Senate Resolution 36

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MRS. RUBY MORTON OF GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, RECIPIENT OF THE GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

WHEREAS, Gulfport, Mississippi resident Ruby Morton, age 75, the Receptionist/Telephone Operator/Supervisor of Collection Personnel for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi, Inc., has been chosen "Achiever of the Year 2002" by Goodwill Industries, International, a not-for-profit organization of over 200 member goodwills; and

WHEREAS, Goodwill International, including over 250 organizations worldwide providing an array of services, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary with Centennial celebrations throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Goodwill of South Mississippi has been serving the community for 27 years, its mission: to provide jobs and job training to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment; and

WHEREAS, Goodwill International generated about Two Billion Dollars of revenue in the year 2000 and served almost 500,000 people with disabilities and other barriers to employment in the same year, through job training, placement, procurement and related services; and

WHEREAS, out of all the current employees of Goodwill throughout the world, Ruby Morton was selected as the outstanding example in the Goodwill family of a person exemplifying the Goodwill's goals of maximum self-sufficiency, the dignity of work and concern for others; and

WHEREAS, Ruby, the mother of four children under five years of age, was accidentally blinded by a gunshot wound when she was 22 years old. She successfully raised these four children, and four more, born after her blindness, into mature, responsible and successful adults; and

WHEREAS, Ruby, at age 64, when most people are looking for retirement, determined she must change her life, go in a different direction and become involved again; and

WHEREAS, Ruby sought employment at Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi. First she answered the phone a few days a week, then she took over the complete telephone operation, a multi-line phone and computer system. She then assumed additional duties of Goodwill Receptionist and Supervisor of Collection Personnel for South Mississippi Goodwill. And finally she undertook public relations duties (speaking engagements, mail outs and other community or outreach activities). You might say she had a full-time job; and

WHEREAS, Ruby is recognized as a role model on the job and across the entire community. She was chosen by the Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast as their exemplar for the Girl Scouts "Make a Difference Day"; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, she was chosen by the Alabama/Mississippi Olympic Torch Committee to carry the Olympic Flame along the Coast; and

WHEREAS, perhaps this last honor best illustrates the reason Ruby Morton was selected as the Goodwill Achiever of the Year during this Goodwill Centennial Year. She has the attributes of character, determination and self-help that Goodwill hopes to instill in people, and she has them in Olympic proportions. She indeed deserves the Gold Medal; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this award to a fellow Mississippian who has brought honor to her community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Ruby Morton of Gulfport, Mississippi, recipient of the Goodwill Industries International Achiever of the Year Award for 2001-2002, and wish her continued success in her future civic and charitable endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mrs. Morton and her family and representatives of Goodwill Industries, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.