William James Goldin

and many family members. Born on a Sunday, June 5, 1932, one block from the Georgia

State Capitol, Jim was destined to dedicate much of his life to the city he loved so much. He

never gave up on volunteering to organizations which made Atlanta a better place in which

to live.

Jim’s father, William Batt Goldin was the owner and operator of W.B. Goldin, Meats and

Grocery in downtown Atlanta. Jim graduated from Brown High School in West End in 1950.

There was never a question about where Jim would attend college. Georgia Tech was his

only choice. Loving Georgia Tech was easy and Jim never lost that love. While attending

four years at Georgia Tech, Jim always wanted a dorm room of his own, but never once

spent a night in a Georgia Tech dormitory. Fifty years after his graduation, Jim and his wife

Carol gave a gift to Georgia Tech, the university that he loved so much. With the gift,

Georgia Tech named a new dormitory, “The Carol and Jim Goldin House”.

As Jim began his senior year at Tech, tragedy struck the family as Jim’s mother died in

October 1953. Sara, Jim’s wonderful sister, was a great help during those times. Graduation

came in June 1954 and Jim’s first Air Force tour began in San Antonio, Texas in January

1955. His next stop was Graham Air Base located in Marianna, Florida where he began the

first phase of pilot training. While there, Jim met Carolyn Middlebrooks who would become

his bride about one year later. Jim finished primary flight school ranked first in his class in

flying performance then went on to Advanced Flight School in Lubbock Texas.

Jim and Carol were married in Marianna, Florida on June 30, 1956, then moved to Biloxi,

Mississippi, Keesler AFB. Jim and Carol were next sent to Ernest Harmon AFB, Stephenville,

Newfoundland, Canada for a three-year tour, where their two boys were born. Jim and

family left Newfoundland, and the Air Force, in January 1960 for a six-day drive to Atlanta,

Georgia.

Jim began his long career with Atlanta Gas Light Company in February 1960. While

employed with the gas company, Jim attended night school and earned his MBA from

Georgia State University in 1963. Jim was named Senior Vice President, Marketing in 1978

and led the most aggressive marketing effort in the utility business. He was then promoted

to Senior Vice President, Non-Utility Operations where he headed this function for about

eight years until his retirement in 1995. During this time, Jim was recognized for his

accomplishments by The American Gas Association where he served as Chairman, AGA

Marketing Section. Jim was elected to the Industrial and Commercial Hall of Flame in 1978.

He served the AGA with distinction for more than thirty years. Jim was also selected to lead

the Southern Gas Association’s (SGA) marketing effort and served as Chairman, SGA

Marketing Committee. Upon his retirement, Jim received SGA’s “Distinguished Service

Award” for his almost thirty years of service to the gas industry.

One benefit of working for a utility company was the encouragement for employees to be

active in civic affairs. Jim took full advantage of this by joining the Atlanta Jaycees in 1963

and serving as its President in 1967-68. Leading a group of five hundred and fifty “young

Men of Action” proved to be a task equal to Jim’s leadership skills. Jim was fortunate indeed

to serve as President, Peachtree Atlanta Kiwanis Club, President, Camp Fire, boys and girls

of Metro Atlanta, President, Atlanta Union Mission (now Atlanta Mission) and numerous

other boards including United Way, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and Red Cross. Jim led

the Atlanta Passion for Christ (Behold the Man) in 1968 with Reverend William Holmes

Borders at the Atlanta Braves Stadium where 50,000 people attended. Jim was one of nine

Atlantans selected to serve on the committee to “Save The Fox Theatre” back in 1975.

Jim made his profession of faith in 1944 when he was twelve. This was to begin a seventyyear

journey for Jim. He only belonged to two churches in his lifetime, Gordon Street Baptist

and Wieuca Road Baptist. Jim taught Sunday school to ninth grade boys at Gordon Street

Baptist while attending Georgia Tech and continued this throughout most of his life. He was

asked to serve as Chairman of the Deacons at both Gordon Street in 1969 and Wieuca Road

in 1974.

Jim was an active member of the Atlanta Athletic Club for over forty years. He enjoyed

playing golf with his friends. After his retirement from the Atlanta Gas Light Company, he

was asked to join the “Duffers” fellowship and played with them for twenty years. Jim was

an avid runner. Up until the late 1990s Jim ran in every “Peachtree Road Race” beginning in

1972.

When Jim became President of Peachtree Atlanta Kiwanis Club in 1974, it gave him an

opportunity to repay a debt long overdue. The Trinity Methodist Church was located on

Washington Street across from Jim’s family store. One night, Jim remembers throwing a

peach seed into the beautiful stained glass windows of the Church. He believes it broke a

small glass section. This was in Jim’s memory for about fifty years and when given the

chance to correct it, Jim asked the Kiwanis Club to support Trinity Methodist’ feed the poor

program. The Club decided to provide a complete Commercial Kitchen for the Church.

Jim enjoyed the downtown Rotary Club of Atlanta, especially being Chairman of its Troop

Support Committee. Many wonderful accomplishments were achieved by this committee.

For his committees’ work, Jim was recognized with the Outstanding Citizenship Award by

the Atlanta Chapter of the West Point Society. Jim served as Secretary of the Rotary Club of

Atlanta and was honored as a two time recipient of the Fred Hoyt Hospitality Award.

Jim is survived by his wife, Carolyn Middlebrooks Goldin of 60 years, two sons, William

David Goldin (spouse Cynthia Galloway Goldin) and Stephen James Goldin (spouse Joni

Looper Goldin)and five grandchildren, William David Goldin Jr., Michael Scott Goldin,

Courtney Kay Goldin, Carson James Goldin and Aubree Anna Goldin. His sister, Sara Goldin

McLeod preceded him in death. The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 12 from 3-6pm

at H.M. Patterson and Son Oglethorpe Hill and the Funeral Service will be Saturday,

Feb. 13 at 11am at Wieuca Road Baptist Church with the burial following at Westview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wieuca Road Baptist Church, or The Atlanta Union

Mission.