Cary Ichter

Cary Ichter’s is a story of the American Dream come true, with hard work, tenacity, and determination at its core. Cary’s family settled in Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, where he attended high school. Cary began debating as a high school junior, and upon graduation, he was offered a full debate scholarship at the University of West Georgia (then known as West Georgia College). West Georgia has historically had one of the best debate programs in the United States. With tuition and books covered, Cary funded the balance of his college and living expenses by working at Kroger, where he unloaded trucks and stocked shelves at night.

While at the University of West Georgia, Cary participated in debate for four years, maintained a rigorous class schedule during the day, and, at night, drove from Carrollton to Douglasville to work at Kroger.

In his final year of school, Cary accomplished two impressive feats. First, Cary ran for President of the West Georgia Student Government Association, making the campaign promise that he would quit his job at Kroger and dedicate that time to running Student Government and tending to the interests of his fellow students. Cary won that election, and true to form, he resigned from Kroger so that he could devote his time to tending to his duties as President of Student Government.

Additionally, as a college senior, Cary and his partner were ranked number seven (#7) in the country and received a first round bid to the National Debate Tournament. That same year, Cary received the Southern Debater of the Year from Stamford University.

Cary moved on to great success at the University of Georgia Law School where in 1984 he graduated magna cum laude, became a member of the Order of the Coif, was a member of the Georgia Law Review, and was published in Volume 18 of the Georgia Law Review.