WILBANKS
Marlan Wilbanks, a member of Habersham Central’s 1979 graduating class, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 HCHS Lifetime Achievement Award. Wilbanks graduated from the University of Georgia in 1983 and the UGA School of Law in 1986.
As an attorney practicing in Atlanta, his cases have resulted in a number of record-breaking recoveries. For more than 25 years, he has specialized in representing whistleblowers who file lawsuits when taxpayers have been defrauded by individuals or large corporations. Whistleblower cases filed by Wilbanks have resulted in over $2 billion being obtained for his clients as well as the United States Taxpayers.
In recognition of his efforts, Wilbanks has previously been named the National Lawyer of the Year by the Taxpayers Against Fraud organization which is the largest organization of its kind in the United States. On a national level, Wilbanks and his cases have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Atlanta Business Chronicle, CNN, NBC, ABC, Fox News, and dozens of other media outlets across the country.
Wilbanks has also actively served the other members of the bar over the course of his legal career. He has made legal presentations more than 75 times at major conferences and seminars for lawyers and government attorneys across the nation. For more than a decade, he helped train first-year lawyers in Georgia with regard to numerous issues, including ethics and professionalism. Wilbanks has been recognized by his peers and the judges of the state of Georgia by receiving the highest rating possible for both ethics and professional competency.
Wilbanks has been very active in numerous organizations that are dedicated to protecting children. He was the founder of the Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation (“CEASE”) Clinic in conjunction with the UGA School of Law. This clinic is the first of its kind in the nation. The Wilbanks CEASE Clinic provides free representation to the survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation and their families in courts across the state of Georgia. The Clinic provides free representation to the abuse survivors in the court system and also affords law school students with the opportunity to directly participate in the legal process prior to becoming a lawyer.
Wilbanks currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for the UGA Law School Board of Visitors. He is an Executive Committee member and Trustee at Young Harris College. He serves as Chairman of the Board for Hope Thrives. Hope Thrives is a Christ-centered organization that provides survivor retreats, counseling, programs and other resources to victims of child sexual abuse in Georgia and seven other states. Each year this organization will provide help and services to more than 1,000 victims of child sexual abuse.
At the local level, Wilbanks is a substantial supporter of numerous organizations, including FAITH, the Family Resource Center of Northeast Georgia, and Freedom Hill. He also provided financial support for the introduction of the Leader in Me program introduced to the school children of Habersham County several years ago.
Wilbanks’ passion to help the people in need has gone global, as he provided the funding for the operation of an orphanage and school in the Guntar Region of India. Additionally, Wilbanks established six different literacy teaching locations which use Christian materials to teach thousands of children to read every year in the tribal regions of India.
“Mr. Wilbanks is an excellent choice for the HCHS Lifetime Achievement Award,” Superintendent Matthew Cooper said. “We are grateful for his contributions to our community and to the children of Habersham County. We are very proud that Mr. Wilbanks is a product of Habersham County and a graduate of Habersham Central High School. We look forward to having him speak to the Class of 2022 in May.”
Principal Jonathan Stribling congratulated Wilbanks on his selection.
“Mr. Wilbanks’ professional and personal accomplishments embody bold ethics and a spirit of service making him an excellent role model for our current students,” Stribling said. “I look forward to personally meeting him, and his message to the Class of 2022 at commencement. I am certain he will inspire and challenge us all.”
Wilbanks is married to Diane and is the father of Madie Wilbanks and Lauren Crites. He is the proud grandfather of Madison May Crites. He is the brother of Marcia Hubbell and the son of Marilyn and Aubrey Motz of Clarkesville.
He will address the Habersham Central High School class of 2022 during their graduation ceremony on May 27.