MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Eads, Banks, Brown, Denny, Ford, Gadd, Grist, Ishee, McBride, Moak, Moss, Perkins, Pierce, Reynolds, Simpson, Smith (27th), Smith (39th), Snowden, Zuber

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. GUTHRIE T. ABBOTT UPON HIS RETIREMENT AS PROFESSOR OF LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF LAW.

WHEREAS, Mr. Guthrie T. Abbott is retiring from the University of Mississippi School of Law after more than 30 years of service; and

WHEREAS, after earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi, Mr. Abbott attended the University of Mississippi School of Law, earning a juris doctor degree in 1967 and was a Fellow in Law and Humanities at Harvard University in 1974; and

WHEREAS, upon graduating from law school, Mr. Abbott began his legal career in private law practice with the firm of Eaton, Cottrell, Galloway and Lange in Gulfport, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1970, Mr. Abbott became an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he has also served as Professor of Law and Acting Dean; and

WHEREAS, while teaching full time at the University of Mississippi School of Law, Mr. Abbott was a Visiting Professor of Law at Louisiana State University for two summer terms and was a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long and distinguished teaching career, Mr. Abbott has received numerous awards and honors including being selected as the first recipient of the Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Cannada Endowed Lectureship in Law; being elected by the law school student body as Outstanding Professor of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1974, 1976, 1984 and 1992; and received the University of Mississippi Outstanding Teacher Award for 1986; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Abbott is a member of several honorary academic organization such as Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Abbott is a member and has held several leadership positions in many professional organizations such as the Mississippi Bar, Mississippi Supreme Court Advisory Committee, Mississippi Bar Foundation, Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division, American Bar Foundation and the American Inns of Court III; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his professional activities, Mr. Abbott is actively involved in his community, serving as ruling Elder and previous Clerk of Session at First Presbyterian Church in Oxford, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Abbott has been lovingly supported in all his endeavors by his devoted wife, Patricia Munn Abbott, and his three children; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding educators such as Mr. Abbott, who has dedicated his career to helping the young people of this state further their education in the legal profession:

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. Guthrie T. Abbott upon his retirement as Professor of Law from the University of Mississippi School of Law and express our heartiest wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Guthrie T. Abbott and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.