House Concurrent Resolution 101

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING MR. DAVID ABNEY ON BEING NAMED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC., AND COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF YOUNG MISSISSIPPIANS AND FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHEREAS, in January 2007, a great honor was bestowed upon Mr. David Abney when a global icon, the United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS), an international package delivery company, promoted him as the company's chief operating officer; and

WHEREAS, as chief operating officer of this international company, he also assumes the role of President of UPS Airlines; and

WHEREAS, 51-year-old Mr. Abney will be responsible for international operations, United States package operations, global transportation, labor and all freight activities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Abney is a homegrown Mississippian who was born in Cleveland, Mississippi, reared in Greenwood, Mississippi, and graduated from Delta State University in 1976 with a bachelor of business administration degree; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Abney began his career with UPS as a part-time employee on its loading dock while he was a student at Delta State University, and upon graduation, he accepted a job at UPS to drive one of its delivery vehicles within Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, by the mid-l980s, he served as a manager of UPS's busy hub, feeder and air division office in Jackson, Mississippi, and went on to serve in various capacities in the company, including the role of Utah district manager, as well as directing various freight and logistics operations in the United States, Canada and Latin America, until 2002, when he went on to serve as the President of UPS International; and

WHEREAS, he believes that his values of a tenacious commitment to hard work, to the community, and to integrity were learned while he was a student at Delta State University and are the same values shared by his 32-year employer, which in his opinion are fundamental to each organization's longevity; and

WHEREAS, although Mr. Abney's worldwide responsibilities require him to travel the globe, he carves out time to go back home and share insight with young Mississippians at his alma mater, Delta State University; and

WHEREAS, because of Mr. Abney's appreciation for the values he learned as a college student, he has a love of Delta State University that has motivated him to become a member of the Delta State University Foundation Board of Directors and the founder and donor of the David Abney International Business Symposium held annually at the university as a way to educate and expose students to international issues; and

WHEREAS, over the past few years, Mr. Abney has been a featured speaker on global trade at leading forums including: the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Executives Club of Chicago and Fudan University in Shanghai; and

WHEREAS, during these forums, he often tells of his two favorite discussion sessions that happened to occur at Delta State University: in 2005, he spoke to students as part of Delta State's "College of Business Lecture Series," and in 2006, he sponsored a two-day International Business Symposium at Delta State for which he secured as symposium guest speakers colleagues who are leading global economy experts from the academic and business communities; and

WHEREAS, an avid college football fan, Mr. Abney is passionate about sharing his experiences in global business with Delta State University students and young Mississippians, and he believes that their futures and that of their home state will depend on embracing new opportunities and realities presented by a 21st century global economy; and

WHEREAS, on August 28, 2007, Mr. Abney will celebrate UPS's 100th year of business operations, growing from a $100.00 firm in l907 to a $47 Billion company last year; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend those homegrown individuals who are successful businessmen and maintain an interest in the future of young Mississippians and give back so much to their Mississippi alma mater:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby congratulate Mr. David Abney on being named Chief Operating Officer of the United Parcel Service, Inc., and commend him for his interest in the future of young Mississippians and for his continued support of Delta State University.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. David Abney and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.