Senate Concurrent Resolution 509

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING DR. RONALD A. BROWN UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE.

WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald A. Brown, a native of Lee County, Mississippi, is retiring as Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service after a 33-year career in the field of agriculture and extension education and research; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Brown began his career in 1968 as a teacher of Vocational Agriculture at Crowder High School, Quitman County School District, after earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Agricultural Education at Mississippi State University; from 1970-1972, he served as Assistant Director and Teacher of Agriculture at Quitman County Area Vocational School at Marks, Mississippi; in 1972, he earned his Master's degree in Agricultural Education from Mississippi State University; in 1974, he earned his Doctorate in Agricultural Education from the University of Illinois; from 1974-1977, he served as Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Extension Education, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Mississippi State University; from 1977-1982, he served as Associate Professor, Agricultural and Extension Education, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Mississippi State University; from 1982 to the present, he served as Professor, Agricultural and Extension Education, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Mississippi State University; from 1983 to 1985, he served as Graduate Coordinator, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, and Coordinator for Education, Office of International Programs, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University; from 1986 to 1987, he was the Interim Assistant to the Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University; from 1985 to 1996, he served as the Director, Office of International Programs, Mississippi State University; from 1993 to 1994, he was the head of the Department of Agricultural Communications, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University; from 1989 to 1996, he served as the Associate Vice President, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University; and in addition to his instructional responsibilities, from 1996, to the present he has been the Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service; and

WHEREAS, he is presently or has been involved in the following activities in professional and honorary societies: National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Phi Delta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Delta, American Association for Agriculture Education, Extension Committee on Policy, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), Legislative Committee, the Association of Southern Region Extension Directors, the Southern International Agriculture Directors Association, the International Science and Education Council, the Southeast Consortium for International Development, the International Sorghum and Millet Collaborative Research Support Program, the National FFA Foundation, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Southern Region Agricultural Education Research Conference; his publications, instructional guides, major research accomplishments and speeches are a matter of record; and he can boast of a long list of highly qualified and distinguished graduate students whom he has tutored and supervised master's theses and doctoral dissertations; and he has consistently been rated in the highest quartile on student ratings of teaching performance; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Brown also has committed himself to his church and community; he is married to the former Virginia Moore of Fulton, Mississippi, and has one daughter, Melissa, and one son, Jeremy; and it is with great pride that we recognize the long and dedicated education and administrative service of this citizen who has brought honor to Mississippi State University, his 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 commend and congratulate Dr. Ronald A. Brown on the occasion of his retirement as Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service after a 33-year career in agriculture and extension education and research, and we wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Ronald Brown and his family, be forwarded to the President of Mississippi State University and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.