Senate Concurrent Resolution 694

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF LT. COLONEL JAMES "JIM" MAHER OF BRANDON, THE LONGEST-SERVING DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (MEMA), AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, the state is mourning the loss of the longest-serving Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Lt. Colonel James E. "Jim" Maher, USMC, Retired, of Brandon, Mississippi, who passed away at age 80 on April 12, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Maher was appointed as the Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency by Governor William Winter on February 16, 1980, and served in the State of Mississippi as such until his retirement in 2000; and

WHEREAS, he led the state's emergency operations through countless floods, tornadoes and hazardous material situations, as well as numerous hurricanes, including Georges, Opal and Elena. MEMA Director Mike Womack said Maher was a dynamic leader, calling him "an exceptional individual"; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Maher, the son of the late James Earl and Anna Margaret Tovick Maher, was born October 21, 1929, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was a graduate of Benson Polytechnic School in Portland, Oregon, and was appointed a Midshipman in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1947. Colonel Maher graduated from the University of Mississippi and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1951. He served in combat in Korea and Vietnam and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in June of 1971. His military decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Meritorious Service Medal; and

WHEREAS, he was the past President of the National Emergency Management Association, Chairman of the Mississippi Emergency Response Commission, past Chairman of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, member of the Marine Corps Association, and a member of the 2nd Marine Division Association; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Maher continued as Director of MEMA under Governors Bill Allain, Ray Mabus and Kirk Fordice. All of the state directors are appointed by governors and to have someone over five terms was unprecedented. Maher was instrumental in bringing the department from the Cold War era to modern times. The MEMA staff has grown from 35 people in the 1980s to more than 200 today. Mississippi's Disaster Trust Fund and temporary housing program were among the programs created during his tenure. He was instrumental not only in Mississippi, but nationwide; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Brown Maher; his children, Anna L. Maher, Mary Elizabeth Maher, Sandra Maher McKelvy, James E. Maher, Jr., and Patricia J. Maher; and two grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Maher made a positive impression and represented Mississippi across the country, and a grateful state joins his former employees and family in mourning the loss of this dedicated veteran and public servant:

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 public service of Lt. Colonel James E. "Jim" Maher of Brandon, Mississippi, the longest-serving Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), 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 Colonel Maher, forwarded to MEMA Director Mike Womack, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corp.