From the ball field to the boardroom to the Capitol, Tim Golden is living his childhood dreams. He is an eternal student, with a thirst for knowledge and a bookshelf of captivating stories. Elected to the State Transportation Board in 2013 to serve Congressional District 8, Golden is a team player whose life experiences guide his decisions as a member of the Board.
The gem of South Georgia. Golden spent the first 11 years of his life in Savannah, but Valdosta is home.
I have lived in Valdosta for more than 50 years. It’s a progressive community – one I never would have imagined I would get the honor to represent. I grew up playing baseball here and so did my son. It’s an incredible place.
A history of studying history. He majored in history and political science, two passions he uses for the betterment of Georgia.
My mother had a passion for history. Spending my childhood in Savannah, a city full of history, I suppose it rubbed off. Looking at my nightstand, if you don’t see a book on investments, you will see one on history. We should look at history as a guide - learn from past mistakes and adapt to better our future.
Unique to Georgia. GDOT’s State Transportation Board was established in 1966 during Gov. Carl Sanders’ time in office.
It’s a unique thing we’ve got with the Board. It provides a series of checks and balances and holds everyone accountable. It was an effort to get the politics out of transportation and I think it works. We’ve got a good thing going.
Health care, education and business. His love of politics led him to serve 24 years in the Georgia General Assembly championing efforts such as PeachCare for Kids, a sales tax holiday and the “Drugs Don’t Work” program.
I always looked at my job as doing two things – protecting the interests of my district and improving the state through pro-active, progressive legislation. Everything I did was in an effort to help local economies, businesses and citizens of Georgia.
Carrying on the legacy. After losing both his mother and his best friend, Jay Shaw, in the same week, Golden says April 20 is a day he will never forget.
Jay had just been re-elected to the Board when he passed away. He was like a brother to me. Jay’s son, Rep. Jason Shaw, asked me to consider running for the position in his dad’s honor. I can’t express what an honor it is to have been elected by the legislature to serve on this Board.
America’s pastime. Father/son bonding time is special, and for Golden it revolved around America’s favorite sport – baseball.
It was a sad day when I took the batting cage down in my backyard. Some of my favorite memories are sitting with my son, drinking Gatorade with sweat dripping off us after throwing 100 to 200 balls and just talking about life. I miss it. Baseball is a special sport with a special place in my heart.
Thinking differently. Autism is a unique diagnosis and those affected often see the world in a different light.
Visiting the Marcus Autism Center had such an impact on me. It inspired me to sponsor my final piece of legislation, SB 397, a bill requiring health insurance policies in Georgia to cover behavioral therapy for children six and under diagnosed with autism. One in 68 children is affected. Watching those children and their parents and seeing what they go through – It was eye opening.
Is it luck?My wife, Ellen, is a wonderful mother to our son. She is a lawyer and now a Lowndes County State Court Judge. She has been with me through some tough campaigns, and she makes me proud when I look at her strength and her accomplishments. I am proud of my son, Seth, for his accomplishments on the field and in the classroom. And my trusted lab, “Doc Holliday” – I look at them and think, how did I have such luck?
