George Watson Camp

Blessed Beyond All Means: from Rural Georgia to the Corridors of Power George Watson Camp

In this memoir of a member of what has been called "The Greatest Generation," we have a firsthand account of a time so near and yet so far, a story of the highlights of the life of one member of that generation which, as Tom Brokaw said, "is a generation of towering achievement and modest demeanor, a legacy of their formative years when they were participants in and witness to sacrifices of the highest order." George Watson Camp was born on a farm four miles outside of Dallas, Georgia, the first of seven children. We read that "It was coming a flood" on the day he was born, and the doctor's horse had to swim across a swollen creek so that the doctor could arrive in time to assist. He grew up working hard, helping his father with the farming, getting up at 3:30 a.m. to feed the mules, chop firewood, and do other work around the farm until it was time to walk to school. Times were hard, but good food was plentiful and family and community ties strong and important. From this foundation, he went on to build a career that ultimately led to his appointment as postmaster of Atlanta and eventually to appointment to the Board of Governors of the U. S. Postal Service by President Jimmy Carter. It is fascinating to follow Camp's life as he grows from his life on the farm to his career in public service, as opportunities are offered to him by mentors who see his potential for a bright future before he had even begun to consider such possibilities. He was actually taken by surprise by his first job offer, but did immediately accept it and commit himself to succeeding. That pattern is repeated again and again as Camp moves onward and upward; while he does so, we often feel as if we are there-behind the scenes in Atlanta and Washington, D. C., and other places-as certain major and minor historical events unfold. While his upbringing and principles were no doubt vitally important factors in his career success, he also continually credits his beloved Martha for his rich family life. From beginning to end, the constant is that this prince of a man proceeds through it all with energy, joy, self-discipline, and this statement of his gratitude: "I am so blessed."