Senate Resolution 34

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING HONORABLE CONSTANCE IONA SLAUGHTER-HARVEY FOR HER SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WHEREAS, on February 17, 2005, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning honored Constance Slaughter-Harvey for her special community service, in honor of Black History Month; and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey graduated from Hawkins High School in Forest, Mississippi, as Valedictorian of her 1963 class. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Economics, graduating Cum Laude from Tougaloo College in May 1967, and was elected as President of the Student Government Association, becoming the first female to serve in that capacity. She was the first African-American female to receive a law degree from The University of Mississippi (January 27, 1970); and

WHEREAS, upon graduation, she joined the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law as a Staff Attorney and worked there until 1972 when she returned to Forest, Mississippi, and established her private law practice. She was Executive Director of Southern Legal Rights and later became Director of East Mississippi Legal Services in 1979; and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey is presently engaged in the practice of law and serves as President of Elections, Inc. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Tougaloo College; and

WHEREAS, in November 1999, she was honored with the establishment of the Constance Slaughter-Harvey Endowed Chair in Political Science/Pre-Law at Tougaloo College by banker and lifelong friend, Thomas Colbert, and wife, Ann; and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey was honored having the Black Law Student Association named in her honor at The University of Mississippi in 1998. She was one of eight founders of the National Black Law Student Association in 1969 at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She is past President of the Magnolia Bar Association and recipient of the prestigious R.J. Brown Award; and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey has received numerous awards and honors, some of which include: recipient of Susie Blue Buchanan Award, 2004; recipient of Mississippi Majesty Award, 2003; honored as National Builder by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, December 2002; elected Tougaloo College 2003 Alumnae of the Year; elected to serve as Bar Commissioner for the Mississippi State Bar Association representing the Eighth Circuit Court District, 2002-2005; received The University of Mississippi Law School Public Service Award, December 2001; selected as the Mississippi Woman Lawyer of the Year, May 2001; selected as Mississippi Federated Women's District Woman of the Year, November 2000; inducted into the Tougaloo College National Alumni Association Hall of Fame for Government and Law, October 2000; received the "Power of One" Award - Mississippi Women 2000 "Power of One" Conference, April 2000; selected as one of nine new inductees to the Mississippi Bar Foundation - distinguished honor of being Mississippi Bar Foundation Fellow, 2000; Mississippi Bar Fellow 1999 and Vice Chair of Mississippi Supreme Court Gender Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey's affiliations and memberships are numerous, and her governmental achievements include: founder and elected President of the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) in 1991; the first African-American and first female member of the Motor Voter National Advisory Board, (1995); Coordinator of the Mississippi State Democratic Party Coordinating Committee (1995); Campaign Manager for more than 50 local campaigns, including campaigns resulting in the first African-American female officeholders in the City of Forest and Scott County; appointed by President Jimmy Carter (1978) as a Presidential Scholars Commissioner; appointed Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Human Development under the Administration of William Winter (1980-1984); and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey is an author and local and national speaker, weekly reporter (column for The Scott County Times); and

WHEREAS, Constance Slaughter-Harvey is to be commended and accorded the highest accolades for the distinction and honor she has brought to our state and the nation in furthering the cause of justice and equality for all citizens:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we take great pride in recognizing Honorable Constance Iona Slaughter-Harvey for her untiring efforts and commitment to preserve the heritage of African-Americans and for her community service to all citizens of the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Constance Iona Slaughter-Harvey in recognition of her lifelong work, be forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.