Senate Resolution 76

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE CAREER, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP OF THE REVEREND WILLIAM V. MARTIN, RECTOR AND HEADMASTER OF ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL SCHOOL IN VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the mission of All Saints' Episcopal School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, has been rejuvenated under the direction of The Reverend William V. Martin, who serves as Rector and Headmaster of the coeducational boarding and day institution for secondary school students; and

WHEREAS, All Saints' Episcopal School is a small, independent, coeducational college preparatory school for boarding students in Grades 8 through 12, and day students in Grades 7 through 12. All Saints' welcomes young people from a wide ethnic, racial, religious, economic, social and geographic spectrum. The school was first envisioned by The Right Reverend William Mercer Green, the first Episcopal Bishop of Mississippi, who in 1860 determined the need for a Diocesan school for girls. Although the War Between the States interrupted Bishop Green's dream, in 1908 Bishop Theodore Dubose Bratton, Mississippi's third Episcopal Bishop, established All Saints' Episcopal College as an all-girls' college, and in 1971, All Saints' became a coeducational boarding and day institution for secondary school students; and

WHEREAS, times have changed, but All Saints' dedication to nurturing the intellectual, physical, spiritual and social growth of its students in a lovingly structured environment continues nearly a century after Bishop Bratton welcomed the first class. Located in the historic City of Vicksburg, Mississippi, All Saints' is situated on 40 acres of landscaped hills. Campus buildings curve in an arc around a dell in which the olympic-size swimming pool and recreation center are located. All Saints' is owned by the Episcopal Dioceses of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Western Louisiana. Representatives from those Dioceses, including their Bishops, along with All Saints' Rector and Headmaster, comprise the twenty-member Board of Trustees; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Martin came to lead All Saints' after a very active and impressive career in the business sector and in public service; and

WHEREAS, he was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1944; he graduated from Princeton University in 1966, received his MBA Degree from Southern Methodist University and his Master of Divinity Degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary; he became a stockbroker with E.F. Hutton; was employed by the Energy Company in Dallas, Texas, and the Williams Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fayetteville, Arkansas; became Chief Financial Officer of Arkansas Western Gas Company and became President of a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company; he was elected to the City Board of Aldermen of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and was elected Mayor of Fayetteville while he was President of Arkansas Western Gas; and

WHEREAS, after this energetic business career and leadership in community service, Reverend Martin decided to attend the Seaburg-Western Seminary in 1993; he became an ordained Priest in 1996, served the Cathedral in Little Rock, Arkansas, served as Vicar of St. Margaret Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was called to become Rector and Headmaster of All Saints' Episcopal School in Vicksburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Martin is married to the former Carole Wilson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, it is providential that this caring individual with an energetic background has been sent to be the administrative and spiritual leader of All Saints' at a most important and critical period in the development of this institution; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the mission of the New All Saints' Episcopal School and its leaders, who bring honor to their community, their faith and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the career, community service and leadership of The Reverend William V. Martin, Rector and Headmaster of All Saints' Episcopal School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, welcome him and his family to Mississippi, and extend to him and the students of All Saints' the best wishes of the Senate for the future success of his ministry and his school.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Reverend William Martin, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of All Saints' Episcopal School and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.