Senate Resolution 37

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MARION TYSON PARKER FOR HIS 50 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, on September 6, 2004, Marion Tyson "M.T." Parker will celebrate 50 years of dedicated service to the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, M.T. Parker began his service on September 6, 1954, as Area Forester for Hancock County and now serves as the Chief Fire Investigator for the Mississippi Forestry Commission; and

WHEREAS, M.T. Parker is known for his commitment to forest fire prevention efforts; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, he received the "Clyde" Fire Prevention Award from the U.S. Forest Service in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in promoting forest fire prevention; and

WHEREAS, when he first became Forester for Hancock County, the county averaged 400-600 wildfires annually, and due to his tireless efforts, the number of wildfires had dropped dramatically to 100 annually at the time of his promotion to Assistant Southeast District Forester in 1961; and

WHEREAS, M.T. Parker played an instrumental part in writing the Tractor and Plow Safety (TAPS) Manual; and

WHEREAS, he has made thousands of presentations to fire department personnel, forest industries, civic organizations, schools and even made door-to-door calls in high-risk areas to stress the need for wildfire prevention; and

WHEREAS, the Office of the Attorney General has praised the professionalism and investigative efforts of M.T. Parker in wildfire prosecution cases; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Senate to commend the noteworthy service of the citizens of the state such as M.T. Parker, whose dedicated service and professionalism is the hallmark by which future foresters will be measured:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Marion Tyson Parker for his 50 years of dedicated and professional service to the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Marion Tyson Parker and the Mississippi Forestry Commission.