The Cowans and the Farrs are

joined at the hip. That is a tradition older than this church ... and

even this city. Most think of that in connection with [Tom's father] Floy

and myself. But in the background of those many, many years ... there

was always Tom.

As we together search our memories

of this lovely man, I must necessarily get personal. I met him with his

father in 1957, when he was 15. Old-timers at the little bank in Tyrone

well remember his coming in every day and asking his father for a penny.

I never thought to ask him what he did with those pennies or when he stopped.

I followed his development

through his time at the University of Georgia where he had the vague idea

of becoming a doctor like his older brother Sonny. I wondered then how

these two guys could come from such a rural school and be such academic

achievers. He was drafted into the Army in an intelligence unit, later

doing a tour of duty in Vietnam.

When he got out, he decided

to get his MBA at Georgia State University and he started working for

me in Atlanta part-time between classes. It became a case of pumping each

other for information, as he was curious about my activities and I was

trying to learn what he was learning at Georgia State.

After getting his degree, he

joined me full time at Phipps Land Company working on Peachtree City and

other projects as a financial analyst. We also stayed close to the affairs

at the bank with Floy.

The earliest computers were

beginning to be used and he was among the first to apply those expanded

capabilities to finance. He built a complex real estate cost allocation

model for Peachtree City and the other projects which Price Waterhouse

used with other clients. He became incredibly supportive and valuable

to me ... always preferring to stay in the background. Work was his life

and the folks there his extended family.

In the mid-'60s, Floy and I

managed to buy the bank Floy was running in Tyrone, and, getting a charter,

we named it The Fayette State Bank and moved it to Peachtree City.

When I left Phipps in 1976,

Tom left with me, and we opened a small office across the railroad on

Highway 54. From there, we built other projects and became more active

with the bank as he became increasingly interested in banking specifically.

I think he figured out early on that banks were "where the money

was" and he liked the "other side of the desk" from my

constant borrowing position. And, of course, there was no better mentor

for banking than his own father.

We expanded the bank building

to what it is today (now Bank of America's main Peachtree City office)

and moved all of our activities there.

In those early days, there

were few commercial businesses in Peachtree City and the bank was, in

fact, the center of activity. It had a lot to do with the social, as well

as the business fabric of the city. Fayette State had a remarkable group

of folks, many of whom are here today, that made this all the more central.

While that operation was unquestionably

the province of Floy, Tom began to play an increasingly important role

there ... but still in his comfort zone of being the guy behind the scenes.

This group was, for him, truly an extended family ... and large enough

to embrace people both inside and outside the bank. I believe Tom, just

like his father, learned to look at almost everything through the lenses

of what is in the best interest of individual families and the overall

community.

As time and growth continued,

it was clear that we were not large enough to keep pace with the capital

needs of the city, and jointly decided to sell to a larger institution.

This already emotional decision was all the more so for Tom. I, of course,

wanted him to follow me on my endless wanderings through the business

and political world. But, he also had the opportunity to join the larger

bank and develop his skills as a banker and get out from under the shadow

of Floy and me.

He chose the large-bank career

which soon led him to run the branch which was, in essence the old Fayette

State Bank.

In that phase of his life,

he had also become more socially active and fate placed him with his first,

and only, love: Wendie. At once, his respect and love of family was fulfilled

as his unending love embraced Matthew and Whitney. In that instant, there

was another loving father, grandmother and grandfather ... just as though

it had always been. What could have been an awkward time evolved into

a beautiful, loving relationship, largely due to this remarkable person.

Everyone instinctively knew

that Tom's work with the big bank would not last long after the first

call to move to Atlanta was issued. For this made him leave the extended

family and community focus that was such a part of his life. And so, coming

full circle, he joined Ron Duffey and his group at Peachtree National

Bank where he was back at home, and associated with many of the same people

as before.

In addition, he took increasing

frontline community positions in this church, civic institutions and government.

As he had always contributed so much to these groups without credit, it

was fun to watch him come into frontline leadership.

No matter who he worked for,

I always felt an incredibly strong bond with Tom. He continued as an advisor

and confidant in civic and business matters. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I

like to believe that if, at any point, I had called him and said, "Tom,

I've got this idea and I want you to join me in carrying it out,"

I believe he would have done it. I know for certain that I or my family

would have had his support if I was in trouble.

He was the true Servant-Leader

in whom many, not just myself, placed unlimited trust in his character

and judgment. If we needed someone to serve as a trustee, an executor

or advisor ... it was always Tom. He was therefore written into many wills,

including my own.

Anyone knowing me knows that

I have an idea a minute. Tom, on the other hand, was a great balance to

this character flaw. Tom would always be ahead of me. For as I was telling

him something, you could hear him finishing my sentences with an understanding,

but impatient mumble. And, while totally loyal, cooperative and willing

to go along, he had a unique way of telling me when I was off my rocker.

He would get this pained expression on his face that I came to recognize

as the time to back off. He would never say, "You're crazy"

as I most often deserved, for his words would all be soft and reasonable.

The face said it all.

Since he always worked in the

background, and routinely gave someone else the credit, most people will

never know the total contribution to individual well-being and quality

of life we enjoy here as a result of Tom's passing this way.

He will be greatly missed by

so many, many people.

Symbolic of the way I closed

most conversations with him, let me close here by saying one last time

... "Thanks, Tom."

[Joel Cowan was the founding

chairman of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and currently

heads the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.]