MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Monsour, Clarke, Arnold, Banks, Baria, Barton, Brown (20th), Buck (5th), Calhoun, Carpenter, Denny, Eaton, Evans (43rd), Evans (70th), Flaggs, Gipson, Guice, Gunn, Hines, Holland, Howell, Jennings, Lott, McLeod, Moak, Moore, Read, Reynolds, Rogers (14th), Shirley, Shows, Snowden, Steverson, Sullivan, Thomas, Zuber, Alday, Aldridge, Bailey, Bain, Baker, Barker, Beckett, Bell, Bennett, Blackmon, Bounds, Boyd, Broomfield, Brown (66th), Buck (72nd), Burnett, Busby, Byrd, Chism, Clark, Cockerham, Coleman (29th), Coleman (65th), Crawford, Currie, DeBar, DeLano, Dickson, Dixon, Ellis, Espy, Eure, Evans (91st), Formby, Frierson, Hamilton, Haney, Harrison, Holloway, Hood, Horan, Horne, Huddleston (15th), Huddleston (30th), Johnson, Kinkade, Ladner, Lamar, Lane, Malone, Martinson, Massengill, Mayo, Mettetal, Middleton, Miles, Mims, Morgan, Myers, Nelson, Oberhousen, Patterson, Perkins, Pigott, Powell, Rogers (61st), Rushing, Scott, Smith (27th), Smith (39th), Staples, Straughter, Stringer, Taylor, Turner, Warren, Watson, Weathersby, White, Whittington, Williams-Barnes, Wooten, Young
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE FLAGGS, JR., FOR HIS LEGISLATIVE LEGACY AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WHEREAS, Representative George Flaggs, Jr., an honored and cherished member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, is completing 26 years of consecutive service as a member of the House from District 55, which consists of a portion of Warren County; and
WHEREAS, born on March 20, 1953, in Edwards, Mississippi, Representative Flaggs, a Vicksburg High School graduate, attended Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, and earned an associate degree in industrial technology in 1981, and Jackson State University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology in 1984, in addition to undertaking post graduate studies at his baccalaureate institution; and
WHEREAS, an advocate of public service, he began his service as a legislator when elected to the membership of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1986 and sworn into office in January 1987; and
WHEREAS, the talents and ability of George Flaggs were recognized by the legislative leadership as evidenced by his rising from freshman lawmaker to serve as Chairman of the House Labor Committee, to his subsequent appointments as Chairman of the House Juvenile Justice and Banking and Financial Services Committees, and his recent 2012 appointment as Chairman of the House Corrections Committee; and
WHEREAS, a senior member of the House, affectionately known in the Capitol as "Mr. Chairman" for his many years of effective and efficient leadership, as former Vice Chairman of Apportionment and Elections Committee, he also has served or currently serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, Constitution, Executive Contigent Fund, Gaming, Insurance, Investigation of State Offices, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Medicaid, Public Health and Human Services, Rules, and Select Committee on Fiscal Stability; and
WHEREAS, Chairman Flaggs has been especially active in promoting education, gaming, economic development and efficiency of our state's penal institutions at all levels; and
WHEREAS, known by his colleagues as an able and dedicated legislator who has effectively represented the citizens of his district and state, Chairman Flaggs has accumulated several awards, honors and special recognitions, including: National Dean's List; Outstanding Young Men of America; featured in Governing Magazine, "The Benchmarking Craze"; Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, James L. "Jim" Bean Leadership Award;
Community Service Award - Mu Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; IHL Exceptional Leadership and Commitment to Excellence in Education; Jackson State University School of Social Work; South Eastern Spirit Award - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Outstanding Service to the Community, 71st South Eastern Regional Conference; Most Distinguished Legislator for Juvenile Justice Causes in 2001; Dr. Larry Leflore Juvenile Justice Advocate of the Year in 2005; Center for Policy Alternatives' Legislator of the Month in May 2005; 2005 NAACP Vernon Dahmler Award recipient; 2008 Community Service Award - Omicron Rho Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; 2009 Friend of Transit Award - Mississippi Public Transit Association; 2010 Special Act Award - Omicron Rho Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; 2010 Humanitarian Award - Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolent Club; and 2011 Friend of Tourism Award - The Mississippi Tourism Association; and
WHEREAS, Chairman Flaggs' love and deeply felt respect for the Legislature as an institution has led him to fight to preserve and nurture its integrity, becoming a guardian of this democratic institution during a time in Mississippi's history when the diversity of the House membership expanded to include meaningful participation by women, African Americans and Democrats, as well as the majority group of Republicans; and
WHEREAS, Chairman Flaggs' leadership abilities have been recognized nationally, as evidenced by his past service as Chairman of Human Services and Public Safety Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference; former Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus; past Parliamentarian for the Executive Committee and past Chairman of the Business Financial Services and Insurance Policy Committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; and memberships with the City of Vicksburg's Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals; Vicksburg-Warren County Joint School Board Consolidation Personnel Committee; Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolence Club; National Conference of State Legislators; Joint Center for Health Policy Institute's National Advisory Committee; and Joint Committee for Political and Economic Studies; and
WHEREAS, in addition to serving in the Mississippi House of Representatives, Chairman Flaggs is a certified juvenile counselor, who works as Warren County's Youth Court Counselor; and
WHEREAS, Chairman Flaggs is known as a "Gentleman Statesman" possessing a congenial nature, the ability to listen effectively and a good sense of humor -- qualities which have enabled him to resolve volatile and controversial situations; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his career as a successful businessman and statesman, Chairman Flaggs has been a faithful member and Deacon of the Mt. Heroden Church, as well as a devoted father of two children, Emmarie Genean Anderson and Elliott George Flaggs, and three grandchildren, Nicholas George Anderson, Stephen Anderson and Addison Anderson, who have supported him in all of his endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Chairman Flaggs has indicated his plans for retirement and the members of the Mississippi Legislature wish to express their sincere appreciation to "Mr. Chairman" for his dedicated service to the people of the State of Mississippi and for the personal sacrifices that he has made on their behalf:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend our friend and colleague, "Mr. Chairman," George Flaggs, Jr., for all he has meant to the Mississippi State Legislature and for his unmatched contributions to the people of the State of Mississippi, and we want him to know that his presence and his leadership will be very much missed by this legislative body.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Chairman George Flaggs, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.