Senate Concurrent Resolution 523

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JOHN H. GEARY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2010 HALL OF FAME.

WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi Alumni Association has honored alumni with its highest recognition during Homecoming weekend November 5-6, 2010. Inductees into the 2010 Alumni Hall of Fame include John H. Geary of Jackson, Mississippi, for service to the University and the Alumni Association; and

WHEREAS, John Geary, a Vicksburg native, is a 1952 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration. As a student, he was President of the student body and Kappa Alpha Order, and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa and the student Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, a former President of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association and the University of Mississippi Foundation, Geary also co-chaired the University's first major gifts campaign in 1984 and served on the Joint Committee on University Investments and the business school's advisory board; and

WHEREAS, after two years as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, he worked for Mississippi Power & Light Company in Jackson, then joined Equitable Securities Corporation, where he was a Director and Senior Vice President. He opened the Southeast's first Paine Webber office, and in 1978 he opened his own firm, which merged with Morgan Keegan in 1998. He retired as a Managing Director of Morgan Keegan; and

WHEREAS, an officer and director of several business, political, educational and religious organizations, Geary helped reorganize and revitalize the Mississippi Republican Party in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also was the founding President of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson and was a member of the its Executive and Investment Committees for more than 30 years; and

WHEREAS, he and his wife, Shirley, have four children and 12 grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association Hall of Fame is to honor those select alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their country, state or the University of Mississippi through their good deeds, services or contributions, all of which have perpetuated the good name of the University. The persons selected as members of the Hall of Fame are presented and honored at the Homecoming Ceremonies on the campus at the University of Mississippi each year; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the graduates of the University of Mississippi in recognizing the public, charitable and business contributions of this Mississippi citizen who has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate John H. Geary of Jackson, Mississippi, upon his induction into the University of Mississippi Alumni Association 2010 Hall of Fame, and extend to John and his family our best wishes for future successes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to John Geary, forwarded to the University of Mississippi Alumni Association, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.