MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Hewes, Gollott, Baria, Browning, Butler, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, King, Kirby, Mettetal, Moffatt, Montgomery, Powell, Stone, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO MOURN THE LOSS AND COMMEND THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER MISSISSIPPI SENATOR, RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL WITH THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD AND RESPECTED BILOXI BUSINESSMAN AND CIVIC LEADER JOHN THOMAS (TOMMY) MUNRO.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Mississippi Senate lost a respected civic leader with the loss of John Thomas (Tommy) Munro, who passed away on November 20, 2009; and
WHEREAS, former Senator Munro was the son of the late Jack and Lucille Munro and had been a long-standing resident of Biloxi, Mississippi, since 1940. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree; and
WHEREAS, he became President of Munro Oil and Paint Company which later evolved into Munro Petroleum and Terminal Corporation and began his professional career in the petroleum business. Tommy married the former Elizabeth Falls and had three cherished children, Lizana, Jata and Jerry, and six grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, he was elected to the Mississippi Senate and served through 1972; and
WHEREAS, this legislative service was followed by appointments to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, National Petroleum Council, President of the National Oil Jobbers Council and President of the Mississippi Oil Jobbers Association; and
WHEREAS, Senator Munro was the President of the Harrison County Development Commission, Director and Chairman of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi, Board Member of BancorpSouth, Chairman of Bluebonnet Life Insurance Company and Chairman of Mississippi Energy and Transportation Board. Mr. Munro was the Outstanding Citizen of the Year-Biloxi 1995 and Mississippi Business Hall of Fame 2001; and
WHEREAS, he was a retired Brigadier General with the Mississippi National Guard, receiving the Bronze Star and Magnolia Cross, among other awards; and
WHEREAS, he was a founding member and past President of the Biloxi Bay Chamber, Biloxi Chamber of Commerce and Biloxi District Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Munro served on the boards of the University of Southern Mississippi, Armed Forces Museum Camp Shelby, Infinity (Stennis Museum), and Advisory Board of the Institute of Marine Sciences. Tommy was a proud member and past King of Gulf Coast Carnival Association, Mithras and Biloxi Yacht Club; and
WHEREAS, he was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and former Sunday School Teacher and member of the Vestry; and
WHEREAS, John Thomas Munro was a patriot, businessman, politician, humanitarian and prankster who had fun in his 78 years, and it is with sadness that we note the passing of this respected veteran, civic leader, legislator and 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 mourn the loss and commend the life of former State Senator, retired Brigadier General, Mississippi National Guard (MNG) and respected Mississippi Gulf Coast businessman John (Tommy) Thomas Munro of Biloxi, Mississippi, and express our sympathy to his surviving family on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Tommy Munro and be made available to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and the Capitol Press Corps.