Herman Talmadge, the son of Eugene Talmadge, the governor of Georgia, was born in Telfair County on 9th August, 1913.

After studying law at the University of Georgia he was admitted to the bar in 1936. Talmadge worked as a lawyer in Atlanta before joining the United States Navy in 1946. During the Second World War Talmadge saw action in the Pacific and attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

A member of the Democratic Party, Talmadge was elected as governor of Georgia in 1947. He served until 1955 when he was elected to the Senate. He was reelected in 1962, 1968 and 1974 and served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (92nd - 95th Congress).

In 1979 Talmadge was denounced by the Senate for financial misconduct. After failing to be elected in 1980 he resumed work as a lawyer in Hampton, Georgia. Herman Talmadge died on 21st March, 2002.