Coweta County native Thomas P. Glanton (b. February 21, 1940) graduated from Newnan High School in 1958 and earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management from Auburn University in 1962. He served three years as an officer in the United States Air Force before earning a Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Development from Georgia Tech in 1970. Glanton also held positions at Georgia Tech’s Development Division, the Chattahoochee–Flint Area and Development Commission, as well as leadership positions with both the Carrollton Jaycees and Kiwanis Club.

He first ran, albeit unsuccessfully, for Georgia State Representative in 1972 before winning the 1974 election. Glanton served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978, working as Assistant to Governor Busbee’s floor leaders and Assistant Majority Whip to Representative Nathan Knight. Glanton focused his legislative efforts in public office on the expansion of industry and reevaluating the implications of Atlanta’s growing influence on the West Georgia region. Tom Glanton did not seek re-election to the House in 1978, citing “business, political and personal reasons”-during this time he was both highly active in commercial real estate brokerage and in maintaining an involved family life. However, following the death of Senator Ebb Duncan in 1980, Glanton ran against four other candidates in a special election for Duncan’s still active seat. The close election resulted in a run-off between Glanton and Wayne Garner. Garner ultimately won the seat.

In recent years, Glanton has served on the Paulding County Board of Commissioners, Paulding County Library Board of Trustees, Paulding County Zoning and Planning Board and the Paulding County Economic Development Study Committee. Glanton is president of Total Financial Solutions, a real estate and commercial mortgage advisory company in Dallas, GA.