M.E. Thompson and the Purchase of Jekyll Island

Melvin E. Thompson, who served as Acting Governor from 1947 to 1949, was born in 1903 in Millen, Jenkins County, Georgia. After working as an educator and public servant, Thompson was elected Lieutenant Governor in January 1947. When Governor-Elect Eugene Talmadge died just before taking office, Thompson assumed the role of Acting Governor until the next general election. One of his key achievements during this time was securing the purchase of Jekyll Island for $675,000 through a court condemnation decree. This acquisition, often compared to the original purchase of Manhattan Island, has become one of Georgia's most valuable assets, developing into a popular year-round resort destination.