House Resolution 32

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE THAT MR. JERRY ST. PE' HAS PROVIDED TO THE JACKSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.

WHEREAS, Mr. Jerry St. Pe' has devoted his life to serving and improving the State of Mississippi not only through his professional contributions but also through his service as a member of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation; and

WHEREAS, a native of New Orleans, Mr. St. Pe' came to Mississippi in 1958 as a newspaper reporter for the then Pascagoula Chronicle Star (now the Mississippi Press), and in 1961, he joined the public relations staff of the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton Industries; and

WHEREAS, in 1967, Mr. St. Pe' played a major role in the Ingalls and State of Mississippi partnership that resulted in the first totally new shipyard built in America since World War II being constructed in Jackson County, a project that not only introduced new concepts for more efficient production of ships in America, but also pioneered a new level of public/private partnership for statewide economic development, and to this day, the new shipyard project remains as one of Mississippi's most successful economic development programs; and

WHEREAS, Mr. St. Pe' was appointed Director of Public Relations for Ingalls in 1971; in 1975, he was named Vice-President of Public and Industrial Relations; in 1985, he became President of Ingalls and was elected a Corporate Vice-President of Litton Industries; and in 1998, he was named Corporate Executive Vice-President of Litton Industries with overall responsibility for Litton's shipbuilding operations, a $2 Billion enterprise with 18,000 employees in Mississippi and Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, the former President of Ingalls Shipbuilding and Executive Vice-President of the shipyard's parent company, Litton Industries, Mr. St. Pe' retired in October 2001 following the completion of the transition of Northrop Grumman's purchase of Litton Industries in April 2001; and

WHEREAS, throughout his professional career, and continuing today, Mr. St. Pe' has been active in community, state and national affairs, as he is one of the founders of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation (JCEDF), has served on its board since 1977, and today serves as Vice Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, for over four decades, Mr. St. Pe' has dedicated his time and talents to improving the quality of life for countless Mississippians and played an instrumental role in the effort to transform the JCEDF into what is now widely regarded as a model of public-private economic development partnership in the State of Mississippi, and in 2002, he served in a leadership role for the JCEDF's first Partners in Progress capital campaign which raised $6 Million to fund the JCEDF's program of economic development; and

WHEREAS, as a result of his unwavering commitment to the JCEDF, Jackson County is enjoying phenomenal economic development success, including the location of Northrop Grumman's Autonomous Systems Center, Gulf LNG Import Terminal, Rolls Royce Naval Marine, James Town Metal expansion, VT Halter Marine Polar Security Cutter expansion and ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore expansion; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, Mr. St. Pe' was named a Laureate in the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Mississippi economy, and in 1998, the Navy League of the United States awarded Mr. St. Pe', who served in the United States Marine Corps, the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award, the League's highest honor, for his service to America's naval shipbuilding; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Mr. St. Pe' is a retired member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Company (the parent company of Mississippi Power Company), and under an appointment by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, he served eight years as Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission; and

WHEREAS, Mr. St. Pe' is a man of incredible stature and character, and his professional and community contributions have tremendously advanced the wonderful State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the magnificent contributions to economic development that exceptional Mississippians, such as Mr. Jerry St. Pe', provide to the citizens of this great Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service that Mr. Jerry St. Pe' has provided to the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, and extend most sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Jerry St. Pe' and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.