MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives McLeod, Ladner

House Concurrent Resolution 73

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. JOHN GIRARD GUTHRIE.

     WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, on Friday, February 4, 2022, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mr. John Girard Guthrie, to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family, friends and community; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi lost a wonderful friend, loving father and dedicated community leader with the passing of Mr. Guthrie, who was born in Deerfield, Florida, on September 6, 1925, and grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he was an All-State football guard at West Lafayette High School, 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, Mr. Guthrie was a man of uncompromised faith and very active in the First United Methodist Church of Wiggins, where he had 67 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School, sang in the choir for 60 years, and served as a Sunday School teacher, trustee, and in numerous other roles, and he now enjoys the eternal peace described in Luke 2:29, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word"; and

     WHEREAS, consumed with an altruistic desire to defend his country, Mr. Guthrie joined an elite fraternity of airmen in what is now the United States Air Force, where he courageously served

as a fighter pilot during World War II, and after his time in the military, he attended Purdue University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and completed a bachelor of science in forestry degree in 1948; and

     WHEREAS, during his tenure at Purdue, he not only received his bachelor's degree, but he also met the love of his life, Randalin Tuesburg, and the two lovebirds exchanged the vows of holy matrimony in February 1949 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage before Randalin's passing; and 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Guthrie's first job upon graduation was with the Illinois Central Railroad as a forestry agent to help reforest the south, so he and his wife moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and brought Purdue's prototype mechanical tree planter, and Mr. Guthrie helped perfect the tree planter into what became known as the Illinois Central Tree Planter, earning him the nickname,  "Johnny Pinetree"; and

     WHEREAS, later in his professional life, Mr. Guthrie began to work for Dantzler Lumber Company, moved to Wiggins, Mississippi, in 1951, and eventually opened what is now John G. Guthrie and Sons in 1954, and throughout the entirety of his career, he remained an advocate for the forestry profession and was issued Registered Forester License No. 1 in Mississippi, and he served as the first chairman for the Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters; and

     WHEREAS, additionally, he was a licensed real estate broker and served on the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, served as a member of the Society of American Foresters for 73 years, as a charter member of the Mississippi Association of Consulting Foresters, as a past president of the Mississippi Forestry Association, and on the board for Forestry Suppliers, Inc.; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Guthrie was a 72-year member and past master of J.L. Power Masonic Lodge No. 416 F. and A.M. in Perkinston, Mississippi, and a longtime member of Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Miriam Chapter No. 67 Order of the Eastern Star (Past Patron), Gideons International and Neighborhood Watchdogs in Wiggins, and he was active in the Boy Scouts, where he received the Silver Beaver, Pine Burr and Good Scout awards, served as a Scout Master, and was on the Pine Burr Area Council Camp Committee locating Camp Tiak in Fruitland Park, and he also served on the Girl Scout Camp Committee to locate and purchase the Gulf Pine Council Camp Iti Kana; and

     WHEREAS, the memory of Mr. John Girard Guthrie, a man held in the highest regard by friends and family as an inspiring and precious gift from God, will continue to refresh the hearts and memories of his beloved survivors:  his children, Suzanne, John G., Jr. (Sonja), James D. (Sherrye) and Randal L. (Connie); 10 grandchildren, David (Jennifer), Anny (Jacob Dykes), Christopher, Joseph (Kharri), Samantha (John Thames), Katie (Jason Leist), Rand (Ashley), Calista (Austin Mills), Sarah and John G., III; 20 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; and a host of other relatives and friends; and

     WHEREAS, we encourage the family to find solace from the overwhelming sadness created by the earthly departure of their beloved family member in Revelation 21:4, wherein is recorded, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" and renewed in their faith that Mr. Guthrie fulfilled the commandment of II Timothy 4:7 by having "fought a good fight, finishing his course and keeping the faith until the hour of his departure was at hand"; and

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and honor the lives of fine Mississippians, especially those such as Mr. John Girard Guthrie, a gracious man who loved his family, friends and community unconditionally, bringing glory and honor to the State of Mississippi:

     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 life and legacy of Mr. John Girard Guthrie, and express deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. John Girard Guthrie and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.