House Concurrent Resolution 3

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE SELFLESS SERVICE AND DEDICATED CAREER OF MILLARD D. MACKEY TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AS CHIEF DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2006, Millard D. Mackey, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal for the State of Mississippi, and a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, ended nearly four decades of public service with the State of Mississippi, which began in 1967; and

WHEREAS, having been with the State Fire Marshal's Office for the past 29 years, Chief Mackey has served as State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal, Assistant Chief Deputy and as a District Deputy Fire Marshal; and

WHEREAS, prior to joining the staff of the Fire Marshal's Office, Chief Mackey worked for the Mississippi Department of Public Welfare (DHS) as a Special Investigator with the Legal Division, as a State Hearing Officer with the Office of Review and Appeals, and as a Social Worker in Child Protective Services, a Police Officer in Brookhaven, was appointed in 1975 as the first full-time Fire Chief of Hazlehurst and worked as a part-time Deputy Sheriff in Copiah County; and

WHEREAS, under Chief Mackey’s direction, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has since doubled the investigative personnel, established a career ladder for advancement of deputy fire marshals, tripled the office support staff, set up a new Fire Code Enforcement and Factory-Build Homes Division and supervised the Fire Service Development Division; and

WHEREAS, during Mackey’s tenure, cutting-edge technology was added to the Fire Marshal’s Office with computers and the development of a uniform fire investigative report system. The office continued to progress under Mackey’s leadership as state emergency vehicles, state-issued firearms, uniforms and fire safety equipment were provided for each deputy fire marshal; and

WHEREAS, a Baptist minister, Chief Mackey, a graduate of Crystal Springs High School, attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, received a bachelor of arts degree from William Carey College, attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary, and since commencing his fire service career, he has attended numerous schools, conferences and seminars, including the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Chief Mackey's professional affiliations and associations are too numerous to name, but some of which include: Mississippi Fire Investigator’s Association (IAAI chapter), Mississippi Fire Chief’s Association, Mississippi Firefighter’s Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Code Council (ICC) and a former member of the Governor’s Homeland Security Council with Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA); and

WHEREAS, the Investigator of the Year by the Mississippi Fire Investigator’s Association (MFIA) in 1989, Chief Mackey has exemplified the making of a devout and committed servant of the people, as evidenced by his volunteer and professional experience; and

WHEREAS, this Legislature finds it most befitting and appropriate to recognize the diligence of the state employees who unselfishly give of their time and energy to provide a safer and better means of living to all the citizens of this state, such as Chief Mackey, who has time and again, gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the fire safety of all Mississippi residents:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Chief Millard D. Mackey on the occasion of his retirement from the State Fire Marshal's Office, and extend warmest wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Chief Mackey, the State Fire Marshal's Office and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.