House Resolution 23

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING MR. WALTER LEE DIXON, JR., ON BEING CROWNED KING ILLINOIS 2017 AT THE 116TH ANNUAL BALL AND DEBUTANTE COTILLION HOSTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL ILLINOIS CLUB, INC., AND COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS MANY IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WHEREAS, Mr. Walter Lee Dixon, Jr., has been selected to reign as King Illinois 2017 at the 116th Annual Ball and Debutante Cotillion hosted by the members of the Original Illinois Club, Inc., during the Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his receiving this high honor, it should be noted that his daughter, Miss Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon, was selected to reign as Queen Illinois 2017, and is evidence that Mr. Dixon's whole family embodies the ideals and characteristics of the Original Illinois Club, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, after realizing the joy and pride in presenting his daughter Briana in the 2011 Original Illinois Club Debutante Ball, Mr. Dixon quickly acted on the invitation from the Original Illinois Club to join the ranks of the men who have sustained the efforts of this most notable and oldest African-American social club in the country, and he has made it his business to be an integral part of each season's presentation and offers his assistance in any way he can; and

WHEREAS, a native of sunny Clewiston, Florida, Mr. Dixon was born to Janet Brumfield Taylor and Walter Lee Dixon, Sr., on December 29, 1963; and

WHEREAS, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Dixon furthered his studies at DeVry Institute and Southern Polytechnic Institute, where he received several technical certifications; and

WHEREAS, in March 1991, Mr. Dixon married the love of his life, Persharon Dixon, and through this union the couple would give life to three extraordinary children, Briana, Jahmil and Lauren; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dixon considers his children to be his greatest success story and is thankful to God for the tremendous privilege of raising them; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Dixon and his wife uprooted their family and moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, so that Mrs. Dixon could utilize her training as a pediatrician to provide much needed healthcare to displaced children and their families; and

WHEREAS, as he had worked for 20 years as Supervisor in Operations at UPS, Mr. Dixon initially transferred to UPS on the Gulf Coast where he helped them rebuild, but for the last eight years he has been part of the Home Depot service team in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he provides support for the freight crew, and is the recipient of 18 Homer Awards, which are given for exceptional internal and external service at Home Depot; and

WHEREAS, community service and involvement have been the cornerstone of the values in the Dixon family and the impetus to move to the coast was tied to this commitment to healthy and whole communities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dixon has been in full support of the community efforts of his family, financially and actively, and he has participated in preparation for programs and projects of the Upsilon Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as a "Honey Do" to his wife and was officially honored as a "Honey Do" in a ceremony at the Southeast Regional Conference of Alpha Kappa Alpha in 2016; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his other community service projects, Mr. Dixon has played an integral role in the development and progress of the Fathers' Auxiliary of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., an organization he enjoys supporting because of its emphasis on the family and the growth of African-American children into the leaders of the future; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the community leaders of our state, especially those such as Mr. Walter Lee Dixon, Jr., whose dedication to helping others brings great pride to his family, friends and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Walter Lee Dixon, Jr., upon being crowned King Illinois 2017 at the 116th Annual Ball and Debutante Cotillion hosted by the members of the Original Illinois Club, Inc., and express best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Walter Lee Dixon, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.