MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Nettles, Myers, Rushing

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. CHARLES MARTIN DUNAGIN UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Mr. Charles Martin Dunagin, currently publisher of the McComb Enterprise-Journal, is retiring after more than 40 years in journalism; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dunagin, born on June 9, 1935, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, graduated from Petal High School and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi in 1957; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dunagin began his newspaper career with the Jackson State-Times in February 1957, as a general assignments reporter; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dunagin later served as city hall, courthouse and federal building reporter, state editor and at the time the newspaper ceased operation in 1962, was city editor; and

WHEREAS, for a brief period in 1962, he worked as a reporter on the Jacksonville Journal in Florida, covering the police and doing general assignments; and

WHEREAS, following that, Mr. Dunagin was assistant editor of the Hattiesburg American before moving to McComb as managing editor in July of 1963, and in August 1978, he became editor of the newspaper; and

WHEREAS, as former President of the Mississippi Press Association, Mr. Dunagin has influenced many newspaper careers over the years; and

WHEREAS, an active member of his community, Mr. Dunagin is a deacon at First Baptist Church of McComb, a former president of the McComb Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, the Pike County United Way, Pike County Arts Council, Pike County Economic Development District Trustees and the Mississippi-Louisiana Associated Press; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Mr. Dunagin has served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and is a member of the Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Society and the American Society of Newspaper Editors; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dunagin has received numerous awards throughout his long and distinguished career including the Silver Em from the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association at Ole Miss, the Silver Inky award from the Mississippi University for Women and the Student Printz Mississippi Medalist award from the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians such as Mr. Dunagin, who has dedicated his career to informing the citizens of 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 and congratulate Mr. Charles Martin Dunagin upon his retirement and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Charles Martin Dunagin and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.