House Resolution 30

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF H.B. MAYES MCGEHEE AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, "To everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, the grand architect of the universe, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny, has summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, H.B. Mayes McGehee to eternal rest, as he has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi and the Franklin County communities lost a wonderful friend, community leader, humanitarian and learned attorney on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, with the passing of Mr. Mayes McGehee, who was born on June 25, 1924, to the late Dr. James Claude McGehee and Mary Cook McGehee in Bude, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, a distinguished veteran of two foreign conflicts, Mr. McGehee enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served in the United States Marine Corps until the end of World War II before being commissioned in 1949 as a lieutenant in the Mississippi National Guard and assigned to Heavy Mortar Company, 155th Infantry Regiment, 31st Division, which was called into active duty service in 1951 by President Truman during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McGehee completed his active duty service in 1952 and resumed his service in the Heavy Mortar Company for an additional 12 years until his discharge holding the rank of Captain and Company Commander of the Heavy Mortar Company; and

WHEREAS, a 1948 graduate from the University of Mississippi School of Law, he established his law practice in Meadville, Mississippi, with his uncle and former Congressman Dan R. McGehee, and upon the Congressman's passing continued in the practice after being joined by James A. Torrey in 1962, and later his son Hollis McGehee in 1977; and

WHEREAS, a catalyst for economic development in southwest Mississippi, Mr. Mayes McGehee, who graduated from LSU's School of Banking of the South, served as chief executive officer of the Bank of Franklin for more than 40 years, and was well known in his dual capacity as financier and attorney for the Franklin County Board of Supervisors which fueled and solidified his efforts to attract the business establishments of Southern Pine Superior Stud Corp., Georgia Pacific, Movie Star, Inc., and Shippers Car Line; and

WHEREAS, ever the diligent worker, and meaningful provider for his family and people's champion, Mr. McGehee became the heralding voice for Franklin County when the citizens elected him to the Mississippi State Senate in 1955, in which he served from 1956-1960; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mayes McGehee was a member of the Franklin County Bar, The Mississippi Bar and American Bar Associations for more than 58 years, and was a sustaining member of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association for a number of years, having served in many capacities in The Mississippi Bar including Bar Commissioner and on the Judicial Nominating Committee and the Board of State Bar Examiners; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McGehee was inducted as a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation in 1983, was honored by his selection to the Lamar Order at the University of Mississippi School of Law, and was appointed by former Governor Ray Mabus to a six-year term on the State Oil and Gas Board in 1989, whereon he served as the board's chairman for four years and as vice chairman for two years; and

WHEREAS, a lifetime member of the Bude United Methodist Church for which he evidenced a great love and loyalty, as displayed by his assumption of many roles, including member

and Chairman of the Administrative Board, Church Lay Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Trustee of the Church and Parsonage Properties and Church Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his religious and professional affiliations, Mr. McGehee shared a great interest in and was an ardent supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, serving several years as Scoutmaster of the Bude Boy Scout Troop before later serving as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as fund drive chairman for Franklin County in raising financial support of the council, services for which he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for his dedicated support of Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, as fate would lend itself to building upon the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of his life by the Great Deity, Mr. McGehee's love, chivalry and affection pierced the heart of Mrs. Dorothy Clark Simmons McGehee, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony and completed their family unit with the addition of four children; and

WHEREAS, though he has traversed the river of life to reunite with those who answered God's summons to life eternal and now beckon his arrival to the celestial shores of Heaven's grandeur, including his parents and eight siblings, the legacy of Mr. McGehee's memory will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his beloved survivors: devoted wife, Dorothy; children, Rebecca M. Janes, Mary Bryan Roberts, William Hollis McGehee and Bowmar Mayes McGehee, Jr.; nine beloved grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to acknowledge the selflessness and benevolence of such a humanitarian of an individual of esteemed caliber as Mr. H.B. Mayes McGehee:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of Mr. H.B. Mayes McGehee and extend sincere and deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

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