House Resolution 8

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. BOOKER T. GATLIN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, Mr. Booker T. Gatlin was born January 4, 1904, in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, to the Reverend Dennis Gatlin and Rosey Baker Gatlin; and

WHEREAS, he married the late Arlila "Macy" Daughtrel in June 1928; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gatlin and Macy had two children, Rosemary Gatlin Reed and the late L.C. Gatlin; and

WHEREAS, early in life, Mr. Gatlin learned the value of hard work and an honest living by working on his father's farm, and attended college at Prentiss Institute; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gatlin worked various jobs in and around the Jackson, Mississippi, area for most of his early adulthood before working in an ammunition plant, which supplied ammunition boxes to the United States Armed Forces during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gatlin's strong work ethic and commitment so impressed his supervisors that the owner of the company offered him a job as chauffer and caretaker of his home and property on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi; and

WHEREAS, while continuing in the capacity as chauffer and property caretaker until his retirement, Mr. Gatlin parlayed his experience into owning a lawn care business, managing the lawns of numerous civic leaders and worked until the age of 96; and

WHEREAS, now residing in the Vancleave community with his daughter, Rosemary, Mr. Gatlin remains active with his favorite pastime, watching major league sports, attending local community senior citizen activities several times a week, and serving as honorary trustee of First Missionary Baptist Church, where he is the oldest member; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend such outstanding individuals as Mr. Booker T. Gatlin, who is known to be held in the highest regards by those who know him, on such a grand occasion as his 100th birthday:

NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Booker T. Gatlin on the occasion and celebration of his 100th birthday and extend to him our heartiest wishes for many more years of good health, peace, happiness and love.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Booker T. Gatlin and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.