Alex Cawthon, executive vice president of Thiele Kaolin Company, was named the 2005-2006 Georgia Mining Association (GMA) President at its annual meeting held July 15, 2005.

Beginning in 1996, Alex has served as chairman of many of the standing committees of GMA including the Human Resources Committee and the Committee for Good Government. He has served on the GMA Board of Directors for the past nine years and has twice been elected as president of the association.

In addition, Alex will serve as chairman of the China Clay Producers Association Board of Directors during the coming year. He has made tremendous contributions to these organizations and has always been an advocate for the industry. He was named Miner of the Year in 1998 and 1999.

Founded in 1972, GMA was established by a handful of mining companies with a production value of $272 million. Today, GMA has 40 mining companies and over 160 associate member companies, with a mineral production value of $1.6 billion per year. The industry boasts employment of some 7,200 workers with a payroll exceeding $300 million. The industry mines 17 industry minerals with 80,000 acres of permitted mines, spread among 117 of the Georgia’s 159 counties.

The association is please that Alex has again agreed to lead the organization as it tackles the many governmental and regulatory issues, from environmental to taxation to safety and health.

Alex and his wife Wanda, a former resident of Lincolnton, now reside in Thomson, Georgia.