MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2006 1st Extraordinary Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Chaney, Gordon, White, King, Dearing, Carmichael, Davis, Wilemon, Clarke, Jackson (15th), Kirby, Pickering, Tollison, Burton, Lee (35th), Michel, Frazier, Thames, Thomas

Senate Concurrent Resolution 515

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION OF JOHN L. HARTMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, John L. Hartman, Executive Director Emeritus of the Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA), died Saturday, July 1, 2006, in Jackson, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, John was the first Executive Director of the MSBA and served as its leader for 33 years before retiring in 2004.  He was well-known in Mississippi and national education circles as an untiring supporter of public education, having served on countless national and local education advisory panels, commissions and boards; and

     WHEREAS, a native of Laurel, Mississippi, Hartman received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Mississippi State College in 1958 and Master of Arts from Mississippi State University in 1959; and

     WHEREAS, John L. Hartman began his career in education teaching senior English at Starkville High School.  He then continued his career in education as the Assistant Executive Secretary for the Mississippi Education Association.  In 1971, Hartman was recruited to establish the Mississippi School Boards Association serving as its first Executive Director, a position that he held until his retirement in 2004; and

     WHEREAS, a vocal force for public education for three decades, he worked tirelessly for education reforms for Mississippi and the nation, including the Mississippi Education Reform Act of 1982, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and the establishment of the Workers' Compensation Trust; and

     WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Vicki Thomas Hartman; sons, Michael L. Galyean, Jr., of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, and John L. Hartman, Jr., of Atlanta, Georgia; and two grandchildren, Matthew and Sarah Galyean, also of Saint Simons Island, Georgia; and

     WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this friend of public education in Mississippi, and for this and for a lifetime of selfless service, a grateful state thanks him:

     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 dedicated service to public education of John L. Hartman, Executive Director Emeritus of the Mississippi School Boards Association, and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of John L. Hartman and be forwarded to the Mississippi School Boards Association and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.