Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Circuit Judge Kenneth Coleman, as he passed away on January 25, 2022.

Judge Coleman was born in Montpeiler in Clay county. He was the son of Robert W. Coleman and Maurine Anderson Coleman. He attended both Itawamba Coummunity College and the University of Mississippi. He later went on to earn a juris doctor degree from Samford University. He also served the great state of Mississippi in the Army National Guard and Reserves, reaching the rank of sergeant First Class.

Judge Coleman is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patsy McKee Coleman, his daughter Catherine Coleman McClinton, his son Robert W. Coleman, and eight grandchildren. Judge Coleman's dedication to the state of Mississippi and kind heart towards the community will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Jeffery Clayton Short who passed away January 22, 2022 in Tupelo, Mississippi. My deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones.

Jeffery was born in Booneville, Mississippi to William Clayton and Havis Owens Short. He graduated from Tishomingo High School in 1961. He joined the National Guard and then the Army in 1964. He served for 15 years on active duty and then in the National Guard and Army Reserve. He was promoted to Captain after completing Officer Training School. He served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam Conflict. He was awarded the Bronze Stars for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Parachute Riggers Patch. He was awarded the Green Beret after completing the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg.

Jeffery also completed the Mississippi Highway Patrol Academy in 1969 and served on the Mississippi Gulf Coast during Hurricane Camille. He graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in business and then earned his Masters in Real Estate from Lindwood University in Missouri. He was a guest lecturer in eminent domain and went on to own a real estate appraisal business. He was a dedicated member of First Methodist Tupelo and a beloved youth soccer and baseball coach. He was a gifted photographer.

Left to cherish his memory are wife, Ellen Tate Short; children Clay, Andy, and Elizabeth; and eight grandchildren.

Jeffery Clayton Short was a dedicated servant of God, country, and state. My prayers will be with those mourning his loss.

Madam Speaker, l rise today to celebrate the service of Command Sergeant Major Christopher L. Young. He has served in every leadership role within the non-commissioned officers ranks of the Mississippi Army National Guard, and it has been an honor to serve in this capacity with him. I am grateful to his dedication and many years of service to this nation and the state of Mississippi.

CSM Young enlisted into the Mississippi Army National Guard on May 23, 1988. He joined the 1-155th Infantry Regiment ``Mississippi Rifles'' in McComb, Mississippi. He was mobilized in 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. When he returned, CSM Young served in various leadership roles in the 155 Armored Brigade Combat Team. In 2001, he mobilized again in preparation for deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Stabilization Forces-10 rotation. There he served as the task force's Chief Protective Services Officer and the Scout Platoon Sergeant. He returned in April 2002 and was promoted to E-8. He also became the Chief Paralegal NCO in the 155.

In 2004, CSM Young was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and the War on Terror. There he led a company of 134 Infantry soldiers who were responsible for counter-insurgency and combat operations against hostile insurgents in the Babil providence. In 2010, he was promoted to Sergeant Major and would go on to become the Command Sergeant Major in 2012. In this role, he became the senior enlisted advisor to the Battalion Commander and was responsible for the well-being of the soldiers in his unit.

In 2019, CSM Young was promoted to the Mississippi Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major position. In this role, he serves as both my Senior Enlisted Advisor and as the Command Sergeant Major over all Mississippi Army National Guard Soldiers where he enacted positive reforms that will impact the MSARNG for years to come. I am grateful for CSM leadership, advisement, and friendship. CSM Young has set a precedent for future readers in the MSARNG and will leave a legacy of compassionate, selfless leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and career of Dr. Ken Harvey who is retiring from medical practice after 37 years of serving the Tupelo community. I am so grateful for his dedication to keeping our State healthy and thank him for his lifetime of service.

Dr. Harvey is a native of Picayune, Mississippi where he graduated from Picayune High School in 1967. He went on to attend Mississippi College where he studied chemistry. He returned home to work in research at Crosby Chemicals. While there, he experienced an accident that introduced him to a doctor who inquired why he never considered medical school. He was skeptical at first, but eventually went on to attend the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and graduated in 1977. He stayed there for his residency in internal medicine. He attended on scholarship from the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to Columbus Air Force Base.

Upon completing his assignment, Dr. Harvey joined a practice in Tupelo founded by Drs. Tannehill, Lummus, Murphey and Wood. They were remarkably busy both in their clinic and at North Mississippi Medical Center. ln 1993, these doctors formed the IMA Foundation and worked with North Mississippi Health Services. Dr. Harvey is known for continuing to see patients long after their standard term of care. He still sees patients from his early days of practicing as well as patients from Columbus Air Force Base. He is truly dedicated to all he has worked with.

While Dr. Harvey has missed practicing medicine, he enjoys spending time with his wife of 46 years, Patricia, and their son Jeff. In his free time, he hopes to travel and enjoy Ole Miss sports.

I am grateful for the outstanding care Dr. Harvey has provided to North Mississippians for nearly four decades and wish him well in this new chapter of life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Private First Class Jimmy Rowland of Baldwyn Mississippi who was reported missing in action during the Korean War. In 1956, his remains were declared nonrecoverable. In November of 2021, Rowland's family was informed his remains were accounted for and will be brought back to Baldwyn for burial and a full military funeral.

In July of 1950 Jimmy Rowland, at 19 years old, came under heavy fire fighting North Korean forces at the Kum River north of Taejon, South Korea. He was a member of the Heavy Mortar Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported wounded and then missing in action on July 16 and was dropped from his unit's rolls on August 16, 1950. In February of the next year, four sets of remains were found at the foot of a bridge west of the Seoul-Taejon main supply route. Three individuals were identified as members of the 19th infantry regiment but the fourth was not identified. These remains were designated as Unknown X-418 Tanggok, His remains, along with all other unidentified soldiers killed in the Korean War, were transported to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

In July of 2018, anthropologists and historians from the Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency planned to identify the 652 Korean War casualties that remained unknown. On March 4, 2019, Rowland's remains were disinterred and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory at Joint Basse Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Using dental and anthropological analysis as well as circumstantial evidence, scientists identified Jimmy Rowland.

Though many have passed on, it is expected 20 to 30 of Jimmy's family members will be in attendance at his funeral on Saturday. The Baldwyn community is grateful to honor Jimmy nearly 70 years after he was declared missing in action. Though thousands of casualties from the Korean War remain unidentified, I am thankful that one Mississippi soldier will return home to be honored by his family and community. I am grateful for the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and express my most sincere condolences to Jimmy's family, friends, and loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Mr. Olin R. Pickens who will celebrate his 100th birthday this month. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in celebrating his lifelong dedication to this country.

Olin Pickens was an infantryman assigned to the Army 805th Tank Destroyer Unit during WWII before he was captured as a Prisoner of War. He was executing a mission to capture German field marshal Erwin Rommel in North Africa in 1943 when his unit was attacked by the Germans. His unit, along with three others, attempted to breech a German Blockade to reach Rommel. The soldiers understood this to be a suicide mission. On February 16, 1943, PFC Pickens was captured in Tunisia and spent 26 months as a POW. He escaped once, but was recaptured. In April of 1945, Pickens was finally released.

Pickens looks back on his time in the army with astounding bravery and resolve. I admire his tenacity and dedication to this country. It is because of men like Mr. Pickens that we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy every day, and for his service, I am grateful. It is a joy to wish him a happy 100th birthday.

Madam Speaker, l rise today to celebrate the life of Sheriff Jimmy Simmons of Houston, Mississippi who passed away on November 19, 2021 at the age of 75. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Jimmy Simmons was born on March 18, 1946 to James Travis and Venita Buchanan Simmons. He was a member of the National Guard. He was known as a horse trader, also owning rodeo bulls, mules, tracking hounds, cow dogs and coon dogs. He was a law enforcement officer for 30 years and spent 24 as a sheriff of Chickasaw County. He was a dedicated member of Houlka First Baptist Church. He wished to be remembered for his humor and humility.

Left to cherish his memory are Liz Simmons, Annette Simmons, Chad Simmons, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. I offer my most sincere condolences to the Chickasaw County community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Dennis Grisham who passed away in Dumas, Mississippi on December 8, 2021. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Dennis was born to Leland and Roberta Grisham in Ripley, Mississippi on November 28, 1944. He attended Northwest Mississippi Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He served in the Marine Corps until 1969.

After his service, Dennis moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he met his wife Lynda McAiister. They raised three children, Billy, Tommy and Jill. In 1974, the family moved back to Ripley. He started his own company, Grisham Asphalt and Paving. In 1984 he was elected supervisor for the 4th district of Tippah county. His tenure lasted 36 years and won nine consecutive elections. He served as the President of the Tippah County Board of Supervisors and the President of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors. He was an active member of the Dumas Baptist church.

Dennis leaves behind countless family members, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. I am grateful for his lifetime of service to the state of Mississippi.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Mr. Joe Edmonson who has been named Mississippi's Farmer of the Year by the Sunbelt Agriculture expo. I am proud to have him representing our state.

Joe has been a motivated and passionate farmer for his entire life. At the age of fifteen, he purchased his first forty acres of land. Both Joe and his wife Melissa grew up in farming families and have dedicated their lives to Topshaw farms. Melissa is a full partner in the farms and is an essential figure in the Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival. Their daughter, Brandi also works in the business side of the farm. Her husband, Shaun manages the packing warehouse line. Son Trent oversees planting and harvesting, and his wife is a nurse who aids in minor medical incidents around the farm. Son Cody manages sweet potato planting and grain harvesting and his wife Lindsey works in the packing warehouse offices and manages H2A work.

The farm has endured multiple natural disasters that affected their crop and livestock. The Edmonson family has taken these hardships as opportunities to expand and built an impressive packing facility. They have taken

into stride changes in agriculture technology and continue to evolve with the modem world. Joe and his family contribute to their surrounding community through the Boy Scouts, Vardaman FFA, Calhoun County 4-H and the state Farm Bureau.

Family is at the core of Mr. Edmonson's farming career. Joe, Melissa, Brandi, Trent and Cody have been a pillar of the Vardaman community and have made incredible contributions to Calhoun County. I am grateful for their lifetime of service and commend him for his outstanding work in agriculture.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and service of Corporal Walter Gann, an American hero from Mississippi, who defended liberty against impossible odds in the Pacific during World War II.

Walter, born in Calhoun City on January 31, 1922, joined the U.S. Army on July 3, 1941. By July 15, he was aboard the USS Coolidge deployed to the Philippines as a member of the Army Signal Corps assigned to 409th Signal Company (Aviation) at Nichols Field outside Manila. The plan was to erect radar towers, but none of the equipment needed arrived on the ship with them.

Imperial Japan attacked the Philippines on December 8 and all the critical airfields were destroyed by December 10. Walter's company and the airmen were soon sent on combat

duty in the Bataan Peninsula. He was assigned to U.S. Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) headquarters at Little Baguio near the tip of Bataan.

The troops on Bataan, running out of ammunition, food, and medicine, with no hope of resupply or reinforcement, were surrendered by their commanding officers on April 9, 1942. Walter was among 86,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war who were forced on what became known as the infamous Bataan Death March, one of World War II's worst war crimes. In the tropical sun, deprived of food, water, and mercy, the men trekked 65 miles up Bataan to a train station. There they were packed standing 100 to a boxcar for the next 24 miles. Men died where they stood. Survivors marched another eight miles to their first POW camp, O'Donnell.

Walter, POW No. 203, was shipped to Japan in July 1943 packed in the dark, fetid hold of the hell ship Clyde Maru with 500 other POWs. He was sent to be a slave laborer at Fukuoka No. 17 POW Camp attached to the Mitsui-owned Miike coal mine in southern Japan close to Nagasaki. Starved, beaten, and denied medical care, he was forced to dig coal in a primitive mine until the camp was liberated in September 1945. The coal mine is now a UNESCO Industrial World Heritage site, albeit without mention of the thousands of POWs held there or that the mine had remained reliant on manual labor and not modem machinery.

Although asked to testify in Japan at the war crime trials held from 1946 to 1948, Mr. Gann could not return because he remained too sick from the various illnesses he suffered from during his three and one- half years as a POW. For the remainder of his life, Walter bore the weight of all the horror and inhumanity he had witnessed. When he was able to work, Walter was a truck driver.

In 1949, Walter moved to Booneville, Mississippi, and married Juanita Goddard. Together they raised four children. In 1963, he lost both his wife and his stepson. In his later years, he lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, until he passed away on October 14, 1980.

During his lifetime, Walter was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star, the American Defense Service Medal with one bronze campaign star, and the Philippine Defense Medal. He also received a letter from President Harry S. Truman thanking him for his service. Posthumously, he received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.

I am grateful for Corporal Walter Gann's commitment to faith, family, and democracy. I am humbled by his sacrifices for our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Mr. Joe Edmonson who has been named Mississippi's Farmer of the Year by the Sunbelt Agriculture expo. I am proud to have him representing our state.

Joe has been a motivated and passionate farmer for his entire life. At the age of fifteen, he purchased his first forty acres of land. Both Joe and his wife Melissa grew up in farming families and have dedicated their lives to Topshaw farms. Melissa is a full partner in the farms and is an essential figure in the Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival. Their daughter, Brandi also works in the business side of the farm. Her husband, Shaun manages the packing warehouse line. Son Trent oversees planting and harvesting, and his wife is a nurse who aids in minor medical incidents around the farm. Son Cody manages sweet potato planting and grain harvesting and his wife Lindsey works in the packing warehouse offices and manages H2A work.

The farm has endured multiple natural disasters that affected their crop and livestock. The Edmonson family has taken these hardships as opportunities to expand and built an impressive packing facility. They have taken into stride changes in agriculture technology and continue to evolve with the modern world. Joe and his family contribute to their surrounding community through the Boy Scouts, Vardaman FFA, Calhoun County 4-H and the state Farm Bureau.

Family is at the core of Mr. Edmonson's fanning career. Joe, Melissa, Brandi, Trent and Cody have been a pillar of the Vardaman community and have made incredible contributions to Calhoun County. I am grateful for their lifetime of service and commend him for his outstanding work in agriculture.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Mr. William Otis Fitch who passed away on September 22, 2021. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones.

Mr. Fitch was born on August 1, 1933. He was raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi and graduated from Holly Springs High School in 1951. Bill was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and riding horses. After graduating high school, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy and joined the flight team. With this team he made lifelong friendships and considered it an honor to serve his country.

After his Naval service, Bill began his career in consumer finance and lending. He joined City Finance Corporation in Memphis as the Vice President. In 1974 Bill and his wife, Clydean, opened their own consumer lending company, First National Loans. He expanded the company throughout Tennessee. He sold the company and opened a new chain of consumer finance companies, Fidelity Loan Company. Over the course of his career he served as President and board member of the Mississippi Consumer Finance Association and Memphis Consumer Credit. He was a lifetime member of the Shriners.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Clydean; mother, Lurline; father, Theodore; and brothers Robert, James, and Jerry. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Aleita; daughters Lynn and Lisa; six loving grandchildren, and three great-grandsons.

I am grateful for Mr. Fitch's service and join countless others in mourning his loss.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Vicky Russell who passed away September 19 at North

Mississippi Medical Center. She was 61 years old.

Vicky was born on May 20, 1960 to Raymond and Donna Gaines Yeager. She had lived all her life in Saltillo. She attended Saltillo schools and managed the B-Quick. For 13 years she worked at Hunter Sadler Mfg. before pursuing a career as a law enforcement officer. She served under Lee County Sheriff Harold Ray Presley and Sheriff Larry Presley. Fifteen years ago she joined the Itawamba County Sheriff's Department. She had risen to the rank of Major and served as a Jail Administrator.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughter, Jessica; grandchildren, Carson, Maisy, Delaney and Dylan; mother, Donna; sister, Patty; and countless friends, colleagues, and loved ones.

I join the Saltillo community in mourning the loss of an outstanding woman and member of the law enforcement community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Carolyn Clayton who passed away Saturday, September 11 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in New Albany. I join her family, friends, and loved ones in mourning her loss.

Carolyn was born on February 14, 1941 to Marlin and Maggie Curtis Evans. She worked at the Lee County Chancery Clerk's Office. She found joy in attending yard sales, gardening, and spending time with family.

Carolyn was the founder of the nonprofit organization, Survival Incorporated. The organization works to advocate for the victims of violent crimes across the state of Mississippi. She was awarded Victims Advocate of the Year.

Carolyn was married for 58 years to her husband, Joe, who passed away two months prior. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Brad and Rob; grandchildren, Nikki, Kattie, Jack and Carson.

I am grateful for Mrs. Clayton's lifetime of service to the state of Mississippi.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Staff Sergeant Matthew Bute, a veteran and member of the Mississippi Rifles--the 155th Infantry Regiment in the Mississippi National Guard. He passed away September 10, 2021 in his home in Gulfport, Mississippi. I join his family, friends, and loved ones in mourning his loss.

Matthew grew up in DeKalb, Illinois and graduated from Long Beach High School in Mississippi. He was an outstanding student and athlete-- a defensive outside linebacker on the football team. In his civilian life, Matt worked for Inland Dredging and was known for his hard work. In the Mississippi National Guard, he was a dedicated leader and a selfless Soldier. He was a devoted friend and model of Army leadership.

SSG Matthew Bute served as a Dismounted Infantry Squad Leader in 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. He was responsible for training a squad of infantry Soldiers. His military career began in 2012 and he has served in the Mississippi Guard for 9 years. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in May of this year. He deployed under the command of my current Legislative Director, Major Rodney Hall Jr., in support of Operation Spartan Shield and served in Kuwait and Iraq. Most recently, SSG Bute volunteered to protect our Nation's Capital during Operation Civil Unrest in Washington, D.C.

Left to cherish his memory are his older brother Brad and his nieces, Brooklyn and Rainee. He is preceded in death by his mother, Jennifer Holmes, and younger brother, Nathan Thumm.

SSG Matthew Bute was a brave Soldier, a remarkable leader, and an outstanding friend to many. I am grateful for his service to our state and nation.