MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Ellington

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING JAMES IRVIN PALMER, JR., THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION.

WHEREAS, James Irvin Palmer, Jr., the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, recently retired from Mississippi state government after 26 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Palmer was born on December 17, 1946, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and was the son of the late James I. Palmer, Sr., and Lena S. Palmer of Wiggins, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1965, Jimmy Palmer graduated from John Rundel High School in Grenada, Mississippi, and furthered his education at Mississippi State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1970; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy worked as an Engineering Aide with the Mississippi State Highway Department in 1965; and

WHEREAS, while attending Mississippi State University, he worked in the Soils and Nuclear Weapons Effects Division, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Palmer, upon graduation from Mississippi State University, worked as an Assistant Engineer with the Mississippi Public Service Commission; and

WHEREAS, he worked as a Resource Planning Engineer and then as Director of Resource Planning with the Mississippi Board of Water Commissioners, a predecessor agency of the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, in 1974, Jimmy Palmer entered law school at the University of Mississippi; in 1977, he graduated from law school with honors; and

WHEREAS, upon his graduation from law school, Jimmy entered private legal practice with Gerald, Brand, Watters, Cox and Hemleben in both Newton and Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1980, Jimmy Palmer became a Special Assistant Attorney General under Attorney General Bill Allain; his area of responsibility included environmental and natural resource protection issues, public utility regulation and licensure of professional engineers and land surveyors; and

WHEREAS, he became Administrative Assistant and Staff Counsel to Governor Bill Allain in 1984; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy assumed the position of Executive Director of the Governor's Office of General Services in 1986; he was responsible for construction, renovation and repair of state-owned buildings, security in the Capitol Complex, and management of the state purchasing program; and

WHEREAS, in 1987, Jimmy Palmer was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources, now known as the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; he served continuously as Executive Director during the administrations of Governor Bill Allain, Governor Ray Mabus and Governor Kirk Fordice; he was responsible for administration and enforcement of federal and state environmental protection laws; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Palmer is a registered professional engineer in Mississippi and is licensed to practice law in all local, state and federal courts; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Palmer married Brenda Bridges on January 19, 1969; he and Brenda have three children, Lena Brice, Corey Leigh and James Irvin, III; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Palmer has been instrumental in the development and implementation of environmental protection and natural resources policy over the past 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Palmer has been a distinguished and dedicated public servant who has devoted 26 years of his life in service to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend James Irvin Palmer, Jr., for his distinguished and dedicated service to the State of Mississippi and for his many contributions to environmental protection and natural resources conservation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to James Irvin Palmer, Jr., and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.