E.G. Lassiter, Jr. was born on April 2, 1915 in Newton County, Georgia. His parents were Elwood Gray Lassiter, Sr, and Georgia Slater Lassiter. He was born and raised on the family farm located on Highway 36, six miles south of Covington. He married Ruth Butler on February 4, 1940. He was a full time employee of White's Department Store in Covington from 1935 until December 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Private Lassiter became a tank gunner (76 mm cannon) in the 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. He was soon promoted to Corporal. Only six months after enlistment he was selected for Officer Candidate School, and he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in August 1943. He came home for leave in 1944 just before his unit was to ship out for Europe. E.G. was accidentally injured when his brother exploded a firecracker under a tin can. The tin shrapnel cut an artery in his leg. After 15 days in the hospital, his leave was extended for healing. He returned to Texas after his unit had shipped out, so he was reassigned. A Colonel subsequently spotted E.G. giving a presentation to other service members, and had him transferred to the Intelligence Corps at Camp Ritchey, Maryland to learn military intelligence. E.G. returned to Texas and taught military intelligence at both Camp Roberts and Camp Tyler. Hundreds of Lieutenants and Captains, responsible for leading their units into World War II battles, were taught subject such as: battle tactics; coding/decoding messages; and avoiding enemy fire, including how to crawl under fire (He saw trainees killed when they stood up.). As months passed, forty-four of his OCS class members were sent to Europe and the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. Reportedly forty-two of them perished during the war. Lieutenant Lassiter was then sent to Fort Ord, California with the 19th Training Regiment. He was awaiting orders to be sent to Japan. He worked for a Captain Revis for several months, who asked him to stay in Paso Robles as his assistant. As a soldier 28+ years old, with 2+ years of service and with a dependent, E.G. obtained 'Domestic Duty' status. He was subsequently promoted to Captain, and continued duties at Fort Ord until after the war and his discharge in 1946. In April 1946, E.G. was named Manager of White's Department Store in Covington, GA. He and Ruth became parents of two sons, E.G. III and Charles. In December 1948, he became General Manager of White's Enterprises, overseeing its department store, grocery store, Firestone store, and two NAPA auto parts stores. His Rotary, Boy Scout, civic and church accomplishments are too numerous to enumerate. Ruth, his wife for sixty-two years, died in 2002. Although his many years now limit his activities, E.G. remains one of Newton County's most beloved and prominent community leaders and senior citizens.