Joe Stock Family Papers

Joseph David Stock (December 7, 1927 - November 22, 1991) was a native of Rome, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia where he was a record holding varsity swimmer. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and moved to Rome in 1953 to operate the Boston Store. Prior to coming to LaFayette, he started and directed the North Georgia AAU swim championship, the City-County swim meet and the Three Rivers AAU swimming and diving meet in Rome. He was swim meet director for the Rome and Floyd County Sports Hall of Fame.

Mr. Stock was a member of Congregation B’nai Zion in Chattanooga and served on the board of directors of the Chattanooga Jewish Community Center. He organized and ran their annual swim meet and was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 1973. For 20 years, Mr. Stock served as chairman of the Georgia Easter Seal Society. He was past president of the LaFayette Lions Club, initiated and directed the Jaycees Fall Festival Week, served on the board of directors of the LaFayette Merchants Association Christmas Promotions. He organized and directed the City-County Swimmers in LaFayette, conceived and directed the Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America annual camporee swimoree and served as chairman of the LaFayette Recreation Commission.

Mr. Stock received the Lay Award of the Georgia Recreation Society, the certificate of merit of the Georgia Amateur Athletic Union, the LaFayette Business and Professional Women’s Clubman of Achievement Award, the Liberty Bell Award, the Rotary Club Vocational Service Award and the LaFayette Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award.

After his death at age 63 in 1991, the City of LaFayette dedicated a park downtown in his memory. The Joe Stock Memorial Park serves as one of the main parks for the area and hosts many city events throughout the year.

He was survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Simmons; three children; four grandchildren; and two sisters.