Painter, William Calvin, Jr., 2003 October 21

This is a Living History interview with William C. “Bill” Painter, class of 1938, conducted by Marilyn Somers on October 21, 2003 at his home in Decatur, Georgia. The subject is Mr. Painter’s life and experiences at Georgia Tech.

Mr. Painter was born on February 23, 1917 in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother and father were Will and Ruby Painter, and he has a younger brother. He attended Grant Park School and John B. Gordon for elementary school, Bass Junior High School, and Tech High School. Mr. Painter was an average student and participated in the Sutton Literary Society and debate team. In 1934, he entered Georgia Tech with the help of George Griffin. He lived at home while attending in order to save money. He joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, was a member of the Glee Club, and worked to pay his tuition. Mr. Painter felt that most of his professors were exceptional, and he remembers many of them. When he graduated with an Industrial Management degree in 1938, he got a job with the SouthEastern Underwriters Association. In April of 1939, he finished a course at Tech that allowed him to receive a commission in the Army Reserves. Mr. Painter worked for the SouthEastern Underwriters Association until he was called into active duty on March 27, 1941. His time in active duty led him to Curasol, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. He was released from active duty in 1946 and then spent thirty-one total in the Reserves. He retired with the rank of Colonel and was awarded the Legion of Mary. Upon his return to Atlanta, he married Betty Farmer in Glenn Memorial Chapel. Mr. Painter once again began working for the SouthEastern Underwriters Association. He worked with them for forty-three total years. He also served on the commission for the city of Decatur a total of twelve years and was the Mayor Pro Tem for three. He is an avid traveler, very involved with the First Baptist Church of Decatur, and a Civil War historian. He has three daughters and seven grandchildren. In all, he has had a wonderful life.