Bill Text: MS SC512 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Mourn the loss and commend civic leadership of five-term Biloxi Councilman Tom Wall.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-01-17 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC512 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2013-SC512-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gollott, Tindell, Butler (38th), Watson
Senate Concurrent Resolution 512
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP OF FIVE-TERM BILOXI COUNCILMAN TOM WALL AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE ON HIS PASSING.
WHEREAS, longtime Biloxi Councilman and Civic Leader Tom Wall, who had served on the Biloxi Council since 1993, passed away on January 7, 2013, a day before his 74th birthday; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Wall was completing his fifth term. He was the longest-serving Councilman since Biloxi switched to the mayor-council form of government in 1981; and
WHEREAS, Mayor A.J. Holloway said he always appreciated that Tom was a straight shooter. "He let you know where he stood on things," Holloway said. "He was his own man and would not cave in to anyone. He looked at an issue, analyzed it, and he voted the way he thought was best. He was a good Councilman, and I will miss him. He always had a good sense of humor, too, which was important." "Tom has been a rock of leadership for the people of Biloxi for many years," Harrison County Supervisor Windy Swetman said; and
WHEREAS, Tom and his wife, Biloxi realtor Arlene Wall, were married for more than 50 years and frequently traveled. The couple has two sons, Bob and Jeff, four grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild; and
WHEREAS, Tom Wall was the owner of Classy Chassis in Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula; and
WHEREAS, Councilman George Lawrence said he had served on the Council for 12 years with Wall, who was great for comic relief. Right in the middle of a heated discussion he'd throw out a comment, and Lawrence said, "He said it at just the right time. He was just one of those good guys"; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Wall served on many charitable boards in Biloxi in addition to sitting on the Council. He was a member of the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, Edgewater Rotary Club and Joppa Shrine Temple and served on the boards of Biloxi Bay Chamber, Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast and Salvation Army; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Wall was retired from the United States Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this most public spirited citizen of Biloxi, Mississippi, whose enormous civic energy is a wonderful example for all Mississippians:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the public service and civic leadership of five-term Biloxi Councilman Tom Wall and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Tom Wall, forwarded to the Biloxi City Council and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
