House Concurrent Resolution 100

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER MAYOR OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, CIVIC LEADER AND BUSINESSMAN, IKE ALFRED "AL" ROSENBAUM, AND EXTENDING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Ike Alfred "Al" Rosenbaum, former Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, departed this earthly life on March 17, 2012, at the blessed age of 91, to enter into eternal rest, causing great sorrow and loss to his family and many friends; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong native of Meridian, Mr. Rosenbaum was educated in Meridian's school system before he went on to pursue his formal education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned his bachelor's degree; and

WHEREAS, after college, Mr. Rosenbaum dutifully served his nation for 23 years as a United States Marine, completing tours of duty in both the South Pacific during World War II and in Korea; and

WHEREAS, as a young aviator during World War II, Mr. Rosenbaum piloted the second aircraft to land at Iwo Jima on day two of the invasion and his mission included dropping replacement arms, ammunition and supplies to the Marines; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum's aircraft had been reconfigured to accommodate up to 50 injured Marines for transport off the island of Iwo Jima, and for his valiant and courageous efforts during this mission, he was awarded the Air Medal for heroism by the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, during his military service, Mr. Rosenbaum received five battle stars and a Presidential Citation for his service in the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, after returning home to Meridian, Mr. Rosenbaum was influential in his home community as a Civil Rights Era leader, playing a major role in the rebuilding of Christian minority churches and in the rebuilding of his own Congregation Beth Israel Temple after it was bombed in 1968; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum was highly instrumental in obtaining Congressional approval for the construction of the Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) at Meridian during the late 1950s; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum and other influential community, state and national leaders joined forces to put together the proposal and formulate the argument for Meridian as the right place for the new air station, and on July 16, 1957, the first shovel of dirt was thrown to mark the beginning of the NAAS, which was formally commissioned upon its completion on July 14, 1961; and

WHEREAS, during the controversial Congressional Base Closure and Realignment Commission hearings of 1995, Mr. Rosenbaum was active in successfully defending area military bases and keeping them from being closed by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, from 1977 through 1985, Mr. Rosenbaum served as Mayor of Meridian, and during his time as mayor, he teamed with Mississippi's own champion of military service, G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, to expand the National Guard Complex at Key Field in Meridian, solidifying East Mississippi's military presence; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum was an original founder of Meyer and Rosenbaum Insurance in Meridian and local television network, WTOK-TV, and while simultaneously building a successful insurance business, he always found time to dedicate himself to serving his beloved Meridian; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum's roles of service to the City of Meridian and the State of Mississippi are expansive, but his most notable roles were those of personal attachment and connection, including: Congregation Beth Israel, member; Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, board member; United Way, board member; Navy League of Mississippi, member on both the local and state levels; Riley Foundation, board member; Mississippi Agriculture and Industrial Board, executive committee member; and Lauren Rodgers Museum of Art in Laurel, Mississippi, president and investment committee chairperson; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum used his impressive business acumen in positions of services to achieve opportunities for organizations that were very dear to him, including: Riley Development Systems, as its vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer of the Riley Foundation; and First United Bank, as its director; and

WHEREAS, for his dedication to his community, state and fellowman, Mr. Rosenbaum was awarded numerous awards throughout his lifetime, such as: the Sertoma Service to Humanity Award; the Lauderdale County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award; the J.H. Johnson Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to the Insurance Profession; and, most recently, the Medal of Service Award, presented to Mr. Rosenbaum in 2011 by Governor Haley Barbour; and

WHEREAS, friends fondly remember Mr. Rosenbaum as a generous and philanthropic man, and together with his beautiful wife, Lucile, the couple endowed scholarships at Meridian High School, Vanderbilt University, Meridian Community College and the Community Foundation of East Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Rosenbaum were also avid supporters of historically significant and community improvement projects in the Meridian area, such as the restoration of the antique Densel Carousel in Highland Park and the co-contribution of the land and funds for improvements for a park in downtown Meridian; and

WHEREAS, friends remember Mr. Rosenbaum for his diligent, tireless and relentless dedication to his fellowman, community and state, and as one friend recalled, "Al Rosenbaum was a community treasure," stating that, "He worked tirelessly his entire lifetime for the betterment of his community and state," and praising this great Mississippian by affirming that, "There is no better example of selfless community involvement than Al."; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rosenbaum attributed his dedication to his fellowman, community and state to the teachings and lasting impressions of his father, I.A. Rosenbaum, and the tradition of his Jewish faith of becoming involved in one's community; and

WHEREAS, as a driving force in bringing industry and business into Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mr. Rosenbaum is remembered as one of the most intelligent and energetic persons who possessed a contagious, natural drive to improve Meridian and spark growth; and

WHEREAS, although Mr. Rosenbaum has now made life's great transition into immortality to rejoin his loving bride, Lucile, the rich legacy of familial and community devotion will be forever and indelibly etched into the hearts and memories of his loving survivors, including: son, Mark "Mike" Rosenbaum; daughters, Ann Stewart and Lauren Rosenbaum Brown; siblings, Sidney Rosenbaum and Maude Fliegleman; sister-in-law, Betty Rosenbaum; son-in-law, Allan Stewart; daughter-in-law, Tina Rosenbaum; grandchildren, Denise Stewart, Tammera Stewart, Brittany Brown Rader, Jeremy Rosenbaum and Zachary Rosenbaum; grandsons-in-law, Minor Padilla and Michael Rader; great-grandsons, Riley and Briggs Rader; and a host of other family and many friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend the life and legacy of the sons of Mississippi who devoted their lives to service, such as Mr. Rosenbaum, and who touched the lives of countless individuals in their community and in this great state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of Mr. Ike Alfred "Al" Rosenbaum, a dedicated family man as well as a great humanitarian, philanthropist, businessman, community servant and friend, and express deepest sympathy to his family and many friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Ike Alfred "Al" Rosenbaum and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.