science from Georgia State University in 1966. He attended graduate school at Emory University from 1967 to 1970. He was an aide to Jimmy Carter in the 1970 Georgia gubernatorial campaign and served as press secretary to Governor Jimmy Carter from 1971 to 1975. He was press secretary in Carter's 1976 presidential campaign, and served as White House press secretary in the Carter administration from 1977 to 1981. Since 1981, he has been a syndicated newspaper columnist and television news analyst for various agencies, including ABC News in Washington, 1982 to 1987, and columnist for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1982 to 1987. He published The Other Side of the Story in 1984, and from 1985 to 1986 he was a professor at Boston College. He served as chairman and CEO of several companies, including Powell Adams & Rinehart in Washington, 1987 to 1991; Powell Tate in Washington, 1991 to 1999; and Shandwick Public Affairs since 1999.