MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Hall

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JERRY CLOWER.

WHEREAS, Jerry Clower, one of the most highly acclaimed country comedians and a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1973, died on August 24, 1998, of cardiorespiratory failure five days after open heart surgery; and

WHEREAS, Clower had fallen ill on August 4th shortly before performing in Hiwassee, Georgia, at the Georgia Mountain State Fair; and

WHEREAS, Clower is survived by Homerline Wells Clower, his wife of 51 years, four children and several grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Clower, an alumnus and former football player at Mississippi State University, was born and reared in Amite County, near Liberty, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 16 and served on the aircraft carrier Bennington in the Pacific during World War II; and

WHEREAS, he later moved to Yazoo City, where he worked as a fertilizer salesman for Mississippi Chemical Corporation and began telling prospective customers humorous stories about his childhood to improve sales; and

WHEREAS, in 1970, a friend taped one of Clower's conversations and sent it to MCA Records in Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in his first comedy album and a long and lustrous story-telling career; and

WHEREAS, Clower's stories often involved church revivals, country fairs, cotton farming or crappie fishing; and most of them were built around the famous fictitious Ledbetter clan of Amite County: Marcel, Ardel, Burnell, Raynell, W.L., Lanell, Udell, Odell, Claud, Newgene and Clovis -- 11 siblings raised by Aunt Pet and Uncle Versie; and

WHEREAS, a devout Southern Baptist, Clower never told any off-color stories and once hosted a Christian radio show and syndicated television show; and

WHEREAS, for 10 consecutive years, Clower, who wore stunning red or yellow suits, earned the top comedian awards from Billboard, Cashbox and Record World magazines; and

WHEREAS, Clower was a member of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry and was the first country humorist to earn a gold record; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his live performances, Clower has also published four best-selling books, including Ain't God Good which was published in 1975 and was the basis and title for an award-winning documentary film; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Clower touched the lives of everyone and will be deeply missed by not only his community and state, but also by the entire nation:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and accomplishments of Jerry Clower.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Homerline Wells Clower and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.