September 8, 2026 — As millions across the country pause to remember the lives lost 25 years ago in the 9/11 attacks in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania, one of those lives remembered is part of the Cobb County School District family.

In 1978, Michael Gann graduated from Wills High School, which merged with Campbell High School in 1989.

The Cobb County native, who later earned his degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and stayed around Cobb and the Atlanta metro for years to come, was in New York for work on Sept. 11, 2001. He was attending a trade show at the World Trade Center when the attacks occurred.

Gann was 41 years old.

"I hope everyone remembers Mike the way he lived his life. He was adventurous and driven. He loved being outside, and he loved to travel and see new places. I think most of the people who knew and cared about him will remember his kindness, his endless energy, and his genuine interest in the lives of those around him. When he asked someone a question, he truly listened to the answer. It wasn’t a hollow gesture. He never turned someone down that needed help. He was a caring person," said Michael’s brother and fellow Cobb Schools graduate Jeff Gann.

According to family, just two weeks before his death, Gann got married with his three children in attendance. The couple had yet to take their honeymoon. 

The Class of '78 Remembers Gann

During his time in Cobb Schools, Gann's classmates remember him as someone who was proud of his faith, kind to others, and a close friend to many. In his senior year, Gann was voted the "Friendliest" superlative by his fellow classmates. 

"There was always a light that Mike had, there was always a glow about him," said Gann's classmate Dawn Culpepper Dowdy.

Dowdy recalls the days when Gann would bring his guitar over to her house, play music, and be someone whom everyone seemed to gravitate toward. His infectious personality and presence stood out to others in the Class of 1978.

"He was known as the 'golden boy.' His smile, his generosity, he was the most genuine person you'd ever meet," said Gann's classmate Mary Ann Williams Ellis. 

Others, like Randy Garvin, recall growing up riding bikes together and remaining close through their time in Cobb Schools.

"He was my best friend, he was just the best person. I was in the scouts with him, the football team, and he was just one of the nicest people in the school," said Garvin, a fellow '78 graduate from Wills.

Campbell Continues the Story

At Campbell, the Wills Gym, school signage, and pieces of the old Wills basketball court pay homage to Gann's alma mater and to the school that helped make the current version of Campbell High School possible. 

Even though a lot has changed since Gann walked across the graduation stage in 1978, his name will continue to be mentioned for years to come.

Twenty-five years later, Campbell High School educators continue to learn about the story of Michael Gann and all that he meant and still means to Cobb Schools. 

As the nation marks 25 years since the attacks of September 11, staff at Campbell plan to share Gann's story and the personal ties this tragedy has to Cobb Schools in hopes that it will resonate with a generation that wasn't alive when these attacks took place. 

"It's a responsibility to help our students understand that they have a connection. This is a Wills student who would have been a Campbell student walking the halls with them. Learning the Michael Gann story and finding out about who he was as a student is important because we at Campbell High School still see Wills as a part of who we are. It's a part of our history and a personal connection to us. We talk about being one school district, we talk about being one school, and this was one of us," said Campbell social studies teacher James Crawley.

While Gann's family never sought recognition or notoriety, they appreciate that a new generation will learn about a man who meant so much to them. 

"My family still thinks about Mike. We still have our moments of realization that he is gone, and the pain that comes with it. We laugh about things we remember him doing, or thoughts of 'I wish he were here' or 'he would have loved this.' After all this time, it’s still difficult to have conversations about him. Most of us shut down on September 11. We don’t watch TV, we avoid crowds. We keep ourselves isolated from the barrage of memories. It is, however, important that the story is still being told. We appreciate those who are keeping the memories alive and are celebrating the people who should still be with us. Maybe these stories will help us stop or limit the next horrific event. Maybe it would make Mike happy to know that he was part of keeping another tragic event from happening to someone else, or their family," said Gann's brother Jeff.  

h/t non-branded photos provided by Jeff Gann, Russell McDaniel, Mary Ann Williams Ellis, Sharilyn Swinson Smith, and Kellie Wood Meckes