From collection Member List
Education: Entered The University of Georgia in October of 1882 with his younger brother Robert Maxwell Harbin. Tom Harbin chose Phi Kappa literary society while his brother chose Demosthenian. Brother Harbin was the business manager for The University Reporter, a weekly publication of the two literary societies.
With his brother Robert and five others, he was a “Second Founder” of the Kappa Deuteron Chapter in 1884. Tom, then a junior, was initiated April 26, 1884, when the chapter received its charter. He was an officer of the Chapter in 1885. Graduate, Bachelor of Arts, The University of Georgia, June 16, 1885.
Thomas W. Harbin was elected Ordinary Judge (now called probate judge) of Gordon County, Georgia in January of 1893 and served until 1904. He was secretary of the Georgia state association of ordinaries in 1894.
In July of 1914, Judge Harbin announced his candidacy for Georgia state Senate. The Calhoun Times Calhoun, Georgia, Thursday, July 30, 1914, p. 4:
Judge Harbin has been a leader in public affairs for the past twenty years. He was ordinary of the county for twelve years and filled the office to the satisfaction of the voters and the benefit of the county. His long experience in politics, his thorough knowledge of the needs of the people, and his wide and influential acquaintance throughout the state qualify him for the great responsibilities of the office of Senator.”
Harbin won the Democratic nomination for the Georgia 43rd Senate District on August 19, 1914 and ran unopposed in the general election on November 3, 1914, elected to represent parts of Gordon and Whitfield counties until 1917. On September 12, 1916, Sen. Harbin ran for the Democratic nomination for the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia but lost by 5,000 votes.
A businessman, too, Brother Harbin was an organizer, in 1908, and president of Echota Cotton Mills, Calhoun, Georgia and was Vice President of the Calhoun National Bank.
The Phi Gamma Delta magazine, “Fratres Qui Fuerunt Sed Nuc Ad Astra,” May 1937, p. 709:
THOMAS W. HARBIN
(Georgia ‘85)
Thomas Witherspoon Harbin (Georgia ‘85) died on March 8, 1937, at Calhoun, Ga., where he was born on September 2, 1862. He was an early member of the now inactive Kappa Deuteron Chapter at University of Georgia. He served ... as judge of the court of ordinary. Among his survivors is a Fiji brother, Robert M. Harbin (Georgia ‘85), head of the Harbin Hospital in Rome, Ga.
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“ ... A young man of exceptional characteristics of mind and heart, being a Christian gentleman ...”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, June 28, 1890, p. 7.
With his brother Robert and five others, he was a “Second Founder” of the Kappa Deuteron Chapter in 1884. Tom, then a junior, was initiated April 26, 1884, when the chapter received its charter. He was an officer of the Chapter in 1885. Graduate, Bachelor of Arts, The University of Georgia, June 16, 1885.
Thomas W. Harbin was elected Ordinary Judge (now called probate judge) of Gordon County, Georgia in January of 1893 and served until 1904. He was secretary of the Georgia state association of ordinaries in 1894.
In July of 1914, Judge Harbin announced his candidacy for Georgia state Senate. The Calhoun Times Calhoun, Georgia, Thursday, July 30, 1914, p. 4:
Judge Harbin has been a leader in public affairs for the past twenty years. He was ordinary of the county for twelve years and filled the office to the satisfaction of the voters and the benefit of the county. His long experience in politics, his thorough knowledge of the needs of the people, and his wide and influential acquaintance throughout the state qualify him for the great responsibilities of the office of Senator.”
Harbin won the Democratic nomination for the Georgia 43rd Senate District on August 19, 1914 and ran unopposed in the general election on November 3, 1914, elected to represent parts of Gordon and Whitfield counties until 1917. On September 12, 1916, Sen. Harbin ran for the Democratic nomination for the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia but lost by 5,000 votes.
A businessman, too, Brother Harbin was an organizer, in 1908, and president of Echota Cotton Mills, Calhoun, Georgia and was Vice President of the Calhoun National Bank.
The Phi Gamma Delta magazine, “Fratres Qui Fuerunt Sed Nuc Ad Astra,” May 1937, p. 709:
THOMAS W. HARBIN
(Georgia ‘85)
Thomas Witherspoon Harbin (Georgia ‘85) died on March 8, 1937, at Calhoun, Ga., where he was born on September 2, 1862. He was an early member of the now inactive Kappa Deuteron Chapter at University of Georgia. He served ... as judge of the court of ordinary. Among his survivors is a Fiji brother, Robert M. Harbin (Georgia ‘85), head of the Harbin Hospital in Rome, Ga.
###
“ ... A young man of exceptional characteristics of mind and heart, being a Christian gentleman ...”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, June 28, 1890, p. 7.
