House Resolution 103

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF MAYOR PHILIP R. FISHER UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Mr. Philip R. Fisher, the Mayor of the City of Clinton, Mississippi, and community leader extraordinaire, is retiring after selflessly dedicating 12 years of illustrious service and competent guidance to the wonderful people of the Clinton community; and

WHEREAS, born in 1954, Mayor Fisher grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, attending Green Elementary School, Bailey Jr. High School and Callaway High School, and he received his bachelor of science degree in marketing from Mississippi State University in 1976 and his United States Army College Master Degree in Strategic Studies in 2003; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure at Mississippi State, Mayor Fisher began his journey into politics, as he was twice elected to the student Senate, served as secretary and president of his fraternity, and was elected Mr. Mississippi State University in 1976; and

WHEREAS, in addition to graduating college in 1976, Mayor Fisher also exchanged the vows of holy matrimony with Rita Kathryn Davis of Enterprise, Mississippi, in May 1976, and they completed their family unit with the addition of two children, Brian, and his wife Mimmie, and their children, Mary Elizabeth, Hasten Doxey and Graham Campbell, and daughter, Dana Faggert, and her husband Andrew, and their daughter, Kathryn Hartfield (Hart); and

WHEREAS, after graduation, Mayor Fisher heroically joined the United States Marine Corps, serving at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as a Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander and Assistant Battalion Operation Officer; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Fisher also joined the Mississippi Army National Guard, where he served as an Operations Officer, Planning Officer and Commanding Officer of the 31st Rear Area Operation Center; State Drug Reduction Officer; Intelligence Officer for the 66th Troop Command; Deputy Commanding Officer and then Commanding Officer for the 184th Expeditionary Sustainment Command; and

WHEREAS, in August 2005, Mayor Fisher was mobilized for Hurricane Katrina, serving as Chief of Staff, and in October 2005, he was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he commanded soldiers in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, with the task of accounting for the thousands of missing shipping containers throughout the Theater, and his and his teams' efforts resulted in a reduction of monthly billing by the shipping companies from an estimated $25,000,000 per month to $3,000,000 per month; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Fisher was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2009, where he served as the senior Transportation Officer in Afghanistan, and as the senior Transportation Officer, his responsibilities included the command of 43,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians as well as all movement of food, fuel, other supplies and ordinance in and out of Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Mayor Fisher commanded the air assets associated with both troop and supply movement in Afghanistan, and had more trucking assets on the road in Afghanistan on any given day than Walmart had in the entire United States, and his responsibilities allowed him to work in close coordination with other NATO countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Romania, France, Italy and Scotland; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Fisher has received numerous distinguished military awards, some of the most prestigious a fearless combatant can receive, and they include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal and the Ranger Tab; and

WHEREAS, in his civilian life, Mayor Fisher worked as an equipment salesman for Stribling Puckett before joining the sales team at Procter and Gamble in 1985, and during his tenure with Proctor and Gamble, he worked in the grocery, nursing home, medical and dental divisions before retiring in 2007, and he was recognized at the regional and national level for sales achievement; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Fisher reentered the political arena in 1993 when he was elected for the first time as an alderman for the City of Clinton, and he would go on to be re-elected to that position three more times, and in 2007, he was elected District 4 Hinds County Supervisor and then re-elected in 2011; and

WHEREAS, after serving as an alderman for 14 years and on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors for six years, he was elected as the Mayor of Clinton in 2013, beginning his first term on July 1, 2013, and Mayor Fisher assumed the role with years of invaluable experience under his belt, and he utilized his training and expertise to serve the role of mayor with efficiency and effectiveness and respected each citizen's ideas and visions; and

WHEREAS, for the past 12 years, Mayor Fisher has worked tirelessly to strengthen the City of Clinton, improve infrastructure, and serve the people with passion and purpose, and his dedication will leave a lasting mark for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Fisher was also honored with the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award, a title that reflects the impact of a lifetime dedicated to leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment, and that certainly encompasses Mayor Fisher, a man whose life has been defined by his service to his country, to his family, and to his community; and

WHEREAS, in his spare time, Mayor Fisher enjoys reading history and political books as well as visiting historical sites and presidential museums, but visiting the grandchildren has become his and Mrs. Fisher's number one priority; and

WHEREAS, after 12 years of mayoral service to the people of Clinton, retirement will surely leave an insatiable void for governing and mingling with Mississippi's finest in the heart of Mayor Fisher, but he is overjoyed to spend time with his family and grandchildren and reflect on the countless number of remarkable people that have touched his life throughout his 12-year career as the Mayor of the City of Clinton; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the tireless devotion to the betterment of Mississippi and honor the ardent vow to impeccable public service that Mr. Philip R. Fisher, bestowed to the citizens of Mississippi as Mayor of the City of Clinton:

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 of Mayor Philip R. Fisher upon the occasion of his retirement, and extend sincere wishes for continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.

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