House Resolution 62

A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND RECOGNIZE FORMER SENATOR BOB M. DEARING FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE.

WHEREAS, Senator Bob M. Dearing has completed 32 years of leadership and dedicated service to the Mississippi Senate; and

WHEREAS, Senator Dearing is a man of integrity and admirable work ethic, having a unique knowledge of the intricacies of Mississippi's state government, and we greatly respect our esteemed colleague and friend who is truly a gentleman and an enlightened lawmaker; and

WHEREAS, Senator Dearing served as a senator from Mississippi's District 37, which is comprised of parts of Adams, Amite, Franklin and Pike Counties, and in his 32 years in the Senate, he has served as chairman of many key standing committees, including: Highways and Transportation Committee; Fees, Salaries and Administration Committee; Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Resources Committee; and most recently, Oil and Gas Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Dearing has served as vice chairman of numerous committees, including: Corrections Committee; Elections Committee; Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee; and Labor Committee; and he also served as a subcommittee chairman of many state budgets over his tenure, memorably the critical budget of the State Institutions of Higher Learning; and

WHEREAS, having extensive expertise in the Senate committee system, Senator Dearing was particularly active in handling complex professional licensure legislation for health care providers; and

WHEREAS, as a dedicated husband and father, Senator Dearing and his wife, Shelley, have been married for 49 years, and together they have three children; and

WHEREAS, active in his Christian faith, Senator Dearing has been a leader in his church, serving as an elder, deacon and a Sunday School teacher, having taught for over 37 years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Dearing is a graduate of Delta State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, and he is a former teacher, coach and elementary principal; and

WHEREAS, having owned his own restaurant in downtown Natchez, Senator Dearing was very pro-business, displaying interest in seeing that there be less regulation by the government for the small business entrepreneurs of this great state; and

WHEREAS, on a civic level, Senator Dearing was continually involved in numerous civic organizations, including: National Conferences of Insurance/State Legislatures as a member of the executive board, from 1992 to present; National Rifle Association from 1990 to present; National Football Foundation and Coaches Hall of Fame, from 1964 to present; the Jaycees, from 1958 to 1967; American Association of Retired Persons; American Legion; American Legislative Exchange Conference; ARTS Fair for the Handicapped; Chamber of Commerce; Delta State Foundation and Alumni Association; Elks; Friends of the Arts; Loyal Order of Moose; Mississippi Wildlife Federation; Natchez Trace Parkway Association; National Conference of Insurance Legislators; National Conference of State Legislators; Phi Delta Kappa; Royal Order of Moose; Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Advisory; Southern Legislative Conference; University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association; Natchez Little Theater; and Energy Council, serving on the executive board; and

WHEREAS, his alma mater, Delta State, paid respect to Senator Dearing by dedicating the Hall of Fame Room inside the Chadwick Dickson Intercollegiate Athletic Building to his honor; and

WHEREAS, during the unveiling ceremony of the Hall of Fame Room, Delta State President, Dr. Hilpert, thanked Senator Dearing for his continued support of the university as an alumnus and through his actions in the Legislature, noting that "Much of what this institution brags about was launched from his Senate seat,"; and

WHEREAS, having served District 37 since 1980, Senator Dearing staunchly supported his alma mater during all that time by working to secure state funds for capital outlay programs for the university and for Statesmen and Lady Statesmen athletics; and

WHEREAS, always active within the Delta State community, Senator Dearing, who served as president of the Delta State University National Alumni Association in 1969 and was recognized as the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 1997, was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame by the Alumni Association in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Senator Dearing's service has been marked by his commitment to success, recognized leadership, sound judgment and fairness, and he has set the highest standard in all of his many roles, as a father, husband, businessman, military veteran, citizen, statesman and leader in the Mississippi Senate and a true friend:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and recognize former Senator Bob M. Dearing, whose outstanding service to his constituents and to this state has enriched the lives of those so blessed to have served alongside him during his tenure as a legislator, and wish him heartfelt gratitude and success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Senator Dearing and to the Capitol Press Corps.