House Concurrent Resolution 115

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF WILLIAM HENDERSON FOOTE, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEDERAL AGENT KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

WHEREAS, William Foote, born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on June 27, 1843, to freeperson parents, David and Milly Foote, historically became the first African-American federal agent killed in the line of duty on December 29, 1883, while jailed and awaiting trial in conjunction with a racially motivated incident in which he intervened as a federal agent; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Foote moved to Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1867, and he served in the Mississippi Legislature from 1870 to 1871 as one of only 30 African-American Republicans; and

WHEREAS, after serving in the Legislature, Mr. Foote returned to Yazoo City and later served as constable, Circuit Court clerk and deputy collector of the United States Department of Treasury, Bureau of Internal Revenue, a predecessor to today's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and

WHEREAS, each year, the ATF holds an annual memorial ceremony during Police Week to honor the fallen agents of the agency, and at this year's ceremony, the agency will pay homage to the life of Mr. Foote as the first African-American federal agent to be killed in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of Mr. Foote was thought to have been lost until some of his descendants unveiled the magnitude and significance of his life's story and brought it to light; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Foote was posthumously presented the Gold Star Medal by the ATF in July 2011 at the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives in Lexington, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of Mr. Foote will be forever engraved in the history of federal law enforcement again when his name is placed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall on May 13, 2012, and on the ATF's Memorial Wall on May 14, 2012, both of which are located in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to acknowledge the contributions of historic individuals such as Mr. Foote, whose life and service are a testament of the dedication of service to the furtherance of unifying a nation that was divided along racial lines:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby honor the life and legacy of Mr. William Henderson Foote upon being the first African-American federal agent to be killed in the line of duty while serving this great state and this nation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Foote and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.