The Fanning Institute is a living legacy to the spirit, vision, and faith in humanity that characterized the life of Dr. J.W. Fanning, the first Vice President for Services of the University of Georgia. Born in 1905, Fanning grew up on land his family farmed in Wilkes and Taliaferro Counties. The love of the land—and of farmers—stayed with Fanning all of his life, even as his career took him far from the chores of plowing and working with livestock. Armed with a master’s in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia, Fanning became an assistant county agent in Clarke County, where he began his work fostering leadership and development in rural communities. He continued his work in the Agricultural Extension Service, ultimately serving in Macon, Perry, and Tifton.

In the mid-50s, Fanning resigned from the Extension Service to begin what would remain a life-long focus on community development, taking on leadership roles and becoming known throughout the state. Fanning’s efforts and continued involvement with the University led to the creation in 1961 of the Institute of Community and Area Development, which he was named to direct. In 1965, UGA President O.C. Aderhold appointed Fanning as Vice President for Services, a position he held until his retirement in 1971.

But Fanning was not done with service. In accord with his motto, “Stay alive as long as you live”, Fanning was instrumental in helping to fulfill developer Pat Pattillo’s vision for Leadership Georgia, a program inspired by and modeled on a Leadership Savannah program Fanning had helped to establish in the 1950s. Started in 1972, Leadership Georgia has since evolved into one of the most respected—and diverse—leadership programs of its type in the country.

At Leadership Georgia’s fifteenth anniversary celebration, Fanning was recognized as advisor-emeritus. As his gift to past and future classes of Leadership Georgia, Fanning identified his “Ten Pillars of Leadership”:

1. Custody of Values
2. Willingness to Listen and Hear
3. Ability to Articulate Heartfelt Concerns and Desires
4. Dispensing Hope
5. Foresightedness
6. Knowledge with Common Sense
7. Integrity of Character
8. Courage to Think and Act Anew
9. Sharing Oneself
10. Motivating People to Act

The Fanning Institute is proud to use these Ten Pillars as benchmarks for how it strives to fulfill its mission, working in partnership to help communities and society address intractable problems, and finding solutions that will improve the lives of all.

“Pluck the thistle of doubt and plant in deep and fertile ground the rose of hope.” -J.W. Fanning, 1963.