House Resolution 119

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND CAREER OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE OF FRANK BLUNTSON.

WHEREAS, Frank Bluntson was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on July 30, 1935, and graduated from Higgins High School in Clarksdale where his leadership qualities were evident at an early age as a high school student when he was selected President of the Student Government Association during his senior year; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bluntson began his higher education by attending Coahoma Junior College where he finished in 1958, and then continued and finished his undergraduate college education at Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bluntson later obtained a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Jackson State University, and his advanced education also includes a workshop at Mississippi State University concerning his work with children in trouble; a course in behavior modification conducted at the IHL Research and Development Center in 1971; and courses in criminology, abnormal psychology, drugs and narcotics; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bluntson moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962, where he joined Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church that same year and has remained a longtime dedicated member of the church; and

WHEREAS, during his professional career, Mr. Bluntson's work experience includes many different positions such as working as a teacher for three years at Hull Junior High School and six years with the Jackson Public School District as a fifth grade teacher at Mary C. Jones School; working for the City of Jackson as a youth counselor with the Youth Court; and as an employee with the Mississippi Department of Youth Services; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bluntson was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Central Mississippi Health Services, Inc., for 14 years where under his outstanding leadership the organization attained the status of a Federally Qualified Health Center, providing health care to the indigent and uninsured population of those requiring health care; and

WHEREAS, in 1975, Frank started one of the longest running radio programs in Jackson, WKXI's "Straight Talk," and through the years he has used "Straight Talk" as a vehicle to help those in need, from its earliest days when helping Emma Marshall through raising funds to avoid foreclosure on her home to making the holidays enjoyable for senior citizens through providing Christmas food baskets during the Annual Craig Bluntson Senior Citizen Food Drive; and

WHEREAS, being dedicated to serving the citizens of Jackson, Mr. Bluntson served on the Jackson City Council for two terms from 2005 through 2012, and some of his other past affiliations and positions include serving as a member of the Juvenile Correctional Association of Mississippi, serving as an associate member of the National Council of Youth Court Judges; serving on the Board of Directors of the Youth Crisis Center; and being a member of the YMCA and promoting the Big Brothers program; and

WHEREAS, among the many honors and recognitions bestowed upon Mr. Bluntson during his life and career, he received one of his most cherished awards on July 11, 2017, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jackson Police Department for his work in the community; and

WHEREAS, being a sports fan, Mr. Bluntson was a sports official for over 40 years with the Mississippi High School Activities Association and officiated football at the collegiate level for over 30 years with the Southwestern Athletic Conference; and

WHEREAS, Frank Blunston was married to the love of his life, the late Juanita Stubbs Bluntson for 54 years before her death, and he is the father of Frank Strong, Marilyn Lilly, Letha Stubbs Gilmore, Eric "Chucky" Bluntson and the late Attorney Craig Bluntson, the grandfather of Cherise Brown, Kayla Ellerson and Connor Bluntson, and the great-grandfather of Christien Lilly-Alexander, Steven Ellerson III and Malia Brown; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to acknowledge and commend a remarkable person such as Frank Bluntson, whose life and career of dedication and service to others have contributed greatly to his community and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life and career of dedication and service of Frank Bluntson and express fondest respect and best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Frank Bluntson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.