From the battlefields of Europe to the classrooms of UNG and the heart of Dahlonega’s Rotary Club, Colonel (Ret.) Tom Palmer has spent his life serving his country, his students, and his community. After 26 years in the U.S. Army and two decades as Commandant of Cadets, Palmer continues to lead through Rotary—most notably by organizing the club’s signature Gold Rush Festival fundraiser. Read how this decorated veteran and dedicated Rotarian is still making an impact, one parking space at a time.
Colonel (Retired) James T. (Tom) Palmer has come full circle – first graduating from the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. Then serving throughout the world with the US Army. Next working as a faculty member for 20 years at his beloved alma mater. And now retiring and residing permanently in Lumpkin County. For 25 of those years, he has contributed to his community through Rotary.
This story begins when Colonel Palmer was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery from North Georgia College in June 1973. Following Jump School, he began his service on active duty in the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery where he served for five consecutive years before traveling to Germany for the first of his two tours in the federal republic.
During his 26-year career, he served in various artillery command and staff positions in nine states and two foreign countries. He had the honor of commanding First Battalion, 7th Field Artillery at Fort Drum, NY, while serving in the 10th Mountain Division.
In 1989, when the Cold War formally ended, Colonel Palmer and his family were stationed in Fulda, Germany, where they witnessed the falling of the Berlin Wall and the destruction of the interzonal border between East and West Germany. Some of his most notable memories include a trip to East Berlin in the former communist East Germany just five months before the Iron Curtain fell.
Colonel Palmer served as a fire support officer at every level from platoon to corps, and his last artillery assignment was Senior Combat Trainer for fire support at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana, from 1994-1996.
In 1997, following his attendance at the Army War College, Colonel Palmer and his family were assigned to Fort McPherson, Georgia, where he served as the Deputy G3 for Exercises and Plans at Third US Army. During this assignment, Colonel Palmer frequently served at Camp Doha, Kuwait, where he planned and executed training exercises with several allied countries in the Middle East.
Serving as UNG’s Commandant of Cadets
Following his retirement from the US Army, Colonel Palmer became the Commandant of Cadets at the University of North Georgia on July 1, 1999, where he served for twenty years until his retirement in 2019. He joined Rotary immediately after arriving at the University of North Georgia, one of six military colleges in America. “Every Tuesday for the past two decades, he has found it “professionally rewarding” to attend the weekly lunch meeting with his fellow Rotarians. He said, “The number of business contacts I was able to make as a newcomer was amazing. Those contacts continue as personal friends today.”
Colonel Palmer has also found it fulfilling through the years to help his club support charitable organizations in Lumpkin County. He said, “I have participated in many site visits where I observed that Rotary’s financial support was working effectively. It’s an honor to provide assistance to organizations led by people who genuinely care for the wellbeing of their constituents.”
During his tenure as Commandant, he oversaw a student brigade that grew from 470 cadets to a maximum strength of 806 cadets. Together with the Professor of Military Science, he had the privilege of observing more than 750 cadets earn commissions as Army officers. At the time of his second retirement, Colonel Palmer was the longest serving Commandant in the National Association of Military Colleges & Universities.
In April 2021, on UNG’s Dahlonega campus, Colonel Palmer was inducted into the National Army ROTC Hall of Fame. He is one of only seven North Georgia graduates to receive this honor.
Spearheading Gold Rush Parking to Benefit Non-Profits
In his post-retirement years, he is active in several civic and service organizations, including the Dahlonega Rotary Club, where he has served as President, Sergeant at Arms, Chair of the Gold Rush Activities Committee, and Board Member for several terms. According to Colonel Palmer, the Dahlonega Rotary Club is known far and wide for providing parking services for the annual Gold Rush Festival in Dahlonega. This is the club’s primary fundraiser, along with an annual 5K race which they sponsor on the morning of the festival weekend.
He said, “Personally, I enjoy parking cars with my fellow Rotarians, with Rotaract students and with friends of Rotary.” For the past eight years, he has chaired (or co-chaired) this committee. He said, “On the third weekend in October, our entire club comes together, signs up for parking duties by shift, and works multiple four-hour sessions on the Saturday and Sunday of Gold Rush.” All proceeds go to the University of North Georgia cadets and students who assist the club and to charitable organizations in the community. He said, “This parking gig is simply a part of what I do. I have participated in the Rotary parking mission for 25 consecutive years, and I am already thinking about October 2025.”
In addition to Rotary, Colonel Palmer is an active member of Gideons International, and is a member of the Georgia Mountain Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. He serves on the Board of Directors at his local church and is a lifetime member of the University of North Georgia Corps of Cadets Advisory Council. A fly-fishing enthusiast, he has traveled to Montana, Wyoming or Colorado every year since 2014 in search of cutthroat trout.
Colonel Palmer and his wife, Judy, permanently reside in Dahlonega, Georgia. They have two grown children and two grandchildren, ages six and nine. They enjoy traveling, attending Dahlonega Baptist Church, and watching their grandchildren play sports in Lumpkin County.
He notes that after working with students for many years, he has seen that most young Americans do not volunteer through civic or service clubs. He said, “I would like to urge Rotarians everywhere to focus on bringing young members into their clubs. Rotary is a thriving, vibrant international organization that helps mankind. We need to capture young business and professional leaders (in their 20s and 30s) to continue Rotary’s worldwide efforts. Let’s do whatever it takes to introduce young leaders to Rotary.”
