MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Brown, Whittington, Eads, Ford, Mayo, Montgomery (15th), Reynolds
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MARSHALL BENNETT UPON HIS RETIREMENT, FOR HIS STRONG FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP TO MISSISSIPPI AND FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE STATE.
WHEREAS, Marshall Bennett, Mississippi's 51st State Treasurer, has provided many years of strong financial leadership and exceptional service to Mississippi, and will retire at the end of this term; and
WHEREAS, first elected as State Treasurer in 1987 and reelected to four consecutive terms, Mr. Bennett has earned more than $1 billion of interest investing the state's funds through professional methods, and saved over $40 million in debt payment by refinancing state bonds for lower interest rates; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett has helped Mississippi families by creating the MPACT and MACS College Savings Programs, which will pay over $100 million in college tuition payments for Mississippi students; and
WHEREAS, as Trustee for Mississippi's Public Employees Retirement System, Mr. Bennett has helped accumulate $17 billion of retirement benefits for 154,000 families, and as Chairman of the Health Care Trust Fund, Mr. Bennett invests the $700 million tobacco settlement fund, which has improved health care for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett created the Mississippi Women's Money Conference to help inform women and families of ways to save, invest, reduce debt and become financially secure, and as a director of the Mississippi Business Finance Corp., the Mississippi Development Bank, Mr. Bennett helped provide funding for low interest business loans for business jobs, and funding for creating and improving clean water and sewer facilities for Mississippi cities and towns; and
WHEREAS, not only did Mr. Bennett receive the Nation's Most Outstanding State Treasurers Award, but he also has been elected as President of the National Treasurers Association, President of the National State Auditors, Comptrollers & Treasurers Association, and Chairman of the National College Savings Association; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett has located over $25 million in lost bank accounts and unclaimed property, and returned over $10 million to Mississippi's owners or their heirs; and
WHEREAS, because of Mr. Bennett's tireless devotion to the financial security of this state, Mississippi's credit rating has been upgraded to AA, the first upgrade since 1974, and has set up a statewide collateral pool to protect all public funds invested and deposited in banks under a more efficient centralized system; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett served as Assistant District Attorney, Director of the State Consumer Protection Division and Assistant Attorney General, Legislative Assistant to Governor William Winter, and State Commissioner of Workers Compensation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett is the son of a small town merchant from the Delta farming community of Tchula in Holmes County, Mississippi, obtained his bachelor of arts and juris doctor degrees from the University of Mississippi, and practiced law in Jackson; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett resides in Jackson, is the father of three children, and has been active as the President of the Mississippi Prevent Blindness Association, Administrative Board of Christ United Methodist Church, and the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Commission on International Cultural Exchange, which has brought Mississippi the acclaimed art exhibits of the Palaces of St. Petersburg, the Splendors of Versailles and the Majesty of Spain, seen by over 1.4 million visitors who visited Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi wishes to recognize and pay special tribute to a remarkable leader in state government by commending Marshall Bennett upon his retirement, and for his strong financial leadership and many years of exceptional service to our state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we commend Marshall Bennett upon his retirement, for his undying commitment to the financial stability of Mississippi and his many years of outstanding service to the state, and we extend to him all of our best wishes for success in all his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Marshall Bennett and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.