R. Olin Jackson III

R. Olin Jackson cut his journalistic teeth as a speechwriter for a Georgia politician; as Director of Media Services and Sports Information for a major university; and as a senior account executive with a major public relations firm, all in Georgia. In 1985, Olin founded Legacy Communications, Inc., where he became the award-winning executive editor and publisher of his flagship creations – North Georgia Journal and Georgia Backroads magazines – the premier travel and history publications of Georgia.

During his tenure with Legacy Communications, Olin wrote and edited a selection of books, including “Moonshine, Murder and Mayhem in Georgia” (2003); “Tales of the Rails in Georgia” (2004); and “Georgia Backroads Traveler” (2005).

After approximately 20 years of ownership and management of Legacy Communications and North Georgia Journal/Georgia Backroads magazines, Olin sold these business endeavors in 2005 and semi-retired to manage a portfolio of commercial real estate.

In 2021, Olin embarked upon a new business venture, founding Whippoorwill Publications, LLC. His current book projects within that realm include “Mystery & History in Georgia, Volume I” (2022) & “Volume 2” (2023); “Some Genealogy Keys to Some Georgia Family Trees” (2023) (which provides extensive histories and genealogical information on the Anderson, Neel, Jackson, Fricks, Hudgins, Tanner, Jordan, Gravatt, Rogers and Pettyjohn families); “John Henry ‘Doc’ Holliday: A Simple Matter of Survival” (2023); “Memories of Army Life and MPs of the 529th” (2024); “After All That We’ve Been Through” (2024) (original poetry); “Gunmen, Lawmen and Wild Men of Early Georgia” (2024); “Historic Rails and Forgotten Trails of Early Georgia” (2025); and “About the South” (2025).

Olin is married to the former Judy Grizzle of Dahlonega, Georgia, and has a son, Burke, by a former marriage.