Bill Text: MS SC512 | 2017 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 512 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Mourn the loss and commend the life and public service of former Senator and President Pro Tempore Bob Perry.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-01-31 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC512 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-SC512-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Burton, Blackwell, Massey, Dearing, Parker, Gollott, Kirby, Fillingane, Frazier, Simmons (12th), Stone, Wilemon, Barnett, Jackson (32nd)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 512

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER SENATOR AND PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE BOBBY GERALD "BOB" PERRY OF SOUTHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO HIS FAMILY.

WHEREAS, the Legislature and the State of Mississippi lost a wonderful friend, colleague and gentleman with the death of former State Senator and President Pro Tempore Bobby Gerald "Bob" Perry of Southaven, Mississippi, on July 30, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Bob Perry remembered a time when DeSoto County was rural and roads were not paved. A lifelong DeSoto County resident, Bob was the middle child born to James Perry, an Illinois Railroad employee, and his wife, Una. Perry, his older brother, Jack, and younger sister, Carolyn, grew up on a dairy farm in Southaven. His father was on call 24 hours a day and their family had the first Tennessee telephone in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Bob served in the State Legislature (1964 to 1976) and as an Attorney and Judge for the City of Southaven and DeSoto, Tate, Marshall, and Lafayette Counties; and

WHEREAS, Bob graduated from Horn Lake High School and after graduation enrolled in Memphis State University as a history and geography major. He earned his undergraduate degree, then spent four years in the United States Air Force before returning to Memphis State to earn his master's degree in journalism. His first job was writing news stories for several Memphis area radio stations. His full-time employment was with Chapman Chemical Company in Memphis, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, after earning his master's degree, he went to work at Northwest Mississippi Junior College in Senatobia and taught history and journalism. He then went to Ole Miss and graduated from Law School on January 20, 1964, and opened a law office in Southaven. When he was first admitted into the Mississippi State Bar Association, he was one of only a handful from DeSoto County. He later associated former Southaven City Attorney Ron Taylor as a partner and eventually sold the law practice to him; and

WHEREAS, during his final semester at Ole Miss, he entered the political arena and served DeSoto, Tate, Marshall, and Lafayette Counties as a State Senator. In his third term, he was elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate, which is the third highest office in the state. In that position he served as acting Governor on several occasions. After an unsuccessful bid for Lieutenant Governor, he was hired as Executive Assistant to Governor Cliff Finch. He served in that capacity until his health forced him to resign and return to the Gulf Coast; and

WHEREAS, after six years of practicing law on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he returned to DeSoto County and reestablished his law office. In 1989, he was named Municipal Judge for Southaven and served for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his sister, Carolyn P. Davis; nieces, Jackie and her husband Emmett, and Amanda Crawford; and nephew, Glenn Davis and his wife Tami; and

WHEREAS, Bob Perry was one of the most respected members of the Mississippi State Senate. He excelled in a variety of major responsibilities and served the Senate, his constituents, colleagues, and the State of Mississippi exceptionally well. Bob's public service was exemplified by fairness and sound judgment, and he set the highest standard as a leader in the Mississippi Senate and as a true friend:

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 life and public service of former Senator and President Pro Tempore Bobby Gerald "Bob" Perry of Southaven, Mississippi, and extend the condolences of the Mississippi Legislature to his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of former Senator and President Pro Tempore Bob Perry, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.