MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Hall, Hawks, Hamilton, Gordon, Minor, Browning, Turner, Johnson (19th), Canon

Senate Concurrent Resolution 600

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DAVE C. SWALM OF BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI, FOR HIS GENEROUS SUPPORT OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY AND EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION OF THE LEGISLATURE. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

WHEREAS, Dave C. Swalm was born in Los Angeles and lived in Whitier, California, before moving to Brookhaven, Mississippi, where he grew up; and

WHEREAS, Dave graduated from Brookhaven High School and entered Mississippi State University in 1951 and received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Mississippi State in 1955; and

WHEREAS, while at Mississippi State University, he was active on campus in Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honorary society, Kappa Mu Epsilon national mathematics honorary society, Tau Beta Pi national engineering honorary society and the Chemical Engineering Club; and

WHEREAS, following graduation, he worked as a design engineer with Dow Chemical, as a production engineer for Texas Butadiene and Chemical Corp., as a regional manager for Sinclair Petrochemicals, Inc., and as a marketer for Steuber Co.; and

WHEREAS, Dave Swalm founded Texas Olefins Co. in Houston, Texas, in 1968, which eventually grew to become the largest privately owned petrochemical raw materials producer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, he was chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and majority owner of Texas Olefins Co. until 1996, when he sold the company; and

WHEREAS, he is a Registered Professional Engineer, and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Chemical Marketing Research Association; and

WHEREAS, since 1988, Swalm and his wife, Beth, who serves as President of the Swalm Foundation, have been responsible for gifts to Mississippi State University in excess of $19 Million, making them the largest benefactors in university history; and

WHEREAS, a gift valued at over $14 Million, the largest single individual gift in university history, will help Mississippi State construct a $18.6 Million chemical engineering building on campus and also will make it possible to restore historic Lee Hall to its former beauty; and

WHEREAS, a $400,000.00 gift in 1993 funded a new clubhouse at the Mississippi State University Golf Course and Mr. Swalm was chiefly responsible for the design of the facility; and

WHEREAS, other gifts through the years in excess of $5 Million to the university's Chemical Engineering Department support undergraduate and graduate scholarships, faculty salary supplements, equipment purchases and professional support for faculty, among other areas, including a donated herd of cattle which was used for research by the university's Animal Science Department; and

WHEREAS, Dave Swalm is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi State University Foundation; and

WHEREAS, he was named Mississippi State University's National Alumnus of the Year for 1992; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge the business and civic accomplishments of this Mississippian, who has granted such outstanding support to his alma mater:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dave C. Swalm of Brookhaven, Mississippi, for his generous support of Mississippi State University for many years, hereby express the genuine appreciation of the Legislature, and wish him and his family continued success in their business and civic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Dave C. Swalm and his family at the ground breaking of the new chemical engineering building on campus, and copies be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.