Joe P. Bowdoin, M.D., served for many years in the city mayor-council, founded the city public schools and water works, was co-founder and vice president of the Georgia Brick Company, president of the Bank of Adairsville, owner-editor of the Adairsville Banner, and owner of Bowdoin Drug Co. He practiced medicine in Adairsville from 1889-1919, spending 15 years on horseback over a 15-mile radius and delivering over 3000 babies in the area. Valedictorian of Atlanta Med. College in 1889, he later served as a major in the US Army during WWI, as a surgeon in the US Public Health Service, and as staff surgeon for the NC & StL R.R. From 1919-1942 he was Deputy State Commissioner of Health and edited Georgia Health for 22 years. He wrote Georgia Baby Book for Mothers, of which 400,000 copies were distributed, founded the Georgia midwife program, was co-founder of Mt. Alto Childrens TB Care Center, served in 1924 as president of the Georgia Children's Home Society, held Masonic leadership including 33rd Mason, Grand Master Free & Accepted Masons, Grand High Priest Royal Arch Masons, and Grand Illus. Master R&S Masons, was trustee of the G. Washington Masonic Memorial and the Georgia Masonic Orphans' Home, and was known and loved by thousands of Georgians as Dr. Joe.