House Resolution 49

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND REMARKABLE LEGACY OF ESTEEMED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF DR. AUBREY K. LUCAS, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, AND CONGRATULATE HIM UPON BEING NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY THE MISSISSIPPI PINNACLE AWARDS.

WHEREAS, Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas, a highly revered American academician, the sixth president and now President Emeritus of the University of Southern Mississippi, having served Mississippi's "Hub City" collegiate institution of excellence from 1975 through 1997, will be honored by the Mississippi Pinnacle Awards, with the organizations highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, a native of State Line, Mississippi, the impacts of Dr. Aubrey's tenure on collegiate academia extends to every corner of the State of Mississippi, from the northern Mississippi-Tennessee state line to its most southern point where land meets the waves of the Gulf of Mexico, and from the eastern Mississippi-Alabama State Line to the western metes boundaries along the mighty Mississippi River; and

WHEREAS, an alum of the institution which he led as chief administrative officer, Dr. Lucas attained both his bachelor of science and master of arts degrees from the USM before subsequently and successfully matriculating towards the pursuit of his Ph.D. from Florida State University, and was expedient in the embarkation of his career in education to prepare the next generation of exceptional citizens for academic, professional and civic success as an instructor at Hinds Community College; and

WHEREAS, deeply entrenched in his commitment to all things "Black and Gold," Dr. Lucas' lasting and transformative contributions to USM long preceded his appointment to the office of university president in 1975, having previously served the university in numerous capacities, including, director of admissions, registrar, professor of higher education and dean of the graduate school, before initially being tapped to lead Delta State University in 1971, as its fourth president, which further allowed him to hone his skills to eventually lead his alma mater; and

WHEREAS, donning his signature bowtie, Dr. Lucas' curricula vitae boast an extensively impressive catalog of accomplishments which have proven beneficial to the improvement of postsecondary educational opportunities and outcomes, as highlighted by the programs implemented during his leadership at USM, including overseeing the university's evolution, including: formation of the Teaching and Learning Resource Center; creation of the Faculty Senate; establishment of the Center for International Education; replacement of the quarter system with the semester system; creation of the Polymer Science Institute; reorganization of the university's ten schools into six colleges; and formation of the Institute for Learning in Retirement; and

WHEREAS, even after his retirement in 1997, Dr. Lucas remained a premiere authority and highly sought after bastion of institutional expertise and wise counsel, returning to the university's helm in interim capacities on two separate occasions, as well as one year of service as interim Commissioner of Higher Education, and even then he remained zealously active within the community as a civic and charitable benefactor of countless organizations, including such affiliations as: the United Methodist Church, for which he has served as the Lay Leader for the Mississippi Conference and on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church; Board of Directors of Africa University in Zimbabwe; Chair of the Center for Ministry at Millsaps College; Chair of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art Board of Trustees; Chair of the Hattiesburg Salvation Army Advisory Board; Chair of the Mississippi Arts Commission; Chair of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters; Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hattiesburg Area Community Foundation; Chair of the Mississippi Economic Council; the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Hattiesburg Convention Center Commission; and

WHEREAS, on April 9, 2024, Hattiesburg will be abuzz with activity as Mississippi converges on the "Hub City" for a night of awareness, scholarship and recognition as Sales and Marketing Professionals announces its Humanitarian honorees, in conjunction with The Mississippi Pinnacle Awards, which honors excellence, professionalism and outstanding achievement in sales, marketing, and community engagement; and

WHEREAS, the receipt of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Lucas now joins a prestigious guild of extraordinary Mississippians who have been honored with the award, including: U.S. Senator Thad Cochran; Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy; former Mississippi Court of Appeals Justice Mary Libby Payne; former Mississippi Supreme Court Justices Reuben Anderson and Ed Pittman; University of Mississippi Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat, former Mississippi Board of Education Chairwoman Lucimarian Roberts; Jim Barksdale; Cornelius Turner, and blues legend B.B. King; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence when it is an innate characteristic of greatness embodied in the life of an individual of Dr. Lucas' incomparable caliber:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the distinguished career and remarkable legacy of esteemed leadership and service of Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas, President Emeritus of the University of Southern Mississippi, congratulate him upon being named recipient of the lifetime achievement award by the Mississippi Pinnacle Awards, and extend best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.