Greer, John, 1909-1994.

John W. Greer was born March 25, 1909 in Ben Hill County, Georgia. He died March 18, 1994. A life-long democrat, Greer attended Emory University, married the former Martha Walker, and fathered six children. Greer's career in state politics began in 1939 when he became Clerk of the Georgia House of Representatives. Later that same year, he moved to the Governor's office as Secretary, a position he held until 1940. Greer served a number of years as State Representative (1945-1954 from rural Lanier County, and 1970-1989 from urban Fulton County) and as State Senator. As a legislator, he served on the MARTA overview committee. Two 1940s laws which "unmasked" the Ku Klux Klan and provided for statewide secret ballot elections are among Greer's legislative accomplishments. While a state senator, he served as Secretary of the General Assembly Committee on Schools. More commonly known as the Sibley Committee, this body determinded that resistance to school integration was a lost cause and recommended compliance with federal court orders on the matter.