Senate Resolution 1

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. VIRGIL ABNER KING OF LEXINGTON, MISSISSIPPI, A NATIVE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS COUNTY, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, Virgil Abner King was born to Abner N. and Margaret (Maggie) Miller King in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, on November 8, 1904; and

WHEREAS, Virgil King attended Santee School from the 1st Grade through 8th Grade, then went to Forrest County Agricultural Boarding School and graduated about 1922; and

WHEREAS, he married Emma Holliday on January 28, 1928. From this union were two children, Virgil A. King, Jr., and Joyce King Bethany; nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Virgil operated and owned the Ben Franklin stores in Philadelphia and Lexington, Mississippi, until he retired in 1974 and he still lives in Lexington; and

WHEREAS, the King Family Tree was started by: Richard King from Pennsylvania when he was returning from the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, when he married and settled in the Bassfield area. Richard was born in 1795 and died in 1875; his son, John M. King, was born in 1836 and died in 1905; his son, Abner N. King, was born in 1868 and died in 1917; and

WHEREAS, this family icon has witnessed many historic events during his lifetime, including the invention of the automobile by Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers' first airplane flight and man's walk on the moon; and

WHEREAS, it is with pride that we recognize such outstanding Mississippians as Mr. King, whose longevity is filled with treasures of wisdom and history and attributable to healthy living, hard work, respect for his fellowman and strong religious convictions:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Virgil Abner King on the occasion of his 100th birthday and extend our heartfelt wishes for many more years of good health, peace, happiness and an overflowing abundance of love and joy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mr. King, his children, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.