Senate Concurrent Resolution 578

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE MALCOLM MABRY, JR., OF DUBLIN, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, the Legislature and the State of Mississippi lost a colleague, gentleman and enlightened lawmaker with the death of former State Senator and Representative Malcolm Mabry, Jr., of Dublin, Mississippi, on June 12, 2020. Animal lover, farmer, teacher, artist, writer and former long-time legislator, Malcolm was 87 years old and leaves behind the legacy of a life devoted to the betterment of both man and animals; and

WHEREAS, highlights of Malcolm's diverse life include an early career as a high school history teacher; seven decades of farming his family land in Dublin, Mississippi; self-publishing two books of poetry; serving for nearly a quarter of a century in the Mississippi State Legislature; almost single-handedly raising $1.5 Million for Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine's state-of-the-art oncology unit; and last, but definitely not least, being the last ray of hope for more stray dogs than can be counted; and

WHEREAS, Senator Mabry devoted 24 years to the Mississippi Legislature, serving in both the House and the Senate between 1964-1988. In Senator Mabry's last term in office, he chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee. When he first came to Jackson in the 1960s, he described himself as one of the most conservative members of the Legislature and a member of the old guard of right-wing Democrats who dominated the ultra-conservative Legislature. Later in the 1970s, during a district-wide door-to-door Senate campaign, he began to see firsthand the struggles and poverty of his black constituents. This brought on a complete change of heart to the once staunch segregationist and led him to become one of the most liberal members of the Senate, gaining a reputation as an arch defender of Civil Rights and a champion for the underdog. He counted among his mentors Albert Schweitzer, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm was known for his smooth southern drawl, his self-assured and outspoken manner, and his sometimes formidable temperament. These traits were present most often as a politician protecting the rights of the oppressed on the Senate floor, as a Delta farmer fighting to preserve the environment, or when advocating for the welfare animals. It was common for Malcolm, when arguing such points, to strike his iconic senatorial pose, holding up his hand with raised forefinger pointing determinedly straight up and locking his piercing blue eyes on yours as he lectured home his point; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm was a study in contradictions considering his political accomplishments and his hardboiled, old-Delta-farmer-no-nonsense attitude. Aside from his public life in politics, he was a humble, generous and unpretentious man with many unexpected interests. He lived a simple life. Malcolm never married and had a family. He never moved from his childhood home in Dublin, the small Mississippi Delta community where he was born. He was an ardent reader and subscribed to six newspapers, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He was well-versed on a wide array of topics, including world politics and economics; history; astronomy and quantum physics; and the lives of great people; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm was one of the last handwritten letter writers, regularly writing to his many friends around the nation in his distinctive, flowing calligraphic script. For many years he exchanged letters with several political notables, including a former U.S. President. He adopted the small, Mayberry-like Town of Kenyon, Minnesota, keeping up with their goings-on through their local paper, the Kenyon Leader, contributing to their community charities; and making many close Kenyon friends. He wrote poetry and self-published two books of his poems. He diligently painted hundreds of small smooth river stones with colorful, elaborately detailed designs resembling bejeweled Faberge Eggs. He continued to help farm his land until he was 84 and regularly mowed his beloved pecan groves and pet cemetery with his tractor and bush hog, keeping them in pristine, park-like condition; and

WHEREAS, in his last two decades of life, he began to rescue and care for stray dogs. This endeavor would come to be what he thought of as his only really important accomplishment. Soon his number of strays began to increase and he started buying up and fencing in houses in Dublin as people moved away or died to house them. At one time he had up to 38 dogs housed around town and out at his farm headquarters. He always provided them with the best of shelter, food, veterinary care, attention and love. With no children or close family, his dogs became his family; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm is preceded in death by his mother and father, Abbie West and Malcolm H. Mabry, Sr.; his brother, Ray; his nephew, Billy Ray Mabry; and his niece, Mary Lou Mabry. He is survived by his niece, Lucy Ann Mabry; one great-nephew, Malcolm Ray Mabry (Julie); one great-niece, Elizabeth Rybolt; and cousin, Bill West (Brenda). He leaves behind many close friends, including his longtime friend, David Cook. He also leaves behind his "babies": Butterbeans, Baby, Big Baby, Francine, Pup Pup, Little Boy (AKA Rabbit), Ethel II, Emma II, Mamma, Mamma Bulldog, Spot, Honey Spot, Girl, Boy, Boy-Boy, Cookie, Big Brown Dog, Eurma, Pearl, Uncle Duke and Street Dog; and

WHEREAS, Senator Mabry's public service was exemplified by sound judgment and fairness, and he set the highest standard in all of his many roles, as a farmer, citizen statesman and leader in the Mississippi Delta and in the Mississippi Senate and House and as a true friend:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of public service of former Senator and Representative Malcolm Mabry, Jr., of Dublin, Mississippi, and express to his family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Senator Malcolm Mabry and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.