Senate Concurrent Resolution 619

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING HONORABLE ROBERT (BOB) LAZARUS AS THE FIRST AND ONLY ATTORNEY FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO BE ELECTED TO THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF BOND COUNSEL.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis recently announced that Robert (Bob) S. Lazarus has been elected as a Regular Fellow of the American College of Bond Counsel by a unanimous vote of the college's board of directors; and

WHEREAS, Bob is the first and only attorney from the State of Mississippi to be elected to this honorary college; and

WHEREAS, the American College of Bond Counsel is a national group of approximately 200 experienced bond counsel organized for the purpose of promoting the high standards of professional and ethical responsibility in the practice of municipal finance. Membership is exclusive and is by invitation only. Members must have demonstrated a career as a distinguished municipal law practitioner for a period of not less than ten years and undergo an extensive nominating process by the existing members before election by the Board of Directors of the College; and

WHEREAS, the American College of Bond Counsel was formed in 1995 for the purpose of recognizing lawyers who have established reputations among their peers for their skill, experience and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of bond law. The college believes that a bond lawyer's expertise can best be judged by his or her peers and has sought to admit to membership in the college only bond lawyers that have long experience and outstanding reputations in the field of municipal bond law. Membership in the college is extremely limited and admission as a Fellow (i.e., member of the college) is a recognition of the lawyer's accomplishments and legal expertise in the field of bond law; and

WHEREAS, Bob graduated Cum Laude from the Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, in 1976. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law; and listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers. Bob is a member of The American Bar Association, The Mississippi Bar, Hinds County Bar Association, National Association of Bond Lawyers and the Ohio State Bar; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge this special recognition by a Mississippi attorney who has brought honor to his profession, his firm and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Honorable Robert (Bob) S. Lazarus as the first and only attorney from the State of Mississippi to be elected to the prestigious American College of Bond Counsel, and extend to him and his firm the best wishes of the Legislature in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Bob Lazarus, forwarded to the Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis Law Firm and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.