Bill Text: MS HC108 | 2017 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Mayor Billy Skellie; commend upon retirement as Mayor of the City of Long Beach.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-03 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HC108 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-HC108-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Bennett, Crawford
House Concurrent Resolution 108
(As Adopted by House and Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE THAT MAYOR BILLY SKELLIE PROVIDED AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, Billy Skellie, the Mayor of the City of Long Beach, Mississippi, and community leader extraordinaire, is retiring after selflessly dedicating 13 years of illustrious service and competent guidance to the wonderful people of the Long Beach community; and
WHEREAS, born William Donald Griffin "Billy" Skellie, Jr., on February 20, 1946, to William Donald Griffin Skellie, Sr., and Mable Dauro Skellie, he attended St. Thomas Catholic School from first through eighth grade and graduated from Long Beach High School before continuing his education at Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Skellie received more than just an education at Gulf Coast Community College, as he met his soulmate and future wife, Patricia Stewart, and the two lovebirds wed with the words, "I do," and have been married for 50 years, completing their family unit with the addition of two children, Griff and Ashley, and two granddaughters, Alex and Taylor; and
WHEREAS, after serving on the Board of Aldermen for Ward 5 for eight years and on the Long Beach Zoning Board for 12 years, he assumed the role of Mayor of the City of Long Beach with years of invaluable experience under his belt, and he utilized that training and expertise to serve the role of mayor with efficiency, effectiveness and an open door policy that respected each citizen's ideas and visions; and
WHEREAS, additionally, Mayor Skellie derived from a family with a long, accomplished history of honorable municipal service work, as his grandfather, father and brother all served as aldermen, his father was elected Mayor of Long Beach in 1969 and his grandmother was a school board member in the 1930s; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Skellie retired from Bell South after 35 years of service, and he is a three-term president of the Long Beach Gridiron Club, two-time chairman and current secretary of the Harrison County Utility Authority Board, and a member of numerous organizations, including Friends of the Library, Vision 20/20, Harrison County Council of Government, Gulf Regional Water and Sewer Board, Gulf Regional Planning Commission and the South Mississippi Planning Development District; and
WHEREAS, in his spare time, Mayor Skellie enjoys hunting, fishing, sports and watching Ole Miss play football and baseball, and he and his family are members of the First Baptist Church of Long Beach, where he has served as deacon since 1988 and as youth Sunday School teacher for 16 years; and
WHEREAS, after 13 years of mayoral service to the people of Long Beach, retirement will surely leave an insatiable void for governing and mingling with Mississippi's finest in the heart of Mayor Skellie, but he is overjoyed to travel with his wife, volunteer in the community that he loves so much, remain affiliated with government in a smaller context, and reflect on the countless number of remarkable people that have touched his life throughout his 13-year career as the Mayor of the City of Long Beach; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the tireless devotion to the betterment of Mississippi and honor the ardent vow to impeccable public service that Mr. William Donald Griffin "Billy" Skellie, Jr., bestowed to the citizens of Mississippi as Mayor of the City of Long Beach:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service that Mayor Billy Skellie provided as Mayor of the City of Long Beach upon the occasion of his retirement, and extend sincere wishes for continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mayor William Donald Griffin "Billy" Skellie, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
