House Concurrent Resolution 72

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. BOB WEDGEWORTH FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER, MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND TREMENDOUS SERVICE UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, after numerous years of service and dedication to the State of Mississippi and to the United States, Mr. Bob Wedgeworth retired from his position as the Director of Operations and as the 911 Coordinator of Rankin County Emergency Operations in January 2018; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wedgeworth, after graduating from Florence High School, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1981, and attended basic training in San Diego, California, and after completing basic training, he completed infantry training at Camp Pendleton, where he graduated at the top of his class and was awarded Marine Security detail in Keflavik, Iceland, where he continued to serve for another year; and

WHEREAS, upon returning to the United States, Mr. Wedgeworth was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines in Camp Lejeune, and

then he transferred and departed for duty in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983, where he served during the first terrorist attack against the United States in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy, and when he returned to the United States, he and his unit supported "Operation Urgent Fury" in Grenada and also supported security operations in Lebanon after the Barracks Bombing, and at the completion of "Operation Urgent Fury," Mr. Wedgeworth's unit was reassembled and he was transferred to the 1st Battalion 6th Marines where he remained until his honorable discharge in August 1984; and

WHEREAS, during his service in the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Wedgeworth was meritoriously promoted and awarded several honors, including the Meritorious Mast, awarded by the Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Division Navy Unit Commendation; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Sea Service Deployment with Bronze Star; the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; the Multi-National Peace Keepers Ribbon; and the French Fourragere; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wedgeworth began his career in public safety in 1987 when he joined the Ridgeland Fire Department, and in 1989, he returned to Rankin County and served at the Richland Fire Department where he held various ranks, from Firefighter and Driver Operator to Shift Coordinator and Training Officer; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, Mr. Wedgeworth was elected as Post Commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5048, where he still serves today, and from 2003 to 2008 he served as a Senior Instructor at the Mississippi State Fire Academy, and he was deployed three times in 2005 during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where he functioned as the State Fire Academy Teams Operations Officer; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wedgeworth was elected in 2005 as Alderman for the City of Richland, and in 2008 he began 10 years of service as Director of Operations and as 911 Coordinator for Rankin County Emergency Operations, and was the first County Coordinator to develop and implement Multi-Jurisdictional Response Teams as well as Multi-Jurisdictional 911 Systems, and throughout his career in emergency operations, Mr. Wedgeworth faced dangerous situations each day that demanded he put his life on the line, but each time the call came, he fearlessly and bravely rushed into perilous predicaments and responded to a variety of events, including terrorist attacks, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, emergency medical incidents, plane crashes and other catastrophes and emergency events; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wedgeworth has been an exceptional director and meritorious leader to the people of Rankin County, and his indomitable grit, dexterous abilities and passionate determination will be dearly missed by all of his colleagues and others who were fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him and experience his greatness; and

WHEREAS, outside of his professional career, Mr. Wedgeworth is married to his wife Kelly, and they have three sons, Jeremy, Caleb and Ty, and on August 21, 2017, they welcomed the first girl to the family, their granddaughter Savannah Lee; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to pay tribute to great, heroic Mississippians such as Bob Wedgeworth, who have dedicated their lives to preserving the freedoms that we enjoy each day and whose outstanding leadership, dauntless fortitude and unwavering duty to save the lives of the people of this great Magnolia State will always be remembered:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Mr. Bob Wedgeworth for his distinguished career, meritorious leadership and outstanding service upon the occasion of his retirement, and extend sincere wishes for his continued success in the lighter days ahead.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Bob Wedgeworth and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.