Senate Resolution 1

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF BRADFORD JOHNSON DYE, JR., LONG-TIME LEGISLATOR AND FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM CHARLESTON, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, the Legislature and the State of Mississippi lost a wonderful friend, colleague, gentleman, Capitol icon and enlightened lawmaker with the death of former Lieutenant Governor Bradford Johnson Dye, Jr., 84, on Sunday, July 1, 2018. Phil Bryant, by the authority vested in the Governor by the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, proclaimed a period of official mourning in the State of Mississippi and ordered all flags of the United States of America and the State of Mississippi to be flown at half-staff on all buildings and grounds of the State of Mississippi and all areas under its jurisdiction on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, in remembrance of this dedicated Mississippi public servant; and

WHEREAS, after three terms as Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, Brad Dye was an Attorney with Pyle, Mills, Dye and Pittman in Ridgeland until retiring in 2017. He served over 11 years until 2015 as Director, Public Finance, Duncan-Williams, Inc., Investment Bankers based in Memphis. Beginning in 1993, he was a Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Dallas for 11 years; and

WHEREAS, Brad Dye, son of Maylise Dogan Dye and Bradford J. Dye, was a native of Charleston, Mississippi, where he was an Eagle Scout. After graduating from Charleston High School, he entered the University of Mississippi and obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration in January 1957. Two years later, he received his degree from the University of Mississippi Law School. While at Ole Miss, Dye was active in the Associated Student Body, having first been elected Treasurer and later President of the Student Body. He also served two terms as President of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and in the 1980s, he was inducted into the Gamma Iota Chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha Hall of Fame. As an undergraduate, Dye was named to the Ole Miss Student Hall of Fame. After graduation from law school, he practiced law in Grenada with his father under the firm name of Dye & Dye; and

WHEREAS, in 1959, Brad was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. Senator James O. Eastland appointed Dye as an Attorney on the staff of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., where he worked from 1961 through 1964. Dye was able to fulfill legislative responsibilities by taking a leave of absence from his federal job during the legislative sessions; and

WHEREAS, in 1963, he was elected to the Mississippi State Senate. In 1965, he resigned from the Senate to accept an appointment by Governor Paul B. Johnson as a Commissioner on the Workers' Compensation Commission; and

WHEREAS, in 1968, Governor John Bell Williams named Dye the Executive Director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Board, now the Mississippi Development Authority. During his tenure at the A&I Board, the "Shipyard of the Future" was built on the west bank at Ingalls Shipyard. Brad also oversaw the rebuilding of the State Port at Gulfport following Hurricane Camille; and

WHEREAS, in 1971, Brad Dye resigned as Director of the A&I Board to enter the race for State Treasurer; he was elected and served in that position until 1976. As State Treasurer, Brad Dye was a member of the State Bond Commission, the Board of the Savings and Loan Association, the State Tag Commission, and the Public Employees' Retirement System, serving one term as Chairman. Following an unsuccessful race for Lieutenant Governor, Brad Dye became President of Jackson Savings and Loan Association, a position he held from January 1976 through March 1979, when he resigned to run again for the Office of Lieutenant Governor, this time successfully; and

WHEREAS, in January 1980, Brad Dye was sworn in as the 35th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, was twice re-elected, and served until 1992, the only person in state history to hold that position for 12 consecutive years. During that historic tenure, he presided over the passage of legislation of immense importance. The single piece of legislation which Brad Dye found most gratifying was the 1987 Comprehensive Four-Lane Highway Program, which is the basis of Mississippi's modern transportation system and provided an essential component of economic and industrial development. Dye's role was critical in the 1982 passage of Governor William F. Winter's comprehensive education reform package. Dye's additional impact on education included the creation of the Institute of Technology Development, the founding of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science at Columbus, and his demonstrated strong support of the University Medical Center, the Department of Mental Health, vocational-technical education, and universities and community colleges; and

WHEREAS, he was the Charter President of the University of Mississippi Business Alumni Chapter. A life member of the Alumni Association, in 2006 he was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame, and in 2014 into the Ole Miss Law Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2009, the Political Science Department of the University named him the first recipient of its Distinguished Alumni Award and established a public service scholarship in his name. He also was a member of the Political Science Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, Governor Haley Barbour presented Brad Dye the Mississippi Medal of Service. Brad's volunteer activities have been varied. As a long-time Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, he taught life-saving and swimming to hundreds of young people in Grenada and Tallahatchie Counties; and

WHEREAS, Brad was the Charter Vice-President of the Grenada Jaycees and served as the Chairman of the Grenada County Cancer Society Fund Drive. After moving to Jackson in 1965, he was a member of the Executive Board of the Andrew Jackson Council, Boy Scouts of America, the Board of the United Way of the Capital Area, the Board of Directors of Jackson Junior Achievement, the Advisory Council on Programs and Research for the College of Business and Industry, Mississippi State University, and the Beauvoir Development Foundation, Inc. He was State Fund Chairman in 1972 for the Mississippi Chapter, American Red Cross, and served in 1973 and 1974 as Mississippi Heart Fund Chairman. For a number of years, he coached youth sports teams in basketball, baseball, and football organized by the YMCA. Brad and his wife were involved with the Governor's School Parents' Association for several years as Co-Chairmen. Most recently, he served on the advisory board of the Mid-South Housing Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Dye, a life-long Methodist, was an active member of three metro Jackson churches: Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church, and First United Methodist Church of Ridgeland; and

WHEREAS, Brad Dye considered his most valuable legacy to be his family. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Donna Bailey of Coffeeville, Mississippi; his three sons: Hamp (Shannon) of Madison, Ford (Sonya) of Oxford, and Rick (Emily) of Jackson; five grandchildren: Nathan (Hannah), David, Emma, Jack, and Margaret; and one great-granddaughter, Ann Hampton; and

WHEREAS, Brad Dye was a master of the politics of legislative negotiation and compromise. He was unafraid to cross partisan, racial, sectional, or factional lines to get the business of the Legislature done. He kept his fences mended with the House and with Speaker C.B. "Buddie" Newman and his key Committee Chairman. Former State Senator Ben Stone stated: "Brad was a long-time friend and always loyal even if there was an issue on which we disagreed. His leadership was much greater than the offices he held. Our Gulf Coast received benefits after Hurricane Camille when he directed the rebuilding of the State Port at Gulfport. He was a leader in all he did. The state is a great deal better for all he did. He was a magnificent example for all who want to contribute to bettering all of our lives"; and

WHEREAS, Brad Dye loved life, laughter and the Legislature. His long service was marked by his commitment to success and recognized leadership. He excelled in a variety of major responsibilities and served the Senate, his constituents and the State of Mississippi exceptionally well. Brad's public service was exemplified by fairness and sound judgment, and he set the highest standard as a leader in the Mississippi Senate, and as a true friend:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the life and public service of Bradford Johnson Dye, Jr., long-time Legislator and former Lieutenant Governor from Charleston, Mississippi, and extend the condolences of the Mississippi Senate to his surviving family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of former Lieutenant Governor Brad Dye and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.