Senate Resolution 98

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF LONGTIME CORINTH CITY CLERK JAMES R. (JIM) BILLINGSLEY UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, James R. (Jim) Billingsley has been City Clerk of Corinth, Mississippi, since 1983, and when anyone had a question about municipal government in Corinth or in any Mississippi municipality, Jim Billingsley was the man to ask; and

WHEREAS, prior to beginning his career at Corinth City Hall in 1983, Billingsley worked with several other government agencies where he gained important experience in local, state and federal programs; and

WHEREAS, a native of Corinth, Mississippi, Jim Billingsley attended Corinth High School in 1957; enlisted in the Army, became an officer for the 6th Quartermaster ECP281 and served two years in Germany, receiving the Army Commendation Medal. While in Germany he met his wife, the former Christine Hofmann; they were married in 1963 and have two children, Mike and Melinda; and

WHEREAS, when he returned to Corinth, Jim joined the Corinth National Guard and served as Commander of the local unit, which was recognized as the most outstanding training unit in the state for several years. He reached the rank of Major in the Army Reserve before leaving military service and for his long dedicated military service Jim was recently named Veteran of the Month by Brigade Headquarters; and

WHEREAS, Jim received a BA Degree from Mississippi State University in 1962, and after a stint in the Advertising Department at the Daily Corinthian newspaper, he went to work for the Corinth Urban Renewal Agency. He later became the first Executive Director of the Tennessee Valley Housing Authority. He went into private business for about three years, building and managing apartments until 1983 when he was hired as City Clerk; and

WHEREAS, Billingsley served under four mayors, including the late John D. Mercier and E.S. Bishop. He also worked under Jack Holt and current Mayor Jerry Latch, who said, "In the eight years I worked with him, I learned that he was one of the most knowledgeable men in municipal government in the State of Mississippi"; and

WHEREAS, Billingsley served on the Mississippi Municipal Association, Board of Directors for eight years and served eight years as Parliamentarian for the Mississippi Municipal Clerks Association; other Mississippi municipal governments called him quite frequently for advice on municipal affairs; and

WHEREAS, Jim Billingsley said that every day was a new challenge, but his best memory was how the City of Corinth responded to the 1994 ice storm, with all city employees working together; and

WHEREAS, Jim Billingsley served with distinction and the City of Corinth and the State of Mississippi will miss his experience and leadership, and wish to express sincere appreciation to him for his record of dedicated public service:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the legacy of public service of longtime Corinth City Clerk James R. (Jim) Billingsley upon the occasion of his retirement after 20 years of service, for all that he has meant to the City of Corinth and his contributions to Mississippi municipal government, and extend to him the best wishes of the Senate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Jim Billingsley and his family and be made available to the Tupelo Daily Journal and the Capitol Press Corps.