Georgia highway dedicated in honor of Trooper on Deal’s security detail

A stretch of highway in west Georgia was dedicated in honor of a State Trooper who served on the security details of three governors.

An intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and George Smith Rd. in Prattsburg was renamed the Trooper Bobby Mathis Memorial Intersection this month. Mathis, who died in December at the age of 52, had served in law enforcement for more than 30 years.

Mathis started his career as a police officer in Talbotton before becoming the first African-American state Trooper from Talbot County. He rose through the ranks and joined the executive protection detail, providing security for Govs. Roy Barnes, Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal and their families.