PLAINS, Ga. (WALB) - Jimmy Carter’s legacy and impact spans decades. From his time in the U.S. Senate, being the governor of Georgia, and making his way to the White House.

Even with all of his accomplishments, Phil Wise, the Vice President of Operations and Development at the Carter Center says Jimmy Carter remained proud of his hometown.

“[Carter] never forgot where he came from. He never forgot that whatever policy or government regulation affected people at the street level and individuals. He always kept that in mind,” Wise recalled.

Before entering politics, Jimmy Carter was a Naval officer, peanut farmer, and Sumter County school board chairman. Carter launched his political career in the U.S. Senate in 1962. After initially losing the race for GA governor in 1966, Carter ran again in 1970 and won. Six years later he would become the first and only president from the State of Georgia, winning the presidential election in 1976. Even as the leader of the nation, he never lost his connection to the people, which was admired by the former President of the Young Democrats of Fulton County, John Culbreath.

” Once [Jimmy Carter’s] presidency was over, he continued to do humanitarian type programs. I could relate to his background being a peanut farmer because I grew up working on the farms and I could relate to that part,” Culbreath said.

Carter championed human rights both domestically and internationally, and he had great success in promoting peace, health, and democracy in many foreign countries. Through all of his accomplishments, Phil Wise believes Jimmy Carter’s work ethic is something to be admired.

“Jimmy Carter will never be called lazy. [Carter] cared about people who had no voice, he cared about justice, and he cared about making the world a better place,” Wise said.

Jimmy Carter’s legacy goes beyond words and is something that will live on for many years to come.

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