Senate Concurrent Resolution 512

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND DEDICATED STATE SERVICE OF JOHN F. SHIRLEY, SR., RETIRED STATE LANDS MANAGER FOR THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, John F. Shirley, Sr., 69, a retired Lands Manager at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, died Monday, October 9, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Shirley retired as the State's Lands Manager of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks with 30 years of service. He was appointed as Commissioner to the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for the Third Congressional District by Governor Ray Mabus; and

WHEREAS, he served as PTA President of the Clarkdale Attendance Center School and was elected to the Enterprise School Board of Trustees and served five years; and

WHEREAS, he served on the Board of Mississippi Grape Growers Association with one year as President. He served four years as Boy Scout Master of Troop 25 and on the Advisory Board of Choctaw Area Council of Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, after retiring from Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, he was employed by Paul Broadhead as an Advisor and later General Manager of PBI until August, 1993; and

WHEREAS, he was a member of Union Baptist Church, living and raising his beloved family in this community all of his adult life. He loved his country, state, and fellowman. He was a lifetime avid conservationist; and

WHEREAS, pallbearers were the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Honor Guard; and

WHEREAS, survivors include: his wife of 48 years, Gloria Brock Shirley; two sons, John Franklin Shirley, Jr., "Brock" and wife, Betty and James David Shirley; one daughter, Stacey Shirley, all of Meridian, Mississippi; sisters, Ruby Shirley Graham, Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and Sarah Shirley Long, Houston, Texas; one brother, Harvey Miles Shirley, Meridian, Mississippi; and grandchildren, Brittany Gibson, Victoria O'Quin, John O'Quin and Abigail Shirley, all of Meridian, Mississippi; and numerous nieces and nephews; and

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this dedicated public servant whose leadership will be missed in his community and his state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and dedicated state service of John F. Shirley, Sr., retired State Lands Manager for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Mr. Shirley, be forwarded to the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.