Senate Resolution 4

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND SENATOR KELVIN E. BUTLER FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE.

WHEREAS, Senator Kelvin E. Butler is retiring from the Mississippi Senate to run for county office after serving 12 years in the Senate (2004-2015); and

WHEREAS, Senator Kelvin Butler is a man of integrity and hard work with a thorough knowledge of local government, and there is an acknowledged respect of our esteemed colleague, gentleman and enlightened lawmaker; and

WHEREAS, Kelvin Butler currently serves as Senator from District 38, which is comprised of portions of Pike, Adams, Amite, Walthall and Wilkinson Counties; and

WHEREAS, in the Senate, Kelvin serves as Chairman of the Labor Committee and has served as Chairman of the Local and Private Committee, which handles a wide variety of legislative issues of critical importance to counties and municipalities. He also serves on the Business and Financial Institutions, Energy, Finance, Highways and Transportation, Judiciary A, Municipalities, PEER, State Library and the Tourism Committees; and

WHEREAS, Senator Butler's key legislative interest included sponsorship of the 16-year-old driver's license bill which has been credited with improved highway safety and legislation to redistrict the courts in his area. With his own children in the school system, he took a great interest in education bills, including youth concussion and school attendance; and

WHEREAS, Senator Butler has taken great pride in the historical and cultural background of his hometown McComb and Pike County, and brought the family of the original famous 50s group "The Moonglows" to the Senate floor to honor their musical history and the history of Mississippi as the "Birthplace of American Music"; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of McComb, Mississippi, Senator Butler retired from Delphi Packard Electric Systems, is a Mason, and belongs to the International Union of Electrical Workers. He and his wife, Barbara, are Baptists and have five children: Kelvin, Jr., Marquita, Kendric, Jadarious and Destiny; and

WHEREAS, Senator Butler's service has been marked by his commitment to success and recognized leadership, sound judgment and fairness. He has set the highest standard in all of his many roles: father, husband, businessman, statesman, community leader and leader in the Mississippi Senate and as a true colleague: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and recognize Senator Kelvin Butler, whose outstanding service enriched everyone with whom he was associated, and we wish Kelvin and his family much success in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Senator Butler and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.