Senate Concurrent Resolution 505

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BUDDY SHEFFIELD AS HONOREE OF THE "BILOXIAN MADE GOOD" AWARD PRESENTED BY THE BILOXI BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WHEREAS, the Biloxi Bay Chamber is sponsoring the "Biloxian Made Good" Award, which will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2005, at the Biloxi Community Center. The honoree for the year is well-known screenwriter Buddy Sheffield; and

WHEREAS, Buddy Sheffield was always interested in the theatre. While attending Biloxi High School (BHS), he and his brother David, and a small band of others, started the Thespian Club. In addition to the plays produced by the club, Buddy was also in a major musical, Camelot, at BHS in 1967. His senior year, Buddy was named "Wittiest Boy" and was Assistant Editor of the HI TIDE. Sheffield was awarded a scholarship to the summer theatre program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and started college only three days after graduating from Biloxi High School; and

WHEREAS, at USM, Buddy was very active in technical theatre as well as acting and was awarded the Louis Gertler Award for proficiency in technical theatre two years in a row. While still a student, Buddy and his then wife Rita, began a children's theater company. The company, which was to become known as SET (Sheffield Ensemble Theatre) began touring local schools for 25 cents per student and grew to become the most popular theatre for youth in America, touring the nation for 36 weeks each year and playing at such venues as The Kennedy Center and The Detroit Institute of the Arts. The company was based in Biloxi and proudly carried the name of its home city everywhere it went; and

WHEREAS, SET also produced plays and musicals in its home theatre on Lameuse Street as well as at the Saenger Theatre on Reynoir. Buddy was on the Board of Directors for the Saenger Theatre for six years and was instrumental in the theater's restoration. In the summer of 1978, SET produced a season of plays, including the musical The Robber Bridegroom and Biloxi, an historical play written by David Sheffield; and

WHEREAS, the children's theatre continued to tour and won the Sara Spenser Child Drama Cup, awarded by The Southeastern Theatre Conference and the very prestigious Jennie Heiden Award, given by The American Theatre Association. Buddy wrote several original musicals such as Bananas, Beans, Feats and Videosyncrasies which became hits with kids all over America; and after a while, the company played almost exclusively to repeat customers. In the Summer of 1984, SET was a primary entertainment contractor for The Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, Buddy moved to the West Coast to try his luck, was hired by the first television show he applied to, and began an uninterrupted career as a screenwriter which has continued for twenty years. Most notably, Buddy was Head Writer for In Living Color on the Fox network, and Buddy was also a writer on Dolly, a variety show on ABC starring Dolly Parton; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, Buddy created and produced a show called Roundhouse for Nickelodeon. It was a ground-breaking show and is considered by some to be the most creative show ever to appear on television. Buddy was Head Writer and Executive Producer for 56 episodes. In his career, Buddy received three Emmy nominations, four Cable ACE nominations, one Cable ACE Award, one Ollie Award given by the American Center for Children's Television and one NAACP Image Award; and

WHEREAS, Buddy is very happy to be once again working with his brother, David. The brothers have teamed up and are currently writing a pilot for HBO entitled Ruthless Debutantes, which takes place in New Orleans' French Quarter. Buddy's heart has always been in the live theatre and, after many years, he is making a return to the stage, where he has written the book, music and lyrics to a new Broadway musical, Idaho; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the unique accomplishments of this famous Mississippian, whose talent has brought honor to 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 respected screenwriter Buddy Sheffield as the honoree of the "Biloxian Made Good" Award presented by the Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce, and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Legislature for success in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Buddy Sheffield at ceremonies on August 25, 2005, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.