MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Stone, Albritton, Baria, Blount, Brown, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Dawkins, Dearing, Dickerson, Fillingane, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, Jordan, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), Lee (47th), McDaniel, Mettetal, Michel, Moffatt, Montgomery, Powell, Simmons, Tollison, Turner, Ward, Watson, Wilemon, Yancey
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE OF NORTHERN DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER AND FORMER STATE SENATOR BILL MINOR OF HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi and the Mississippi Legislature lost a dedicated public servant and a dear friend with the death of Northern District Transportation Commissioner and former State Senator William "Bill" Minor of Holly Springs, Mississippi, on November 1, 2010, while attending the annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; and
WHEREAS, Bill Minor played a key role in enacting the historic 1987 Four-Lane Highway Act as a member of the Mississippi Senate and was also instrumental in passing legislation to bring the massive Nissan manufacturing plant to Central Mississippi before being elected to the Mississippi Transportation Commission. Two weeks prior to his death, Commissioner Minor gave keynote remarks at the grand opening of the North Holly Springs Bypass, a project completed due in large part to his influence and work; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Minor was first elected as Northern District Transportation Commissioner in November 2003. His district covers the northern one-third of the state. Prior to his election as Commissioner, Bill Minor served 20 years in the Mississippi Senate, representing Marshall, Benton, Tippah and DeSoto Counties. While he was in the Senate, Bill Minor served as Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Highway Committee and played a key role in the passage of the legislation that led to the four-laning of more than 1,000 miles of highway in the state, including U.S. Highways 78, 49, 45 and 72; and
WHEREAS, Senator Minor later served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which at the time was very active in considering and passing numerous bond programs for the state, and served on the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, which outlines state-spending priorities. Senator Minor served as Chairman of the Finance Committee under Lieutenant Governor Eddie Briggs from 1993-1995 and later under Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck from 2000-2003. Senator Minor and Speaker of the House of Representatives Billy McCoy came to the Legislature at the same time and were chairman counterparts. Before the era of mandated open-conference committees, Chairman Minor and McCoy met publicly to hash out the legislation. Speaker McCoy stated "I have never met a more honorable man. His word was his bond. He was a tireless worker for the State of Mississippi"; and
WHEREAS, Bill was born in Benton County on October 16, 1942. He started out in the electric and plumbing business in Potts Camp, in 1965 with his brother, then added appliances, and heating and air in the Tri-State area. They moved the business to Holly Springs and expanded Minor Brothers Hardware to Olive Branch and then to Hernando. Bill Minor ran for Chancery Clerk and for State Representative before he was elected to the Mississippi Senate in the late 1970s; and
WHEREAS, Bill was a huge Mississippi State University fan. He attended Hickory Flat School and Northwest Community College before going into business for himself. An avid ballplayer, Bill Minor organized, managed and played on independent ball teams for several years after high school, playing teams in Memphis and in the rural fields of Lamar. He loved sports; and
WHEREAS, he was a member of Potts Camp Baptist Church. He leaves two brothers, Ray Minor of Waterford and Glen Bounds of Southaven; and nephews, Danny Minor, David Minor, Darron Minor, Anthony Bounds and Thomas Bounds; and
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this influential and hard-working public servant, who was a good man and a dear friend:
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 dedicated public service of Northern District Transportation Commissioner and former Mississippi State Senator William "Bill" Minor of Holly Springs, Mississippi, and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing and the thanks of a grateful state for his service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Bill Minor, forwarded to the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.