MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Blount, Horhn, Jones, Jordan, Jackson (11th), Norwood, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Frazier, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 110-YEAR HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UTICA NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE AND COMMENDING THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS UNIQUE MISSISSIPPI INSTITUTION.
WHEREAS, Utica Normal and Industrial Institute was established in 1903 to eliminate an educational gap not filled by the average school, and this year 2013 is celebrating 110 years of history and significance; and
WHEREAS, for 40 years, 1903-1943, William Henry Holtzclaw, a Tuskegee graduate, along with his family and other Tuskegee graduates who served as teachers, support staff, counselors and community leaders, took on the task of building students' character and appreciation of learning and working to construct buildings for faculty and students; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Holtzclaw used the resources of Booker T. Washington, a former instructor at Tuskegee who visited Utica in 1908 to check on his students and Lawrence Jones, as a faculty member before establishing Piney Woods Country Life School in 1909. The securing of friends and family, and donors of churches to purchase 2000 acres for Utica Institute where he worked until his death in 1943; and
WHEREAS, successors of Holtzclaw strove to lead the institution in continued development of men and women's abilities to obtain knowledge, hone and shape practical skills, and become significant community and world contributors in education, religion, government and economic development. Holtzclaw's son, William Holtzclaw, Jr., succeeded him as principal in 1943. Facing difficulties, Holtzclaw, Jr., and his mother, Mary Ella Holtzclaw, agreed to donate the school and property to Hinds County; and
WHEREAS, upon assuming control, the board of trustees changed the name to Hinds County Agricultural High School, Colored. J.W. Grantham served as Superintendent of the school from 1947-1951; and
WHEREAS, a number of Mississippi Educators, to include Dr. J.D. Boyd (1957), who served as Superintendent and worked with the board of trustees to form a junior college separate from the high school. Dr. Walter Washington (1958-1969) led the college in programs and facilities expansion. In 1969-1987, Mr. J. Louis Stokes assumed the presidency and, during his tenure, a Federal Court ordered Hinds Junior College and Utica Junior College to merge, and Dr. Clyde Muse became President of Hinds Junior College, and the former Utica Junior College; and
WHEREAS, in 1987, Dr. George E. Barnes became Vice President of the Utica Campus of the Hinds Junior College District. In the same year, the Mississippi Legislature changed the name "Junior College" to "Community College." The new name became Hinds Community College District; and
WHEREAS, under Dr. Barnes' leadership as Vice President and with Dr. Clyde Muse as President of Hinds Community College the Utica Campus has indeed embraced the legacy of the Holtzclaw era and his successors to continue to forge ahead toward the vision of educating minds for changing the destiny of the people of this Utica Community and the world:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the 110-year history and significance of the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute, commend the rich history of this unique Mississippi landmark, and join school alumni in celebrating the history and significance of this unique institute.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the President and Board of Trustees of Hinds Community College, forwarded to the Mississippi Community College Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.