House Resolution 48

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND WORKS OF V. BIRNEY IMES, JR., AND EXPRESSING THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, V. Birney Imes, Jr., the father of six children, V. Birney III, Tanner, Stephen, Gene, Frank and G. Sidney, was born on March 15, 1914, in Columbus, Mississippi, and departed this life on March 12, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Imes graduated third in his high school class at Gulf Coast Military Academy, and thereafter attended, for two years each, the University of Alabama and the University of Mississippi where he studied in the School of Business; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Imes faithfully served in the United States Army and Army Air Corps for five years in many different areas, including field artillery, instructor, Commander of the Student Squadron at Key Field, air, sea, and land rescue, until he was discharged as a Major in 1945; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Imes, a stellar businessman throughout his life, was successful in many business ventures over the years, including becoming an owner and publisher of the Commercial Dispatch in 1947; serving as a member of the Board of Directors of First Columbus National Bank beginning in 1949 and becoming the chairman of that board in 1979; beginning the operation of WCBI-TV, Channel 4 CBS, in 1955; and purchasing three television stations, WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1978, WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1982, and KDBC-TV in El Paso, Texas, in 1988; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his corporate pursuits, Mr. Imes remained active in his community throughout his life, by serving as a board member of a number of organizations, including the YMCA, the Salvation Army, the Owen Foundation, French Camp Academy, and the Columbus and Greenville Railway, and maintaining membership in a number of organizations, including the State Committee for Improvement of Higher Education, the Radio/TV Committee for the First Baptist Church, and the Boy Scout Executive Council; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to men of great character and business savvy, such as V. Birney Imes, Jr.:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we commend the life and works of V. Birney Imes, Jr., and express our deepest sympathy upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of V. Birney Imes, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.