House Concurrent Resolution 84

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. ROBERT BALLARD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN DEEP-OCEAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND SCIENCE.

WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Ballard, after receiving thousands of letters from school children wanting to know how he discovered the RMS Titanic, founded the JASON Project in 1989, which is a nonprofit educational organization working in partnership with teachers, students, corporations, educational institutions and government to inspire in students a lifelong passion to pursue learning in science, math and technology through exploration and discovery; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard is the founder and head of the Institute for Exploration (IFE) at Mystic Marinelife Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, which specializes in deep-ocean archaeology and whose goal is to establish this new field of research utilizing evolving technology such as advanced mapping imaging systems, underwater robotics and manned submersibles; and

WHEREAS, after receiving his undergraduate degree in geology and chemistry from the University of California, Dr. Ballard attended graduate school at the University of Southern California, the University of Hawaii's Graduate School of Oceanography and received his Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics from the University of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard is also a distinguished military graduate of the University of California with a Commission in Army Intelligence, which was transferred to the United States Navy, and he served on active duty during the Vietnam War as an Ensign, Lieutenant J.G. and finally as a Lieutenant, then joined the United States Naval Reserves as a Commander; and

WHEREAS, the more than 100 deep sea expeditions Dr. Ballard has led or participated in, which included the use of the deep-diving submersibles ALVIN, ARCHIMEDE, TRIESTE II, TURTLE, BEN FRANKLIN, CYANA and NR-1, led to the discovery of high temperature "black smokers," the R.M.S. Titanic, the German battleship Bismarck, 11 warships from the lost fleet of Guadalcanal, The U.S.S. Yorktown and exploration of the luxury liner Lusitania; and

WHEREAS, not only has Dr. Ballard published over 50 scientific articles in journals including Science, Nature, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, and the Journal of Geophysical Research, but he also received the Newcomb-Cleveland award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for an article he coauthored in Science, detailing the discovery of high temperature vent fields in the East Pacific Rise; and

WHEREAS, the books Dr. Ballard has written on his discoveries of the R.M.S. Titanic, Bismarck and the Lusitania are worldwide bestsellers; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ballard is a member of Sigma Xi, Oceanography Society, Geological Society of America, Marine Technology Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Geophysical Union and The Bohemian Club, and he holds Honorary Degrees from the University of Rhode Island, Clark University, Southeastern Massachusetts University, Long Island University, Southampton, the University of Bath, England, Lehigh University, Skidmore College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bridgewater State College, Tufts University, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Maine Maritime Academy and Massachusetts Maritime Academy; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend an exceptional individual such as Dr. Robert Ballard, who has many outstanding achievements, and has made great strides and many important discoveries in the field of deep-ocean archaeology and science in general:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we commend Dr. Robert Ballard on all of his outstanding achievements in deep-ocean archaeology and science, and wish him future success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Robert Ballard and to members of the Capitol Press Corp.