Academy Fun Facts

The Basics

  • School Colors: red and white
  • Symbol: War Eagle
  • Mascot: Eddie the Eagle

Presidential Parades & Appearances

  • GMA cadets were involved in the following Inaugural Parades:
    • 1965 - Lyndon Johnson
    • 1961 - John F. Kennedy
    • 1957 - Dwight Eisenhower
    • 1905 - Teddy Roosevelt
  • In 1985, former President Jimmy Carter spoke at his daughter's graduation from Woodward Academy.

The Great Gesture

In 1932, Colonel Woodward decided that the Academy belonged not to himself or his associates. It belonged to the community and the state and country that it had served. So he bought back all outstanding stock of the school and secured a new charter incorporating GMA as an institution with a self- perpetuating board of alumni and his children to serve as administrators.

Was there a college on campus?

Georgia Military Academy had a Junior College from 1940 until 1953.

Camp GMA

The Academy had a summer camp in South Fulton called GMAcres. It was in use from the late 1950s until the early 1970s when it was sold. A variety of activities including horseback riding and canoeing were offered at summer camps held at GMAcres. The football team also held pre-season camps there.

Regimental Commanders

During the GMA days there was a regimental commander picked from the student body. Traditionally the cadet was a boarder, since most of the students at the time stayed on campus. In 1952, the first day student was selected as the commander. The honor went to Ray Woodall during his time in the Junior College. He is GMA class of 1950 and is on Woodward's Advisory Board.

It's Elementary

  • The first elementary school was completed  by 1950.
  • The first Kindergarten class debuted in 1961.

Girls on Campus!

  • In 1964 the Academy opened enrollment to female students and 32 girls were added to the student body.
  • There were two female graduates the first year and four the second year.

Athletics

  • The first athletic field was built in 1902; it included a race track and basketball courts (see below).
  • In the late 1940s and early 1950s, GMA held Strength and Variety Shows that drew quite a crowd to campus and to traveling shows.
  • GMA was the overall Mid-South Boxing Champions from 1949-1951; they also had several individual champions during that time.
  • Many of the sports during the GMA days were intramurals, with competition between the dormitories which continued through the 1960s.
  • GMA eventually joined the Georgia High School Athletic Association in the 1960s. This broadened the athletic program and the Academy became one of the powers in Georgia high school athletics.

Facilities

  • The Academy’s first building, Founder’s Hall, originally had no running water, no electric lights and no modern sanitation facilities.
  • The oldest structure from the original campus is the base part of the front gate, which was installed in 1929. The house used for College Counseling offices and the the Parents Club Consignment Shop was constructed in 1893. The Ann and Ben Johnson Center, which is currently home to the Advancement Office, was also built in 1893.
  • In the numbers! Did you know there were,
    • 3,747 lockers
    • 1,033 doors
    • 4,941 chairs
    • 8,255 places for people to sit (chairs, benches and bleachers)
    • There are 807,656 total square feet in the 56 structures the Academy owns!

We're in the Movies Now!

  • "Passing Glory" - basketball movie (HBO)
  • "Twist of Fate" with Steve Martin
  • "The Substitute 4"

About our Organ

In 2005 Woodward received a new organ which was given to us by Sylan Hills Baptist Church. More about our organ...

Our Centennial Celebration, 1999-2000 school year

  • During the closing celebration Diane Shurr and KC & The Sunshine Band performed for students, parents, alumni, faculty/staff and friends of the Academy.
  • There was also an school-wide art show and an all-elementary school choir during the celebration.

Page last updated: 5/21/08