MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Barnett (92nd), Bozeman, Green (96th), Hudson, Ketchings, Middleton, Moak, Nettles, Rotenberry, Vince, Weathersby

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF DR. BILLY B. THAMES AND TO EXTEND THE BEST WISHES OF THE LEGISLATURE UPON HIS RETIREMENT. 

WHEREAS, Dr. Billy B. Thames, President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College since January 20, 1968, has announced that he will retire on June 30, 1997; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames served longer than any of the previous three presidents and an acting president and during his tenure Copiah-Lincoln Community College flourished and developed into the first class educational institution that it is today; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames was born in Monticello, Mississippi, and he is a 1952 graduate of Monticello High School, a 1954 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and a 1958 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames continued his education receiving a master of science degree in 1959 and a doctorate degree in 1974 from the University of Southern Mississippi and he completed additional post-graduate work at Mississippi College, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames began his career in education with the Jackson Public Schools at Chastain Junior High School from 1959 to 1964 as a coach, teacher and counselor, he served as Principal at McAdams Attendance Center from 1964-1965 and he served as Director of Admissions at Belhaven College from 1965 to 1968 before becoming the President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames has received numerous honors, including being recognized by Mississippi College for Service to Humanity in 1975-1976, being selected as one of eight Most Distinguished Alumnus in the United States by Phi Theta Kappa in 1975, being selected as Copiah-Lincoln Alumnus of the Year in 1970, being recognized by Lawrence County for Betterment of Life in Lawrence County in 1975, receiving the Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa's Margaret Mosal Award in 1992, being recognized by the Wesson Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year and being named by the Mississippi Humanities Council as the 1996 recipient of the Public Humanities Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames is very active in his church and community, serving as a member, deacon and trustee of the Wesson Baptist Church and serving in numerous positions in the Wesson Lions Club, the Wesson Chamber of Commerce, the Copiah County Chamber of Commerce, the Mississippi Humanities Council, the Governor's Task Force of Accreditation, the Private Industry Council, the Copiah Competitive Leadership Project and the Executive Management Institute; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thames is married to the former Anne Allen of Monticello and they have three children; namely, Rachel Peeples, Rebecca Thames and William Thames; and one grandaughter, Ashley Anne Peeples; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and commend exemplary service to the state by its outstanding citizens:

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 public service of Dr. Billy B. Thames and extend the best wishes of the Legislature upon his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Billy B. Thames, Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the Capitol Press Corps.