Bill Text: MS HR67 | 2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: University of Southern Mississippi; commend upon the 100th anniversary of its founding.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-18 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR67 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-HR67-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Barker, Byrd, Dedeaux, Fillingane, Parker, Walley, Warren, Watson, Patterson, Weathersby
House Resolution 67
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ADMINISTRATION, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, UPON THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING.
WHEREAS, March 30, 2010, marks the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the University of Southern Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the University of Southern Mississippi began as Mississippi Normal College through the passage of House Bill No. 204, which was introduced by State Representative Marshall McCullough of Lincoln County, then passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives on March 16, 1910, approved by the Senate a week later and signed into law by Governor Edmond Favor Noel on March 30, 1910, with no state appropriation; and
WHEREAS, during the search for a location for the college, Hattiesburg residents, Dr. T.E. Ross, Mr. H.A. Camp and Mr. A.A. Montague, saw the tremendous opportunity for their city and state, and donated 120 acres of land on a stretch of wilderness a few miles west of downtown Hattiesburg, thus enabling Hattiesburg to be chosen over Jackson and Laurel as the site for the new college; and
WHEREAS, leaders of the City of Hattiesburg and Forrest County took the bold and courageous step of selling bonds to raise the needed money to build the first buildings on the new college's campus; and
WHEREAS, the first classes began at Mississippi Normal College on September 18, 1912, under the leadership of its first president, Dr. David Anderson Cook, with the education and training of new teachers to serve the people of Mississippi as the college's mission; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, this noble institution has built a reputation of persevering and succeeding in both good and tumultuous times, surviving several politically motivated dismissals of presidents and even attempts by the Mississippi Legislature to close its doors; and
WHEREAS, this determination to succeed, advance and "do more with less" pushed the institution to greater heights, as its mission expanded and its name changed from Mississippi Normal College to State Teachers College (1924), Mississippi Southern College (1940) and, ultimately, the University of Southern Mississippi (1962); and
WHEREAS, under the vision and leadership of nine different presidents, the University of Southern Mississippi's breadth and depth of academic programs have evolved from its humble beginnings of solely training teachers to its current status as an internationally recognized pioneer in areas such as nursing, economic development, language disorders, marine research, gifted education, athletics, the arts and polymer science; and
WHEREAS, the University of Southern Mississippi has graduated over 125,000 alumni, counting among its ranks statesmen, scholars, entertainers, educators, athletes and artists; and
WHEREAS, the same desire to survive and succeed continues to mold and motivate its students, faculty, staff, administration and alumni, thus ensuring the University of Southern Mississippi's second century will be all the more prosperous than the first; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend 100 years of service to the State of Mississippi by such an outstanding institution as the University of Southern Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and friends of the University of Southern Mississippi, both past and present, on one century of loyalty and excellence, and express best wishes on guiding the university to greater heights in the next century.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to President Martha Dunagin Saunders and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
