MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Carmichael, Burton, Horhn, Williamson, Chaney, Hyde-Smith, Johnson (19th), Little

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI'S SELA WARD FOR HER NUMEROUS ACTING AWARDS AND CREDITS AND COMMENDING HER FOR SUPPORTING THE HOPE FOR CHILDREN FACILITY FOR CHILDREN AND OTHER CIVIC PROJECTS.

WHEREAS, Meridian, Mississippi's Sela Ward received her second Emmy Award for Best Actress in Drama for her portrayal of Lily Manning on ABC's critically acclaimed dramatic series "Once And Again," which has also garnered her two Golden Globe nominations; and

WHEREAS, Ward, married to a Los Angeles businessman (Howard Sherman) and a mother of two, savors her singular role representing "fortysomething" women in America, and on vacations, the whole family goes off to their 280-acre ranch near Meridian, Mississippi, where the rustic lifestyle is a perfect contrast to the family's life in California; and

WHEREAS, growing up in Meridian, the former cheerleader moved to Memphis to do public relations work for Pepsi, began a highly successful career as a model, and turned to acting at age 27; she moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and got her big break in the Burt Reynolds' film "The Man Who Loved Women"; and

WHEREAS, Ward was last seen on the big screen in Mark Christopher's "54" for Miramax; on television, Ward most recently starred in Showtime's "Rescuers Stories of Courage - Two Women"; Ward won an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Drama in 1994 for her role as Teddy, the struggling artist and recovering alcoholic, on NBC's award-winning series, "Sisters," and was nominated as "Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series" by the Screen Actors Guild in 1996. Ward also received unanimous acclaim for her performance in the Lifetime original film "Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story," portraying the late NBC News anchorwoman; the film ranks as Lifetime's highest rated movie, and the second highest rated movie in cable history. Ward's performance earned her a Cable Ace Award for "Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special" in 1996. She also received a Screen Actors Guild nomination for "Best Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series," as well as an Emmy nomination for "Best Actress Lead in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special"; and

WHEREAS, on the big screen, Ward has appeared in the Warner Brothers' blockbuster "The Fugitive" opposite Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Other films include "My Fellow Americans" with Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Ackroyd and Lauren Bacall; "Hello Again" with Shelley Long and Gabriel Byrne; Garry Marshall's "Nothing in Common" opposite Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason; "Rustler's Rhapsody" with Tom Berenger; Ward's additional television credits include the telefilms "The Reef," "Double Jeopardy," "Killer Rules," "The Haunting of Sarah Hardy" and "Bridesmaids," the ABC mini-series "King of Love," a regular role on the CBS series "Emerald Point, N.A.S.," and appearances on "L.A. Law," "Night Court" and "Saturday Night Live," as well as a recent guest spot on the critically acclaimed situation comedy "Frasier"; and

WHEREAS, Sela's generosity and support for her Mississippi community is a matter of record: HOPE FOR CHILDREN: Sela has provided funding and management effort to this project, a residential facility for children with special needs; Hope for Children was able to purchase the Masonic Home due to Sela's relationship with the Entertainment Industry Foundation; this grant from the Entertainment Industry Foundation will not only purchase the property, but will pay for the renovations; Sela's guidance in this project has encouraged individuals that would not have participated without her; Sela's vision for this organization goes well beyond opening a shelter for children in Meridian, but to developing a blueprint that can be used by communities throughout the United States "Rethinking the Orphanage"; OPERA HOUSE: Sela became interested in this project years ago; she has been obsessed with this "entombed jewel box" since she first saw photos when she was doing a school project at eight years old; it has been her dream to see such an important part of Mississippi's history restored; she engaged and challenged the community to save this treasure and became the energy in this project enlisting many others including Trent Lott, Mack Portera and Chip Pickering; she has been the catalyst in this project from the very beginning; Sela has worked tirelessly on local, state and national funding, and in a few short years, Meridian will have a renovated Grand Opera House, Riley Educational Center and a 500-car downtown parking garage; DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION: Sela has participated in recapturing downtown Meridian's revitalization, not only with the Opera House, but also with private ventures that will bring an excitement to the area; she has worked tirelessly not only creating public investment but to create private investment that will bring new jobs to the downtown area; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Sela has worked with many different projects in this area to create an energy and culture that would encourage investment in our state as well as this community; she gave instant credibility to Meridian's presentation for the Southern Arts and Entertainment Project; this effort is helping to change the image of both the state and the community; she has offered her help and assistance in attracting new economic opportunities for the future generations; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the professional achievements and civic dedication of this famous Mississippi actress, who has brought honor to her home community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby congratulate Meridian, Mississippi's Sela Ward for her numerous acting awards and credits, commend her for supporting the Hope for Children facility for children and other civic projects in Meridian, and wish her continued success in her professional career and in her charitable projects.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Sela Ward and her family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.