Senate Concurrent Resolution 660

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. WILBURN "BILL" LORD, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRISTS.

WHEREAS, Dr. Wilburn "Bill" Lord of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, is the current President of the Southern Council of Optometrists, (2008) which is comprised of the State Associations of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia; and

WHEREAS, "Mississippi's Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) of the Year 2006," Dr. Bill Lord is no stranger to Mississippi Optometric Association members. As a Mississippi Optometric Association Past-President and current Third-Party Chair, Dr. Lord continues an active role in the association. A graduate of the University of Mississippi and Southern College of Optometry, he has been involved in all levels of organized optometry for 29 years. Dr. Lord was the first optometrist in the State of Mississippi to be granted hospital privileges and has served on staff at Sharkey-Issaquena Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lord, owner of practices in Rolling Fork and Greenville, contributes to the visual welfare of the community through eye-health screenings in conjunction with the hospital, mall, nursing homes, schools, and area festivals. Due to transportation and mobility problems of the elderly, Dr. Lord has provided staff to visit a local assisted living facility to adjust and repair residents' eyewear weekly; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lord is involved in the Diabetic Initiative of Mississippi and serves as speaker each year for the Washington County Diabetic Support Group. He has received service awards from the Mississippi Council on Aging, Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service and the Lion's Club. He has served on the Health Services Advisory Committee for the local Head Start organization. Dr. Lord provides eye examinations for a large segment of the Head Start population. For those children whose parents are unable to pay and do not have insurance, he provides his services and glasses at no charge; and

WHEREAS, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Dr. Lord worked with the Red Cross to provide eye exams and glasses for the victims at no charge; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lord's civic activities include: Member of Leadership Washington County, 1996; Member of the Kellogg's Delta Emerging Leaders Class I, 1997; Member of the Greenville Balloon Festival Board, 1998-2004; Past President - Washington County Cancer Society; Treasurer - Sharkey County Industrial Foundation; Past President - Sharkey Country Club; Current Board Member - Sharkey Country Club; Member of Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce; Member of Rolling Fork Methodist Church; Board of Trustees; Past Finance Committee Chairman; Past Member of Nominating Committee and Usher Committee; and

WHEREAS, he holds membership in the following professional associations: American Optometric Association, Contact Lens Cornea Section, Mississippi Optometric Association, Northwest Central Optometric Society, and Southern Council of Optometrists; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lord knows that optometry has blessed him in many ways and is proud to endow a classroom at Southern College of Optometry and University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry to advance the schools ability to educate young people entering the profession; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the civic, charitable and business contributions of this Mississippi citizen whose leadership in his profession is well-respected:

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 professional career and civic contributions of Dr. Wilburn "Bill" Lord, President of the Southern Council of Optometrists and longtime leader of the Mississippi Optometric Association, and extend to him and his family our best wishes in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Lord, be forwarded to the Mississippi Optometric Association and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.