MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2006 1st Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gordon, Little, Gollott, Jordan, Chaney, Simmons, Horhn, Hyde-Smith, Frazier, Kirby, King, Browning, Moffatt, Thames, Robertson, Pickering, Michel, Mettetal, Doxey, Dearing, Posey, Morgan, Flowers, Thomas, Jackson (11th), Turner, Carmichael, Tollison, Nunnelee, Harden, Wilemon, White, Williamson, Hewes, Brown, Burton, Davis, Albritton, Butler, Dawkins, Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF SENATOR ROBERT G. "BUNKY" HUGGINS, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the Legislature and the State of Mississippi lost a wonderful friend, colleague, gentleman and enlightened lawmaker with the death of State Senator Robert G. "Bunky" Huggins on Wednesday, May 10, 2006; and
WHEREAS, Senator Huggins began his public service when he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1972. He was re-elected to the House of Representative twice and then elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1984, where he served with honor and distinction until his passing. An influential member of many committees throughout his legislative career, he was the current Chairman of the Senate Corrections Committee and the Chairman of the Legislative Performance, Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Committee. His previous chairmanships included the Senate Corrections, Appropriations and Public Health and Welfare Committees, and he was one of the most respected and beloved members of the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Senator Huggins leaves a legacy as a lawmaker who led the fight to decentralize the Mississippi prison system and break the state's "Parchman Farm" image as a backward state in corrections policy. He is remembered by Senate colleagues as a tough, fair and enlightened lawmaker who fought tooth-and-nail to get the Delta's fair share, but with a statewide perspective which made him a perfect fit for his district and for the Senate as a whole; and
WHEREAS, as a perennial Senate leader, Senator Huggins exerted a powerful influence not only over the state prison system for which he will be first remembered, but over sweeping public health and welfare improvements that were of great value to the impoverished Delta region he loved; and
WHEREAS, born in rural Carroll County in 1936, Senator Huggins lived most of his life in Greenwood, Mississippi. A graduate of Greenwood High School, he attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi College, and was a law student at the Jackson School of Law. He married the former Gerry Robinette in 1959. He was President of Metalcraft, Inc., in Greenwood, Mississippi, and raised cattle in Carroll County on the farm where he was born. His memberships included the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Cattlemen's Association and Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was an avid sportsman and was fond of his hunting dogs; and
WHEREAS, Bunky was a source of tireless energy, often taking on many difficult concerns and situations. He dismissed no issue in which he truly believed. His thoughts were always channeled toward what was best for our state; and
WHEREAS, Bunky spent his life in service to his neighbors. He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church where he served as chairman of several committees; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Gerry, and daughter, Deleslyn Robertson, and her children, Derrick and Rachel Robertson, all of Greenwood, Mississippi; daughter, Stephanie Billingsley, and her husband, Bill and her children, Avery and Michael Tucker, all of Madison, Mississippi; sisters, Elizabeth Mitchell of Greenwood, Mississippi, and Patricia Tolar of Kenner, Louisiana; nieces, Gwyn Helton of Kenner, Louisiana, and Elizabeth Ann Rice and Bonnie Kay McCool, both of Greenwood, Mississippi; nephew, Bobby French of Spring, Texas, and numerous cousins, friends and relatives; and
WHEREAS, "Bunky Huggins' long service is marked by his commitment to success and recognized leadership," Governor Barbour said. "He excelled in a variety of major responsibilities and served the Senate, his constituents and the state exceptionally well"; and
WHEREAS, Senator Huggins' public service was exemplified by sound judgment and fairness, and he set the highest standard in all of his many roles, as a father, husband, grandfather, businessman, citizen statesman and leader in the Mississippi Delta and in the Mississippi Senate and as a true friend:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of public service of Senator Robert G. "Bunky" Huggins of Greenwood, Mississippi, and express to his family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing and our thanks for sharing Bunky with us and with the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Senator Bunky Huggins and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.