Senate Concurrent Resolution 631

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LONGTIME COLUMBUS BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADER ROGER D. BELL AND HIS 45-YEAR CAREER OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY IN MISSISSIPPI ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Roger D. Bell served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Columbus and Greenville Railway Company and CAGY Industries, Inc., and recently announced his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Roger D. Bell is retiring from his illustrious career in the railroad industry, which encompassed short-line railroad operations and business development in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee; and throughout his 45-year career provided executive leadership in the creation, development, and operation of four short-line railroads delivering outstanding value and competitive rail freight services to local communities, the railroad's customers, employees, and the company shareholders; and

WHEREAS, Roger D. Bell is a lifelong resident of Mississippi and has been an active member of the community serving in numerous civic organizations, including Rotary Club of Columbus where he attained the Paul Harris Fellowship, served on the executive committee of the Columbus Lowndes Economic Development Authority (CLEDA) for eight years and as Chairman in 2000-2001, where he received the Volunteer Economic Developer of the Year Award by Mississippi Economic Development Council and Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove, served as President of the Board of the Lowndes County Port Authority, and provided leadership in numerous economic development projects recruited by his railroads creating thousands of jobs and more than $2 Billion in capital investment and hundreds of thousands of carloads of rail traffic; and

WHEREAS, Roger D. Bell was a founding member of the Mississippi Railroad Association and served on its executive committee for 25 years and as Chairman for six years, and served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association for 15 years, was elected as Southern Region Vice President 1996-2004, and served as Chairman of the Board 2004-2007 of the Washington, D.C., association representing more than 500 short-line railroads and 50,000 railroad employees across the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Roger D. Bell dedicated his railroad career to improving railroad operations and promoting business development, improving safety to railroad employees and the general public through enhanced operating and safety practices and grade crossing safety programs, providing testimony and operational information on behalf of the short-line railroad industry on numerous occasions before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, Mississippi House and Senate Committees and to members of the Mississippi Legislature, and has been recognized by officials of the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration for his design and creativity in the construction and rebuilding of railroad bridges and infrastructure improvements; and has been recognized as an outstanding citizen and public servant by his local community and by his Board of Directors, railroad employees, and colleagues in the railroad industry for his successful leadership, integrity, and lifelong commitment to the short-line railroad industry; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend this record of achievement and legacy of leadership to all in Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize longtime Columbus business and civic leader Roger D. Bell and his 45-year career of outstanding service in the railroad industry in Mississippi on the occasion of his retirement, and extend our best wishes to Mr. Bell and his family on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Roger D. Bell, forwarded to the Columbus and Greenville Railway Company, the Mississippi Railroad Association and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.