WHEREAS, his prominence and guidance in farm business throughout the communities in Lamar County is recognized and greatly appreciated; and WHEREAS, Dewey Jordan's activities extend into the church and other civic affairs; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That this body commends Dewey Jordan for his many contributions and leadership in the farming business for Lamar County and wishes him a very happy and successful retirement. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Mr. Dewey Jordan. Approved August 23, 1976. Time: 3:00 P.M. Act No. 409 H.J.R. 283-Starkey HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. P. L. BENTLEY UPON HIS RETIREMENT AS PRINCIPAL OF THE NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEREAS, P. L. Bentley has elected to retire after a teaching career of thirty-two years of which he served twenty years in Jackson County; and WHEREAS, in his distinguished seventeen years as principal of North Sand Mountain High School, the attendance at the school increased from 165 students to 725 students, and the school became accredited through the State Board of Education; and WHEREAS, Mr. Bentley's hard work for and dedication toward improvement of the educational standards and conditions at North Sand Mountain High School is greatly appreciated by concerned citizens in Jackson County, now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That this body commends Mr. P. L. Bentley for his many contributions to the vital field of education and wishes him a very happy and successful retirement. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to Mr. P. L. Bentley. Approved August 23, 1976. Time: 3:00 P.M. Act No. 410 H.J.R. 284 Brindley HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE RE'GENERATION SINGERS. WHEREAS, The Alabama legislature at various legislative functions throughout the State has been privileged to attend performances of the Re'Generation Singers; and WHEREAS, the Re'Generation Singers are not only exceptionally talented but leave their audiences with a renewed sense of patriotism and inspiration; and WHEREAS, in 1970, their lyricist and arranger, Derric Johnson, a native of San Diego, active in music ministry among collegiate groups, organized the Re'Generation Singers for the purpose of displaying a positive expression of faith and pride in this nation's heritage to counteract a wave of negativism by young anti-establishment groups then hitting our country; and WHEREAS, during the last six years volunteer singers have been selected from among 1,000 auditioners on the basis of musical ability, personality, appearance and commitment; and WHEREAS, these dedicated singers have been natives from across the breadth of this nation, from San Diego to New York and from Oregon to Florida; and WHEREAS, the Re'Generation Singers travel 85,000 miles annually performing in all forty-eight continental states and Puerto Rico before live audiences of one million; and WHEREAS, many church, civic and government groups have been refreshed by the spirit of the Re'Generation Singers, including ten state legislatures, none governors, the Rotarians, the Optimists and the Kiwanians, and the fifty lieutenant governors attending the National Lieutenant Governors' Conference at Point Clear, Alabama, in 1975; and WHEREAS, the melodious voices of Re'Generation have thrilled their listeners at the International Conventions of Rotarians, Kiwanians and Optimists as well as the audiences of 150 shows at Disney World in Florida; and WHEREAS, the zeal, dedication and musical ability of the Re'Generation Singers have earned many coveted awards including the George Washington Honor Medal for Patriotic Music by the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and the New Spirit of '76 Award by the International Convention of Optimists, in Washington, D. C., on June 30, 1976, awarded for "doing more for America than any other musical group"; and WHEREAS, the Re'Generation Singers' "America Is" was recognized as Album of the Year at the National Booksellers Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the week of July 12, 1976; and WHEREAS, the radio program, "America Is," is broadcast daily from Nashville, Tennessee, carrying the soft, dulcet sounds of the Re'Generation Singers, together with historic vignettes by Derric Johnson, over 700 stations and was aired over 500,000 times during the first six months of 1976; and WHEREAS, Re'Generation has conducted over 500 choral and musical technique clinics and has inspired many other young Americans to form like groups; and WHEREAS, the Re'Generation Singers are expressing in song their thanks to the adults of America for the cornerstone of principles maintained at the price of blood and sacrifice; and WHEREAS, the 1976 Re'Generation Singers under the talented leadership of Derric Johnson are: Sue Thrasher, Sandi Crume, Heidi Handschin, Betty Moore, Mervyn Moore, Gale Field, Les Speakman, Mike Buechel, Lee Young, Abby Lovett, Bill Thrasher and Floyd Paulson; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we do heartily congratulate the Re'Generation Singers for the true patriotic spirit they exemplify and for their inspiring positive expressions of faith and pride in our nation's heritage. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to Derric Johnson, residing in Montgomery. WHEREAS the Alabama legislature has noted with a sense of deep regret the passing of Ralph Reynard Norman of Fort Deposit; and WHEREAS Mr. Norman has devoted his life to the betterment of the community serving on the city council since 1936; and WHEREAS Ralph Norman has been an active member of the Bethel Baptist Church, and has served as a deacon for the past forty years; and WHEREAS Mr. Norman's business accomplishments include the Norman Trading and Milling Company, a director of the Fort Deposit Bank, co-founder and co-chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fortex Manufacturing Company; and WHEREAS Ralph Norman was a charter member of the Fort Deposit Chamber of Commerce, and received its Man of the Year Award in 1957; and WHEREAS Mr. Norman served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Samford University for twenty-four years; and WHEREAS Ralph Norman was an original trustee of the Montgomery Baptist Hospital, and a member of the board and past president of the Baptist Hospital Foundation; and WHEREAS Mr. Norman has been active in Lowndes County politics, serving as a member of the Democratic Executive Committee for over twenty years; and WHEREAS during the 1950's and 60's, he was active in the Alabama Ginners Association, Alabama Bonded Warehouse Association, the South Atlantic Warehouse Association, and the National Cotton Compress and Cotton Warehouse Association, having served as a past president of all these organizations; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we mourn the death of Ralph Reynard Norman and express our deep and sincere sympathy to his widow, Mrs. Esther Dunn Norman, and his family, to whom a copy of this resolution shall be sent. Approved August 23, 1976. Time: 3:00 P.M. Act No. 412 H.J.R. 287-McCulley HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A WASHINGTON COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL STUDY COMMISSION TO STUDY ALL FACETS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE WASHINGTON LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES, THEREOF CONCURRING, That there is hereby created a Washington County Government Study Commission which shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the Washington County Legislative delegation. In addition, the members of the Washington County Legislative delegation shall be ex-officio members of said committee. The committee shall study all facets of county government including compensation, revenue, and road and bridge work, etc. The committee shall report their recommendations to the legislative delegation on any possible changes prior to the beginning of the next regular session, whereupon the committee shall be dissolved. The Washington County governing body shall pay for all expenses incurred by said committee, including travel expenses incurred while studying other counties and shall furnish all needed clerical and professional help and shall give the committee access to all county records. Approved August 23, 1976. Time: 3:00 P.M. Act No. 413 H.J.R. 296-Starkey HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MISS KATHERYN ARMSTRONG OF THE TOWN OF STEVENSON, ALABAMA, FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. WHEREAS, the Town of Stevenson in celebrating the Bicentennial worked to preserve and restore many historical sites; and WHEREAS, much of this work was inspired by and due to the dedication of Miss Katheryn Armstrong; and WHEREAS, particular Committee accomplishments include: 1. The historic Stevenson Depot and Hotel was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places on May 13, 1976, by the United States Department of the Interior because the Stevenson Bicentennial Committee assisted the Alabama Historic Association in obtaining the legislation for the purchase of and |