House Resolution 28

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED AND LAUDABLE SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR. JUNIPER YATES (J.Y.) TRICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND ACKNOWLEDGING HIM AS A LIVING LEGEND.

WHEREAS, if there was ever an individual of such esteemed merit to be acclaimed a gentleman and a scholar, that individual would be the venerable Dr. Juniper Yates (J.Y.) Trice, revered mayor, pastor, social activist and legendary Mississippi Delta grassroots political leader; and

WHEREAS, a native of Verona, Mississippi, and having resided in Holly Springs, Mississippi, before making his permanent home in Rosedale, Mississippi, Dr. Trice has been a student of academia his entire life, having been educated at Mary C. Wade Elementary School in Verona, receiving his high school and baccalaureate matriculation at Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, completing his post-baccalaureate studies at Tuskegee University, the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi Industrial College, earning his master of education, education specialist and Doctor of Divinity degrees respectively, and undertaking further studies at Savannah State University, University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Trice, the Executive Director of Bolivar County Council on Aging in Cleveland, Mississippi, has always exemplified professionalism and leadership and has worked extremely hard to better the quality of life for all segments of our society, as evidenced by his most reputable career, which has traversed many boundaries and stereotypes, including his incomparable services rendered as: a principal and school superintendent for 40 years; a pastor of 38 years in churches throughout Mississippi after entering the ministry at age 14 under the auspices of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; presiding elder over Aberdeen, East Mississippi and Greenwood-Jackson South Mississippi Conferences for 30 years; Secretary of Publishing Board; Secretary of Board of Evangelism; the first African-American President of South Delta Planning and Development District; the first African-American Chairman of the State Education Finance Commission; Mayor of the City of Rosedale, Mississippi, for 16 years; and Chief Executive Officer of the Bolivar County Council on Aging for more than 30 years; and

WHEREAS, the sole African-American member of the Great River Bridge Committee and the National I-69 Coalition, the Reverend Dr. J.Y. Trice, as he is commonly known, has lived a life complete with the highs and lows afforded any person having endured the turbulent times of the segregated South, and has taken all of those trials to become a more polished and refined individual, thus fostering his innate ability to be a catalyst for fulfilling the need to effectuate much needed and positive change; and

WHEREAS, a learned and accomplished individual in his own right, Dr. Trice's proven record as a people's servant irrefutably boasts a laundry list of achievements, awards and recognitions, including: his historic membership on numerous boards, committees and coalitions; the purchase of a fleet of vans for the transportation of elderly citizens in his capacity as Executive Director of the Bolivar County Council on Aging; the improvements to the port of Rosedale; the acquisition of the Great River Road State Park, federal housing built during his term as mayor, and named the J.Y. Trice Apartments in his honor; winning the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce Kossman Award for being the outstanding community volunteer in 1992; and nationally being awarded the Dr. Aaron L. Henry Award by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) in June 2009 for outstanding service and leadership, to name a few; and

WHEREAS, a well-spoken and well-versed orator, Dr. Trice's rapport and reserved demeanor has afforded him the friendships of highly influential national, regional and state political figures, including: United States Senator, Thad Cochran; former United States Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Espy; former Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Tim Ford; and current Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Billy McCoy; and

WHEREAS, throughout his most distinguished career as a zealous leader, Dr. Trice has been overwhelmingly and lovingly supported in all of his endeavors by his equally accomplished and civic-minded family, including: his wife, Detris Scales-Trice, until her passing; and children, Dr. J.O. Trice and Reverend Harriman Trice; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to acknowledge the valued contributions of such a remarkably selfless individual as Dr. Trice, whose service for the improvement of humanity is without boundaries:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the distinguished and laudable service and contributions of Dr. Juniper Yates (J.Y.) Trice to the State of Mississippi, acknowledge him as a living legend and extend most sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Trice, the Bolivar County Council on Aging and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.