Savannah, GA — Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia) has named Benny H. Curl, Chairman Emeritus of Byrd Cookie Company, and William T. (Bill) Daniel Jr., Principal at Lassiter Investments, LLC and Retired Vice President and General Counsel of the Vaden Automotive Group, as their 2025 JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame Laureates.
Celebrating its silver anniversary, Junior Achievement of Georgia is proud to host the 25th annual gala and continue the tradition of honoring titans of the Savannah business community, presented with generous support from our Diamond Sponsor, Memorial Health. The black-tie event will take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.
Benny H. Curl, a Savannah native and U.S. Army veteran, built a distinguished career in accounting and business leadership after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1968. In 1988, he and his late wife Kay purchased Byrd Cookie Company, transforming it into a nationally recognized family business celebrated for its award-winning flavors and innovative packaging. Under his leadership, the company earned honors including the Georgia Family Business of the Year, while Benny himself was inducted into the Specialty Food Association’s Hall of Fame and received its Lifetime Achievement Award. Beyond Byrd, Benny held leadership roles with the Georgia Specialty & Wine Association, the International Specialty Food Association, and First Chatham Bank, where he served as Chairman of the Board. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Benny’s legacy is defined by his entrepreneurial spirit, community leadership, and commitment to family.
William T. Daniel, Jr., a forty-five-year Savannah resident, is the owner of Lassiter Investments, LLC, and retired in 2020 as Vice President and General Counsel of the Vaden Automotive Group, where he helped expand the family business into a regional automotive leader. Prior to joining Vaden, he practiced law in Savannah and served in the Carter Administration as Special Assistant to the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Daniel has held numerous leadership roles in healthcare, education, and philanthropy across Savannah, serving boards at Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, and the Georgia Methodist Foundation. He has also been active in civic initiatives, including the Savannah Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Compact, and has been recognized locally for his leadership, including Savannah’s Rotarian of the Year. Married to Linda Vaden, Daniel is a devoted father and grandfather, and he and his family remain actively engaged at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church.
In addition to the formal induction of Curl and Daniel Jr., the evening will welcome guests to a cocktail hour, where attendees are welcome to bid at the infamous Whiskey Wall, and enjoy some light hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The 25th JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame will start the program with a seated dinner, followed by a tribute to the ground-breaking programs JA of Georgia is bringing to the Savannah-Chatham County area, and concluding with a champagne toast to Savannah’s newest laureates.
“We are delighted to be welcoming Benny and Bill into our esteemed laureate society,” said Craig Tootle, Director of Development and Volunteer Partnerships for JA of Georgia in Savannah. “Both gentlemen’s contributions have never gone unnoticed within our community; however, we are fortunate to recognize them on such a special year- our 25th anniversary.”
Curl and Daniel Jr. will join the ranks of Savannah’s most distinguished leaders, alongside names such as Sam McCachern, Dale Critz Sr. and Jr., Paula Deen, and so many others. To learn more about the JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame, our laureates, or to purchase a ticket, please visit Georgia.ja.org/hall-of-fame-savannah. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, please email Craig Tootle at ctootle@georgia.ja.org.
About Junior Achievement of Georgia
Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia is a business- integrated education partner with expertise in experiential learning that successfully develops key mindsets and skills for students to lead meaningful and successful lives. JA’s high-impact programs drive long-term outcomes in areas of financial literacy, career readiness, and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, and are delivered by corporate and community volunteers. JA of Georgia offers multiple programs, with a focus on middle and high school students, including JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, 3DE by Junior Achievement, and will soon be offering the JA Dream Accelerator. JA of Georgia has locations in Atlanta, Cumming, Dalton, Evans, Morrow, and Savannah. For more information, visit georgia.ja.org
