MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Browning, Burton, Canon, Chamberlin, Chaney, Dawkins, Dearing, Farris, Frazier, Furniss, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Horhn, Hyde-Smith, Jackson, Johnson (19th), King, Kirby, Mettetal, Michel, Nunnelee, Posey, Ross, Scoper, Smith, Thames, Tollison, Walden, White, Williamson
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JANICE AMMANN ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER 16 YEARS AS A VALUABLE SESSION EMPLOYEE FOR THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE AND FOR HER PUBLIC SERVICE.
WHEREAS, when the Mississippi Senate convened in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 7, 2003, Mrs. Janice Ammann also returned to Jackson for her 16th Session, providing indispensable public service in the Office of the Secretary where she handles correspondence and proofreading responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, although Mrs. Ammann originally retired from working for the state in 1986, she has been working as a session-only employee since 1988, and has recently announced her well-deserved retirement from the Senate; and
WHEREAS, Janice lives in Biloxi near her sister, Patti, but rents an apartment in Jackson each year during the session, driving home on weekends to stay with her daughter and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Janice has a history with state government. In 1969, a widow with two sons in college and a daughter in high school, she went to work for the Law Firm of Watkins, Pyle, Ludlam, Winter and Stennis and was assigned to Attorney William Winter. She was introduced to politics when he ran and won the Lieutenant Governor's race, and he invited her to come along with him when he moved to the Capitol. As Lieutenant Governor, he served as President of the Senate, and thus her history with the Senate began; and
WHEREAS, after three years, she decided to go to Washington D.C., to work for Senator John Stennis as a caseworker. But only six months later, Winter called and asked her to come back to Jackson to manage his campaign office in another bid for Governor. She did, he won, and they moved into the Governor's Office. In her words, "the beautiful Governor's Mansion." She screened all his calls, maintained his schedule and appointments, attended staff meetings and generally assisted the Governor in whatever way she was needed. She loved the job and the hustle and bustle in the position; and
WHEREAS, Janice met many celebrities while working for Governor Winter. She has a photo taken with John Glenn and his wife, Annie; one with Nancy Reagan; and another taken with Senator John Stennis. She is proud of the work that was done by Governor Winter while in office; and
WHEREAS, Janice was born in Dayton, Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, 20 minutes before her twin sister, Patti. She married Allen Ammann of Dayton, Kentucky, on March 14, 1942, during World War II. Allen was assigned to Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado, and they were married while he was home on a five-day pass. Allen became Art Director for the Godwin Agency in Jackson, Mississippi, and remained in that position until his death on January 19, 1967, at the age of 47. She had one son at Ole Miss, one at Mississippi State University and a daughter who was a junior in high school. She took a short secretarial course, went to work and the rest is history; and
WHEREAS, Janice's children have done well and are very close to her. Her oldest son, Alan Ammann, holds a Doctorate in Economics from Mississippi State University and is Professor of Economics at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her son, Steven Ammann, is President of People's Bank in Mendenhall, Mississippi; he and his wife, Deborah, live in Mendenhall and have three children and one grandchild. Her daughter, Maureen Ammann Hamel, is Benefits Specialist at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport; she and husband, Ray, have two children; and
WHEREAS, her vocabulary and knowledge amaze all of us in the Senate and her appreciation of learning is very apparent in her children's education; and
WHEREAS, former Governor William Winter characterized Janice with these words: "She did so much to make my professional and legal career as productive as it was. I could entrust any responsibility to her with the assurance that it would be carried out with the utmost confidence and professionalism. I never had a more trusted or loyal associate":
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Janice Ammann on the occasion of her retirement after 16 years as a valuable session employee of the Mississippi Senate, and thank her for her public service to the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Janice and her family at the former Senators' reunion proceedings on February 20, 2003, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.