House Concurrent Resolution 8

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED WORLD-RENOWN FLORAL DESIGNER AND PAINTER MR. RALPH NULL, CONGRATULATING HIM ON HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PROMINENT AND ESTEEMED FLORAL INDUSTRY LEADER AND EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTOR AND WISHING HIM MANY MORE YEARS OF CONTINUED SUCCESS.

WHEREAS, Mississippi native and nationally and internationally acclaimed floral designer Mr. Ralph Null, has graced the world with his remarkable floral designs for over five decades resulting in a portfolio as rich and impressive as his floral creations; and

WHEREAS, his floral masterpieces have graced White House State Dinners, presidential inaugurals, the windows of Sak's and Macy's, Neiman Marcus catalogues, as well as national and international publications, and his designs are so well recognized and admired that it has evolved into its own design genre nationally known as the "Naturalistic Organic Design"; and

WHEREAS, internationally, his floral exhibits have been staged in London, Oslo, Capetown, Sydney, and the Kabuki Stage in Tokyo; and

WHEREAS, in the United States, his displays have been admired at the Smithsonian Institute, the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, the Chrysler Museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Walters Gallery Baltimore, Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, many of which have hosted his displays multiple times at the same venues; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Null's inspirational and naturalistic style incorporates the everyday organic materials of the woodlands, roadsides, landscapes and unusual items into his designs that draw the viewer in with warmth and familiarity; and

WHEREAS, he is not only a curator of floral design, he is a leader in the industry, whose talents have earned him many prominent positions, such as the Design Leader for the Victorian Floral Arts and Crafts at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, his artistic gifts expand beyond floral design to authoring books, as he is also a celebrated author who has published "A Florist Guide to Successful Weddings", "Christmas Collections", "Spring Arrangements from the Southern Garden", "Summer Arrangements from the Southern Garden", and "Fall and Winter Arrangements from the Southern Garden"; and

WHEREAS, his love for painting was awakened in 1999, when a friend insisted he study with Judy Hanson while he was in a long cancer recovery, and since that time he has developed his botanical painting style inspired by Ms. Hanson's natural loose style; and

WHEREAS, painting has been his refuge since February 2020 when he used the brushstrokes and paint to escape the anxiety of the pandemic, and now as an avid traveler, he travels to far and distant lands with a brush full of vibrant paint and his mind; and

WHEREAS, born April 2, 1946, to Gladys Limerick Null and Willie Edward Null at their home in rural Lauderdale County, Mississippi, where he attended Lauderdale School and graduated as an Honor Student from Northeast Lauderdale High School in 1963; and

WHEREAS, after high school, he attended Mississippi State and entered the five year Cooperative Education Program with a major in Horticulture, and would alternate semesters of study and work while employed by Greenbrook Flowers of Jackson, Mississippi, for the full five years where he gained hands on experience designing flowers and appreciating how the colors, fragrances and various combinations fashioned together triggered different emotions; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Mississippi State in 1968, he was offered a position as an instructor in the Department of Horticulture teaching floral design, where he became very involved with the Mississippi Florist Association and worked to develop a curriculum in Retail Florist Management which was implemented at the college within the Horticulture Department in the early 1970's in cooperation with the University Florist, a retail operation on the campus; and

WHEREAS, his teaching portfolio was quite diverse as it incorporated Floral Design, Advanced Floral Design, Landscape Gardening Design, Retail Florist Management, Floriculture Seminar, Plant Material Identification Basic and Advanced, Plant Propagation, and Interior Plantscape Design and Maintenance; and

WHEREAS, he retired in 1992 as a full professor with Professor Emeritus status and left the university with invaluable relationships with many state, national, and international organizations within the floral design industry, becoming a legacy and an internationally recognized designer, presenter, and lecturer; and

WHEREAS, during his career he presented almost 2000 design lectures throughout the world, he was also a recognized floral judge and was involved with many state, national, and international competitions including the Teleflora International in Sweden and head judge for Teleflora International in Las Vegas; and

WHEREAS, following his retirement from Mississippi State University he pursued a successful consulting career working with many leading companies in the floral industry, including Teleflora, Mt. Eden Floral Company, AA Importing, Design Master, Smithers-Oasis, Kerry's Orchids, Florida Nursery Association and the International Plant Exhibition; and many of his nursery and floral company exhibits received "Best of Show" Awards; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Null operated the company, Design Concepts, for 12 years that designed and installed interiorscape for hotels and casinos throughout the United States as well as for large scale events decor and design; and

WHEREAS, no stranger to professional recognitions and awards, he served as President of AIFD National and Southern Region National Treasurer, and chaired the National Symposium in Atlanta (1994); and

WHEREAS, he is a founding member of the AIFD Foundation, of which he served as chair for 12 years, was instrumental with establishing the Artist in Residence AIFD Program which first began at Mississippi State University; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, he was honored with the Award of Design Influence as only the second living American recipient and is the only recipient to have a student, Matt Wood, who also received this prestigious award in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Null has been a member of the Society of American Florists, was invited into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF), is a member of the Professional Floral Commentators, International (PFC-I) where he received the Tommy Bright Award, and has received the Poetker Award for the "Enhancement of the Aesthetic" by the American Horticulture Society; and

WHEREAS, he has earned many other notable recognitions including, Alpha Zeta, Pi Alpha Xi; Gamma Sigma Delta; Lifetime Achievement Award; Mississippi Florists Association; the Golden Award by the Garden Clubs of Mississippi and approved speaker for the National Council of Garden Clubs and the Garden Clubs of America; and

WHEREAS, he is a man of deep faith, who made sure he shared his time, talents and treasures in service to God's kingdom, as he was active for many years with the First United Methodist Church where he served in numerous positions including flower guild, worship, administrative board, study group leader, Meditation Garden and Columbarium design, and most recently Trustee Chair; and

WHEREAS, his career has allowed him to travel and teach throughout the world and he still finds travel stimulating and fulfilling and finds cruise ships the ideal method of watching the world pass by with ease as he enjoys time with his partner of 53 years, Fred Kinder; and

WHEREAS, as one who never wants to stop sharing, learning, serving, he is very involved with the Exchange Club (Past President), Rosensweg Art Center (Past President), Columbus Preservation Society (Past President), Town and Tower at Mississippi University for Women, and Camp Rising Sun, a summer camp for children with cancer; and

WHEREAS, when not traveling the world, you will find Mr. Null in his studio designing with paint on canvas, and proud to have completed more than 300 paintings since COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to celebrate the wealth of world-renown talent in this state, like Mr. Ralph Null, who share their invaluable treasures with the world and bring great honor to our state and its institutions of higher learning:

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 exceptionally talented, world-renown floral designer and painter Mr. Ralph Null, congratulate him on his many impressive accomplishments as a prominent and esteemed Floral Industry Leader and educational instructor with an unmatched creative career spanning five decades, and wish him many more years of continued success.

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