House Resolution 107

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. DORIS HAMILTON MCGOWAN FOR HER MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IN TEACHER EDUCATION UPON HER RETIREMENT IN 2010.

WHEREAS, Dr. Doris Hamilton McGowan, a native of Smith County, Mississippi, and daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie "Pat" Hamilton, retired in May of 2010 after more than 50 years of dedicated service to the State of Mississippi in teacher education; and

WHEREAS, after over 50 years of impeccable service to the education of this great state for which she spent most of those years as an employee of Alcorn State University, Dr. McGowan will be delivering more impeccable service as grandmother to her beloved grandchildren, Jerell, Jordan, Courtney and Willie, III; and

WHEREAS, she has been supported throughout her career by her loving husband of 53 years, Coach Willie "Rat" McGowan; Willie McGowan, Jr., and the late Dr. Reginland D. McGowan; and four grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McGowan's passion for education was cultivated when she earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Alcorn A&M College in 1975, and a master's degree in elementary education with a concentration in modern mathematics from Kansas State University; and

WHEREAS, her desire to improve teacher education in this state and to improve the lives of young people motivated her to pursue and earn a doctorate in education to include child and youth studies and curriculum development and systemic change from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McGowan began her career teaching for 10 years in the Mississippi and Missouri public school systems, and during this time she was the first African-American female teacher to be appointed by the Missouri State Board of Education for the Gladstone Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri; in 1970, she returned to Alcorn and served as instructor in the Department of Education and Philosophy for more than 30 years; after receiving her doctoral degree, she was granted professorship in education with tenure at Alcorn State University, became Chairperson for the Department of Education and Psychology; and under her leadership the department saw unprecedented success; and

WHEREAS, she holds membership in numerous professional and social clubs and organizations, and she has received countless recognitions and awards which include Outstanding Faculty Honoree for the State of Mississippi in 2001, and she was one of the first Mississippians to receive a training certificate for Program Review and System Monitoring for Early Childhood Education; and

WHEREAS, an active member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Lorman, Mississippi, and an associate member of North Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. McGowan stays active as Chairperson of the Trustee Board and President of the Usher Board for the Mt. Olive Baptist Church and serves as President of the Home and Foreign Missionary Society for the North Jackson Baptist Church, and she also generously contributes annually to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, she works hard in all aspects of her life toward positive results, and will spend her immediate days of retirement developing an online consulting firm to assist first year teacher educators in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize Mississippians who have spent numerous years of their lives dedicated to enhancing the lives of our young people and making Mississippi's future brighter:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Dr. Doris Hamilton McGowan for her more than 50 years of dedicated service to the State of Mississippi in teacher education upon her retirement in 2010, and express sincere wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Doris McGowan and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.