House Concurrent Resolution 64

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE MOST HONORABLE AND DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER PHILIP GUNN FOR HIS ESTEEMED AND LAUDABLE LEGISLATIVE CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WHEREAS, the 61st Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Speaker Philip Gunn, has made the difficult decision to complete his state legislative service at the conclusion of his current term from the Mississippi House of Representatives after tirelessly and sincerely working to elevate the quality of life for the citizens of District 56, which encompasses portions of Hinds and Madison Counties, and which also formerly encompassed areas of Warren and Yazoo Counties, as well as for all citizens of the State of Mississippi for the past 20 years; and

WHEREAS, before taking his seat as a member of the House in 2004, Speaker Gunn, who was born in Hattiesburg and raised in Clinton, received his most vital support from his late parents, who encouraged him as he played sports growing up, which proved beneficial to his development as an intrepid leader in sports, business and politics, as made evident by an exceptional record of athletic successes as a high school and collegiate sports phenomenon, who was the only Clinton Arrows senior to play football, basketball and baseball, leading his football team to the state championship in 1980 and No. 1 ranking in the final United Press International (UPI) Coaches Poll with being named recipient of All-State quarterback honors by the Mississippi Sportswriters and selections to play in the North/South All-Star game before graduating to attend Mississippi College, where he played for one semester, and ultimately transferring to his beloved Baylor University, where he walked on as a scout team player with the Bears' gridiron warriors; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Gunn graduated from Baylor in 1985 with a bachelor of business administration degree, and then returned to his home state for his legal education, graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1989, where he received the Dean's Distinguished Service Award; and

WHEREAS, without coincidence, competitors who excel in sports are also poised to excel in other areas of life, and the skills and lessons that Speaker Gunn acquired as an athlete followed him throughout his career path, and manifested themselves in his selection as Student Body President of the Ole Miss School of Law, in his admission to the practice of law with Wells Marble and Hurst, PLLC, and in his bid to seek elective office to the Mississippi Legislature in 2003, where his service as an attentive and vigilant student of the institution of the Mississippi Legislature groomed him for his rise to the office of public trust and role as a true guardian of the people; and

WHEREAS, Philip Gunn began serving the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2004 with an even-keeled approach to legislating that was premised in thoughtful analysis and civility, and within the short span of eight years after his initial election to the Legislature, he ascended to become the third highest ranking elected official in the State of Mississippi upon being elected by his peers as the 61st Speaker of the House on January 3, 2012, signaling an official changing of the guard and marking a historical moment in the shift of the political paradigm when, for the first time in 136 years, a Republican legislator held the title as Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, with a courageous spirit, a calmly, deft hand and a heart of compassion, Speaker Gunn, who is a firm believer in the power of effective communication, has piloted the helm of the House of Representatives with utmost deference to facilitate an inclusive approach to hear and consider the concerns and recommendations of each House member to better formulate a unified approach to governing; and

WHEREAS, "It is a great honor to serve as your Speaker of the House of Representatives," has been his quote as he has served as Speaker for the last 12 years with humility and dignity, always striving to do what he thought was best for all people of this great state; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Gunn is widely admired for his talent in building consensus in the Legislature, a trait emulated by other members of the House in the face of challenging legislative deliberations, and his congenial nature, ability to listen effectively and infectious sense of humor have enabled him to defuse contentious and controversial situations with his infallible knack for impromptu improvisation; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Gunn credits his ability to reach across the aisle to his time spent at Baylor, where he met students from every state in the nation and from countries around the world, exposing him to this diversity and setting the foundation for his career, which has translated into clearly defined and consistently applied positions to effectively wield the most influence to accomplish the House's policy positions; and

WHEREAS, a servant-leader by innate design, Speaker Gunn, in assuming the responsibilities of Speaker of the House, has endeavored to cultivate a mentality of service and accountability within the membership by advancing initiatives that compel the membership to remain actively engaged with their constituency, and holding fast to the words recorded in Ephesians 2:4-10, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"; and

WHEREAS, during his twelve-year tenure as Speaker of the House, Philip Gunn has served as a guiding force methodically navigating the passage of virtually every meaningful economic development, educational, public health and transportation program, criminal justice and social reform measure that has been addressed by the Mississippi Legislature, helping to redefine the history of Mississippi with the creation of numerous monumental pieces of legislation, including: the creation of the "Gestational Age Act," leading directly to the long-hoped-for overturn of the Roe v. Wade decision, House Bill No. 1510 (2018); changing the design of the State of Mississippi's flag, to the current "In God We Trust" flag, House Bill No. 1796 (2020), providing for the largest teacher pay raise to date, with the "Strategically Accelerating the Recruitment and Retention of Teachers (START) Act of 2022," House Bill No. 530 (2022); endorsing the "Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act," Senate Bill No. 2681 (2014); the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act," House Bill No. 1523 (2016); a comprehensive multi-year legislative agenda devoted to protecting women and children from human trafficking during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Legislative Sessions; the "Child Protection Act and Child Rape Protection Act," House Bill No. 16 (2012); the "Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act," House Bill No. 1125 (2023); "Mississippi Broadband Accessibility Act," House Bill No. 1029 (2022); historic investments in road and bridge infrastructure through the "Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2018," House Bill No. 1 (2018 1st Extraordinary Session); countless bills to protect 2nd Amendment gun rights; "Mississippi Church Protection Act," House Bill No. 786 (2016); championing the largest tax cut in Mississippi's history, amounting to more than $525 Million in tax relief with the "Mississippi Tax Freedom Act of 2022," House Bill No. 531 (2022); and doubling penalties for crimes against law enforcement, firefighters and first responders, with the passage of "Back the Badge Act of 2017," House Bill No. 645 (2017) among countless other legislative accomplishments, which are too numerous to list; and

WHEREAS, during his twenty-year tenure as a member of the House, Speaker Gunn has held a number of positions as a member of the House Committees on: Conservation and Water Resources; Interstate Cooperation; Judiciary A; Judiciary B; Juvenile Justice; Management; Public Utilities; Rules; and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; and the Joint Legislative Committee on Compilation, Revision and Publication, of which he served as Chairman; and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, of which he served as both Chairman and Vice Chairman; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his essential guidance of the House of Representatives, Speaker Gunn has also served on the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Republican Party and as Chairman of the Republican House Conference since its formation in 2006, wherein he was instrumental in organizing the Republicans in the House of Representatives for the first time in modern history; and

WHEREAS, while Speaker Gunn is known and admired for his always positive outlook, his insightful intellect and his passion for important issues, he has always been and remains an exceptional gentleman, grounded in integrity, highly regarded for his understanding of the ultimate purpose of legislation, which is to help people, and he continually seeks to improve the lives of others through his hard work, positive example and the undeniable truths of the Word of God, which have manifested in numerous honors bestowed upon him, such as being named: Representative of the Year for 2004, by Mississippi Homebuilders Association; "One of Mississippi's Top 50 Leading Attorneys" in the Mississippi Business Journal's Leadership in Law Class of 2010; Americans United for Life recognition in 2010; recipient of the Kirk Fordice Freedom Award in 2012, by the 19th Annual Central Mississippi Friends of the National Rifle Association (NRA); recipient of the 2012 State Legislative Achievement Award from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform as a result of the Attorney General "Sunshine" Act being passed during the 2012 Legislative Session; and the following Meritorious Achievement Awards: Pro Texana Medal of Service from Baylor University; 2013 Outstanding Citizen Award by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce; election as 2014 Chairman of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Trustees; election as 2014 Vice Chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC); election as 2020 American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) National Chair; 2014 recipient of the Champion of Small Business Award presented by the National Coalition for Capital; election as a member to the Board of Directors for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation; and recipient of the 2014 Libby Aydelott Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy, presented by the Mississippi Heritage Trust for championship of the state historic tax credit; and

WHEREAS, not one to limit his community involvement to the Legislature, Speaker Gunn has always been active in his district and dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens, as evidenced by his service as a current member of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, previous service on the Clinton Public School Board, former elder, deacon and Sunday School teacher at Morrison Heights Baptist Church, and former chairman of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Trustees in Louisville, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Gunn's life is a true testament to his faith in God being a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, even in the face of life's hardships after having lost both his parents and sister during his second year of law school, but he has remained resolute in his spiritual foundation and total reliance upon the Holy Trinity to guide his path and direct his decisions, as he holds fast to the infallible assurance of one of his favorite passages of scripture, Ephesians 3:20-21, wherein is recorded, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen"; and

WHEREAS, leaving the Capitol will not end Speaker Gunn's passion for public service, and completing his legislative service to the Legislature does not mean that his public service is finished, as he plans to maintain his active community involvement on the local level just as he has at the State Capitol, and wants to continue to make a difference wherever and in whatever capacity the Lord wills, being mindful of his oft-quoted reference to Galatians 6:9, "Let us not grow weary of doing good"; and

WHEREAS, his staff will record their service to him as a high privilege and matchless honor unequalled in the annals of their careers, cherishing endlessly his mentorship, friendship and superlative example of Christian manhood and dignified leadership; and

WHEREAS, the members of the House will cherish the bond and common goals for the betterment of this great state shared with Speaker Gunn over the past 20 years, and his impeccable service, devotion and unparalleled commitment to the Mississippi Legislature and to the constituents of District 56 will be greatly missed; and

WHEREAS, the service of Speaker Gunn would be without honor but for the continued support, encouragement and love of his family and greatest reward, who have endured the daunting struggles that accompany the life of an elected official, and much credit is also due to his loved ones who have sacrificed countless hours without him in order to allow him to fulfill his legislative obligations, including: his beloved and devoted wife, Lisa Watkins Gunn, whom he met while attending Baylor, and with whom he has shared 30 years of unforgettable memories that have solidified their bond in a special way, and bountifully enriched by the blessing of four children, Meredith, Alex, Andrew and John David, and grandchildren, Axel, Aiden and Marshall; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to honor the indelible legacy of remarkable service of our colleague and friend, Philip Gunn, who represented his district, the House of Representatives and the people of this state with honor and intrepid dignity:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the most honorable and distinguished Speaker Philip Gunn for his esteemed and laudable legislative career and public service, for all he has meant to the Mississippi House of Representatives and for his unmatched contributions to the people of the State of Mississippi, and express fondest respect and best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors, and do hereby declare and resolve that in the Mississippi House of Representatives, as in the hearts of the people whom he has served, the memory of Speaker Philip Gunn's service shall endure forever.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Speaker Philip Gunn and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.