MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Watson, Wiggins, Smith, Gollott, Dawkins, Tindell, Gandy, Moran, Chassaniol, Fillingane, Hill, Jackson (32nd), Lee
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WHEREAS, on September 17, 2012, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) will celebrate its 100th Anniversary. In preparation for this important milestone in the history of the college, a Centennial Committee, appointed by President Mary S. Graham, has formalized a timeline of activities and special events, which include monthly ceremonies and celebrations leading up to the Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, on September 5, 1911, the Harrison County School Board established the Harrison County Agricultural High School, an action which marked the beginning of the present Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. As an inducement to locate the school at the little Town of Perkinston, a number of prominent citizens donated 566 acres of land and $626. Their efforts were successful, and with one building (Huff Hall), the institution began operation on September 17, 1912. On June 5, 1916, Stone County was formed from the northern part of Harrison County, and the school continued under the dual support of both counties; and
WHEREAS, realizing that a new educational concept, the junior college, was ideally suited to the needs of Mississippi, the Legislature in 1924 enabled the counties to cooperate with the state in offering education beyond the high school level. One of the first junior colleges to be organized was founded in conjunction with the Harrison-Stone Agricultural High School. Jackson County added its support to the coming institution in the summer of 1925, and the new institution opened on September 14, 1925, as the Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College, offering the first year of junior college work. Sophomore classes were added in the 1926-1927 session, and the first student graduated on May 20, 1927. On July 15, 1942, George County added its support to the institution, which then took the official name Perkinston Agricultural High School and Junior College. At its establishment, the Chief Executive of the Progenitor of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was designated a superintendent. The practice of calling the chief executive of the institution a superintendent continued until 1941, when the Board of Trustees officially designated A.L. May as President. The following individuals have served as Chief Executive Officers of this institution: James Andrew Huff, 1912-1917; Claude Bennett, 1917-1920; John Jefferson Dawsey, 1920-1921; Thomas Ira Cook, 1921-1922; J.H. Forbis, 1922-1924; Jefferson Lee Denson, 1924-1929; Cooper J. Darby, 1929-1941; Albert Louis May, 1941-1953; J.J. Hayden, Jr., 1953-1985; Barry L. Mellinger, 1986-1998; Willis H. Lott, 1998-2011; and Mary Graham, 2011-present; and
WHEREAS, with the addition of career-technical programs in the World War II era, the institution began a new phase of development, which resulted in the demise of the agricultural high school. The administration desired to divert the resources formerly expended on the agricultural high school to junior college academic and career-technical programs, so the agricultural high school was discontinued in May 1962; and
WHEREAS, on May 10, 1962, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett signed into law House Bill No. 597, which created the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District serving the people of the Counties of Harrison, Stone, Jackson and George. In September 1965, Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College became the first multicampus junior college in the State of Mississippi when two branches of the college were built on the Gulf Coast — the Jefferson Davis Campus in Handsboro and Jackson County Campus in Gautier. Later, the George County Occupational Training Center, the Harrison County Occupational Training Center and the Keesler Center were added to the multicampus district. In 1985, the West Harrison County Occupational Training Center began operation; and
WHEREAS, to clearly reflect the comprehensive nature of the college, the name was changed on October 1, 1987, to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In the spring of 1991, the college relocated the Harrison County Occupational Training Center to Intraplex 10 with the opening of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center. Established as a joint partnership between Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Mississippi Power and the Harrison County Development Commission, the center continues to serve as a training facility in support of the economic development activities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In 1996, the campus without walls concept was introduced resulting in a fourth campus called the Community Campus; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College responds to the educational needs of its community, which is defined as the District of George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone Counties, by providing an outstanding learning environment supported by excellent instruction and services. This is achieved by creating an atmosphere that fosters lifelong learning, responsible citizenship and progressive leadership in a dynamic setting; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the students, faculty and administration in acknowledging this landmark event of this world-class educational institution committed to student learning and development, which is making a positive difference in the lives of all Mississippians:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the establishment of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), and extend to the students, faculty and administration of this institution our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to MGCCC President Mary Graham and the MGCCC Board of Trustees, forwarded to the State Board for Community Colleges and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.