Photos: Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue through the years

Georgia News

Photos: Sonny Perdue through the years

Sonny Perdue is the nominee for Secretary of Agriculture in the Donald Trump administration. Perdue served as Georgia's 81st governor from 2003 to 2011.

Former Georgia Gov.Sonny Perdue speaks to reporters at Trump Tower on November 30, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Sonny Perdue was elected the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction. In this file photo, Governor-elect Perdue sits at his transitional headquarter in Downtown Atlanta Thursday afternoon, Nov. 21, 2002. In the background is the Georgia state capitol.

Sonny Perdue was inaugurated as Georgia's 81st Governor on Monday Jan, 13, 2003. In this file photo, Perdue applaudes the crowd at his inauguration ceremony at Phillips Arena. (Kimberly Smith/staff)

020802-BONAIRE-Gubernatorial cantidate Sonny Perdue (cq) stands beside the 'Bonaire Board of Trade' at Houston Fertalizer and Grain, which he owns. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

021011. WILCOX COUNTY, GA. Sonny Perdue cq, Republican gubernatorial candidate, speaks to a group of farmers at the farm of Rex Bullock as part of a fundraiser during a16-hour day of campaigning in South Georgia. For a photo package on the campaign trail with Gov. Barnes and challenger Sonny Perdue. RICH ADDICKS/STAFF

021105. ATLANTA. Sonny Perdue cq, Republican candidate for Governor, accepts congratulations on the phone from President Bush. Interestingly, the President's call to Perdue came before Barnes' call. This is taken in Perdue's war room. Right is campaign aide Nick Ayers cq. RICH ADDICKS/STAFF

021105. ATLANTA. Sonny Perdue cq, Republican candidate for Governor, celebrates his victory over Roy Barnes with his staff in the 'war room' just after accepting Barnes' concession on the phone. Left of Perdue is his campaing manager Scott Rials cq and right is staffer Nick Ayers cq (blonde hair). On the far left is Mack Mattingly (check spelling). RICH ADDICKS/STAFF

021105. ATLANTA. Sonny Perdue cq, Republican candidate for Governor, hugs his son, Jim Perdue cq, in their election night 'war room' at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Buckhead as it became evident that Perdue would be elected the next governor. Right is Scott Rials cq, campaign manager. For story on Perdue children. RICH ADDICKS/STAFF

Sonny Perdue cq, the new governor of Georgia, and his wife, Mary, celebrate Perdue's victory over Roy Barnes for governor in Perdue's "war room." On the far left is son, Jim.

Sonny Perdue practices his 2003 inaugural speech Monday morning to an empty Philips Arena as he prepares to take office later in the day.

Sonny Perdue (CQ)(left) and wife, Mary (center) began his historic inauguration day in prayer with family and about 800 supporters for Georgia's 81st governor.

Gov. Sonny Perdue takes the oath of office, administered by the Honorable Clay D. Land (cq), as his wife Mary Perdue (cq) watches him Monday Jan. 13, 2003 in Philips Arena.

In this 2003 file photo, Gov. Sonny Perdue does his first official business as Georgia's new governor by reviewing some executive orders (which he signed later in the Senate chamber) in his new office at the Capitol. After his inauguration ceremony at Philips, Perdue rode by car halfway to the Capitol and then walked the final distance with his wife, Mary. RICH ADDICKS/STAFF

030425 - ATLANTA, GA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue waves to the media after a press conference early Saturday morning following the end of the legislative session. During the press conference Perdue said he would sign the flag bill. At his side is press secretary (UNSURE OF HER TITLE) Erin O'Brien. (SUNNY SUNG/AJC staff)

050408-ATLANTA-Fresh from his morning racquetball game, Gov. Sonny Perdue (cq) look over one of the 10 bills he signed into law early Friday morning to start his day in the Governor's office of the Capitol. The stack of bills in the foreground are just the beginning of the hundreds of bills he must review and decide whether to sign or veto before May 10th, the 40th and final day for him to act on a bill before it becomes law by default. Perdue will spend much of his free time for the next few weeks signing the laws that don't call for ceremony and fanfare. (BEN GRAY/STAFF) ben's cell 404-964-9686

President Bush, second from right, speaks to reporters during his meeting with governors regarding the line item veto in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Thursday, June 8, 2006 in Washington. Pictured from left are Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine; Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt;President Bush; Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

ATLANTA, GA - Gov. Sonny Perdue, holding granddaughter Mary Kate Brett, and First Lady Mary Perdue, holding granddaugher Sunni Brett, (cq all) following the Governor's victory speech on Nov. 7, 2006 at the Westin Buckhead. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

070108 - ATLANTA, GA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue was sworn in Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, as the 81st governor of Georgia. Part of the inauguration ceremonies included a review of the troops (pictured) by Perdue outside the Capitol. (RICH ADDICKS / AJC staff)

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and his wife Mary pray during a prayer service for rain on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. "We've come together here simply for one reason and one reason only: To very reverently and respectfully pray up a storm," Perdue said. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Governor Sonny Perdue, date unknown. (Photo provided by the Governor's office.)

1965 ARCHIVE PHOTO OF Sonny Perdue as a senior quarterback at Warner Robbins High School. (IMAGE COURTESY DENNIS WELLS)

061228 ATLANTA, GA: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (cq) left, listens for the heartbeat while checking it's beats per minute for Mei Lan (cq) the baby panda during her weekly medical exam at Zoo Atlanta Thursday 12/28/2006 as Dr. Maria Crane (cq), right, Vice President for Animal Health and senior veterinarian at Zoo Atlanta, holds the cub. Perdue is a licensed veterinarian in Georgia. (Kimberly Smith/staff)

061015 - PEACHTREE CITY, GA -- Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue laughs while meeting people at The Great Georgia Airshow at Falcon Field Airport in Peachtree City, Ga. on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006. (Allen Sullivan/Special)

060818 - LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Friday is the first day of classes for Georgia Gwinnett College. (l to r) College president Daniel Kaufman and share a good laugh with Gov. Sonny Perdue wearing the official Georgia Gwinnett College cap. (all cq) (NICK ARROYO/AJC staff)

040127 - ATLANTA, GA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue cq models the new Georgia Force football jersey and pads as part of a photo opporunity at the capitol on Tuesday, January 27, 2002, to promote the Arena Football team's upcoming third season. Behind Perdue are Force players Markeith Cooper (cq) (left) and Leon Murray (cq) (right). (RICH ADDICKS/AJC staff)

060316 - ATLANTA, GA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue (cq) climbs into a Richard Petty Driving Experience car Thursday morning, March 16, 2006 to do a burn-out and take a lap around the Capitol with NASCAR drive Reed Sorenson (cq) to celebrate Atlanta Motor Speedway Day. After the lap the two switched seats and Perdue took Sorenson for a lap. (BEN GRAY/AJC staff)

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, left, playing the part of an East Carolina football coach in the filming of the movie "We Are Marshall", talks with Matthew Fox, who plays Marshall assistant coach Red Dawson, in Clarkston, Ga.,Wednesday, June 14, 2006. The movie is an inspirational drama based on a true story of one town's efforts to rebuild after a devastating plane crash. In 1970 while traveling back to Huntington, W.V., after a game in North Carolina, 75 members of Marshall's football team and coaching staff were killed in a plane crash. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

ATLANTA, GA: Gov. Sonny Perdue hops into a Richard Petty Driving Experience car surrounded by the media outside the Capitol Thursday, March 6, 2008 to take a spin around the block for Atlanta Motor Speedway Day. Elissa Eubanks/AJC

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Former Georgia Gov.Sonny Perdue speaks to reporters at Trump Tower on November 30, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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