MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Butler (38th), Hyde-Smith, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING DR. OLIVER YOUNG ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WHEREAS, Southwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Oliver Young has announced his retirement as of June 2011. Dr. Young has been Southwest Mississippi Community College President since July 2005; and
WHEREAS, a Pike County native, Dr. Young said he has spent 44 years in education, including 33 at Southwest. During his tenure, Dr. Young watched the college's spring semester enrollment grow to 2,080 students in 2010. The college's current spring enrollment is 1,800 and is expected to increase to almost 2,000 when registration is completed; and
WHEREAS, since its early beginning, Southwest Mississippi Community College has maintained a rich history, from its early days reflecting an agrarian community to today's technological society. The college has endeavored to meet the educational needs in Southwest Mississippi. Conception for Southwest Mississippi Community College began as early as 1908. Still located on its original 60-acre site, the campus includes 28 buildings, a football stadium, and a baseball field. The buildings are situated around a central lake with walks, bridges and paths connecting the buildings, and the remaining 855 acres is now a tree farm. Its excellent leadership, strong faculty and staff, strategic location, and vision for the future will continue to enrich the college's history; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Steve Bishop, Vice President of Student Affairs, said Young influenced him to continue his education and get his Ph.D. Board member Timothy Scott said one of Young's greatest accomplishments is the college's Work Force Training Center, which will be built on the campus in the near future, with groundbreaking for the project expected on February 11; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Young graduated from Southwest in 1963 and from Mississippi College in 1965. He has a master's degree from Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Mississippi. He came to Southwest in 1966 as an Assistant to then-President Horace Holmes, whom Young succeeded in 2005. He also taught math and biology and coached basketball. Young later left the school but returned in 1993 as a teacher and women's basketball coach. He was later named Director of Financial Aid and retired in 2000 as the women's basketball coach and was named Dean of students. He became Dean of Instruction in 2004; and
WHEREAS, it has been Mississippi's good fortune to have Dr. Young as the leader on this campus which has provided excellent educational opportunities to the students of Southwest Mississippi and we join the students, faculty and administration in extending the thanks of a grateful state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Dr. Oliver Young on the occasion of his retirement as President of Southwest Mississippi Community College and extend our best wishes to him and his family on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Young, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of Southwest Mississippi Community College and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.