MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Polk, Blount, Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Fillingane, Frazier, Hopson, Horhn, Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Montgomery, Stone, Wilemon, Longwitz
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FORMER MISSISSIPPI REPRESENTATIVE AND SECRETARY OF STATE DR. ERIC CLARK FOR HIS STEWARDSHIP OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD AND FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, former Mississippi Representative and Secretary of State Dr. Eric Clark, who has spent decades in public service, has announced that he will retire from his longtime position as Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Eric Clark began serving as Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board in January 2008. He previously served for 12 years as the Mississippi Secretary of State from 1996-2008 and 16 years as a member of the Mississippi Legislature, serving Jones, Smith and Covington Counties; and
WHEREAS, now a Brandon resident, Dr. Clark has improved the internal operations of the Community College Board and negotiated an agreement with the IHL Board allowing for smoother transfers between community colleges and Mississippi's eight public universities. Also under his leadership, the board has improved remedial education and developed better ways to measure college performance. Bruce Martin of Meridian, Chairman of the Community College Board, praised Clark's stewardship of the college system during the recession, a period when state aid was cut at the same time that enrollment ballooned to record levels, hitting nearly 90,000 students in 2010. Martin said, "Dr. Clark piloted the community colleges through a very financially troubling time and also met the increased demand of more people wanting to get education and job skills during the recession"; and
WHEREAS, Eric Clark has been recognized with the American Family Association's "God and Country" Award for authoring the law that outlawed possession of child pornography in Mississippi. He was also given the Mississippi Wildlife Federation's Conservation Legislator of the Year Award and twice awarded the Mississippi Nature Conservancy's Public Service Award for his efforts to preserve natural lands on the Gulf Coast; and
WHEREAS, he currently serves on the boards of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates, the State Workforce Investment Board, Innovate Mississippi Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. He was a Certified Public Manager; and
WHEREAS, Eric Clark is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John S. Clark. His father also served Smith County in the Mississippi House of Representatives, and his mother, Mamie Craft Clark, was a respected community leader. Clark was Valedictorian of his class at Taylorsville High School. He attended Jones County Junior College and he received a Bachelor's Degree from Millsaps College, a Master's Degree from the University of Mississippi, and a Doctorate in History from Mississippi State University. A former public school and community college teacher, Clark taught history and government at Jones County Junior College, Mississippi College and Belhaven University. He also manages his family tree farm in Smith County; and
WHEREAS, Eric Clark is married to the former Karan Killebrew. Karan is a Registered Nurse who grew up in Durant and Forest, Mississippi. Their family includes two children, Charles and Catherine; daughter-in-law, Katy; and grandson, Benjamin. The Clarks are active members of the First Baptist Church of Jackson; and
WHEREAS, Eric Clark was a hardworking statesman, and his integrity, ethical leadership and work ethics set a model for other Mississippi officials to emulate:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize former Mississippi Representative and Secretary of State Dr. Eric Clark for his stewardship of the community college system on the occasion of his retirement as Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board and for his distinguished service to the people of the State of Mississippi, which has enriched everyone with whom he was associated, and we wish Dr. Clark and his family much success in their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Clark and his family, be forwarded to the Mississippi Community College Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.