David Bryan Poythress (October 24 1943 – January 15 2017) was an American politician and military officer from Georgia. A member of the Democratic Party, he held several statewide elected offices and served as the Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard.
Early life and education
Poythress was born in Bibb County, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Emory University in 1964 and a Juris Doctor with honors from Emory University School of Law in 1967. He later completed correspondence studies at the Air War College in 1986.
Political career
- Secretary of State of Georgia (May 19 1979 – January 11 1983): Appointed during Governor George Busbee’s administration, Poythress succeeded Benjamin W. Fortson Jr. and was followed by Max Cleland.
- Commissioner of Labor of Georgia (1993 – 1999): He succeeded Al Scott and was succeeded by Michael Thurmond.
Poythress sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Georgia twice. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1998 gubernatorial election and again in the 2010 election, losing both times to Roy Barnes.
Military service
Poythress served in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of lieutenant general. From 1999 until 2007 he was appointed Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard, first by Governor Roy Barnes and subsequently reappointed by Governor Sonny Perdue. In this role he oversaw the Georgia Army and Air National Guard and the state defense force.
Personal life
He was married to Elizabeth Poythress, with whom he had three children and eight grandchildren. Poythress was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He died in Cartersville, Georgia, at the age of 73 and was interred at Riverside Cemetery in Macon, Georgia.