House Resolution 94

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING REPRESENTATIVE JOHNNY WILLIAM STRINGER FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND WISHING HIM WELL UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, the distinguished gentleman from Jasper County, Mississippi, Representative Johnny William Stringer, an honored and cherished member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, completed 36 years of consecutive service as a member of the House of Representatives from District 87, formerly District 81 at the time of his initial election, which includes portions of Jasper, Jones and Newton Counties; and

WHEREAS, Representative Stringer, who was born on February 1, 1950, and grew up in Bay Springs, Mississippi, attended Bay Springs High School and Jones County Junior College before venturing into a professional career as a charming clerk full of gusto and charisma for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, where he learned the importance of the need for an adequate and viable transportation system to support and sustain the stream of interstate commerce and its limitless benefits, before establishing himself as a shrewd businessman and adept farmer in the Montrose Community; and

WHEREAS, Johnny answered his call to public service when he joined the Army National Guard, evidencing his loyalty to God, family and country through his willingness to preserve and protect the rights, liberties and freedoms afforded to every democratic nation, before announcing his candidacy for the Mississippi Legislature and his subsequent election to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1979, which was affirmed with his taking the oath of office at the commencement of the 1980 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature; and

WHEREAS, gaining stature as a statesman by rising from freshman lawmaker to Chairman of the Labor Committee at the onset of his third legislative term in 1988, to his appointment in 1992 as Chairman of the State Library Committee, and subsequent appointments to the chairmanship positions of the House Committees on Interstate Cooperation and Constitution in 1993 and 1996 respectively, and culminating in his appointment to the powerful House Appropriations Committee in 2004, which he zealously led with much deference and bipartisan participation for eight years until 2012; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure in the House, Chairman Stringer acquired the moniker as the "Iron Man" of Mississippi politics along the way, an infallible distinction for a member who holds an impressive record of never missing a single day of any regular or special legislative session in 36 years, epitomizing the meaning of a true and dedicated public servant; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his storied legislative career, Chairman Stringer's diligence and devotion to the office to which he was elected has been fueled by the desire to make the quality of life better for his immediate constituency base and the entire citizenry of the Hospitality State, as he has endeavored with feverish propensity through his vocal participation on the committees to which he was assigned, including: Agriculture; Apportionment and Elections; Appropriations; Banks and Banking (now Banking and Financial Services); Conservation and Water Resources; Constitution; County Affairs; Enrolled Bills; Game and Fish; Labor; Interstate Cooperation; Joint Legislative Budget; Joint Legislative Reapportionment and Redistricting; Local and Private Legislation; Managment; Oil, Gas and Other Minerals; Public Property; Public Utilities; Rules; Select Committee on Poverty; State Library; Transportation; Universities and Colleges; and Ways and Means; and

WHEREAS, Representative Stringer's love and deeply felt respect for the Legislature as a hallowed institution has led him to fight to preserve and nurture its integrity, becoming a guardian of this democratic institution during a time in Mississippi's history when the diversity of the House membership expanded to include meaningful participation by women, African Americans and Republicans and Democrats alike, who equally hold a lion's share in the stake of advancing the direction of the state's economic, educational and political climate; and

WHEREAS, demonstrating that he is one of the rare leaders who is able to lead effectively while promoting and protecting the strength of the Legislature, Chairman Stringer, during his two terms at the helm of Appropriations Committee: helped appropriate approximately $19 billion in state, federal and special funds; pioneered the creation of the "Capital Expense Fund"; spearheaded the recurring $5 million appropriation to the Cancer Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center that is matched by $30 million in private and federal funds; and authored legislation that led to the establishment of the Persian Gulf War Memorial in Newton; secured funding for the Johnny Stringer Group Homes through the Department of Mental Health in Bay Springs; remained ever the ardent supporter of education and pay for local and state law enforcement officers that was commensurate with the daily sacrifices made by the men and women who serve in such dangerous capacities; and

WHEREAS, apart from his proprietary career as an agricultural farmer, the "Iron Man" has a faithful affiliation with the Baptist Church, as well as associations with the Charolais Cattle Association, Farm Bureau, Sons of the American Revolution and the Jasper County Economic Development Association, each of which highlight his suitability for the post which he was elected to serve and give credence for the honors he has received, including the Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Award and recognition by the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board for his successful efforts to establish the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the Persian Gulf War Memorial; and

WHEREAS, a true statesman vetted by the authenticities of the legislative process, Representative Stringer, who holds sacred the bonds of family, endured every triumphant, historic, laughable and daunting moment with the love, support and encouragement of his family: devoted wife, Joan Weir Stringer, also a committed public servant as Director of Footprints Adult Day Services, a service funded and certified by the Division of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementia within the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; sons, John Weems (Dawn) and John Robert Stringer; and

WHEREAS, Chairman Stringer has announced that he will retire at the expiration of his present term and the members of the House of Representatives wish to express sincere appreciation to the iconic "Iron Man," Mr. Chairman for his dedicated service to the people of the State of Mississippi and for the personal sacrifices he has made on their behalf:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend our friend, colleague and leader, the esteemed Chairman, Representative Johnny William Stringer, for all he has meant to the Mississippi House of Representatives and for his unmatched contributions to the people of the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Representative Johnny William Stringer and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.