First Citizen of Cherokee County
The distinct title of First Citizen of Cherokee County is bestowed upon a man or woman who has resided in the county for a minimum of five years and has shown significant meritorious service to his or her community through family, civic and/or religious involvement. A panel of out-of-town judges carefully reviews the accomplishments of each applicant, and the winner is chosen based upon merit.
FIRST CITIZEN OF CHEROKEE COUNTY
G. Cecil Pruett
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that G. Cecil Pruett has been named the 51st recipient of the First Citizen of Cherokee County Award. He was honored during the Chamber’s 55th Annual Meeting held Friday, January 23, 2026.
Cecil Pruett was born in Cullman, Alabama, growing up on a farm in a family of six children. While attending Holly Pond School, he discovered a passion for basketball, a talent that earned him a scholarship to St. Bernard College. After playing there for two years, he graduated from Jacksonville State College, where he met the love of his life, Myrna.
Following graduation, Mr. Pruett began his career as a high school teacher, spending four years in the classroom before transitioning into the business sector with Gold Kist where he managed operations and over 61 years ago, he moved a research lab here to Canton where he and Mrs. Pruett settled and raised their two daughters.
He became a seasoned business professional with his career trajectory accelerating when he joined Henny Penny, a prominent manufacturer of food service equipment. As the Southeastern Sales Mgr., he cultivated relationships with major national brands including Chick-fil-A, resulting in the successful expansion of the company’s market presence. His talent for business development and his natural leadership ability earned him a promotion to National Sales Manager and during those six years he represented Henny Penny across Europe, South Africa, and China, helping to broaden the company’s global reach and strengthen its international partnerships.
Mr. Pruett’s business acumen, relationship-building skills, and vision for long-term growth ultimately positioned him for professional success in the insurance industry as well as community leadership opportunities showcased by roles with regional and state-wide organizations like the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, GA Municipal Association, North GA Regional Development Center and the Atlanta Regional Commission, and locally as a Trustee at Reinhardt University, Board Chair of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, and Board Member of the Bank of Canton and Crescent Bank, among other roles.
Mr. Pruett went on to serve as Mayor of the City of Canton for 12 years. He strived to preserve the city’s small-town character while also guiding meaningful revitalization including the development of the Hickory Log Creek Dam and Reservoir, renovation of the Historic Canton Theatre, and transformative improvements throughout downtown.
For more than six decades, Mr. Pruett has been a devoted member of Canton First Baptist Church where he has continued to teach a Sunday School for 60+ years while also serving as a deacon for over 50 years, earning the rare distinction of lifetime deacon – an honor shared by very few in the church’s history, with his faith and service having been central pillars of his life and sources of inspiration to generations of church members.
“The Cherokee County Chamber was honored to name G. Cecil Pruett as the 51st recipient of the prestigious First Citizen of Cherokee County Award. It is obvious, based upon his accomplishments, why he was selected,” remarked Debra Williams, Retail Market Leader/Senior Vice President, Synovus, and 2026 Chamber Board Chair.
The title of First Citizen of Cherokee County is bestowed upon a resident of Cherokee County who has resided in the county for a minimum of five years and has shown significant meritorious service to his/her community through family, civic and/or religious involvement. A panel of out-of-town judges reviews the accomplishments of each applicant then the winner is chosen based upon merit. The 2026 recipient joins a prestigious list of honorees including former Canton physician Dr. Grady Coker, who was the initial recipient in 1971, along with John W. Blend, III, Goshen Valley Foundation, who was selected in 2025.
The mission of the Cherokee County Chamber, a Georgia Certified Chamber, is to support and connect businesses to create economic success. To learn more about the Chamber, visit CherokeeChamber.com.