MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Blackmon, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Carlton, Carmichael, Chamberlin, Chaney, Cuevas, Dawkins, Dearing, Dickerson, Farris, Frazier, Furniss, Gollott, Gordon, Hamilton, Harden, Harvey, Hewes, Horhn, Huggins, Hyde-Smith, Jackson, Johnson (19th), Johnson (38th), Jordan, King, Kirby, Lee, Mettetal, Michel, Minor, Moffatt, Nunnelee, Posey, Robertson, Ross, Scoper, Simmons, Smith, Stogner, Thames, Tollison, Turner, Walden, Walls, White, Williamson
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF DISTRICT 17 STATE SENATOR WILLIAM W. (BILL) CANON, THE "DEAN OF THE SENATE."
WHEREAS, State Senator William Ward (Bill) Canon, a Republican from Columbus, Mississippi, has indicated that he will retire at the expiration of his present term; and
WHEREAS, a Veterinarian, Bill Canon is completing his 28th year in the Legislature representing Lowndes County and is the "Dean of the Senate," having served in the House of Representatives from 1976-1979 and serving in the Senate from 1979 to the present; and
WHEREAS, in Bill Canon, the residents of District 17 are losing an honest, dependable State Senator, and the residents of Mississippi are losing 28 years of legislative leadership, experience and unquestioned integrity; and
WHEREAS, Senator Canon was appointed to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (PEER Committee) in December 1990, has served as Chairman, Vice Chairman or Secretary of this legislative investigative group for 10 of the 12 years he has served, is the only legislator elected as Chairman of the PEER Committee four times in the 30-year history of the committee, and as Chairman, Senator Canon guided the PEER Committee through deliberations on wide-ranging subjects. Through it all, Senator Canon has never missed an opportunity to enliven the most serious debate with his boundless wit and charm.
WHEREAS, Senator Canon is former Chairman of the Senate Public Utilities Committee, the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee and the Senate County Affairs Committee, and in his many years in the Senate has served with distinction on practically every Senate Committee, this committee experience representing substantial legislative influence; and
WHEREAS, he was particularly knowledgeable of health licensure issues, utilizing his professional background, and was responsible for handling numerous licensure bills in the Senate Public Health Committee, especially legislation dealing with the State Board of Cosmetology due to the fact that the board members held Senator Canon in such high esteem; and
WHEREAS, he was a champion of open government, consistently expressing the belief that fees on the public for governmental services were no different than taxes and should be considered as such; and
WHEREAS, Senator Canon was born on December 31, 1930, in Vaiden, Mississippi, attended Vaiden High School, Mississippi State University and Auburn University, is a successful practicing veterinarian; he is a Lieutenant Colonel, Retd., in the United States Air Force Reserve; he is a backbone of church, civic and economic development efforts across his district; is a Methodist, Mason, Shriner, Odd Fellow, ATO, is active in the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Mississippi State University Alumni Assn, Kiwanis, the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, the Air Force Association; and he is dedicated to his daughter, Majorie, who lives in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Senator Canon has been praised in the Senate for his method of explaining bills on the floor, which consisted of precise, clear and complete presentations of every detail, leaving no question unanswered; and
WHEREAS, Senator Canon served with distinction and the members of the Senate will miss his humor, experience, constructive leadership and friendship, and wish to express sincere appreciation to Senator Canon 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 our friend and colleague Senator William Ward (Bill) Canon of Columbus, Mississippi, the "Dean of the Senate," for all that he has meant to the Mississippi Senate and his contributions to the people of the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Senator Canon and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.