House Concurrent Resolution 112

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF DR. ROBERT BURWELL TOWNES AND EXTENDING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, on October 23, 2015, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved Dr. Robert Burwell Townes to rest eternally, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi and the City of Grenada, Mississippi, lost a wonderful friend, community leader and revered doctor with the passing of Dr. Townes, who was born in Grenada to Mr. Robert Burwell and Mrs. Mary Roane Townes on June 5, 1926; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Townes received his elementary education from Grenada's public school and graduated from John Rundle High School in 1944, and for his extracurricular activity, he diligently strived to fulfill his duties and obligations of maintaining and promoting the mission and vision of the Boy Scouts of America in order to receive his Eagle Scout badge, a distinguished honor only handed to the most qualified candidates; and

WHEREAS, after his high school graduation, the relations between the United States and the hostile Axis powers had diminished and tensions ran high, which had caused Lady Liberty to engage the fanatical regime in World War II, so Dr. Townes put his college dream on the shelf and joined the ranks of an elite fraternity of seamen in the United States Navy, where he patriotically risked his life as a hospital corpsman in Okinawa to protect the freedoms that all Americans enjoy; and

WHEREAS, upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Dr. Townes returned home a hero and pursued his dream of continuing his education, receiving his bachelor of arts and master of science degrees at the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity; and

WHEREAS, driven by the plethora of compassion overflowing from his altruistic heart, Dr. Townes began the late nights, tedious lectures and excruciatingly difficult tests that were necessary to become a physician, and in 1955, he graduated from prestigious Tulane University Medical School with his medical degree, and utilizing the superlative experience and incomparable training he gained during his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dr. Townes joined Dr. W.B. Hunt in the general practice of medicine in Grenada; and

WHEREAS, after 51 years of devoted medical service and thousands upon thousands of exams, house calls, emergencies and delivery room miracles, Dr. Townes retired in 2008 and exchanged his stethoscope and white coat for precious memories and conversations with his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the actual practice of medicine, Dr. Townes imparted his tutelage of medical expertise and proficiency as a clinical associate professor of Family Medicine at the University of Mississippi for 30 years, which enabled him to mentor and inspire many outstanding students from the University of Mississippi Medical School; and

WHEREAS, Governor William Winter recognized and appreciated Dr. Townes' cardinal guidance and repertoire of medical knowledge and appointed him to serve on the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, which ultimately ensured that the physicians licensed to practice medicine in Mississippi would be the best and the brightest; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Townes was also past president of the Grenada Lions Club and a member of the North Central Mississippi Medical Society, Mississippi State Medical Association, American Medical Association, Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians and as a charter member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, where he was board certified, and because he was a passionate advocate for meeting the needs of mentally challenged children, he played a huge role in establishing the Lovely Lane School in Grenada, which was later incorporated into the Grenada Public School System; and

WHEREAS, for 30 years, Dr. Townes served as a lay leader and taught a Sunday School class for high school age children at First United Methodist Church, and because of his spectacularly talented way of sharing God's Word and his love for the Lord that emanated from his core like an illuminated beacon of truth, the students eagerly flooded his classroom each Sunday to soak up the scriptures he preached from the Word of God; 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, the legacy of Dr. Townes will continue to refresh the hearts and minds of his beloved survivors: wife, Linda Spain Townes; daughter, Allen Townes Cunningham; sons, Robert B. Townes IV, Blake Townes and Todd Townes; grandsons, Robert Townes, Price Townes and Parker Townes; nephew, Andrew Townes; cousins, Mary Sharp Rayner and Fred Lickfold; and a host of other relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, a man of many facets; a mentor, friend, inspiration to others, doctor and wonderful husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather, Dr. Townes overflowed with excellence and will be greatly missed not only by his family but also by countless others who had the opportunity to know him and experience his greatness; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to acknowledge the selflessness and benevolence of irreplaceable Mississippians such as Dr. Townes, who courageously fought for his country and then returned home to enrich her citizens with his keen intellect and medical genius, bringing honor and glory to this great Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life, legacy and meritorious leadership and service of Dr. Robert Burwell Townes, 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 Dr. Robert Burwell Townes and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.