House Resolution 7

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FARMER, BUSINESSMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST, MIKE P. STURDIVANT OF GLENDORA, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXTENDING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Mike P. Sturdivant, a farmer, businessman and philanthropist of Glendora, Mississippi, in Tallahatchie County, departed this earthly life on May 1, 2012, at the blessed age of 84, to enter into eternal rest, causing great sorrow and loss to his family and many friends; and

WHEREAS, born in Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Sturdivant relocated to Mississippi and graduated high school from Clarksdale High School, before graduating from Mississippi State University and Harvard University Business School; and

WHEREAS, always eager to serve his community, state and country, Mr. Sturdivant also served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Harvard, he and Earle Jones, his roommate at Harvard, began operating Holiday Inns across Mississippi and by the mid-1970's their company, Mississippi Management Inc., was operating more than 2,000 hotel rooms, and today the company operates more than 100 properties throughout the Southeast; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his hotel business success, he was a leader in agriculture in Mississippi and nationally, and the 12,000-acre Sturdivant family farming operation, Due West Plantation, has been one of the state's leading agricultural enterprises; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Sturdivant possessed a love for the State of Mississippi and its people, and he ran for governor of the state twice, seeking the Democratic nomination in 1983 and 1987; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Sturdivant's roles of service to the State of Mississippi are expansive, but his most notable roles were those of personal attachment and connection, including: Glendora United Methodist Church, member, Sunday school teacher, lay leader and chairman of the board; Methodist Health Care Foundation of Memphis, member; Mississippi Methodist Senior Services, member; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Sturdivant used his impressive business acumen in positions of services to achieve opportunities for organizations that were very dear to him, including: International Association of Holiday Inns, past president; Methodist Health Systems of Memphis, chairman of the board of managers; Union Planters National Bank, member of the board of directors and executive committee; Mississippi Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning, member and chairman of the finance committee; National Cotton Council, member; Millsaps College Board of Trustees, member; Delta Council, director and vice president; Staple Cotton Association, member of the board of directors and executive committee; Southern Regional Education Board, member; Minter City Oil Mill, president; Mississippi State University Development Foundation, board member; West Tallahatchie County School Board, member; Delta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, vice president, and Mississippi Fiscal Management Board, member; and

WHEREAS, for his dedication to his community, state and fellowman, Mr. Sturdivant was awarded numerous awards throughout his lifetime, such as: the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Service Award, the Living Award from the Methodist Hospital Foundation, and he was the first recipient of the Life Inspiration Award from Methodist Hospitals of Memphis; and

WHEREAS, friends remember Mr. Sturdivant for his diligent, tireless and relentless dedication to his fellowman, community and state, and as Former Mississippi Governor William Winter recalled, "Mike Sturdivant was one of Mississippi's most valuable and effective citizen leaders, who was totally dedicated to improving life for everyone in Mississippi," stating that, "He had a compassion for the less fortunate and did everything he could to improve their lives," and praising this great Mississippian by proclaiming that, "He should have been governor of Mississippi."; and

WHEREAS, although Mr. Sturdivant has now made life's great transition into immortality, the rich legacy of familial and community devotion will be forever and indelibly etched into the hearts and memories of his loving survivors, including: loving wife of 62 years, Ygondine Walker Sturdivant; sons, Mike (Jan), Walker (Lanie), Sykes (Cindy) and Gaines (Lynn); daughter, Ygondine Sturdivant Creasy; 9 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and many friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the life and legacy of the sons of Mississippi, such as Mr. Sturdivant, who devoted their lives to its betterment 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, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of Mr. Mike P. Sturdivant, a dedicated family man as well as a great farmer, 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. Mike Sturdivant and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.