More than 250 University of Georgia College of Pharmacy alumni and their families attended a recent homecoming tailgate.
One of the highlights of the homecoming event was the presentation of the distinguished alumnus award to state Sen. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (’80) of Pooler.
Carter was selected for the award for his work in promoting the profession of pharmacy and in supporting the College of Pharmacy. He is a practicing pharmacist with Carter’s Pharmacy and a new member of the college’s pharmacy advisory board. He also funded the Sen. Buddy Carter Distinguished Pharmacy Leadership Endowment.
Carter is serving his first full term as a Republican senator, representing Senate District I, which includes Bryan County and portions of Chatham and Liberty counties. He was successful this year in getting the drug-monitoring bill passed, as well as making pseudoephedrine an over-the-counter product that only can be sold in pharmacies.
He received the Legislative Champion of the Year award from the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, which is given to a lawmaker who demonstrates leadership and a commitment to assist family physicians and their patients in Georgia.
Carter serves as the chairman of the Higher Education Committee and as the vice chairman to the Health and Human Services Committee. He also is a member of the Appropriations, Ethics and Regulated Industries and Utilities committees. 
Before becoming a senator in 2009, he served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2005-09. From 1996-2004, he was the mayor of Pooler.
Carter is a native of Savannah and earned an associate degree from Young Harris College in 1997 before entering the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. He and his wife, Amy, have three children.