House Concurrent Resolution 121

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING WILLIAM L. "BUCK" STEVENS UPON HIS RETIREMENT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY.

WHEREAS, Mr. William L. "Buck" Stevens, a resident of Madison, Mississippi, is retiring as the Executive Director of the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy; and

WHEREAS, a native of Carrollton, Mississippi, Mr. Stevens earned his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of Mississippi and a master's degree in divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stevens has worked to bring new and integral changes to the Pharmacy Practice Act to enable innovation in practice; and

WHEREAS, under Mr. Stevens' leadership, the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy was awarded the Fred T. Mahaffey award for 1999 by the NABP for outstanding achievement; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stevens has received several individual honors and awards including his selection as one of 50 most influential pharmacists by American Druggist Magazine, winning the Bowl of Hygeia Service Award, his naming in the Marquis Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who's Who in the South and the International Who's Who of Professionals; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Mr. Stevens founded and is the President of Mississippians Reaching Out, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the former Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stevens was recognized for tireless humanitarian efforts in Russia by being made a Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem; and

WHEREAS, an active member of his community, Mr. Stevens helped bring three international cultural exhibits to Mississippi such as The Palaces of Saint Petersburg, The Splendors of Versailles and The Majesty of Spain; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stevens has been lovingly supported in all his endeavors by his wife and three children:

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians such as Mr. Stevens:

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. William L. "Buck" Stevens upon his retirement as the Executive Director of the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy 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. William L. "Buck" Stevens and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.