Bill Text: MS SC529 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend the life of Tracy W. Lusk, longtime Director of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Passed) 2011-01-24 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC529 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-SC529-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Burton, Tollison, Butler (38th), Dearing, Fillingane, Jackson (11th)
Senate Concurrent Resolution 529
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND DEDICATED EDUCATIONAL, PUBLIC AND MILITARY SERVICE OF TRACY WALLACE LUSK, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI MINERAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, it was with a great sense of loss and sadness that the University of Mississippi School of Engineering and the State of Mississippi learned that Tracy Wallace Lusk passed away on June 22, 2010. Tracy's devotion to the University of Mississippi and the School of Engineering was a thread that ran through both his professional and private life. Tracy and his late wife, Jane, were often seen at University events; and
WHEREAS, Tracy was born in 1926 in Woodville, Mississippi, and he graduated from Hazelhurst High School in 1944. He served with the United States Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and was stationed in Germany immediately after the end of World War II. After his Army tour of duty, he attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in Wesson, Mississippi, and entered the University of Mississippi in 1948. At the University, he obtained both his Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering in 1950 and his Master of Science degree in Geology in 1951. During his studies at Ole Miss, he became lifelong friends with Dr. William Clifford Morse, then Chair of the Geology Department and State Geologist. Dr. Morse provided Tracy with the opportunity of student work for the Mississippi Geological Survey, which was headquartered in Ventress Hall; and
WHEREAS, after he graduated from the University, he accepted a position working for the Survey as a Geologist (in 1952), and in 1958, Tracy succeeded Dr. Morse as State Geologist. Tracy was author of 12 major publications for the Geological Survey including Bulletin 80, Benton County Geology, which was published in 1956. He remained as State Geologist until June of 1962; and
WHEREAS, following his work in the Geological Survey, he worked in private industry, working both as a consultant and operating a sand and gravel pit. His private industry work was fundamental to the development of Mississippi's Cretaceous bentonite resources in Monroe County and he became much in demand as a clay consultant. His experiences with sand and gravel resources both as a consultant and as a producer led to his reputation as an expert in the evaluation and utilization of the sand and gravel resources in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, in 1983, Tracy was hired by the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute (MMRI) as a Research Associate and worked closely with MMRI's Minerals Commercialization Center (MCC). The MCC was a cooperative effort between the MMRI and the University's Business School. Tracy drew on his experience as a mineral producer to guide the business studies and evaluations conducted by the MMC. In 1984, he accepted the position as Associate Director working under the direction of the late Dr. Bob Woolsey. As Associate Director, he oversaw the day-to-day work of the Institute that included an initiative to characterize heavy minerals in Mississippi's coastal waters and the formation of a select group to act as technical assistants to the State of Mississippi, as salt domes were being investigated as potential high-level nuclear waste repositories. He retired from this position in December of 1992. After retirement, he continued his association with the MMRI, often attended the MMRI Board meetings, and was always available to the Institute when the need arose; and
WHEREAS, he was Grand Master of Masons in Mississippi (1994), Presiding Officer of all Grand York Rite Bodies in Mississippi, and Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute (MMRI), School of Engineering, and the University of Mississippi will miss Tracy's support and enthusiasm; equally important, Mississippi has lost one of its own, a person that cared for the welfare of the state and its people. Let us remember Tracy for the contributions he has made, the leadership he has demonstrated, and a life that we may well use as a role model:
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 life and dedicated educational, public and military service of Tracy Wallace Lusk, longtime Associate Director of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute (MMRI) at the University of Mississippi School of Engineering, and express to his surviving family our sympathy at his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Tracy Lusk, forwarded to the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
