Senate Resolution 49

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SINCEREST SYMPATHY OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY OF HINDS COUNTY SENIOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE HONORABLE WILLIAM SWAN YERGER AND COMMENDING HIS ENORMOUS CIVIC ENERGY ON BEHALF OF HIS COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of longtime Senior Circuit Court Judge and community benefactor William Swan Yerger of Jackson, Mississippi, who had retired to Mobile, Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Honorable William Swan Yerger passed away in Mobile, Alabama, on August 1, 2024. He was born on June 11, 1932, in Jackson, Mississippi, the son of the late Rivers Applewhite Yerger and Wirt Adams Yerger. Swan was also a fifth-generation Mississippian graduating locally from Central High School in 1950; and

WHEREAS, he became an Eagle Scout at the age of 15 and upon graduation from Central High, he entered the "Rat Class" (freshman) at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. During his sophomore year, he was elected Class Historian, the third-highest class position. He was on the Honors list and served as Squad Leader; and

WHEREAS, transferring to Ole Miss for his junior year, he joined the Air Force ROTC. The following year he was elected Cadet Colonel and Wing Commander for the ROTC. Swan graduated in 1954 with a major in History and a minor in English. His senior year also served as his first year of law school; and

WHEREAS, upon graduation from Ole Miss, Swan served as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was stationed with the Air Materiel Command at Brookley Field in Mobile, Alabama. He was later promoted to First Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, following his Air Force service, he entered his second year of law school at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. While there, he was selected as a member of the Student Legal Forum; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his law practice, Swan became very involved in the Jackson community. He was President of the Jackson Junior Chamber of Commerce and served as Chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Jackson YMCA; and

WHEREAS, he was also the originator and first chairman of the Mississippi Arts Festival, as well as, serving as its first president. In addition, he was one of the earliest members of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters, and later served as its president. Subsequently he served as an emeritus board member. He was a founding member of the North Jackson Rotary Club and became its first president. Swan was also a Paul Harris Fellow and recognized as a Benefactor of the Rotary Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Swan was dedicated and committed to the legal profession in addition to his litigation practice. As a practicing attorney, he held an "A" rating from Martindale Hubbard. In 1982, he became a fellow of the American Association of Trial Lawyers. He was President of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, Swan was appointed by Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice to serve as a Hinds County Circuit Court Judge to complete a two-year term remaining of a retiring judge. Thereafter, he was elected to three additional four-year terms. Judge Yerger became a Senior Judge on the Hinds County Circuit Court in 2002 and served until his retirement at the end of 2010; and

WHEREAS, during his 14 years on the bench, he presided over numerous civil and criminal trials. Judge Yerger was also awarded the Diploma of Judicial Skills by the American College of Judicial Skills; and

WHEREAS, however, it was his role as husband, father, and grandfather where Swan shone even brighter. He was a pillar of strength and a constant source of love and support for his family; and

WHEREAS, Swan is survived by his wife, Gingia Yerger; daughters, Virginia Yerger Avisto and Rivers (Todd) Yerger Puckett; grandchildren: Palmer Avisto, Harrison Avisto, Rivers Puckett, Mary Hastings Puckett, Carolina Puckett and Todd Puckett Jr; and

WHEREAS, Judge Yerger served as a leader and mentor, consistently emphasizing professional standards of the practice, including ethics, integrity, civility courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule; and

WHEREAS, his life honored both The Mississippi Bar and this great state that he loved and served:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the sincerest sympathy of the Mississippi Senate to the surviving family of Hinds County Senior Circuit Court Judge Honorable William Swan Yerger and commend his enormous civic energy on behalf of his community.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Judge Yerger's surviving family, forwarded to The Mississippi Bar and the North Jackson Rotary Club and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.