MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Polk, Fillingane, Johnson, Barnett, Butler (38th), Frazier, McDaniel, Thompson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP AND HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICE OF FORMER WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. TOMMY KING ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING HIS OUTSTANDING 60-YEAR CAREER.
WHEREAS, on July 26, 2022, upon retiring after a 60-year career at William Carey University, including 15 years as university president, Dr. Tommy King was honored with a retirement reception at the building that was named after and dedicated to him in 2021; and
WHEREAS, including his tenure as president, Dr. King spent six decades on the Carey campus. Those years include service as a campus leader while a student, as a Carey trustee, an adjunct professor, a department chair and an executive vice president; and
WHEREAS, one of King's first major challenges as president came in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed the university's first Gulf Coast campus. After that, he chose the location and developed the construction of the new Tradition campus on the Gulf Coast; and
WHEREAS, during that time, the university applied to open the WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine, which admitted its first class of 2010 at the Hattiesburg campus; and
WHEREAS, another challenge came in January 2017, when an EF-3 tornado tore through Hattiesburg and Petal and wreaked havoc on the Hattiesburg campus, destroying six buildings and leaving only one untouched. One of the destroyed buildings was the original Tatum Court, for which King led the rebuilding effort and cut the ribbon on the restored Tatum Court in July 2019. Tatum Court is the 21st-century version of the original administration building, which had stood in the same place from 1914 to 2017; and
WHEREAS, Dr. King was instrumental in establishing the School of Pharmacy on the Tradition campus, a physical therapy doctoral program in Hattiesburg, and a new nursing school in Baton Rouge. He also led the way to the construction of a new 67,000 square foot facility for the College of Health Sciences, the largest complex WCU has ever built. The most recent ribbon-cutting was for the King Student Center, named in honor of King and his wife, Sandra; and
WHEREAS, during King's tenure, the university saw unprecedented growth in enrollment, with the number of students more than doubling from 2,500 to more than 5,200. During the same time, the number of residential students in Hattiesburg has increased four-fold and six new dorms have been opened; and
WHEREAS, a new Lucile Parker Gallery was built on campus after the original building, which sat just outside campus, was destroyed. The Sarah Gillespie Galley also was severely damaged and had to undergo major repairs. The university has a third museum, the William Carey Center, which is dedicated to the life and work of the university's namesake. During King's tenure, the university also has invested in the community, purchasing 141 properties. The local chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity gave King the Bridge Builder Award during the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer breakfast, which he says is one of his favorite awards because it recognizes his contributions to Hattiesburg. Another favorite is the Hub Award, which also recognizes community enhancement. In addition to strengthening community programs and rebuilding campuses, King has focused on increasing the university's endowment. One of the things King is most proud of is the number of students attending chapel every week; and
WHEREAS, for over 60 years, Dr. Tommy King has had an association with William Carey University. He was a student, worked there for 23 years, and became the first graduate of his alma mater to be president of William Carey; and
WHEREAS, Dr. King is succeeded by Dr. Ben Burnett who stated, "For 15 years, Dr. King served in a selfless, humble and visionary manner, and we so appreciate all of his work. The Carey family has great appreciation for all of his leadership and to William Carey University and to the State of Mississippi":
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the leadership and higher education service of former William Carey University President Dr. Tommy King on the occasion on his retirement and commend his outstanding 60-year career and thank Dr. King and his family for his legacy of service to the University and to the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Tommy King and his family, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of William Carey University and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.