James V. Carmichael

James Vinson Carmichael (October 2, 1910 – November 28, 1972) was a member of the Georgia General Assembly, an attorney, business executive, and candidate for Governor of Georgia.

Early life Carmichael was born, in Cobb County, Georgia to parents Emma Mae Nolan and John Vinson Carmichael. His parents owned a country store outside of Smyrna. Just before he turned sixteen, his spinal cord was almost completely severed when he ran out in front of a car. He was able to return to Marietta High School, after a year of medical care, but still in a wheelchair. He re-learned how to walk but could only do so for short distances with a cane. He endured intense pain for the rest of his life.

Overcoming his disability, Carmichael graduated in 1933 from the Emory University School of Law. While attending Emory he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity and Delta Theta Phi law fraternity.

After receiving his law degree, he partnered with Mayor Leon M. "Rip" Blair in Marietta to form a practice. In 1938 he married Frances Elizabeth McDonald, and had three children: Mary Emma, James Jr., and Frances Elizabeth. He decided not to seek a third term when his law firm took on a major client that did business with the state to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Business leadership and World War II As Cobb County attorney, Carmichael teamed with Mayor Blair and Commissioner George McMillan to build an airport in 1941, called Rickenbacker Field (later part of Dobbins Air Reserve Base). When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the group was able to bring a base of the United States Army Air Corps to the site, and a branch of the Bell Aircraft Corporation. Carmichael was named attorney for Bell's Georgia division and in November 1944, he was promoted to general manager of the 28,000-employee plant, which had become known as United States Air Force Plant 6. When the war ended Bell had sold the military some 663 B-29 Superfortresses on schedule and without a single crash.

Post World War II With the closing of the Bell plant Carmichael became a partner in several local industrial ventures. In 1947, he assumed the presidency of the Scripto pen company in downtown Atlanta. Under his leadership it expanded overseas and became the largest manufacturer of writing instruments in the world.

In 1964, he was the first president of the Atlanta Arts Alliance and a trustee of Emory University and Atlanta University.

In 1965, he was awarded the Georgia Medal for Distinguished Service.