House Resolution 108

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE WILK-AMITE RECORD, LLC IN GLOSTER, MISSISSIPPI, UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS QUASQUICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, CELEBRATING ONE HUNDREDTH TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION.

WHEREAS, the Wilk-Amite Record newspaper company, conceived in 1892, when Benjamin Harrison was President of the United States, Ellis Island became the reception center for new immigrants, and the Coca-Cola Company was incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia, will celebrate the most auspicious occasion of its quasquicentennial anniversary in celebration of 125 years of unceasing operations in its original location at 243 East Main Street, Gloster, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the conception of the Wilk-Amite Record was founded in 1888 as The Valley Record, and then renamed The Gloster Record by the town's first mayor, Mr. William Douglas Caufield, whose family ran the newspaper company for several years, doing a wonderful job in building up the Gloster community and the surrounding territory of Amite and Wilkinson Counties; and

WHEREAS, the Wilk-Amite Record was subsequently acquired by Mr. O.C. McDavid, who then sold it to his 19-year-old son, Mr. George E. "Gene" McDavid for the negotiably conditioned price of "$500 down and forever to pay," and under whose tenure of service, the newspaper was renamed the Wilk-Amite Record before being sold to Mr. Paul Pittman of Tylertown, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the business-savvy husband and wife, Mr. David and Mrs. Mary Lou Webb, acquired the company from Mr. Pittman, and whose possession maintains the longest-standing record of ownership by one family of the Wilk-Amite Record, having held ownership faithfully for more than 60 years; and

WHEREAS, after the death of Mr. Webb, Mrs. Mary Lou Webb continued to manage the newspaper company until retirement, the company was sold to Mrs. Betty Stevens of Gloster, an equally shrewd business professional, who also owned and operated a realty company in Gloster; and

WHEREAS, however, the time consumption and huge demands necessary to run the newspaper company compelled Mrs. Betty Stevens to sell the newspaper company along with the property and building to Mr. Davis "Billy" Anders, with an understanding that the history of the company and the small town of Gloster would continue to be preserved in its most authentic form; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Anders, an Amite County native and military veteran, who was born in Liberty, Mississippi, and attended elementary school in the present day facility housing Blalock's Grocery in Liberty, placed a telephone call to Mr. Gregory Adams in July 2014, inquiring of his interest in acquiring ownership of the Wilk-Amite Record, which, according to Mr. Adams, took him "less than fifteen seconds" to express his desire and acceptance of the offer from Mr. Anders; and

WHEREAS, also a military veteran, Mr. Adams, a native of Houston, Texas, who is the President/CEO of eCom Direct, Inc., filed the necessary documentation with the Mississippi Secretary of State, which reflected eCom Direct as the "Sole Member" of the Wilk-Amite Record, LLC, and became the first African American to have ownership of the Wilk-Amite Record; and

WHEREAS, the son and the eighth of nine children born to Mr. E.R. Adams and Mrs. Hazel V. Adams, the latter of whom is a native of Liberty, Mississippi, where she was raised in the "Jerusalem" community, where the Simmons family has lived for many, many years; and

WHEREAS, currently eCom Direct, Inc., and the Wilk-Amite Record, LLC is pursuing its goal to best assist The Gloster Economic Development Association to acquire a building to serve as a museum on Main Street, in the Town of Gloster, which will house and display, the Linotype "Model 8" printing press and all of the associated artifacts used by Mr. O.C. McDavid and Mr. Gene McDavid, upon careful relocation into the new museum during the preservation process slated to officially begin during the 2017 125th anniversary celebration; and

WHEREAS, The Gloster Economic Development Association, which has partnered with the newspaper to be a catalyst for change within Amite and Wilkinson Counties, will present and host the Wilk-Amite Record's 125th-year anniversary celebration in furtherance of the attainment of the harmonious community originally envisioned by the founders of the Wilk-Amite Record; and

WHEREAS, through these collaborative efforts to boost the economy to flourish and to revitalize the area, natives and new businesses are encouraged again to invest and reinvest their time and resources into the community, while the new technological infrastructure will afford everyone the opportunity to explore new ideas, the museum and the arts will unite the local communities in ways not yet seen; and

WHEREAS, over the course of the three-day celebration held in honor of the Wilk-Amite Record's 125th year occurring on the weekend of October 13-15, 2017, residents and visitors will experience: a parade, which is planned to start in Liberty and make its route along Highway 24 to Woodville, and for which United States Olympic Gold Medalist, Ms. Tori Bowie will serve as Grand Marshal; concerts at various venues throughout Amite County and Wilkinson County; and climax with a gala at the historic Planter Hardware, Inc., building on Main Street, in Woodville; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence in heritage and history, especially when such rich treasures are preserved and recounted by an entity of the Wilk-Amite Record's incredible caliber, through its deeply entrenched commitment to prospering the community it serves:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the Wilk-Amite Record, LLC for its contributions to the communities of Amite and Wilkinson Counties across 125 years of operation, congratulate the organization upon the occasion of its quasquicentennial anniversary, and hereby express best wishes for continued prosperity in the years to come.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Wilk-Amite Record, LLC and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.