Senate Concurrent Resolution 532

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ROBERTS FAMILY FOR PRODUCING THREE GENERATIONS OF DEDICATED TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOMS OF SOUTH PANOLA HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEREAS, the Roberts family has produced three generations of South Panola High School teachers: D.R. Roberts, Brent Roberts and P.R. Roberts; and

WHEREAS, with overlapping tenures and a combined 61 years in the classroom, the grandfather, D.R. Roberts (Biology); father, P.R. Roberts (Chemistry); and son, Brent (English), have taught more than 6,000 South Panola students; and

WHEREAS, for three generations of the Roberts' family, the hallways of South Panola High School have been a second home. At every football game, junior-senior banquets and graduation in the 43-year history of South Panola High School, there has been a Mr. Roberts present; and

WHEREAS, the family also boasts what is probably the most complete set of local high school yearbooks: 53 consecutive editions, starting with Batesville High School's 1953 issue; and

WHEREAS, D.R. Roberts, 80, retired in 1983 after a 30-year career that began in 1953 when he came to the then-Batesville High School. Armed with a B.S. Degree from Delta State, D.R. was the only Biology teacher at Batesville High. He is still everybody's Biology teacher. Former students and those in the community who know of his expertise still contact him. D.R. left a legacy of preserved specimens at South Panola High School when he retired. Biology students today are still learning from the frogs, snakes and other creatures he caught and preserved; and

WHEREAS, P.R. Roberts, 51, holds B.A. and M.A. Degrees in Education from the University of Mississippi. Last year he was named South Panola's Star Teacher, chosen by Star Student Thomas Wilkie. He followed in the footsteps of his father, D.R., who was also a Star Teacher. Among P.R.'s most poignant memories from teaching are occasions when there were deaths in the South Panola family, students or teachers, during the school year. P.R. is now teaching sons and daughters of former students. Among those he has taught are a number of current South Panola High School faculty members, including his son, Brent; and

WHEREAS, Brent's early college years were spent preparing for a career in sports Medicine, but he soon acknowledged a personal desire to coach, and the quickest way to that goal was to teach at the high school level. He earned his Bachelor's Degree at Ole Miss, became an English teacher and now coaches the South Panola High School freshmen boys basketball team. Brent said he appreciated having a ready-made mentor when he started his career; and

WHEREAS, a close-knit family, the Robertses enjoy spending time with each other in or out of school. They hunt and fish together, build boats as family projects and all attend Batesville's First Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, two of the three Roberts' wives are also teachers. D.R.'s wife, Ann, taught at Batesville Elementary School and P.R.'s wife, Jill, currently teaches First Grade at Batesville Elementary School. Brent's wife, Candace, works at the University of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, seeing the influence of his grandfather and father on their students, D.R. and P.R. count doctors, lawyers and scores of other successful people among their former students, Brent realizes that teaching is about more than English lessons; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we note the tradition of this family whose contributions to the students of their community constitute a legacy of a strong public school system in the State of Mississippi:

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 Roberts family of Batesville, Mississippi, for producing three generations of dedicated teachers in the classrooms of South Panola High School, and we extend the best wishes of the Legislature to D.R. Roberts, P.R. Roberts and Brent Roberts and their families in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Roberts family and the Superintendent of the South Panola School District and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.