Senate Concurrent Resolution 519

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OF BRIAN WILLIAMS OF LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI, WELL-KNOWN BANKER FOR THE NASHVILLE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

WHEREAS, Brian Williams, who built SunTrust Bank's Music Industry Division into a national powerhouse, died on Saturday, July 8, 2006; and

WHEREAS, in 1988, Williams started the bank's music industry division and in 1990, it moved to Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first full service branch on the Row.

Under his watch, the operation expanded beyond lending, deposit and investment services to Nashville's Music Industry to offices in Atlanta and Miami targeting the hip-hop and Latin music genres. More recently, the operation was renamed the sports and entertainment division, reflecting ties with NASCAR and a new effort to serve professional athletes; and

WHEREAS, in SunTrust's Music Row Office are gold and platinum records presented to the bank and Williams by a roster of clients that have included artists such as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, and Reba McEntire; and

WHEREAS, Brian Williams had a reputation for understanding the artists, producers, songwriters and the language of the music business, all of which tends to confound the rest of Nashville's business community. His interest in the music business didn't start with his career in banking. Williams, a native of Laurel, Mississippi, was a 1983 graduate of the University of Mississippi. While in college, he teamed up in a band with Ole Miss football player Bryan Kennedy, who went on to become a successful Nashville songwriter; and

WHEREAS, for songwriters, Williams meant help in lean times before they started collecting royalties. A songwriter may have a cut recorded for an album, but royalties don't roll in for more than a year. Meanwhile, the writer had to live and eat, a particular challenge for those landing their first cuts; and

WHEREAS, thanks to Brian Williams, whose official title was Senior Vice President, Group Manager of SunTrust Bank's Sport and Entertainment Marketing-Sun Trust (formerly Third National) is the official bank of NASCAR and has motor sports offices in Dayton Beach, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, and an office specializing in pro athletes in Orlando, Florida. He was a rising superstar in that world, and was known as "Banker of the Stars"; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his considerable business talents, Brian Williams was a dedicated member of his community and his civic and charitable contributions are a matter of record; and

WHEREAS, Williams and his wife, Marion, a former longtime publicist for RCA Records, have two children; and

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this Mississippian who was an integral part of his community:

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 community service of Brian Williams of Laurel, Mississippi, respected Banker for the Nashville Music Industry, and extend to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the surviving family of Brian Williams and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.