MOULTRIE — State Rep. Richard Royal was among three lawmakers to receive Wednesday the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural lifetime achievement awards.
Royal, R-Camilla, was unable to attend the ceremony in Savannah because of a prior commitment to attend a Moultrie-Colquitt Development Authority meeting to discuss the Ga. Hwy. 133 project. The other recipients of the lifetime achievement awards were state Rep. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, and state Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah.
“They invited me to go over there, but I was in Moultrie for a meeting,” said Royal, whose district includes Mitchell County and a portion of Colquitt County. “I felt that was more important than to go over there to get an award.”
Royal, who will have served 25 years in the House in October, said that the award “was quite a surprise for me. I think it was a real honor to get that.”
Royal, who did not seek re-election, will end his term Jan. 8, and apparently will be succeeded by former Camilla Mayor Jay Powell, the only major-party candidate to qualify to run.
The three lawmakers’ work has helped the state become one of the most business-friendly in the nation, chamber President George Israel said in a news release.
“They work hard to reduce the regulatory burden on Georgia businesses and advance free-market policies that stimulate economic development and create quality jobs for Georgians,” he said. “We applaud them for their efforts.”
Royal, who was elected in 1983 to serve the unexpired term of Rep. Marcus Collins, said that his work with tax legislation likely was why he was selected for the award.
“I have a pretty good reputation in the tax field,” he said. “I’ve been pro-business the whole time I’ve been up there. I’ve worked on tax incentives to attract new business and to help existing industry, to make them more competitive.”
Since his announcement that he is not seeking another term, Royal said, he has received offers to work in tax consulting in both the Legislature and with private firms. He plans to remain active in that role either in a government or private role.
He is the chairman of the House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee, and former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
He also served in the past as chairman of the Planning and Community Affairs and University System Committee and Department of Technical and Adult Education Subcommittee.
He won the Camilla Chamber of Commerce lifetime achievement award in 2001.
“This is full circle, first the Camilla chamber and now the Georgia chamber,” he said.
Royal said he has “mixed emotions” about leaving office.
“I still think I made the right decision for the right reasons,” he said. “You can’t work anywhere for that long and not have second thoughts.
“I’ve seen a lot of my friends in the Legislature who stayed too long. I always promised myself I would leave at the right time, and I think I did.”
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