Gridiron Secret Society

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Gridiron Secret Society, founded in 1908,[1] is a secret society at the University of Georgia. Gridiron is widely regarded as "the highest honor a male student may receive on the University of Georgia campus".[2][3]

Gridiron is believed to draw most of its membership from students,[4] faculty, and alumni of the University of Georgia, but a number of members have no known association with UGA. The society elects student members and non-student members called "honorary members" each fall and spring. Student members are drawn from various disciplines University-wide including but not limited to, the law school, Ag Hill, the Greek system and UGA athletics.[5] Honorary members are usually prominent leaders in government, law, medicine or business, mostly from Georgia and mostly associated with the state of Georgia. The Organization has extensive alumni participation, with well-attended banquets held in Athens twice each year, but its purposes and activities remain a closely guarded secret.

It is thought to have connections with certain structures and historic sites around the state and southern United States (Warm Springs, Georgia Guidestones, Georgia Capitol building), but its members do not publish any information, causing much speculation. The Organization is believed to be associated with other chapters and organizations which operate around the world under different names including Yale's Skull and Bones. Observers have noted the University of Georgia's first president Abraham Baldwin was a Yale graduate and likely member of Skull and Bones.[6]

Membership

The society's name is believed to be in reference to the playing field on which football is played, however "qualifications for membership and activities are known only to members." [7]

Known members include Vince Dooley,[8] President Jimmy Carter, Johnny Isakson, Saxby Chambliss, William B. Hartsfield,[9] Herschel Walker, Dean Rusk, U.S. Representative Jack Kingston, Governor Carl Sanders, Kasim Reed, Sonny Seiler,[10] Griffin Bell, George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Roy Barnes, Pat Swindall, Sonny Perdue, Ellis Arnall, Ernest Vandiver, Richard Russell, Jr., Sam Nunn, Herman Talmadge, Mack Mattingly, Max Cleland, Lewis Grizzard, Fran Tarkenton, Billy Payne,[11] Thurbert Baker, Charles S. Sanford, Jr., Bernard Ramsey, Harold G. Clarke,[12] Skip Caray, Frank Sinkwich, Dan Amos, Casey Cagle and every Governor of the state of Georgia since the 1930s.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Around Town: KSU 'crazies,' Newt share space in Ehrhart's cross hairs". The Marietta Daily Journal. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Collegiate secret societies in North America". 
  3. ↑ "Charles R. Rigdon obituary". Florida News Leader. 
  4. ↑ "Pandora". 
  5. ↑ "Pandora Yearbook - Class of 1950". 
  6. ↑ Smith, Gerald, Sr. "Abraham Baldwin (1754-1807)". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. 
  7. ↑ "Editor in Chief: Smith, Donald (April 23, 1955). "1955 UGA Pandora Yearbook". Pandora Yearbook. Retrieved 2009-02-28.". 
  8. ↑ "Preparations for G-Day End as Saturday Nears". The Red and Black. May 5, 1966. 
  9. ↑ "Gridiron Secret Society". The Red and Black. March 5, 1953. 
  10. ↑ "Meet Georgia's Top Dawg Sonny Seiler: This lawyer and author owns the state’s favorite canine". 
  11. ↑ "Elect Billy Payne". The Red and Black. April 18, 1968. 
  12. ↑ "Justice Harold G. Clarke (September 28, 1927 - February 26, 2013)". 
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