House Concurrent Resolution 136

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE PROLIFIC SERVICE OF REVEREND DONALD E. WILDMON AS FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN FAMILY RADIO, ACKNOWLEDGING THE GREAT STRIDES MADE BY THE ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE FAMILY DECENCY AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Donald E. Wildmon, born on January 18, 1938, in Dumas, Mississippi, an ordained United Methodist minister, author, former radio host, and founder and chairman emeritus of the American Family Association and American Family Radio, on March 3, 2010, announced his intentions to retire from the position of Chairman of the American Family Association; and

WHEREAS, a nonprofit 501(C) organization that began in 1977 as the National Federation for Decency and in 1988 was renamed the American Family Association, was founded by Reverend Wildmon, Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, and who has for 32 years been on the frontlines of America's culture war, garnering Wildmon the titles as a "courageous crusader," "single-minded servant" and "humble hero"; and

WHEREAS, a 1960 graduate of Millsaps College and a 1965 master of divinity recipient from Emory University's Candler

School of Theology, Reverend Wildmon served his community and country both as an ordained minister in the Methodist Church and as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, the American Family Association has grown to an organization with a $20 million budget, 180 radio stations, a monthly magazine with a circulation of 180,000 and an Internet presence of more than 2,000,000 supporters; and

WHEREAS, throughout the course of tenure as Chairman of the American Family Association, Wildmon actively protested television shows he thought promoted immoral lifestyles and established a platform representing traditional family values to motivate and equip citizens to reform our culture and to reflect Biblical truth with emphasis on preservation of marriage and the family, decency and morality, sanctity of human life, stewardship and media integrity; and

WHEREAS, after years of serving at the helm of the operation that shed light on the nation's immoral guise and media philosophy and presentation, Reverend Wildmon has chosen to pass the mantle of moral fortitude on to his son, Tim; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the passion for the promotion of family values and the contributions to preserve the integrity, cleanliness and moral fitness of media, literature, television and musical presentations throughout the nation, as exhibited by Reverend Don Wildmon:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the prolific service of Reverend Donald E. Wildmon as founder and chairman emeritus of the American Family Association and American Family Radio, acknowledge the great strides made by the organization to promote family decency, and congratulate him upon the occasion of his retirement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Reverend Wildmon, the American Family Association and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.