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JAMES POLLARD TALTON
Jim Talton Scholarship
The Jim Talton Scholarship was established in 1984 to honor a man and his dedication to God and his church, his family, and his community, including the Dawsonville Lions Club.
Jim Talton was born in Jacksonville, Florida in June of 1911 to William Goode and Juliette Pollard Talton. Mr. Talton moved the family to Apopka, Florida, right outside Orlando, where he raised Jim with his four brothers and one sister. Jim, and older brother Bill, were sent to Georgia Military Academy before going to William and Mary College, where they both graduated in 1932, Jim with a major in English and History.
Jim’s love of flying began in 1935 when he joined the US Navy and learned to fly, completing his commitment in January 1940. He joined Eastern Air Lines a month later. Stationed in Atlanta he met and in April 1942 married Helen Roberts. Her love of flying (she was working with Delta Air Lines and was taking flying lessons) gave them a great starting point. They had just been married a few short months when Jim was recalled to the Navy on June 14 (his birthday), 1942. He served three years with the Navy, flying the Mars Flying Boat, the world’s largest amphibian aircraft at that time. October 1945 he resumed his career with Eastern, retiring June 1971.
Jim and Helen had always loved the country. In the 1950's, while visiting Helen’s grandmother, they found and bought acreage in north Dawson County. They camped whenever they could until they built a home. Towards the end of his career, Jim commuted to the Atlanta Airport from Dawson County because they knew this was where they would retire. In 1967 they joined First Baptist Church of Dawsonville, and Jim joined the Dawsonville Lions Club. He gave the same dedication to his community service as he had his Navy duty and career with Eastern Airlines. He was an involved Lion, serving as an officer each year between 1970 and 1979, participating in the booths at Fall Festival to raise money, collecting glasses for the Sight Conservation Program, and supporting their various programs and goals. When Jim died in 1984, Helen and their two daughters, Frankie and Susan, wanted to do something to continue his commitment to the Lions, and thus the Jim Talton Scholarship was established in the fall of 1984, with a scholarship given every year since the first one was presented in June 1985. Today Helen receives notes from the recipients, even years later, about how the Lions Scholarship helped them further their education |
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