House Resolution 24

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JAMES W. HILL, SR., UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE LAWRENCE COUNTY TECHNOLOGY AND CAREER CENTER.

WHEREAS, longtime Lawrence County educator, James W. Hill, Sr., has announced his retirement as Director of the Lawrence County Technology and Career Center; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill is a native of Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, the son of the late Genora and Mamie Burks Hill and received his early education in the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Schools, where he graduated from Rosa A. Temple High School in 1959; and

WHEREAS, he graduated from Alcorn State University (Alcorn A&M) in 1963 with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture education, received a master's degree in agriculture education from Tuskegee Institute in 1972, an endorsement in school administration from Alcorn State University and pursued further studies at Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill has been employed by the Lawrence County School District for thirty-nine years, where he began his teaching career in July 1964 as an agriculture teacher and was honored as Vocational Agriculture Teacher of the Year by the Magnolia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill's career began to evolve when the district promoted him from teacher to Title XX Coordinator in 1977, and he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Education in 1980, during which time he served as Director of Personnel and Technology and Career Education; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill was the first African-American elected Alderman for the Town of Monticello and served in that position for twelve years and has served on many political committees and received a political award from the Lawrence County Branch of the NAACP in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill is a lifetime member of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association, has organized and served as President of the Monticello Alcorn Alumni Chapter for twenty years and over his twenty years of recruiting for the University, has sent many worthy and deserving students to Alcorn State University; and

WHEREAS, as a dedicated alumnus, he has driven many of our state representatives to the campus, emphasizing some of the needs of the University, was selected "Distinguished Alumni," Presidential Citation, National Conference on Blacks in Higher Education in 1990, was a member of the sixth class of inductees into the Alcorn State University Hall of Honor in 1995, received the 2000 Matthew "Matt" Thomas Outstanding Service Award and Outstanding Service Award by the Monticello Alcorn Alumni Chapter, and was elected Alcornite of the Year (2001) by the Alcorn National Alumni Association; and

WHEREAS, his community/professional activities and honors include: Advisory Board Member, AmSouth Bank; Chairman of the Board, Family Health Care Clinics/Monticello, New Hebron, Prentiss, Pelahatchie, Mendenhall and Brandon; Recipient of Family Health Care Leadership Award; Chairman, Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity; Honoree, E.M. Graham Award of Excellence, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce (1999-2000); Lifetime Member, NAACP; Past Vice President, Lawrence County Branch; served on the Resolution Committee of the National NAACP; one of the founders and Secretary, Board of Directors for the Lawrence County Educational and Recreational Association; Area Director's Award, State of Mississippi, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Head Start Award, Five County Child Development; Past Worshipful Master of Monticello Lodge #348; and Patron of Williams Chapter #452, O.E.S.; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill is a member of the Monticello First Baptist Church, where he has served in many capacities and presently serves as Deacon, Adult Sunday School Teacher and Senior Choir Leader; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hill is married to the former Savannah Burns (married August 11, 1963) of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and to their union were born two children: James, Jr., and Javannah Latrice Hill-Moore; and two grandchildren: Jannah and Jordan; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the public service of this Mississippian, whose dedication to the youth of his community serves as a model for all educators in the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate James W. Hill, Sr., upon the occasion of his retirement as Director of the Lawrence County Technology and Career Center and Assistant Superintendent of Education, and extend to him and his family best wishes on all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to James W. Hill and his family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.