Senate Concurrent Resolution 582

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING AND MEMORIALIZING THE GENERATION OF BUSINESSMEN AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT ESTABLISHED A VIBRANT AUTOMOTIVE MARKETPLACE IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGENDS AND SUCCESS STORIES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS IN THIS MARKET DURING THE EARLY 1970S AND THEIR CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS.

WHEREAS, we join the business community and citizens in remembering and memorializing the generation of businessmen and community leaders that helped create and establish a vibrant automotive marketplace in Jackson, Mississippi, following World War II; and

WHEREAS, we focus on the time after World War II through the mid-1970s, which was the first main generation of automobile dealers in Jackson and the real growth in the automotive dealership industry in this great city:

· Many of these men came from very humble beginnings growing up during the 1920s and 1930s, going through the Great Depression, and then off to fight in World War II;

· Following the war, many of them made their way or returned to Jackson and entered the automobile business;

· Some common characteristics were a deep driving passion to succeed, a willingness to work long and hard, a willingness to take risks, and a true entrepreneurial spirit;

· Not only did this group of men create, grow and manage vibrant businesses, but they also were very involved in the community in support of so many worthwhile causes;

· They invested in the community, not only in their automotive businesses but in a wide array of entrepreneurial enterprises, including development of retail shopping areas such as Westland Plaza and Highland Village; development of residential housing and apartments; development of office buildings; development of motels/hotels; and creation of other businesses such as insurance companies, all of which contributed to the fabric of the Jackson community;

· They created a significant stream of tax revenue for decades for the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi from the sale of automobiles and services as well as their other endeavors;

· They created a livelihood for a significant number of employees from all walks of life in the Jackson area with job opportunities that included benefits above the average in the marketplace; and

WHEREAS, some of those businessmen who were part of this generation were:

· W.G. Avery of W.G. Avery Body Works;

· T.G. Blackwell of Blackwell Chevrolet;

· Johnny Covington of Covington Motors;

· E.J. Craigo of Craigo Motors;

· Al East of East Ford;

· James E. Fowler of Fowler Buick;

· Earl Fyke of Robinson Brothers Chrysler Plymouth;

· George Gear of Herrin-Gear Chevrolet;

· Grady Graham of Graham-Selman Motors;

· Bagby Hall of Bagby Hall Lincoln-Mercury;

· John Harvey of Harvey-Magee Ford;

· Carl Herrin of Herrin-Gear Chevrolet;

· Frank Hutton of Lloyd Ford and Jackson Lincoln-Mercury;

· Dumas Milner of Dumas Milner Chevrolet, Inc., and Dumas Milner Enterprises;

· Paul G. Moak of Paul Moak Pontiac;

· Sidney Robinson of Robinson Brothers Chrysler Plymouth;

· Thad Ryan of Ryan Cadillac;

· Herb Selman of Graham-Selman Motors;

· Milton E. Trowbridge of VanTrow Oldsmobile;

· Dick Whitehurst of Whitehurst Toyota;

· Howard Wilson of Howard Wilson Chrysler Plymouth; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the development of their own businesses, these leaders also created significant opportunities for African Americans to enter the sales field and on into management in the early 1970s. The first African Americans to be hired initially as Salesmen in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, were in the "rolling" seventies:

· Johnny Morrow, the first African American Wholesaler in the State of Mississippi and one of the few in the southeast;

· The late Harvey Dorsey, the first Salesman hired by a new car dealership;

· Tom Allen, the first General Manager, 43 years;

· Winston Pittman, the first owner of a new car dealership, 45 years;

· Robert Williams, 40-plus years;

· The late Clyde Pittman, Salesman for 40-plus years;

· Lee Barnett, the first bargain lot manager;

· Maurice Ellis, Finance Manager;

· Malone Hughes, 40 years;

· Bill Benford, 42 years;

· Willis Wells, 37 years;

· Lee Johnson, 33 years;

· Joe Powell, 44 years;

· Greg Schellis, 43 years;

· Toby Davis, 45 years;

· James Hopkins, 43 years; and

WHEREAS, these African American pioneers who were the first to break into the Jackson Automobile Dealerships are known as "The Ice Breakers"; and

WHEREAS, most of these gentlemen are still involved in automobile sales. Their loyalty and dedication to their profession and community are commendable; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these pioneers of the automobile industry in Jackson which is an important part of the history of our city and state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby salute and memorialize the generation of businessmen and community leaders who established a vibrant automotive marketplace in Jackson, Mississippi, following World War II and the African American legends and success stories in the automotive business in this market during the early 1970s and their civic contributions, and extend the thanks of a grateful state for their contributions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Johnny Morrow representing the automobile dealership legends of the Jackson metropolitan area and forwarded to the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.