We dedicated our new recreation area on the Cedartown campus in honor and memory of the late Judge Dan Peace Winn on November 2. The Winn Courtyard and Recreation Area houses a basketball court as part of the Hope Hall complex for male residents and was made possible through a gift from his family.

Judge Winn, a native of Douglasville and longtime resident of Cedartown, died in 2016 at the age of 94. An esteemed jurist, he retired in 1988 after more than two decades as a Judge of the Superior Court of Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit of Georgia, after which he served as a Senior Judge for the State of Georgia until his death. Judge Winn was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, having been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals for service in the U.S. Marine Air Corps in the Marianas Islands and Guam during World War II. He later obtained the rank of Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Early in his career Judge Winn served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia and was elected for several terms as Polk County Solicitor and Solicitor General for the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit. He also served as President of the World Jurist Association.

Judge Winn’s commitment to the education and well-being of the youth of Georgia is noted on the Courtyard’s memorial plaque, which will be revealed at the dedication, and reads in part, “This recreation area is dedicated in his memory so that children may thrive.”

“We are grateful for the generosity of Judge Winn’s family that made this addition to our campus possible, allowing the youth that we serve more opportunity to move from trauma toward healing and flourishing,” said M. Scott Merrit, president and CEO of Murphy-Harpst.