STONECREST, Ga. – Thomas Dortch Jr., an Atlanta businessman, and civic leader, has funeral arrangements confirmed. Dortch passed away at the age of 72 earlier in February. On April 12, 1950, Dortch was born in the Georgia community of Toccoa, 80 miles from Atlanta. He attended Fort Valley State University after completing his undergraduate studies in sociology there in 1972 after graduating from Whitman Street High School in 1968.
Dortch served as the student body president and successfully registered almost all of his classmates to vote, displaying his early leadership and organizational abilities. Two years later, he would move to Atlanta and become the associate director of the Georgia Democratic Party. In 1978, he would begin to work for U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn. He first took the role of administrative aid, but by 1990, he would become his state director and serve as his chief administrator, becoming the first African-American to do so in that capacity.
In 1986, he graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a master’s degree in criminal justice administration. He afterward enrolled at Georgia State University as a Ford Fellow in the urban administration program. Dortch belonged to a number of civic and religious groups in addition to 100 Black Men of Atlanta. He was also a friend and advisor to Dr. Bernice A. King, the CEO of The King Center, who dubbed him “Tommy” with affection. A total of six terms as the national chairman of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. were ultimately won by him. Later, he would hold the position of chairman emeritus.
Dortch served as TWD, Inc.’s chairman and CEO. He also held positions as managing partner of FAD Consulting, LLC, chairman and CEO of Cornerstone Parking, and CEO of Atlanta Transportation Systems, Inc. He co-founded the Georgia Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (GAME), the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance, and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.
His funeral will take place at Stonecrest’s New Birth Missionary Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The homegoing service will include reflections from close friends in the family including Nunn, Ambassador Andrew Young, New Birth Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant, and more.
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