MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Frazier, Kirby, Ross

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MISKELLY FURNITURE AND THE MISKELLY BROTHERS UPON RECEIVING THE TUPELO FURNITURE MARKET'S FALL 1998 BUYER APPRECIATION AWARD.

WHEREAS, Jackson, Mississippi-based Miskelly Furniture has received the Tupelo Furniture Market's Fall 1998 Buyer Appreciation Award; and

WHEREAS, the buyer award is given twice a year by the Tupelo Furniture Marketing Association to recognize retailers who have consistently supported the Mississippi furniture industry and the Tupelo Furniture Market; and

WHEREAS, the Miskelly brothers, Chip, Oscar and Tommy, opened their first 8,000-square-foot store east of Jackson in 1978, and since then, the company has grown to operate two stores in central Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the main store in Jackson is 70,000 square feet, while the Howard Miskelly Furniture Clearance Center is 25,000 square feet, and future plans include the completion of a 150,000-square-foot distribution center and construction of a new 50,000-square-foot store in North Jackson; and

WHEREAS, having grown up in Okolona, Mississippi, a few miles south of Tupelo, the Miskelly brothers first got the idea for their retail stores by watching the Tupelo area spring to life with furniture manufacturing plants and watching those plants spawn discount retail outlets; and

WHEREAS, 1998 marked the first year Miskelly Furniture was ranked on Furniture/Today's list of Top 100 U.S. Furniture Stores, at number 93 with 1997 sales of $34.2 Million; and

WHEREAS, Miskelly Furniture has become the leading furniture retailer in the Jackson, Mississippi, market and surrounding area, enjoying an average sales growth of nearly 25% a year since opening in 1978; and

WHEREAS, always staying true to their word, the Miskelly brothers have found success by cultivating the foundation of the family business in trusting relationships with vendors, employees, customers and God; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize the exemplary service and accomplishments of the outstanding citizens of this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Miskelly Furniture and the Miskelly brothers, Chip, Oscar and Tommy, upon receiving the Tupelo Furniture Market's Fall 1998 Buyer Appreciation Award.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Miskelly Furniture and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.