Darlington names Johnson-Drummond Amphitheater in honor of Second Century Campaign co-chairmen

The amphitheater area behind Darlington School’s Thatcher Hall has been named in honor of George Johnson (’54) and Jere Drummond (’57), co-chairmen of the $90 million Second Century Campaign that funded the construction of Thatcher Hall as well as many other priorities for the school. This news was unveiled tonight at a Second Century Campaign Gala Celebration for top donors.

“The Johnson-Drummond Amphitheater is a highly utilized and meaningful space in life at Darlington, and it’s only fitting that it be named for the two men whose leadership and hard work has transformed the daily lives of our students and faculty members in such a real way,” said Headmaster Tom Whitworth. “Now and for years to come – as the Darlington Community continues to use the Johnson-Drummond Amphitheater for academic, athletic and artistic purposes – we will all be reminded of the love that George Johnson and Jere Drummond have for their alma mater.”

Johnson, a life trustee, is the owner of George H. Johnson Properties in Atlanta. A 1954 graduate of Darlington, he has been a loyal advocate for the school for many years. In addition to his service to the Board of Trustees, he is a Distinguished Alumnus and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He will also serve as the Honorary Chair of Leadership Darlington this year.

Drummond, chairman of the Board of Trustees, is the retired vice chairman of BellSouth Corp. A 1957 graduate of Darlington, he has served the school in many capacities over the past several decades. In addition to his service to the Board of Trustees, he is a Distinguished Alumnus and a member of the J.J. Darlington Society. He also gave the Commencement Address in 2005 and served as the Honorary Chair of Leadership Darlington in 2012 and 2013. Drummond’s family established the Jere A. Drummond Leadership Potential Scholarship in his honor in 2007. The scholarship is awarded annually to a day student who shows potential leadership ability, but who does not have the financial means to take advantage of the Darlington experience.

“Early in the campaign, I was on my way to an appointment in the Hurt Building in downtown Atlanta,” Chief Advancement Officer Joe Montgomery told Gala attendees tonight. “I was standing in the elevator on the first floor, headed to the sixth, when the president of one of the largest private foundations in Atlanta stepped on the elevator with me. He pushed the button for floor 12, turned and looked directly at me, and said, ‘Joe, you realize, don’t you, that you have the ‘dream team’ leading your campaign?’ He was, of course, very right about this and since that time, we have referred to George and Jere as our ‘dream team.’

“They will never say how many countless hours they have given to this campaign on the road with me or others, in planes and cars, attending events, leading strategy sessions, meeting with volunteers, key donors and foundations,” Montgomery continued. “No destination was too far to travel, no circumstance was too daunting, and they led the way all great leaders do, by example.”