MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: The Entire Membership

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING PATRICIA OWENS FORDICE AS FIRST LADY OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Patricia Owens Fordice, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, has been a source of unequivocal pride to our state as the gracious and lovely First Lady of Mississippi since January 1992; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Fordice, refined and congenial, attended Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, and Memphis State University in Memphis, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, on August 13, 1955, Patricia Owens was a beautiful bride when she and Kirk Fordice were united in Holy Matrimony;

and

WHEREAS, in 1962, the young couple moved to Vicksburg, when Kirk joined the family business, Fordice Construction Company; and

WHEREAS, as First Lady of Mississippi, Mrs. Fordice has unselfishly played a significant role in promoting literacy, arts, health issues and strong family support although her primary focus has been volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, Mrs. Fordice was dutifully recognized as Mississippi's Outstanding Philanthropist for her untiring efforts to establish a cultural, educational and enriching opportunity for the people of the United States by bringing the Palaces of St. Petersburg Russian Imperial Style art exhibit to Jackson; and

WHEREAS, for the tremendous role Mrs. Fordice cordially played in the St. Petersburg project, she was knighted by the Sovereign Order of the Orthodox Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem, which is an active charitable organization whose members participate in its many humanitarian activities, such as helping the needy, the ill, and especially children and victims of natural calamities; and

WHEREAS, the hospitable and charming Mrs. Fordice was also instrumental in bringing to the Capital City the "Splendors of Versailles" exhibition, which the American Bus Association ranked as the number one attraction for 1998; and

WHEREAS, in preparation for these great cultural events, as well as to promote a litter-free Mississippi, Mrs. Fordice created a Splendors of Mississippi project, which was a statewide beautification and clean-up effort; and

WHEREAS, the adventurous First Lady's most recent endeavor was an outstanding tandem jump with the United States Army's most elite parachute team, the Golden Knights; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Fordice, warm and loving, is not only a wonderful First Lady but a remarkable mother of four children and proud grandmother of ten grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds it most appropriate to recognize and pay special tribute to such a distinguished and elegant woman as First Lady Patricia Owens Fordice, whose dedication to arts, education, health issues and the general welfare of all humanity has had an immeasurable impact on the citizens of the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Mrs. Patricia Owens Fordice as First Lady of the State of Mississippi and express to her our heartfelt appreciation for all that she has accomplished for the people of the State of Mississippi. Further, we hereby extend to First Lady Pat Fordice our heartiest wishes for success in all her future endeavors and many years of good health, peace, happiness and joy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Patricia Owens Fordice and members of the Capitol Press Corps.