Dr. R. Hunter Rackley, Sr. died April 18
Dr. Robert Hunter Rackley, Sr. of Millen died Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro. He practiced dentistry in Millen for more than 45 years and was a leader in his profession, his church and this community.

DR. RACKLEY, SR.

Dr. Rackley, born April 3, 1922 to the late Dr. and Mrs. Floyd Lawson Rackley, was educated in the Millen public schools and was a graduate of Middle Georgia College. He earned his DDS degree from Emory University in 1944 and served as a Naval dental officer during World War II before returning to Millen in 1947 to establish his dental practice.

He served as president of the Georgia Dental Association, the Georgia Academy of Dental Practice, of which he was a charter member, and the Southeastern Dental Society. He was a special investigator and president of the Georgia Board of Dentistry and served as a member of the Georgia delegation to the American Dental Association for 20 years. He was a member of the original faculty of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in Augusta and was a dental advisor to the CSRA and Georgia Dental Hygienists associations. In addition, he was a life member of the Eastern District Dental Society, the Southern Academy of Periodontology, the Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics, The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society, and was the organizer and charter president of the Pankey/Dawson Study Club for Advanced Dentistry. He represented dentistry on the national level by serving on the Health Committee of the First Congressional District of Georgia. He and his wife were the delegation leader/hosts of the threeweek Georgia Dental Leaders Goodwill People-to-People Travel Program to Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Honors and awards for his service to his profession include being elected an honorable fellow of the Georgia Dental Association, receiving the GDA president's award for distinguished service, and receiving the GDA Award of Merit, the highest honor the association can bestow upon a member. He was elected an honorable fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists and was the recipient of the Emory University Distinguished Alumnus Award and the award for meritorious contributions to dental education from the MCG School of Dentistry. The Pankey/Dawson Study Club chose to honor him by establishing the annual Hunter Rackley Seminar and presenting him the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A loyal supporter of Middle Georgia College, Dr. Rackley was alumni association president, presidents' club member, board member of the MGC Foundation and recipient of the school's first annual Distinguished Alumnus Award.

In his hometown, Dr. Rackley was a member of Millen Baptist Church where he was chairman of the Board of Deacons and chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee. He served as president of Millen Rotary Club and was honored by the club as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was chairman of the Jenkins County Board of Health for 25 years, chairman of the Jenkins County Board of Education, founder and charter president of the Jenkins County Health Professionals Association, member of Millen City Council, and chairman of the Fort Lawton-Little Buckhead Creek Watershed Project. He was also vice president and director of First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Sylvania, GA.

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. at Millen Baptist Church. Dr. Clifton F. Morris, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dublin, officiated. Interment was at Millen Cemetery. Pallbearers were the grandsons, and honorary pallbearers were deacons of Millen Baptist.

In addition to his parents, Hunter Rackley was preceded in death by his brother, William Floyd Rackley and his wife of almost 55 years, Frances Harwell Rackley. He is survived by his four sons and daughters-in-law, R. Hunter, Jr. and Pattie Rackley of Indianapolis, IN, J. Lawson and Kathy Rackley of Athens, Stewart C. and Gilda Rackley of Millen, and Scott H. and Karen Rackley of Macon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jan R. and Dr. Joseph F. Griffin of Millen, and Allison R. and Dr. Charles F. Cowart of Douglas; 15 grandchildren R. Hunter, III, Clay and Spencer Rackley of Indianapolis; Lauren R. and Bill McGouirk of Silver Springs, MD; Katie, J. Lawson, Jr., Kason and Lea Rackley of Athens; Anna G. and John T. Herrington, III and Sarah Griffin of Millen; Jacquelyn, Jonathan and Jackson Cowart of Douglas; Kyle and Emily Rackley of Macon; a sister, Kathryn R. Hale of Dalton; and a sister-in-law, Jane H. Salter of Thomaston.

Donations may be made to Millen Baptist Church, P. O. Box 827, Millen, GA 30442, Guido Evangelistic Association, P. O. Box 508, Metter, GA 30439, or to Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Foundation, Inc. School of Dentistry Building Fund, 919 Fifteenth St., Augusta, GA 30912.