Senate Concurrent Resolution 598

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER, PRENTISS COUNTY CHANCERY CLERK AND WORLD WAR II COMBAT VETERAN HERSHEL G. JUMPER, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, few civic leaders and military veterans have left more significant footprints across Mississippi and United States history than did former Mississippi Highway Commissioner, Prentiss County Chancery Clerk, retired farmer, Prentiss County schoolteacher and World War II combat veteran Hershel G. Jumper of Jumpertown, Mississippi, who died on Thursday, November 22, 2001, at age 78; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jumper served as Northern District Highway Commissioner from 1968 to 1976, implementing a $900 Million highway construction program and constructing more miles of highways in Mississippi to date than any other prior period, championed projects to widen Mississippi Highway 6 between Batesville and Oxford and United States Highway 82 between Starkville and Columbus, Mississippi, in order to make travel safer for students at Ole Miss and at MSCW, and Commissioner Jumper was the first to hire black managers of state road crews during the early 1970's; and

WHEREAS, he was born in Prentiss County on February 22, 1923, and attended the public schools of Prentiss County, graduating from high school in 1942; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jumper was a decorated World War II combat veteran, first serving with the 3rd Infantry in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern France where he served with fellow soldier, friend and American hero Audie Murphy; he was severely wounded on December 23, 1944, on the Rhine River in the famous Battle of the Bulge, where he lost his right arm at the elbow, lost part of his hip and received shrapnel wounds all over his body, resulting in a body cast for a long period of time; in 1945 he was returned to the United States and was hospitalized in veterans hospitals in Atlanta and Memphis, from where he was discharged from military service after receiving the Order of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star; and

WHEREAS, he entered Mississippi State University, graduating with a B.S. Degree in Education in 1949, taught in the Booneville public school system, was appointed to the Booneville Housing Authority Board in 1950, was elected Chancery Clerk of Prentiss County in 1951, serving for the next eight years, was employed by Road Builders Equipment Company in Memphis, Tennessee, and then in 1967 was elected to the Mississippi Highway Commission, where he served as Chairman; and

WHEREAS, he was a member of Jumpertown United Methodist Church, was a Mason, a Shriner, member of the Scottish Rite, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, the 40 & 8, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Lu Jumper; a son, Gatha Dees Jumper and his wife, Mary; three grandchildren and six great-children, all of Jumpertown; three sisters; one brother; one stepsister; and two stepbrothers; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi will long remember this respected civic leader and veteran, who was a man of honesty, integrity and vision for Mississippi's future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of public service of former Mississippi Highway Commissioner, Prentiss County Chancery Clerk and World War II combat veteran Hershel G. Jumper, of Jumpertown, Mississippi, and express to his family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Hershel's wife, Lu, and members of his family, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.