MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2009 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Burton, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Hewes, Hopson, Horhn, Jackson (11th), Lee (35th), Simmons, Yancey, Blount
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND CIVIC SERVICE OF JACKSON BUSINESS LEADER W. HENRY HOLMAN, JR., AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, W. Henry Holman, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, who led his family's small grocery chain into a billion dollar business, passed away on October 6, 2008; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holman was a native Jacksonian, where he graduated from Central High School. He continued his studies at Georgia Tech University and received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1952. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta social fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army as First Lieutenant with European duty and later attained the rank as Major in the active reserves; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holman became actively involved in his family business, Jitney Jungle Stores of America, Inc. Upon returning to Jackson, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc., McCarty-Holman Company, Inc., for the next 34 years; and
WHEREAS, under Mr. Holman's leadership, Jitney-Jungle grew to encompass more than 100 stores with over 9,000 employees with locations in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. In 1991-1992, the company achieved $1 billion dollars in sales, which was the first privately-owned company in Mississippi to reach this mark. In 1996, the company was sold to B.R.S. Investment Company of New York City; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holman was an active member of First Baptist Church Jackson. He served his church in every capacity from scoutmaster, to Sunday school teacher, Chairman of the deacons and life deacon. For over forty (40) years, he conducted a weekly prayer group and Bible study; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holman dedicated himself to a lifetime of compassionate and devoted service to the community. He was involved in a myriad of organizations by serving as President of the following: Jackson Chamber of Commerce, United Fund of Jackson, Boys Club of Jackson, Founder and First President of Boys Club Foundation, and Topco Association, a food co-op of 32 leading food chains; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holman served on the Board and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. He served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Deposit Guaranty Bank. He was chairman of the Gulf Shores Baptist Assembly when Hurricane Camille struck; and
WHEREAS, other directorships include: Capital Street Corporation, Food Marketing Institute, Boy Scouts, Goodwill Industries Board of Directors, MS Foundation of Independent Colleges, YMCA, Symphony Board, Jackson Rotary Club, Trustee of St. Andrew's Episcopal School and Chairman of the University of Mississippi Business Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, he has been honored with numerous awards by being selected in 1965 as the "Young Man of the Year" by the Jackson Jaycees, selected in 1973 by the Newcomen Society in North America as honoree for the State of Mississippi, selected in 1989 as Marketer of the Year for the State of Mississippi, chosen in 1992 as the Captain of Industry by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and named in 1993, along with his wife, Sondra, People of Vision by The National Society to Prevent Blindness Mississippi Affiliate; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holman's character exhibited a life of selfless generosity to the cause of education by giving young people an opportunity to advance. Through his kind generosity, many young people was blessed with an opportunity to obtain a college education; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sondra Sutherland Holman; daughter Holly Holman Buchanan (Brooks); son, William Henry Holman III (Jenny); daughter, Janie Holman Maloney (Steve), all of Jackson; daughter, Sondra Holman Taylor (Walter) of Grenada; sister and brother-in-law, Marie Holman Swayze (Douglas); and ten grandchildren, Britt Buchanan, Ryan Buchanan, Holman Buchanan, Honey Holman, Travis Taylor, Holman Taylor, Skylar Taylor, Cole Maloney, Michael Maloney, and Margaret Elise Maloney; and
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that we note the passing of this leading Mississippi citizen:
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 selfless civic and charitable service of Jackson business leader and veteran W. Henry Holman, Jr., and express to his surviving family our sympathy on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Henry Holman, forwarded to the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Deacons of First Baptist Church and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.