House Concurrent Resolution 114

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. JOSEPH IRVIN GILL, JR., UPON BEING NAMED THE 2017 RECIPIENT OF THE CHARLES H. LYLES/LYLES-SIMPSON AWARD.

WHEREAS, Joseph Irvin Gill, Jr., of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is the 2017 recipient of the Charles H. Lyles/Lyles-Simpson Award, an award given by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) to an individual, agency or organization which has contributed to the betterment of the Gulf of Mexico through significant biological, industrial, legislative, enforcement or administrative activities; and

WHEREAS, since 1984, the Commissioners have selected eminently qualified individuals active in marine fisheries whose careers and contributions to Gulf fisheries are worthy to be labeled "fishery giants," and Joe Gill, the Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources from 1994-1995, the Deputy Director of Coastal Operations with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks from 1988-1994, and the Chief of Wetlands Division/Deputy Director of Coastal Operations with the Mississippi Bureau of Marine Resources/Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks from 1973-1988 is just that type of individual; and

WHEREAS, born on July 15, 1938, Mr. Gill graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1956, and attended Perkinston Junior College and Jefferson Davis Junior College, where he received degrees in business administration and accounting and computer science, respectively in 1958 and 1968, as well as joining an elite fraternity of soldiers in the Mississippi National Guard in 1956 and patriotically serving his country in that role until his honorable discharge in 1966; and

WHEREAS, throughout his career, Mr. Gill has accomplished many notable feats, including work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile and Vicksburg Districts, to coordinate the development of a joint application which allowed for a one stop permitting program, develop procedures for reviewing federal authorized dredging programs in the state of Mississippi and coordinate the review of all environmental impact statements; and

WHEREAS, additionally, he made great strides for the good of the fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico through his work with the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Marine Fisheries Service with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, the Issues in Marine Stock Enhancement and Prioritization of Marine Finfish for Enhancement Research in the North Central Gulf of Mexico, the Secretary of State and the Building Official's Association, and Mr. Gill has co-authored a publication entitled, Long-term Observation on Seagrass Beds and Salt Marsh: Established from Transplants; and

WHEREAS, for his efforts at improving the Mississippi Gulf Coast and its surrounding waters, Mr. Gill has been awarded several prestigious honors, including the 1994 2nd Annual Eley Ross Award by the Gulf Coast Commercial Fishermen and Consumer Association that is given to an individual who contributes the most to the seafood industry, the Outstanding Performance Award by the Bureau of Marine Resources, the Stephen T. Mather Award by the National Park & Conservation Association Southeast Regional Winner, and the 1993 Conservation of the Year Award by the Mississippi Wildlife Federation; and

WHEREAS, currently, Mr. Gill is the Chief Executive Officer of Joe Gill Consulting, LLC, a role where he continues to improve the fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico by developing and submitting project proposals for the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, the City of Ocean Springs and the University of Southern Mississippi/Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (USM/GCRL) in order to receive Tidelands funds from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, developing and submitting applications for clients for individual projects, preparing environmental assessments for projects, conducting wetland identification, Coastal Zone Management interpretation and use determinations, and preparing consistency statements to be submitted to the Federal and State Regulatory Agencies; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend fine Mississippians, especially "fishery giants" such as Mr. Joseph Irvin Gill, Jr., whose career and accomplishments have truly helped improve and flourish the fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, bringing honor and glory to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Joseph Irvin Gill, Jr., upon being named the 2017 recipient of the Charles H. Lyles/Lyles-Simpson Award and extend most sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Joseph Irvin Gill, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.