Senate Resolution 6

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF RETIRED U.S. ARMY MAJOR GENERAL GENE PERRY HALE OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE SENATE.

WHEREAS, retired U.S. Army Major General Gene Perry Hale died Saturday, May 15, 2004, in Vicksburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, General Hale was a Vicksburg native and a 1956 graduate of St. Aloysius High School. He received his Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1959. After completing the Engineer Officers' Basic Course in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, he returned to the MSARNG and served as platoon leader, construction engineer and Company Commander for Company B of the 114th Engineer Battalion, and as Company Commander for the 157th Engineer Company, 273rd Engineer Battalion. His later assignments included Motor Officer, 273rd Engineer Battalion, and Assistant Engineer Officer, Engineer Officer and Assistant S3 of the 168th Engineer Group; and

WHEREAS, in U.S. Army Reserve status he served as Military Intelligence Officer, 475th Military Intelligence Detachment, and as Construction Engineer, Military Intelligence Staff Officer, Topographic Staff Officer, Assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the 412th Engineer Command. He was appointed Commander of the 412th Engineer Command in May 1991 and promoted to Major General in November 1991; and

WHEREAS, General Hale worked at the U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg as Supervisory Civil Engineer-Chief of the Soils Research Center in the Soil and Rock Mechanics Division of the Geotechnical Laboratory. He retired in 1994 after nearly 35 years and received the Distinguished Service Medal, one of the highest medals awarded during peacetime; and

WHEREAS, General Hale was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church and the Port City Kiwanis Club; and

WHEREAS, he was always a competent and dedicated worker who had high integrity and was a leader in all endeavors he attempted; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Ann W. Hale of Vicksburg; two daughters, Melanie Ann Phillips and Tracie Hale Smith, both of Vicksburg; his mother, Nellie Hale of Vicksburg; one grandson, Austin Hale Phillips of Vicksburg; one sister, Judy McCollum of Vicksburg; and one brother, Darryl Hale of Vicksburg; and

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this veteran who had the rank of General but was a friend to everyone in his community:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life of retired U.S. Army Major General Gene Perry Hale of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Senate on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of General Hale and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.