House Resolution 12

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. MARTIN "MARTY" DAVIDSON UPON HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL LEGACY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN AND OWNER OF SOUTHERN PIPE AND SUPPLY COMPANY.

WHEREAS, Mr. Martin "Marty" Davidson, a native of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, is being honored for his success as the third generation owner and CEO of Southern Pipe and Supply Company, which is headquartered in Mississippi's Queen City - Meridian, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Southern Pipe and Supply, a world renowned company, began with Mr. Davidson's grandfather, Louis Davidson, who came to America as a 20-year-old Russian immigrant in 1901 to pursue his American dream, and in 1918, Mr. Davidson's grandfather began a company called St. Louis Junk, which was a scrap metal business, and eventually that business became Southern Pipe and Supply; and

WHEREAS, in 1930, Mr. Louis Davidson's sons, Meyer and Sammie, joined the business, and in 1938, the company sold its first carload of steel and within a year the business shifted to plumbing supply, and the company name was changed from St. Louis Junk Company to Southern Pipe and Supply; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Marty Davidson began working in the family business at the age of 5 by stocking shelves, and seeing the passion exhibited by his grandfather, Louis, father, Meyer, and uncle, Sammie, he joined the company in 1962 with a bachelors of business administration degree from Tulane University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson, in 1968, became the third generation owner and continued the rich foundation of treating both customers and employees with respect and affection - fundamentals that were created by his grandfather, father and uncle and carries on today through his son, Jay, who is the fourth generation owner and president of the company; and

WHEREAS, Southern Pipe and Supply has expanded to more than 100 locations across seven states, and in 2019 the company was named the fastest growing distributor in its industry; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, the company unveiled a $25 million expansion project in Meridian with the purchase of a 500,000 square foot distribution center, which speaks volumes of the commitment that the company has to Lauderdale County and surrounding areas; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson, as the chairman of one of the largest wholesalers of top-quality, name-brand plumbing, heating, air conditioning (HVAC), industrial, mechanical and waterworks materials in the Southeast, has, nonetheless, always made time to give back to the community; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson, who is a past president of both the Southern Wholesaler Association and East Mississippi Business Development Corp., is current president of The Riley Foundation - an organization that improves the quality of life for the citizens of Meridian and Lauderdale County; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson, a major supporter of Mississippi State University (MSU), and with the foundation's partnership with MSU has led to the development of the Riley Campus in downtown Meridian as well as a scholarship program that assists students pursue a four-year degree at MSU-Meridian; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson also serves as treasurer of the Hardin Foundation and is a member of Rush Hospital's board of directors and is a past president of Temple Beth Israel, just to name a few of his past and present activities; and

WHEREAS, due to his entrepreneurial spirit as well as his philanthropic nature, Mr. Davidson has received several awards, some of them are as follows: named to the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame, received the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.'s Hartley Peavey Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, Ellis Island Medal of Honor - a national recognition of contributions made by immigrants and their children, Meridian Star's "Citizen of the Year" award, and he and his wife, Linda, were named "Philanthropists of the Year" by Meridian Community College; and

WHEREAS, throughout all of his endeavors, Mr. Davidson has been lovingly supported by his beautiful wife, Linda, their children, Melanie and Jay, as well as their grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to a successful Mississippi businessman such as Mr. Davidson who appreciates that continual investment into the community through Southern Pipe and Supply Company, a Mississippi home-grown business, is key to not only the future of Meridian and the surrounding areas but this great state as a whole:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Martin "Marty" Davidson on his success as chairman of Southern Pipe and Supply as well as his philanthropic spirit, and wish him continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Martin "Marty" Davidson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.