Asa W. Candler

Asa W. Candler served as BOMA Atlanta President in 1928, filling the unexpired term of Thomas W. Connally, who, according to the December 30, 1927, issue of The Atlanta Constitution, died unexpectedly of phenomena on December 24, 1927.

According to the February 12, 1928, issue of The Atlanta Constitution, Asa served as one of a 12-member commission of BOMA members appointed by the City of Atlanta to review, evaluate, and make recommendations related to the construction of a new $1,200,000 city hall building. As the article states, “Every detail connected with the construction and erection of the Atlanta city hall, including material, mechanical equipment, layouts of space for the various departments will be gone into and recommended by the commission.”

Asa was also active in the American Legion, serving as commander of the department of Georgia. According to the May 25, 1928, issue of The Atlanta Constitution, Asa was a driving force behind the movement to build a larger veteran’s hospital in Atlanta. In that issue of the newspaper, he is quoted as saying, “We are greatly indebted to the industrial bureau of the chamber of commerce and Major J. G. C. Bloodworth, Jr., of the state service bureau, for their work in the campaign for a larger hospital. The original proposal was for a 400-bed hospital, and we plan to continue our fight to this end.”

According to an obituary in the February 18, 1929, in The Atlanta Constitution, Asa died on February 16, 1929. He was 44 years old. The obituary referred to Major Asa Warren Candler as a “lawyer, soldier and distinguished citizen.” The obituary further referred to Asa as “distinguished in war and beloved in peace.” It also said he was junior partner with his father, Judge John S. Candler, in the firm of Candler & Candler. Asa was also secretary-treasurer of Palmer, Inc., vice president of National Atlanta Garages, Inc., a director of the Blue Boar Cafeteria, Inc., and vice president of the Union Box company. The obituary also said, “from his enlistment as a private in company C, of the Fifth Georgia regiment, he rose to command of the unit when it was changed to the 122nd infantry and sent to France in the world war.”

Another obituary in the February 17, 1929, issue of The Atlanta Constitution, “The son of Judge and Mrs. John S. Candler, Major [Asa W.] Candler was born in 1885 in Jacksonville, Fla., but spent the greater part of his life in Atlanta. Attending the public schools of Atlanta, he was graduated in 1901 from Boys’ High school and went from there to Stone Mountain academy for work preparatory to entering Emory college. He received the degree of Ph. B. from Emory in 1905. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity both at Emory and at the University of Georgia, where he received his LL. B. degree in 1907. Following his graduation from the state university, he began the practice of law with his father in the law firm of Candler, Thomson and Hirsch, which on February 1, 1928, was formed into the law firm of John S. Candler and Asa Warren Candler, father and son.”

The February 17, 1929, obituary in The Atlanta Constitution also says, “as a youth he traveled extensively throughout every part of the world, and this phase of his experience made of him a true cosmopolite.”

An obituary in the February 17, 1929, issue of The Atlanta Journal elaborates on his service to the American Legion. It says, “He was one of the organizers of Atlanta Post of the Legion and held every office that was within the post’s gift. In addition to that he took a high place in the councils of the national convention and was always a powerful figure at all American Legion national conventions.”

A tribute to Asa W. Candler published in the February 20, 1929, issue of The Atlanta Constitution says, “In common with hundreds in Georgia, I mourn the all too early passing of Major Asa Warren Candler. At this critical time in our nation’s history, we can ill spare such men of true patriotism. Well poised, modest, constructive, he was a part of the best riches of our commonwealth.”

Asa W. Candler was a nephew of Asa Griggs Candler and of Bishop Warren A. Candler.