House Resolution 200

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MR. ANDRE HOLLIS FOR THE 25 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP THAT HE HAS PROVIDED TO THE MISSISSIPPI STATE PARKS.

WHEREAS, for over 25 years, Mr. Andre Hollis has served as an exemplary public servant for the State of Mississippi through his career with the Mississippi State Parks; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hollis is a 1992 graduate of Morton High School, where he played baseball, football and basketball, and he earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Mississippi, where he played football and became a member of the 1992 Liberty Bowl champions, and after graduation, became a member of the Ole Miss M-Club; and

WHEREAS, after returning to his hometown of Morton, Mr. Hollis had a chance encounter at his local grocery store with a familiar face, Mr. Latrelle Ashley, who was the director of the Mississippi State Parks at the time, and Mr. Hollis remembered that Mr. Ashley was the announcer during his football career at Morton High School; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the bump-in, Mr. Hollis officially began his career with the Mississippi State Parks on August 1, 1997, and since that day, he has exponentially benefitted the Mississippi State Parks with his attention to detail, dedicated service, unparalleled work ethic and remarkable leadership skills; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hollis has served in several roles within the park system, including park ranger, manager, park administrator and director of operations, and in 2022, he became the first African-American director of the Mississippi State Parks; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Mr. Hollis is a certified law enforcement officer for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, and he serves as the manager of Roosevelt State Park, which has won numerous state and national awards; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hollis, along with Representative Tom Miles, founded Friends of Roosevelt State Park to help promote Roosevelt State Park and bring activities back to his local hometown of Morton; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hollis's mindset is to never forget where he came from, and because he dreamed of coming back home to give back to his community, he currently serves as an assistant coach for the Panthers High School Football Team, and in 2015, he was selected to be a member of the inaugural class of the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, he is also an active member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, a board member of Legacy Education and Community Empowerment Foundation and Save Our Youth Organization, a founder of Sixth Man mentoring group, a member of Healthy Hometown Committee and Bound to Excel mentoring group, a volunteer and torch carrier for the Special Olympics, which were held at Morton High School, and a past board member of the Excel Community Learning Center; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hollis is the son of Oneida Laster and the late Bobby Ray Hollis, and he is married to Anitra Hollis, and they have two children, Andrea and Christian; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the steadfast devotion to the betterment of Mississippi and honor the ardent vow to impeccable public service that Mr. Andre Hollis has bestowed upon the citizens of Mississippi as the director of the Mississippi State Parks:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend Mr. Andre Hollis for the 25 years of distinguished service and meritorious leadership that he has provided to the Mississippi State Parks and extend sincere wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

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