Senate Concurrent Resolution 645

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OF RETIRING UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SPORT MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR DR. DENNIS PHILLIPS AND COMMENDING HIS LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP.

WHEREAS, we join the administration and faculty colleagues of retiring Graduate Coordinator of The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Master of Science in Sport Management Dr. Dennis Phillips in commending a legacy of leadership and sports community outreach; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phillips has contributed to sport management and administration for over 40 years, providing the State of Mississippi with guidance and representation at the local and national levels of his profession for the past 26 years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phillips has been a College Professor and Administrator for over 40 years, the past 26 years at The University of Southern Mississippi. For the past 15 years, he has served as the NCAA and Conference USA Faculty Athletic Representative for USM. For the past 6 years, Dr. Phillips has served as the elected Faculty Representative for the National Board of NCAA Division 1 Athletics; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phillips has been the Graduate Coordinator for the Master of Science in Sport Management Program for 22 years, recruiting, advising and placing hundreds of students in the field of athletics, as follows:

· Led the first Study Abroad Program in Sport Management at USM with British Studies;

· Served as the President of the Mississippi Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD);

· Served on the Executive Board of the National Council on Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) and the Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA);

· Guided thousands of students through courses in Sport Law, Policy and Governance of Sport, Sport Psychology, Organizational Leadership, Facility Management, Sport Marketing, Policy and Governance in Sport, Sport Finance and Economics, and Sport Ethics and Coaching;

· Coached collegiate basketball, high school basketball, golf, tennis, led clinics, and presented in 24 countries on various aspects of Sport Administration;

· Chaired both the Athletic and Sport Management Councils of the Southern District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD);

· Served on the Governor's Commission on Physical Activity and Sport in Mississippi;

· Participated in a Homeland Security Grant on Sport Event Security and is a Consultant for Game Day Consulting, working with Amateur and Professional Sport Teams as well as stadiums and arenas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phillips' career, promotions in academic rank, service in administration, and outreach to the sports community all provide exemplars for an academic career. He has tirelessly influenced students, student athletes, coaches, The University of Southern Mississippi and institutions across the country as he has championed ethics, safety and the joy of sports. The State of Mississippi is grateful for his contributions to our state, region and nation and wish him well in his retirement. We join The University of Southern Mississippi in paying tribute to his work:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the academic and professional achievements and community service of retiring University of Southern Mississippi Sport Management Professor Dr. Dennis Phillips and commend his legacy of leadership, and extend the best wishes of the Legislature to Dr. Phillips and his family for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Phillips and the President of The University of Southern Mississippi, Rodney D. Bennett, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.