House Concurrent Resolution 20

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE ESTEEMED AND LAUDABLE LEGISLATIVE CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE MOST HONORABLE AND DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM PANOLA, REPRESENTATIVE NOLAN METTETAL, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in II Corinthians 4:17-18, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal," and as such, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of the honorable and distinguished Gentleman from Panola, former Representative Nolan Mettetal, who selflessly represented Senate District 10, which encompasses portions of Panola and Tate Counties, and subsequent thereafter, House District 10, which encompasses portions of Lafayette, Panola and Tallahatchie Counties for a total of 24 years, as he has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward on Monday, December 28, 2020, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, the Sardis community, and the entirety of Panola County lost a wonderful friend, charismatic leader, venerable pharmacist, avid gardener and genuine ray of light with the passing of Representative Mettetal, born to his late parents, Mr. Wayne Mettetal and Mrs. Georgia Brewer Mettetal, on November 19, 1945, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and there is now a hush in our hearts as we come together to pay our respects to the memory of one who has been called to join that innumerable heavenly caravan; and

WHEREAS, before assuming his seat as the member of the Mississippi Legislature, initially as a State Senator, Nolan, a graduate of South Panola High School, Northwest Community College and the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, served his community as a registered pharmacist, a capacity in which his congenial rapport was widely received by those who would eventually elect him to serve as their ambassador and voice in the Mississippi Senate for 16 years from 1996 to 2011, where he served two terms as Chairman of the Business and Financial Institutions Committee and one term as Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck and then Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant, respectively; and

WHEREAS, upon his election to the Mississippi Senate in 1995, Nolan Mettetal became the distinguished Gentleman from Panola upon being sworn into office on the first day of his first legislative session in January 1996, and wasted no time requesting the legislation, amendments and reports that would help effectuate into law the ideologies and policy changes that his constituents had elected him to further; and

WHEREAS, in his political maneuvering, Mettetal changed political party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2008, a move that adversely effected the reapportioning of his Senate District ahead of the 2011 statewide elections, and prompted his decision to not seek reelection to the Senate, but rather to seek membership to the House of Representatives, which he easily succeeded and diligently served two terms as a State Representative for House District 10 from 2012 to 2019, when he officially retired from elected office; and

WHEREAS, Representative Mettetal's love and deeply felt respect for the Legislature as a hallowed institution is innately apparent in his welcoming and authentically pleasant and cordial disposition, which have served as beacons of hope in pursuit to preserve and nurture the integrity of the body for all legislators who equally hold a lion's share in the stake of advancing the direction of the state's economic, educational and political climate; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as a legislator, Representative Mettetal has served on the following committees: Senate Committees on Appropriations, Business and Financial Institutions as Chairman, Economic Development, Education, Finance, Highways and Transportation, Insurance, Interstate and Federal Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Oil, Gas and Other Minerals, Public Health and Welfare, Public Property, Public Utilities as Chairman, Rules, Tourism and Parks as Vice Chairman, and Universities and Colleges; House Committees on Appropriations, Banking and Financial Services, Corrections, Medicaid, Public Property, Public Utilities, Universities and Colleges as Chairman, and Workforce Development; and

WHEREAS, a pharmacist by profession, Representative Mettetal remained dedicated to improving the quality of life for the citizens of both Senate District 10 and House District 10, as evidenced by his service and affiliation as a member of the Mississippi Pharmacist Association, the Panola Partnership, the Sardis Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association and the Alumni Associations of Northwest Community College and the University of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, while Representative Mettetal was favored with many opportunities both far and near, but those that really knew his heart knew that his first love was his darling wife, Mrs. Kay Ford Mettetal, who, in accordance with the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of Nolan's life by the Great Deity and grand architect of our lives' destiny, won her suitor's heart with her warm disposition, beautiful smile, genteel nature, and with whom he embarked upon a remarkable journey of love which was highlighted with sparks of joy with the addition of a daughter and a son; and

WHEREAS, an avid gardener, who often shared the yield of his crop with those in the community as well as his legislative colleagues, Nolan took pleasure in the simplicities of watching hummingbirds and feeding the deer on his homestead, and effervesced with love and excitement at the mention of his five grandchildren, especially the joy he received in traveling to softball fields across the state and region to watch his granddaughter, who recently signed to play for his community college alma mater, Northwest Community College; and

WHEREAS, the members of the House of Representatives will cherish the bond and common goals for the betterment of this great state shared with the Honorable Representative Nolan Mettetal over the course of the past 24 years, and that his impeccable service was unparalleled to the Mississippi Legislature and to his constituents; and

WHEREAS, Representative Mettetal has led a life of bravery in the face of challenge, sincerity in the face of apathy and honesty in the presence of deceit, and through it all, this remarkable person has remained a phenomenal gentleman, grounded in his integrity, who sought to improve the lives of others through positive example, hard work and the undeniable truths of the Word of God, as evidenced through his faith walk at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, though he has traversed life's river to now stand upon the celestial shores in wonderment of Heaven's grandeur in glorious reunion with the kindred spirits who transitioned before him, including his parents and his grandparents, Fannie and Edger Brewer and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mettetal, the legacy of Representative Mettetal's indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his beloved survivors: his wife, Kay Ford Mettetal; children, Dr. Cary Nolan Mettetal (Carla) and Kim Mettetal Reed (Randall); grandchildren, Gracie Kay Mettetal, Julien Carlton Mettetal, Nolan Paul Reed, Adelaide Marie Reed and Sadie Kay Reed; and a host of friends and colleagues; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to honor the laudable legacy of remarkable service of our former colleague and friend, Representative Nolan Mettetal, who represented his district, this body and the people of this state with honor and intrepid dignity, and whose monumental life of genuine selflessness illuminated the path of hope for all he encountered along this earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the esteemed and laudable legislative career and public service of the most honorable, distinguished Gentleman from Panola, Representative Nolan Mettetal, to whose family we express sincere and deepest sympathy upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Representative Nolan Mettetal and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.