House Resolution 81

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING MR. HENRY PRESLEY POSEY ON THE OCCASION OF BEING HONORED BY THE CITIZENS OF FLORA, MISSISSIPPI, WITH THE RENAMING OF THE FLORA LIBRARY TO THE POSEY-BOWERING LIBRARY AND COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS IMPRESSIVE LEGACY OF PRESERVING THE RICH HISTORY OF FLORA AND MADISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the fine citizens of Flora, Mississippi, are renaming the Flora library the Posey-Bowering Library to honor the many years of dedicated support that Mr. Henry Presley Posey, a beloved native of Flora, Mississippi, has given to preserve the history of Flora and Madison County; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Posey is the esteemed author of an almost 700-page book spanning 150 years of history titled "The Flora Book: A History of Flora and Southwest Madison County, Mississippi", which he published in 2002, after 10 years of research; and

WHEREAS, not only did he preserve Flora's history by writing the book, he also dedicated the rights of the book to the Flora library and the Flora Historical Society to ensure that monies from book sales would benefit continued efforts to preserve Flora's history; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Posey's unwavering commitment to the preservation of Flora's history extends to its historic structures, such as partnering with Mary Brooks to spearhead the construction of the Veterans Monument on Main Street in Flora, Mississippi, which is a living monument to honor all veterans; and

WHEREAS, he was also instrumental in acquiring a grant to landscape the Flora Train Depot in 2020, and continues to work to maintain the depot as a landmark in Flora; and

WHEREAS, he continues to be a dedicated friend to the Flora Historical Society, and works diligently with the organization to bring events to Flora; and

WHEREAS, like all other Flora projects that he has successfully facilitated, Henry Presley Posey pushed for many years to get a new library built in Flora, and now largely due to his "can do" attitude and never taking "no" as an answer, Flora has a new library; and

WHEREAS, most impressive, Mr. Posey continued to advocate for the project even after he retired from the Flora library after serving as the branch manager for 10 years from 2007 through 2017; and

WHEREAS, to this day, Mr. Posey remains active in Friends of the Flora Library and assists library activities and Flora activities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Henry Presley Posey has a myriad of other talents that he has used throughout his career, such as serving as band director in Clinton, Mississippi; Reno, Nevada; Dallas, Texas; Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he was also the director of client assistance for the Easter Seals Society where he worked to ensure that disabled people received the needed assistance to help them in everyday life and worked with companies to make sure their businesses were handicap accessible; and

WHEREAS, Henry Presley Posey is on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, a governor-appointed position; and

WHEREAS, it is evident that Mr. Henry Presley Posey has been a lifelong participant and volunteer in numerous activities which benefit the State of Mississippi, Madison County and the City of Flora; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to honor the efforts of devoted citizens like Mr. Posey, who share their time, talents and treasures for the betterment of future generations of Mississippians:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate Mr. Henry Presley Posey on the occasion of being honored by the citizens of Flora, Mississippi, with the renaming of the Flora library to the Posey-Bowering Library and commending him for his impressive legacy of preserving the rich history of Flora and Madison County, Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Henry Presley Posey, the Flora Historical Society and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.