MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) White (29th)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER SENATOR WAYNE O. BURKES AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE.

WHEREAS, recipient of the Mississippi Senate Award for Distinguished Public Service presented at the 13th Annual Mississippi Senate Grand Reunion is former Senator, former Highway Commissioner, retired Major General and Commissioner of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board Wayne O. Burkes; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Burkes, a Republican from Mississippi, was nominated to the Surface Transportation Board by President Clinton and was confirmed by the Senate on February 22, 1999, to complete a five-year term expiring December 31, 2002; and

WHEREAS, at the time of his appointment, Commissioner Burkes had served as the Mississippi Transportation Commissioner of the Central District since March 1989. Before being elected Transportation Commissioner, he served 14 years in the Mississippi Legislature, four years in the House of Representatives and ten years in the Senate. He served on the Highways and Transportation Committees for all 14 years of his legislative experience. He is a former member of the faculty at Hinds Community College; and

WHEREAS, a long-time Air Force and Air National Guard pilot, he has flown eight different Air Force aircraft for 7,000 flying hours and is a retired Major General from the Mississippi Air National Guard. He is a former president of the National Guard Association of Mississippi and is a life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars; and

WHEREAS, Commissioner Burkes received his B.S., M.Ed. and LL.D. degrees from Mississippi College and the M.Div. Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has done advanced graduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi, and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Pilot Training School, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the Air University's Air War College and the Transportation Executive Institute of the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, he was selected as Clinton, Mississippi's Outstanding Citizen in 1985; President of the National Guard Association of Mississippi; Commander of his American Legion Post; Hinds County Farm Bureau's "Man of the Year" for 1993; former Trustee, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center; active in civic, church and denominational affairs, he is a member of the Rotary Club; a former District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America; a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Clinton, Mississippi; and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center; he formerly served on the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and was on the Executive Committee, Personnel and Budget Committees; and

WHEREAS, across the years, he has been a frequent speaker at patriotic events, civic clubs, conventions and in church services; and

WHEREAS, he is married to the former Ann Rushing of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the compassion, unselfish commitment, courage and conscientiousness of this dedicated public servant, who has brought great honor to the Senate and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the public service of former Senator Wayne O. Burkes of Clinton, Mississippi, and congratulate him upon his receipt of the Mississippi Senate Award for Distinguished Public Service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Senator Burkes and his family at the occasion of the 13th Annual Mississippi Senate Grand Reunion held on February 15, 2001, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.