MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Dearing, Blackmon, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Canon, Carlton, Carmichael, Chamberlin, Chaney, Cuevas, Dawkins, 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, Simmons, Smith, Stogner, Thames, Tollison, Turner, Walden, Walls, White, Williamson
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING STATE SENATOR VINCE SCOPER FOR HIS OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE RECORD AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, Vincent (Vince) Scoper, a petroleum geologist and Republican from Laurel, Mississippi, is completing 28 years of outstanding, dedicated service as a member of the Legislature, presently representing Jones County in Senate District 42; and
WHEREAS, Senator Scoper served in the House of Representatives from 1972-1980, in the Senate from 1980-1984 and was elected again to serve in the Senate from 1988 to the present; and
WHEREAS, in Vince Scoper, the residents of Jones County have lost an honest, dependable State Senator, and the residents of Mississippi have lost 28 years of legislative experience and unquestioned integrity; and
WHEREAS, Senator Scoper is in his third term as Chairman of the Senate Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Committee, and has served with distinction on virtually every Senate committee, including Appropriations, Finance, Business and Financial Institutions, Constitution, Economic Development, Tourism and Parks, Forestry, Highways and Transportation, Municipalities, Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Resources, Labor, Public Property and Public Utilities, this committee experience representing substantial legislative influence over many years; and
WHEREAS, as a practicing petroleum geologist and President of Mississippi Gauge and Supply Company, he brought great expertise to the Legislature regarding the regulation and unitization of oil and gas exploration and the transfer of mineral rights; and author of the book, Come Drill a Well in My Backyard, widely hailed in the petroleum industry as the best explanation in layman's terms of the arcane world of petroleum exploration and production; and
WHEREAS, born May 15, 1933, in Pass Christian, Mississippi, Vince attended Pass Christian High School, Perkinston Community College and Mississippi State University; he is an accomplished author; he is the backbone of church, civic and economic development efforts across his district; he is an active Baptist and member of the Rotary Club, Jones County Economic Development Authority, United Way, Jones County Baptist Association, American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and he is dedicated to his wife, the former Dell Dickens, and children, Stephen, Nancy, Cynthia and David; and
WHEREAS, Senator Scoper has indicated that he will retire at the expiration of his present term, and the members of this Senate wish to express sincere appreciation to him for his many outstanding accomplishments and 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, Vince Scoper, for all that he has meant to the Mississippi Legislature and for his legacy of public service to the people of Jones County and the people of the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Senator Scoper and his family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.