MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Jordan (24th), Furniss, Jackson, Simmons, Walls, Turner, Carlton, Frazier, Harden, Blackmon, Johnson (38th), Gollott, Huggins

Senate Concurrent Resolution 594

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. WILLIAM W. SUTTON UPON HIS RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY. 

WHEREAS, Dr. William W. Sutton has served as President of Mississippi Valley State University from 1988 to 1998; and

WHEREAS, during his ten-year tenure at Valley State, the institution erased its operating deficit, more than $35 Million have been spent on construction, renovations, repairs and upgrade of the physical plant, with several million dollars preplanned for future capital improvements, all residence halls on campus are now air conditioned, seven academic programs have been reinstated and seven new programs have been added, a campus radio station went on the air in 1991, the Greenwood Center was opened in 1996, the university cable television network and telephone outlets have been installed in each residence hall room, and enrollment has increased from a low of 1691 in 1989 to 2263 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, prior to coming to Valley State, Dr. Sutton served on the faculty of Dillard University for 20 years, served for 6 years as Academic Vice President and Provost, and Professor of Biology at Chicago State University, and served as Vice President for Educational and Student Services and as a tenured Professor of Biology at Kansas State University; and

WHEREAS, professionally, Dr. Sutton has served as a consultant to a number of universities and federal agencies including chairing a National Advisory Council for the 16 historically black universities in North Carolina and Virginia from 1974 to present, is a past Commissioner of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools where he chaired one of five major committees dealing with accreditation, served for six years as a member of the Presidents' Commission of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is a past Chair of the Presidents' Council of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, past Chair of the Council of Presidents of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and past President of the Mississippi Association of Colleges; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sutton has been very active in the community, was an active member of the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce, the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation and the Greenwood Rotary Club, served on the Advisory Board of Deposit Guaranty National Bank in Greenwood, Mississippi, and the Professional Advisory Committee of Mid-Delta Home Health, Inc., served as a member of the Board of Governors of Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters and is a member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he has received numerous citations and honors, including listings in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Outstanding Educators of America, Who's Who Among Black Americans, and Who's Who in America, is a recipient of the Solver Beaver Award for outstanding service to the Boy Scouts of America, was cited as the Dillard University Outstanding Alumnus in 1978 and in 1982 as its Distinguished Achievement Award recipient, Dr. Sutton has appeared on the cover of national publications including Black Issues in Higher Education and USA Today, The Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper named Dr. Sutton recipient of its 1996 Community Service Award, The 100 Black Men of the Delta cited him with their 1998 Community Service Award, The Mississippi Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society honored him with its distinguished Hope Award in 1998, and in 1996 and 1997, the national magazine, U.S. News and World Report, cited Mississippi Valley State as a "Best Value in Undergraduate Education"; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sutton is a native of Monticello, Mississippi where he received his early education, is a graduate of Alexander High School in Brookhaven, Mississippi and holds a B.A. Degree in Science from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Zoology from Howard University, Washington, D.C., he has studied at several other universities across the United States, and conducted research at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Dillard University, and completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sutton is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Boule, is a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and is married to the former Leatrice Hubbard of New Orleans and the couple have six adult children and eight grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sutton's contribution and leadership to his university and to his state is a matter of record:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dr. William W. Sutton upon his retirement as President of Mississippi Valley State University and wish him success in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution be presented to Dr. Sutton and to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.