MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Little, Johnson (38th), Horhn, Huggins, Frazier, Harden, Dearing, Lee, Simmons, Kirby, White (29th), Chaney, Gordon, Farris, Posey, Furniss, Hamilton, Minor, Thames, Ross

Senate Concurrent Resolution 507

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MISSISSIPPI ETHICS COMMISSION'S LONGTIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RONALD E. (RON) CROWE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 18 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE.

     WHEREAS, Ronald E. Crowe has announced he will retire from his position as Executive Director of the Mississippi Ethics Commission effective November 1, 2001; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Crowe has served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Ethics Commission since September 16, 1983.  Prior to his appointment as the Ethics Commission's Executive Director, Mr. Crowe served in various positions with the State Tax Commission and as the Assistant Director of the PEER Committee.  Mr. Crowe has served 36 consecutive years with the State of Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, Walter Brown, Chairman of the Mississippi Ethics Commission, has lauded Ron's legacy of public trust in state government:

     "Ron Crowe's service in state government has been exemplified by sound judgment, firmness and impartiality.  He has made the Mississippi Ethics Commission an educational tool as well as a law enforcement agency, and has given this agency a statewide reputation for credibility and respect.  In his 18 years as Executive Director he has assisted hundreds of state and local officials not only in carrying out the ethics laws, but in affirmatively seeing that conflicts of interest not only can be avoided, but that integrity in government is good public policy"; and

     WHEREAS, a resident of Brandon, Mississippi, Ron Crowe is a member of the American Society of Public Administration and the international Council on Governmental Ethics Laws in which he has served as recruiting chairman for the southeastern United States and was a member of a committee which developed the "Model Ethics Act"; and

     WHEREAS, Ron is a graduate of the first class of the State Executive Institute, he has been featured in numerous newspaper articles regarding his work at the Ethics Commission and he is fondly referred to by many people in and out of government circles as "Mr. Ethics"; and

     WHEREAS, a native of Columbus, Mississippi, Ron Crowe is married to the former Karen Wilder of Columbus and they have two sons:  Shane and Kevin, who are both married; and

     WHEREAS, government must have the trust of its citizens, and Ron Crowe has often been called the "conscience of state government" due to his longtime oversight of public trust and public interest in Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, we are grateful for Ron's legacy of service in state government:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mississippi Ethics Commission's longtime Executive Director Ronald E. (Ron) Crowe on the occasion of his retirement after 18 years of dedicated public service, and wish he and his wife, Karen, the best as he returns to private life.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be presented to Ron Crowe and his family, and be forwarded to the Mississippi Ethics Commission, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.