Aggie Whitaker

H.A. (AGGIE) WHITAKER, JR. June 25, 1927 - August 11, 2014 

"A day never ends if it makes a memory" 

Born in Atlanta to Aggie and Minnie Whitaker, Aggie Jr. lived in or around his beloved Buckhead his entire life. He attended E. Rivers Elementary School, followed by his great love, North Fulton High, where his passion for football was fueled. Even in his final years, when memories had become faded or mixed, the great North Fulton vs Gainesville High football game of 1946 remained one memory most enthusiastically recounted. 

It was in high school that his lifelong love of reading was kindled. His reading habits closely tracked his passions, consisting mainly of books about hunting and the outdoors. Robert Ruark, Ernest Hemingway and Archibald Rutledge were among his favorite authors. 

At 10 his dad presented Aggie his first shotgun. His shooting skills developed quickly, and recognizing young Aggie's talent and love for shooting, his father asked famed hunter Ed Garlington to take Aggie under his wing. Eventually, no quail, turkey, duck or dove within a 40-mile radius of Buckhead was safe. Ed became the most important figure in Aggie's sportsmanship development and was his mentor and hunting companion for many years. 

But it was alongside his wife Katherine, that Aggie really flourished. Whether wading in the Chattahoochee fishing for trout, out in the field hunting dove on a perfect Autumn day, or at Riverbend Gun Club shooting trap, Aggie and Kack shared a singular bond that was the mainstay of their life together. They excelled at shooting together and as an appropriate punctuation to a colorful sporting life, he and Kack were both inducted into the Georgia Trapshooting Hall of Fame in the Fall of 2002.

 In addition to shooting, Aggie adored fishing. He fished from Alaska to Scotland, and all around the United States. A lover of the best fishing gear, he had his own rod and fly-tying station at home. "The Old Man" taught his children to love the outdoors. He encouraged them by coaching them in the sports he loved, often including them in trapshooting tournaments, dove hunts, and fishing trips both in fresh water and salt. The skills and passions he instilled in them have become important platforms of their lives. He taught them through his often-used quotes as well, reminding them "don't be the best - be the VERY best."

 In 1984, Aggie realized his ultimate sportsman's goal - hunting on safari in Africa. Alongside professional hunter and friend Joe Coogan, Kack and Aggie explored the Continent, hunting from Botswana to South Africa. 

When it came to business, Aggie had a knack for identifying opportunities, and became a successful entrepreneur. In 1974 he founded Whitaker & Sons, a commercial solid waste hauling service which he ran alongside son Rocky until sold in 1984. 

Socially, Aggie was a member of both The Piedmont Driving Club and the Capital City Club. He loved golf until his passion for shooting consumed all his available time. 

He will certainly be remembered best as a lover of outdoor sportsmanship which included his fondness for dogs - both his hunting dogs as well as his fierce black miniature poodle, "Sadie."