Senate Resolution 9

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING BROTHER PAUL L. GRIFFIN, JR., 32ND INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, FOR HIS CIVIC AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND WELCOMING HIM TO MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is one of nine predominately African-American Greek-lettered organizations in the United States. It was founded in 1914 at Howard University as a Greek Fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship and service. Phi Beta Sigma is an organization designed to deliver services to the general community; and

WHEREAS, Brother Paul L. Griffin, Jr., is the 32nd International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and will be the honored guest at Founders Day Ceremonies at Jackson State University; and

WHEREAS, Brother Paul Griffin, Jr., a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, lives in Desoto, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, with his wife Belinda and younger daughter Shannon. His older daughter Ashley is in her sophomore year at his Alma Mater, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, where he obtained his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in 1979 and 1983, respectively, and became a member of Phi Beta Sigma through Beta Delta Chapter in 1975; and

WHEREAS, professionally, Paul serves as Vice President, Director of Urban Initiatives for the School Division of Houghton Mifflin Company, an international publisher of textbooks, assessments, instructional technology and other educational materials pre-kindergarten through college based in Boston, Massachusetts. Paul has been employed with the company for ten years and has national responsibility to help develop and implement successful strategies to market and sell the company's products to large urban school districts located in major cities across the country; and

WHEREAS, in the fraternity, Paul is a Gold Life Member of Phi Beta Sigma and a Platinum Life Member of the Gulf Coast Region and has served the fraternity in office at the local, regional and national levels. Locally, he is a member of Iota Mu Sigma Chapter, based in Arlington, Texas. He has served as President of Omicron Sigma Chapter in Dallas, Texas. On the regional level, he has served as an elected officer for 12 consecutive years, and is the 8th Gulf Coast Regional Director. Nationally, he served as an appointed officer at the pleasure of three International Presidents. Paul's first internationally elected position was the office of International President which isan historic event; and

WHEREAS, Paul has been generous with his time outside of the fraternity as well. He has served on the board of directors of community service organizations such as the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Houston, Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Acres Home Community Development Corporation, S.H.A.P.E. Community Center and the Advisory Board of the Riverside Health Center. He is a member of the Bethesda Lodge #168, Prince Hall affiliate. Brother Griffin is an honored professional in the Nationwide Register's Who's Who in Executives and Businesses (2001-2002) and has been listed as a member in Who's Who in Executives and Professionals (2006-2007); and

WHEREAS, Brother Paul Griffin represents Phi Beta Sigma's Culture for Service and Service for Humanity, and has been an inspiration in fundraising efforts and drives conducted to gather clothing and supplies to donate to victims of Hurricane Katrina for our neighbors on the Mississippi Gulf Coast:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Brother Paul L. Griffin, Jr., 32nd International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, for his civic and charitable contributions on behalf of the fraternity, and we welcome him to Mississippi on the occasion of Founders Day activities on January 28, 2006.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Paul Griffin and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.