House Resolution 97

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SERVICE OF SHARON LEBSACK FOR HER MANY YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND CONGRATULATING HER UPON HER RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Sharon Lebsack, will retire as an instructor from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), after more than 38 years of committed and diligent services to the institution and its students; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Lebsack earned the bachelor of arts, bachelor of music and master of music degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, and has attended master classes with Aurele Nicolet, Julius Baker and Jean Pierre Rampal; and

WHEREAS, since the commencement of her employment at USM in 1966, Ms. Lebsack has taught flute and chamber music, sharing her adept knowledge and passion for music and learning with all of her students; and

WHEREAS, she has served as principal flutist with orchestras in Colorado, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, and presently holds that position with the Meridian Symphony and the Southerly Winds Chamber Ensemble; and

WHEREAS, also a proficient harpist, she has appeared with the Pensacola Symphony, Mobile Opera, Mobile Port Symphony and the Mississippi Opera Association; and

WHEREAS, during her illustrious career, Ms. Lebsack, a past national President of Tau Beta Sigma honorary music society, she was awarded the Outstanding Service to Music Award in 1978, and became the first woman initiated into Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary music fraternity; and

WHEREAS, active in Music Teachers National Association and current immediate past President of Mississippi Music Teachers Association, Ms. Lebsack was one of the featured performers in the Mississippi Bicentennial Concert in 1976 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, her performance credits include PBS broadcasts of William Grant Still's opera "Bayou Legend" and the Meridian Symphony, as well as two recordings for Shawnee Press and new releases of works by American composers; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence of such outstanding Mississippians as Ms. Lebsack, whose services to the University of Southern Mississippi were monumental in their own respect and whose presence will be greatly missed:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Sharon Lebsack upon her retirement after 38 years of dedicated and exemplary service to the University of Southern Mississippi, and we extend to her our heartiest wishes for success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Sharon Lebsack and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.