Seventh Annual High Tech Prayer Breakfast 1998 James H. Blanchard

Host Committee List

James H. Blanchard is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Synovus Financial Corp., a multi-billion dollar, multi-financial services company. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a G.G.A. in 1963 and from The University of Georgia School of Law with an LL.B in 1965. From 1965 to 1967, he served in the United States Army as 1st Lieutenant and Finance Officer and he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1967. After leaving the Army, he was a member of the firm of Swift, Pease, Davidson and Chapman, Attorneys at Law, Columbus, Georgia, and a member of the Georgia Bar Association. At the age of 29, he became president of Columbus Bank and Trust Company, the lead bank of Synovus Financial Corp. He has been instrumental in enhancing the banking industry by rallying support that resulted in the Georgia Legislature passing the multi-bank holding company bill in 1976; directing Synovus Financial Corp. to encourage decentralized, autonomous approach to community banking; encouraging the formation in 1983 of Total System Services, Inc., one of the world’s largest credit, debit, commercial and private-label card processing companies, which is 80.7% owned by Synovus Financial Corp.; and leading the liberalization of interstate banking laws.

Just a few examples of his leadership involvement include serving as Director of BellSouth Corporation, The Hardaway Company and W.C. Bradley Co.; Chairman of the Executive Committee and Director of Total System Services, Inc.; Chairman and Director of the Georgia Research Alliance; and Director of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Previously, he served as a member of the Governor’s Development Council of the State of Georgia; President of the Georgia Corporation for Economic Development; Director, President and Campaign Chairman of the Columbus, Georgia, Chapter of United Way; Director and President of the Chattahoochee-Fort Benning Chapter of the Association of the United States Army; and Director of both Visa U.S.A. and Visa International. His commitment to education has been evident through his service as a member of the State of Georgia Board of Education and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and trustee of the Columbus State University Foundation and the University of Georgia Foundation. He has been named the 1997 Most Respected CEO in the state by Georgia Trend.