MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn, Butler, Walls, Frazier, Thomas, Simmons, Harden, Turner, Jackson (32nd), Jordan, Jackson (11th), Albritton, Burton, Chaney, Clarke, Dearing, Gollott, Gordon, Harvey, Hewes, Hyde-Smith, King, Lee (35th), Little, Morgan, Posey, Thames, White, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BRIGADIER GENERAL AUGUSTUS LEON COLLINS FOR HIS PROMOTION AS THE FIRST BLACK GENERAL IN THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD.
WHEREAS, Augustus Leon Collins has become the first black general in the Mississippi National Guard; and
WHEREAS, General Collins, a Booneville native and 28-year National Guard veteran, is currently Commander of the 155th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, the brigade, which is made up of 3,500 Mississippi National Guard soldiers and others from Vermont and Arkansas, trained at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and is deployed in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Major General Harold A. Cross, the Adjutant General of Mississippi, announced that Collins had been promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General; and
WHEREAS, Collins was selected by General Cross in August of 2004 to command the oldest unit in the Mississippi National Guard and the seventh oldest regimental unit in the nation; and
WHEREAS, "General Collins epitomizes the spirit of the Mississippi National Guard and has risen through the ranks continually training himself and soldiers for duty in combat," General Cross said. "He is the perfect example of what a leader should be, and he is doing an excellent job leading his troops in combat operations in Iraq"; and
WHEREAS, Collins, 47, has degrees from the University of Mississippi, Jackson State University and the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we note this significant event in the history of the Mississippi National Guard, and recognize this military professional who has brought honor to his unit, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Brigadier General Augustus Leon Collins for his promotion as the first black general in the Mississippi National Guard, and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Legislature on his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to General Collins, forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.