House Resolution 34

A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF GOVERNOR WILLIAM F. WINTER IN HONOR OF HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY, AND EXPRESSING SINCERE WISHES FOR SUSTAINED HEALTH, JOY, PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

WHEREAS, Governor William Forrest Winter, the 57th Governor of the Great State of Mississippi, will celebrate his 90th birthday on February 21, 2013, in the state in which he has led a storied life of historic significance; and

WHEREAS, as Governor, he served with distinction from 1980 to 1984 and was a passionate advocate for pubic education, freedom of information, racial reconciliation and historic preservation; and

WHEREAS, he championed the passage of the Mississippi Education Reform Act by using his powers of persuasion and keen political savvy to push the legislation thereby elevating education as a top priority in the state; and

WHEREAS, a proud Mississippi native, he was born in Grenada, Mississippi, and matriculated at the University of Mississippi, where he graduated first in his class as an undergraduate and as a law student at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Mississippi Law Journal; and

WHEREAS, before his political career began, Governor Winter served this country as a member of the United States Army graduating first in his class at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned commission as Second Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, as Second Lieutenant, he was sent to Tuskegee, Alabama, to assist with training one of only two African-American infantry regiments in the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, during World War II, he earned the rank of Captain, when he served in the infantry during his service in the Philippines as Liaison Officer and Acting Assistant G-3 of the 86th Infantry Division on Luzon Island; and

WHEREAS, Governor Winter, subsequently, was recalled into service during the Korean Conflict and thereafter served in the Mississippi National Guard in the "Dixie Division," the 31st Infantry Division, until his retirement in 1957; and

WHEREAS, in 1947, his foray into the political arena began while he was still a law student as he won his election bid to represent Grenada County in the distinguished Mississippi House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, he served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1948 to 1956 before going on to serve as Mississippi State Tax Collector from 1956 to 1964, as Mississippi State Treasurer from 1964 to 1968, and Lieutenant Governor from 1972 to 1976; and

WHEREAS, the devotion of Governor William F. Winter to his state, its heritage and history was manifest through his service on the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History, from 1958 to 2011, serving as its President from 1961 to 2011; and

WHEREAS, Governor Winter was appointed by President William J. Clinton as a member of his Advisory Board, the National Civic League, the Kettering Foundation, and the Foundation for the Mid-South, an organization of leaders from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana dedicated to improving the economic and social conditions of the three-state area; and

WHEREAS, because Governor Winter has fought to improve the lives of all Mississippians throughout his life, his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, has honored him for his many works by naming the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation in his honor as well as establishing the William F. Winter Professorship in the Department of History in recognition of his scholarly dedication to the advancement of learning and intellectual endeavor; and

WHEREAS, not a stranger to honors, he was awarded the Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for his work advancing education and racial reconciliation and was recipient of The Mississippi Bar's Lifetime Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, Governor Winter has been accompanied on his distinguished path of service by his loving wife of more than 60 years, the former Elise Varner of Senatobia, Mississippi, whose intelligence and grace continue to do honor to her husband and this state, and their three daughters, Anne, Lele and Eleanor; and

WHEREAS, Governor Winter throughout his entire life has exemplified and continues to exemplify the qualities of courage, fortitude, integrity and vision, which have helped our state to progress, and he serves as a role model for all who would be called Mississippians; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to honor and celebrate the valiant and meritorious commitment of Mississippi leaders such as Governor William F. Winter who render their services to this state and the nation selflessly to protect the nation's defenses and freedoms, who honor and zealously advocate for its people, and whose aspirations for and allegiance to Mississippi's citizens serve to improve and enhance their lives:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That we do hereby celebrate the life of Governor William Forrest Winter in honor of his 90th birthday, and express sincere wishes for sustained health, joy, peace and prosperity for many years to come.

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