MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Little, Dearing, Chaney, Horhn, Frazier, Posey, Canon, White (29th), Browning, Johnson (19th), Thames, Farris, Furniss, Scoper, Harden, Gollott, Kirby, Bryan, Carmichael, Dawkins, Williamson, Smith, Hyde-Smith, Mettetal, Harvey, Michel, White (5th), Tollison

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING ASSOCIATED PRESS CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT GINA HOLLAND FOR HER CAREER IN MISSISSIPPI, AND CONGRATULATING HER FOR HER PROMOTION TO NATIONAL WRITER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WHEREAS, in January, Gina Holland was promoted to National Writer with the Associated Press, assigned to cover politics in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, she joined The Associated Press after graduating with a degree in communication from Mississippi State University in 1989; two years later she was named statehouse reporter and covered the Legislature from 1991-2001; her tenure included three administrations (Governors Ray Mabus, Kirk Fordice and Ronnie Musgrove), ten legislative sessions, five congressional campaigns and her first national political convention in 2000 (Democratic National Convention); and

WHEREAS, Gina Lyn Holland was born on September 27, 1967, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to a newspaper editor father and schoolteacher mother, Gary and Ann Holland; she was raised in a newspaper family, where state politics were often discussed at the dinner table; she was active in sports, including fast pitch softball; she started as a sports photographer for The Mississippi Press in Pascagoula during high school, and served as editor of the student newspaper at Pascagoula High School and four years later during her senior year at Mississippi State University; and

WHEREAS, she attended Mississippi State University on a Turner Catledge Journalism Scholarship and in college was selected to Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, multiple honorary societies and Delta Gamma Sorority, and was photography editor of The Reflector; and

WHEREAS, she has been a member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors Association and, along with colleague Jack Elliot, has covered most of the state's top stories over the past decade; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the timely and unbiased Capitol reporting tenure of this talented young Mississippian, who has brought honor to her family, her community, her university and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Associated Press Capitol Correspondent Gina Holland for her career in Mississippi, and congratulate her and extend to her the best wishes of the Legislature as she is promoted to National Writer in the Washington, D.C. Bureau.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Gina Holland and her family, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.