Senate Concurrent Resolution 514

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LONGTIME DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE TAX COMMISSION LESTER HERRINGTON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 36 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Lester Herrington has announced he will retire from his position as Deputy Commissioner of the Mississippi State Tax Commission effective after the 2002 Regular Session; and

WHEREAS, Lester Herrington has held the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Mississippi Tax Commission since December 1, 1984 and also serves as liaison for the Tax Commission with the Legislature, and has served on the Executive Committee of the Southeastern Association of tax Administrators since 1985; and

WHEREAS, beginning his career with the Tax Commission in 1966, Herrington was an auditor in the Greenwood District for six years and was then Manager of the Tupelo District office for 10 years. On March 1, 1982, Lester became Assistant Director of Revenue in the Jackson office, and two years later Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, a position he held until assuming his present position as Deputy Commissioner; and

WHEREAS, in January 1992, Lester was appointed by Governor Ray Mabus to the Board of Trustees for the Public Employees' Retirement System for the State of Mississippi for the term ending June 30, 1993. On July 1, 1993, Lester was reappointed to a four-year term by Governor Kirk Fordice. From October 1995 to June 30, 1997, he served as Chairman of the Board for PERS. On July 1, 1997, Lester was reappointed to another four-year term by Governor Kirk Fordice. In April 1993, he was appointed to the Delta State University Accounting Advisory Board. Lester was selected to serve on the Mississippi State University Advisory Council in October 1998. In July 2001, Lester was elected to serve as President for the Southern Region of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and in August 2001, he was elected to serve on the International Board of Directors for AAMVA at their annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, on April 8, 2000, Lester was inducted into the Mississippi Delta Community College Sports Hall of Fame. Lester graduated from Delta State University with a B.S. degree in accounting and served as President of the DSU Accounting Alumni Association from 1999-2000. In the spring of 1999, Lester was selected to become a member of Omicron Delta Kappa; and

WHEREAS, Lester's legacy of work with the Legislature on behalf of the Mississippi State Tax Commission has been exemplified by sound judgment, firmness and impartiality, and he has given this most important state agency a statewide reputation for credibility and respect; and

WHEREAS, a native of Ruleville, Mississippi, Lester is married to the former Bette Bowman of Ruleville, and they have one son, Les and a grandson, Lester C. Herrington, III (Trey); and

WHEREAS, we are grateful for Lester's legacy of service in state government:

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 Mississippi State Tax Commission's longtime Deputy Commissioner Lester Herrington on the occasion of his retirement after 36 consecutive years of dedicated public service, and wish him and his wife, Bette, the best in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be presented to Lester and his family, and be forwarded to the Mississippi Tax Commission, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.