John Phinizy Spalding is a fifth generation UGA alumnus with family ties that reach back to 1811.
The Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Cox Communications in Atlanta, John Spalding earned his A.B. degree in 1982 and graduated from the UGA School of Law in 1985.
His father, Jack Spalding, ‘36 was editor of the Atlanta Journal and John’s grandfather, Hughes Spalding ‘10 was a charter member of the UGA Foundation and a member of Gridiron.
John’s mother was the former Anne Gowan, daughter of Charles Gowan ‘25 who was from Brunswick and served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 20 years, was a member of the UGA Foundation and spent his last professional days with the King and Spalding Law firm in Atlanta.
John received a double portion of UGA legacy from his grandparents because Hughes married Bolling Phinzy of Athens, affectionately known as “Mother Bo” whose father was Billups Phinizy, a member of the UGA class of 1881.
John said “Mother Bo” had a great love for Athens and the Bulldogs and he remembers her loyalty and enthusiasm as he recalls her refering to an upcoming trip to the Classic City by saying, “I’m going up to Paradise this weekend.”
John’s great, great, great grandfather was Ferdinand Phinizy who graduated in 1838. A lecture series at the University is named in his honor.
Ferdinand was the beginning of John’s direct legacy, however, his great, great, great, great uncle John Phinizy of Augusta was one of the university’s earliest graduates from the Class of 1811. He was one of Georgia’s signers of the Declaration of Secession in 1861 which led to the establishment of the Confederate States of America.
John can be understandably proud of his distinguished family heritage and unique University of Georgia legacy. He is married to the former Mildred Cross, a 1981 UGA graduate, and they have two teenage children, Jack and Holly. They live in Atlanta.
