House Concurrent Resolution 53

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING DR. SAM POLLES UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS.

WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Polles, the longest-serving Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), is retiring after 29 outstanding years; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Clarksdale High School in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Dr. Polles attended Mississippi State University his freshman year; however, he returned to Clarksdale when his father became ill to help with the family business; and

WHEREAS, thankfully, his father recovered his health, and

Dr. Polles continued his education at Delta State University in pre-medical/pre-dental, and after graduating from Delta State, he enrolled in graduate school at Mississippi State University, where he received his master's and doctorate degrees; and

WHEREAS, after college, Dr. Polles began working at the University of Georgia, and after several years, he accepted a position with the United States Department of Agriculture at Stoneville, Mississippi, and after working there for three years, he accepted a position with Bass Pecan Company as a general manager, and ended up joining two of the owner's family members in buying the company, and while there, he and his partners continued to operate the company for several years before selling the business, and then, after a few years of being self-employed and working primarily in Georgia as a consultant, in 1992, he was invited to interview with Governor Kirk Fordice for the position of Executive Director with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; and

WHEREAS, after interviewing with Governor Fordice, Dr. Polles was appointed as Executive Director in July 1992, and since then, he has served under five governors during his illustrious career; and

WHEREAS, during nearly three decades of outstanding leadership, Dr. Polles has guided the agency toward many groundbreaking accomplishments that have affected citizens across the Magnolia State, including: implementing point-of-sale systems for purchasing licenses, boat registrations, and park facilities reservations; expanding Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) to offer the sporting public high-quality hunting opportunities unlike any in the southeast, and a state lakes system and other public waterways providing anglers with storied fishing experiences; improving the state parks system despite continued budget cuts, record storms, aging infrastructure, and a lack of external support; developing state-of-the-art shooting facilities at McIvor, McHenry, and Turcotte; implementing an "award-winning" Archery in Schools in Scholastic Shooting programs, which promote outdoor recreation to the state's youth; establishing a first-class Conservation Officer Training Academy at Holmes County State Park; establishing, training, and equipping the statewide Special Response Team within the Law Enforcement Division to assist local communities in the event of natural disasters or any potential threat to public safety; developing and implementing a comprehensive career ladder for the professional staff of the department's Law Enforcement, Wildlife, and Fisheries Bureaus; and constructing the new Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and the state office headquarters; and

WHEREAS, MDWFP is one of a very few agencies that touches the lives of citizens across this state every single day, whether it be through its state park system, WMAs, state lakes, Fisheries Education Centers, Hunting or Boating Education Programs, the Museum of Natural Science Educational Outreach Programs, state shooting sports facilities, Archery in Schools Program, or the officers of our Law Enforcement Bureau, and Dr. Polles, and the dedicated men and women of the department work tirelessly to provide daily services to Mississippians in every corner of this state; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and honor great Mississippians, especially those such as Dr. Polles, whose tireless efforts and steadfast commitment to preserve Mississippi's rich and historic conservation heritage will be remembered for generations to come:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do recognize and honor Dr. Sam Polles upon the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and extend sincerest wishes for continued success in his lighter days ahead.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Sam Polles and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.