House Concurrent Resolution 25

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. HILLIARD L. LACKEY III FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS A MENTOR TO THE STUDENTS OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHEREAS, as an outstanding pillar of his community and a marvelous mentor to his students at Jackson State University (JSU), Dr. Hilliard L. Lackey III is truly an inspiration to everyone he has encountered throughout his remarkable life; and

WHEREAS, from his humble beginnings in Quitman County, Mississippi, Dr. Lackey, who was born October 9, 1942, as one of eleven children, was raised on a cotton plantation near Marks, Mississippi, on a system of integrity, premised on the tenants of love, kindness and compassion imparted to him by his parents, Hilliard L. Lackey Jr. and Cora Lackey, who instilled within him a central moral compass that echoed the heart of the Good Samaritan and core ethical values encompassed in the importance of work, family, community and God; and

WHEREAS, from a young age, Dr. Lackey developed a love for the Lord that was evidenced by his service to his church as a junior deacon, deacon and Sunday School teacher; and

WHEREAS, true love struck when Dr. Lackey met his childhood sweetheart, Mrs. Lillian Troupe Lackey, and they exchanged the vows of holy matrimony and have been blessed with four children; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lackey earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Jackson State University in 1965, received a master's degree from the University of Arkansas in 1967, and furthered his education by earning a master's degree in educational administration and supervision and a specialist degree in educational administration from JSU, and he later earned a doctor of philosophy degree in higher education administration from the University of Mississippi in 1991; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to academic excellence, Dr. Lackey's forty-nine-year career in academics has been spent selflessly serving in higher education as an administrator and faculty member, with forty-seven years at JSU, where he served as president of the Jackson State University National Alumni Association; and

WHEREAS, as a man of exceptional character and extraordinary integrity and stature, Dr. Lackey has held numerous leadership positions at JSU, including Associate Professor of Urban Higher Education and Coordinator of Doctoral Student Development with the Jackson State University Executive Ph.D. program, Director of Alumni Affairs, Director of Development, Ombudsman and Assistant to the Executive Vice President; and

WHEREAS, as a Fulbright Fellow to North Africa and an authority on the Historical Geography of the Mississippi Delta, Dr. Lackey was named the 1997 NAFEO Distinguished Alumni Award honoree, the 2003 Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund HBCU Alumnus of the Year, became the 9th JSU graduate inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008 and was also inducted into the JSU ROTC Hall of Fame in 2017, and in 2004, the McCormick Freedom Museum of Chicago placed his quote on a monument; and

WHEREAS, currently serving as a senior educations consultant for Young Sanford Marketing and Media Services in Memphis, Tennessee, after retiring from JSU in 2010, Dr. Lackey believes that he has been created to know God, to serve God and to contribute to an ever-advancing civilization, and he has stated that he is committed to doing all of the good he can, for all the people he can, for as long as he can; and

WHEREAS, with his indomitable spirit, Dr. Lackey has been a force for good and a positive, steady influence on those around him throughout his life, and with his marvelous courage and remarkable sense of humor, he is a selfless imparter of hope, life and light, certainly exemplifying the virtues of perseverance, faith and devotion to family and to his students, inspiring all of those around him to strive for excellence each day; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the magnificent contributions and unparalleled service that exceptional Mississippians such as Dr. Lackey provide to the students, faculty and staff at Jackson State University:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dr. Hilliard L. Lackey III for his outstanding service as a mentor to the students of Jackson State University, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Hilliard L. Lackey III and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.