MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Brumfield, Turner-Ford, Butler, Barnett, Norwood, Simmons (12th), Thomas, Simmons (13th), Jackson, Hickman, Frazier
A RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE EDUCATIONAL LEGACY OF DR. LESLIE LEE DANIELS, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRINCIPAL OF MCCOMB HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MCCOMB AND GREENWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMEND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WHEREAS, we join the citizens of McComb, Mississippi, in remembering the public school dedication and advocacy of Dr. Leslie Lee Daniels; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Leslie Lee Daniels began his teaching career in the McComb School District in 1965 and served as Teacher and Coach at Higgins High School. From there he moved up the educational administration ladder to Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent; and
WHEREAS, he was the first African-American Principal of McComb High School when he assumed the position in 1976 under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Ted Alexander and served until 1986. He was the principal there when McComb High School was one of 198 schools in the nation to be designated a "Model School" in 1983; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daniels went on to become Assistant Superintendent of the McComb School District from 1986 to 1988 and later became the first African-American Superintendent of the district in 1989. Dr. Daniels served honorably as the superintendent until 1996; and
WHEREAS, he helped eradicate the district's debt to put the district on a sound financial basis. Dr. Daniels devoted 31 years of his life to students in the McComb School District. He also served on the Southwest Regional Medical Center Board of Directors during this time in McComb; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daniels became the first African-American Superintendent of the Greenwood School District, where he served from 1996 to 2008 and oversaw the construction of a new $8,000,000.00 middle school without a bond issue; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daniels was inducted into the McComb School District's Hall of Fame in 2010, and each year former LSU Coach John Brady presented service awards to each school's "Teacher of the Year", the district's "Teacher of the Year", and the district's "Administrator of the Year" in memory of Dr. Leslie Daniels; and
WHEREAS, we pay tribute to the dedicated career of this professional educator and school administrator and most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi whose leadership and advocacy was a wonderful example for all:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby remember the educational legacy of Dr. Leslie Lee Daniels, the first African-American Principal of McComb High School and Superintendent of McComb and Greenwood School Districts and commend his contributions to public education.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Leslie Daniels, forwarded to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees of the McComb School District and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.