In 2019, Dr. Lon Carnes, Jr. donated $5 million dollars to the Clayton State Music Department helping to create the Alma Karen Cousins and Maurine Cousins Carnes Endowment for Music. Dr. Carnes’ generous donation was inspired by his love of music and his close friendship with Walter and Emilie Spivey, and their financial gift that helped to establish Spivey Hall in 1990.

Dr. Lon M. Carnes was born on May 16, 1932, in Tennessee, spent his childhood in Jonesboro, Georgia and was an alum of Jonesboro High School. Carnes also served in the military as a lieutenant in the United State Army and was a professor at Georgia Southern University for over 27 years.

Lon Carnes Jr. Military Service Timeline:

1950 - Carnes registered with the Selective Service System.

1954 – On March 17, Carnes was recognized as a Reserve Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army with a rank of Second Lieutenant. Carnes went on to serve full-time in the Army with the 13th Tank Battalion in the U.S. Army 1st Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas.

1955 - April 4, Carnes was transferred to the 47th Armored Medical Battalion. Utilizing his degree in Business, he was placed in the Division Finance Office.

1955 - In July Carnes became an Administrative Officer in the Division Evaluation Group. He took part in Exercise Blue Bolt II, an evaluation of the Division’s organizational capabilities. At this point, he was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

1956 - Because of his work in the Division Evaluation Group during Blue Bolt II, Carnes was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant on January 6.

1956 - On March 26, Carnes transitioned back to a U.S. Army Reserve Commissioned Officer with a rank of First Lieutenant.

1959 - Selective Service System Notice of Classification

1991 - On Jan 14, former Governor Zell Miller award Dr. Lon M. Carnes to Lt. Col. Aide de Camp Governor’s Staff Georgia Militia.