Ga. opera has govenor as villain

Segregationist Gov. Eugene Talmadge, still one of Georgia’s most theatrical political figures 60 years after his death, is taking center stage again -- this time as the villain in an opera.

“A Scholar Under Siege,” composed by Georgia Southern University music professor Michael Braz, tells the true story of how Talmadge in 1941 fired the college’s president amid suspicions that he supported integrating the school.

The opera, which opens on campus today and runs through the weekend, was written for the university’s 100th anniversary celebration this year.

Talmadge’s racist politics backfired on the three-term governor. The firings caused Georgia’s 10 white colleges to lose their accreditation -- making their degrees practically worthless. Outraged voters ousted Talmadge when he sought reelection in 1942.