House Resolution 5

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. FLOYD SHANKERMAN FOR HIS ICONIC YEARS OF SERVICE TO CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE OWNER OF SHANKERMAN'S.

WHEREAS, Mr. Floyd Shankerman, a legendary and celebrated retailer of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and surrounding areas of the Mississippi Delta is being honored for his exceptional service as the owner of Shankerman's, which has been in business for over 100 years; and

WHEREAS, in 1919, Mr. Shankerman's grandfather, Abraham, who was born in Lithuania, got off a train in Clarksdale to simply stretch his legs and upon taking in the beautiful view of the city, his grandfather fell in love with Clarksdale and decided to place his roots there and started Shankerman's; and

WHEREAS, Shankerman's, which specializes in middle market men's wear, began as a tailor shop before morphing into a full scale men's wear store, and in 1920, Mr. Shankerman's father, Phillip, joined the family business and laid the foundation of as well as practiced exceptional service until his passing in 1985; and

WHEREAS, after his father passed away in 1985, Mr. Shankerman took over the store full time and continued his father's recipe for success that has served this third-generation family business well - be on time, be honest, be a hard worker, and stick to the bush, which meant stay in one place and focus on the business; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Shankerman, who has a true love of people, has been wonderfully described as a world class talker who never tires of socializing with his customers and friends, and as such, he has brought joy to others while simultaneously providing impeccable service; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Shankerman, a man of many talents who attended Delta State and served as the Statesmen's pitcher as a young man in 1958, is also an expert coin collector, and he is blessed with a beautiful voice that he lifts in praise in church, and notably, he has been a life-long Elvis fan ever since Elvis, the King, performed early in his career in Clarksdale; and

WHEREAS, in addition to being a true joy and inspiration to his community, Mr. Shankerman is the great patriarch of the Shankerman Family and was blessed to spend 53 years of blissful marriage with his late wife, Joan Kantor Shankerman, who was the adoring mother to their children while simultaneously being a pillar and mainstay of the community; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Shankerman, at the blessed age of 83, continues to work six days a week at his family-owned store, where he continues exceptional service, which in turn, has kept customers satisfied and happy for over 100 years and has made Shankerman's a household name not only in Clarksdale but also throughout the Mississippi Delta and beyond:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate and commend Mr. Floyd Shankerman for his longstanding and superb service to the Coahoma County community, and we wish him continued good health and prosperity in the operation of Shankerman's and in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Floyd Shankerman and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.