Senate Concurrent Resolution 615

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THOMAS EUGENE KYNERD, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET OFFICE, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND TO THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE AND FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Thomas Eugene Kynerd, the Deputy Director of the Legislative Budget Office, has retired from Mississippi state government after 28 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd was born on May 16, 1939, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and is the son of Louise and the late Curtis Kynerd of Raymond, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd graduated from Hinds High School in Raymond, Mississippi, in 1957 and furthered his education at Hinds Junior College from 1957 to 1959; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd served in the United States Army Security Agency from 1960 to 1963, at which time he was honorably discharged as a Specialist 4th Class; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Mississippi College in 1966, a Master's Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1968, and a Ph.D Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1973; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd worked as an Outside Plant Engineer for the Southern Bell Telephone Company from 1966 to 1967 and subsequently worked as a Graduate Assistant for the University of Southern Mississippi from 1968 to 1972; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd worked as Manager of the Public Administration Branch of the Mississippi Research and Development Center from 1972 to 1979 and during such time served as Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Reorganization Study Committee during 1977 and as Special Assistant and Staff Coordinator with the Governor's office during 1978 and 1979; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd worked as Director of Administrative Services of the Department of Natural Resources from 1979 to 1984; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd began his employment with the Legislative Budget Office as a Revenue Officer in 1984 and was promoted to Deputy Director of the Legislative Budget Office in 1996, and worked a total of 17 years for the Legislative Budget Office before his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd assisted in the preparation of 17 annual state budget recommendations for the Joint Legislative Budget Committee; and

WHEREAS, during his career with the Legislature, Thomas Kynerd observed the State General Fund budget recommendation increase from $1.3 Billion for fiscal year 1984 to $3.5 Billion for fiscal year 2001; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd was instrumental in the development of important measures to strengthen the state budget process, including the Budget Reform Act of 1992, which limited appropriations to 98% of available funds and which created the General fund Stabilization Reserve; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd was married to his wife, Nancy Alford, of Covington, Louisiana, on September 5, 1964, and they are the proud parents of three children: Carol Ann Kynerd Van Hoff of Clinton, Mississippi; Kathie Genelle Knoll of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Clayton Thomas Kynerd of Salt Lake City, Utah; and three grandchildren, Jacob Karl Van Hoff, Allison Claire Van Hoff and William Tyler Van Hoff; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd served on the Mississippi Economic Council Committee on State and Local Government from 1973 to 1979, served as President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration in 1978 and as Secretary/Treasurer from 1982 to 1984, served on the Board of Editors of the Southern Review of Public Administration from 1977 to 1981, and served as a discussant at the Taft Institute Seminars sponsored by Mississippi State University from 1980 to 1984; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd is a member of the Clinton Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Kynerd has been exemplary in his personal and professional life and has been an exceptionally qualified and dedicated public servant who has devoted 28 years of his life in service to the Legislature and the State of Mississippi and has provided sound advice and counsel to legislators, state agencies and institutions throughout this period:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Thomas E. Kynerd for his outstanding service to the State of Mississippi and wish him success in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Thomas E. Kynerd and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.