Bill Text: MS SC638 | 2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend public service and leadership of Morris Houston, MSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Program Director.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)
Status: (Passed) 2014-04-01 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC638 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SC638-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Harkins
Senate Concurrent Resolution 638
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND LEGACY OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE LEADERSHIP OF MORRIS HOUSTON, UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE 4-H YOUTH PROGRAM, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, MR. Morris Houston, Army Veteran and respected Vocational Agricultural Administrator, has announced his retirement; and
WHEREAS, Morris Houston was born in the north cotton country of the Arkansas Delta. He was raised and farmed as a third-generation cotton and soybean farmer for over 35 years. He was actively involved in Future Farmers of America and 4-H as a youth, married a fellow 4-Her of the Mississippi County Moonbeam 4-H Club. Next to his parents, he credits his only 4-H leader, Joy Bell Riggs with changing his life as much as anyone. Morris and his wife, Tonya Riggs Houston, have been married for 43 years; and
WHEREAS, he is a graduate of Arkansas State University with a degree in Agricultural Science and had a focus on farming his entire life. He returned to ASU for a masters degree in education. Then, he taught Vocational Agriculture at the high school and college level, served as Advisor for the FFA and, with Tonya, led a 4-H Club of 35-50 teens for eight years at the small rural school where they both graduated — Dell High School; and
WHEREAS, after the dream of farming for life came to a close, he joined a major ag-chem firm as a Statewide Sales Representative. The company eventually moved him to Jackson, Mississippi, to head a regional special products market that spanned the southern half of the United States where he helped introduce what was then a major new fire ant product. The unit soon moved to Princeton, New Jersey — he and his family did not; and
WHEREAS, he served three years as the State FFA Executive Secretary for the Mississippi Department of Vocational Education and then four years as the State Director of Vocational Student Organizations; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, he was given the opportunity to serve as the Development Officer of the Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program to work with the 4-H Club Foundation of Mississippi. He holds the past 16 years as being the most enjoyable years of his life, and in many ways the most fulfilling; and
WHEREAS, Morris Houston is a retired Veteran of the United States Army with 32 years of service, most as a Senior Operations NCO and First Sergeant. He is a member of the Lake Harbour Drive Church of Christ in Ridgeland, Mississippi, where he teaches and serves as an Elder; and
WHEREAS, Morris and Tonya have two wonderful children: daughter, Amy, and her husband, John Hunt; and son, Zac, and his wife, Jennifer. They have four beautiful grandchildren: Hollyn, Addison, Trent and Caroline. Along with Tonya's sister, Beverly, and her husband, Frank Howell (retirees of Mississippi State University), their family all lives within the Rankin and Madison County area; and
WHEREAS, Morris states, "The very special people I work with at MSU, the 4-H Foundation Board and Council, and here at the Agriculture and Forestry Museum are not just peers and associates, but very close friends"; and it is with great pride that we recognize the record of achievement and legacy of leadership and dedication to vocational agriculture of this Mississippi citizen who is a wonderful example for public servants:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the public service and legacy of vocational agricultural leadership of Morris Houston, United States Army Veteran and Development Officer of the Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program, on the occasion of his retirement, and extend to Morris and his family our best wishes on future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Morris Houston, forwarded to the Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
