MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Capps

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. LELAND SPEAKES, JR., FOR SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE FOUNDATION FOR NORTH AMERICAN WILD SHEEP.

WHEREAS, Mr. Leland Speakes, Jr., a resident of Cleveland, Mississippi, took the office of President of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep in April 1998 and will serve in the office until April 1999; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Mississippi State University in 1951, Mr. Speakes entered the United States Air Force Pilot Training Program at Columbus, Mississippi, and graduated from flight training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; and

WHEREAS, after completing his flight training, Mr. Speakes served his country as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean Conflict, flying 98 combat missions and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Speakes, a real estate broker and appraiser and an avid hunter, has always been interested in wild sheep, hunting throughout the North American continent, Europe, Asia and Africa, and he became the first Mississippian to take the Grand Slam by successfully taking one sheep of each of the four varieties of sheep that inhabit North America: the Dall, Stone, Rocky Mountain and Desert; and

WHEREAS, the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep is a 6,000 member international organization that covers the United States, Canada and Mexico, whose objectives are to promote and enhance increasing populations of indigenous wild sheep on the North American continent, to safeguard against the decline or extinction of such species and to fund programs for professional management of these populations; and

WHEREAS, now in his third three-year term, Mr. Speakes was elected to his first term as a member of the Foundation's Board of Directors in 1992, and has served as membership chairman, convention chairman and First Vice President of the Foundation's Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, being politically active at the federal level promoting hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation, Mr. Speakes has worked closely with the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on wildlife enhancement programs; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his responsibilities with the Foundation, Mr. Speakes serves on the Board of Directors of the Ballot Issues Coalition, an organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and wildlife management from unfavorable ballot issues supported by animal rights groups; and

WHEREAS, in 1998, Mr. Speakes was selected by Peterson's Hunting Magazine as one of the 20 most influential wildlife conservation people in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds it most appropriate to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by such a remarkable man as Mr. Leland Speakes, Jr., whose leadership has made an tremendous impact in the area of wildlife:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Mr. Leland Speakes, Jr., for his service as President of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and extend our heartiest wishes in all his future endeavors.

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