MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Zuber

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. GEORGE M. HARMON FOR HIS MANY OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT OF MILLSAPS COLLEGE AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Dr. George M. Harmon will be retiring as President of Millsaps College on July 1, 2000; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harmon furthered his education with a Bachelor's Degree from Rhodes College, a Master's Degree in business from Emory University, and his Doctorate in Business Administration from Harvard University; and

WHEREAS, as the ninth President of Millsaps College, Dr. Harmon has initiated many positive changes and improvements since his arrival in 1978; and

WHEREAS, since 1985, Millsaps College has been listed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as one of only 162 national liberal arts colleges in the United States; and

WHEREAS, for the past two years, Millsaps has been ranked in the top half of all national liberal arts colleges as designated by U.S. News & World Report; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harmon has been instrumental in almost doubling the full-time faculty from 54 to just under 100; increasing the endowment from $5 million to more than $93 million; increasing the college's economic impact in the community by growing the operating budget from $5 million to $36 million; and expanding enrollment from 850 to 1400 students; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harmon's vision has led Millsaps into new areas of service, while the institution remains committed to the quality long associated with over 100 years of academic excellence; and

WHEREAS, under Dr. Harmon's leadership, Millsaps has developed a critically acclaimed core liberal arts curriculum that has been modeled by many other institutions; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harmon also was a vital part of the creation of the Else School of Management that offers a Master of Business Administration and Accounting degrees; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Dr. Harmon helped Millsaps receive the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, which is the highest and most selective liberal arts academic honorary in the country; and

WHEREAS, before arriving at Millsaps, Dr. Harmon was the Dean of the Business School at Saginaw Valley University and has held teaching, research and administrative positions in the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, Rhodes College, Syracuse University and Harvard University; and

WHEREAS, an active member of his community, Dr. Harmon currently serves on the University Senate of the United Methodist Church and is on the Executive Board and Past Chairman of the Jackson Medical and Education District; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi to recognize and commend outstanding educational administrators such as Dr. Harmon, who has dedicated over 20 years to improving the quality of education at Millsaps College:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Dr. George M. Harmon for his many years of outstanding service to Millsaps College and congratulate him upon his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. George M. Harmon and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.