MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Barnett, Caughman, Hopson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Parker, Parks, Stone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL LEGACY OF STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN DR. OLEN WAYNE GANN.
WHEREAS, longtime respected Mississippi Educator, Administrator and Community Leader Dr. Olen Wayne Gann announced his retirement as Chairman of the State Board of Education effective June 30, 2015. His career and his work on behalf of the students of Mississippi are an indelible legacy of progress; and
WHEREAS, Olen Wayne Gann was born in 1943 to the late W.C. (Clyde) and Veola Gann of Mantachie, the middle of five boys. He attended Mantachie School until the end of his junior year in 1960. Wayne enrolled in Itawamba Junior College in the Fall of 1960 and graduated in 1962. Mr. Gann attended the University of Mississippi where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Math in 1964, Master's in 1965, and Doctor of Education in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gann taught math at East Union High School for two years. He then taught mathematics and physics at W.P. Daniel High School in New Albany for two years. In 1968, at the age of 24, he became Principal and served as Principal for six years. Olen Wayne Gann became Superintendent of the Corinth School District in 1974 and served until June 2001, making him the longest tenured Superintendent in the history of the Corinth School District. Upon moving to Corinth, Dr. Gann became active in the community and began the process of building the Corinth Schools into one of the best school districts in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, when one looks at Dr. Gann's résumé, you see that his community involvement/service parallels his educational career. He was active in the New Albany Community as a Teacher and Principal and this same level of involvement continued after moving to Corinth in 1974. Dr. Gann and his family joined the First United Methodist Church when they moved to Corinth. He became a member of the Administrative Board and served as Vice President of his Sunday School class. He served on the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, the Chairman of the Trustee, and as Chairman of the Council on Ministries. Other community activities have included being a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Fund and a member of the Budget Committee of this organization; he served on the Board of Directors of Horizon and the Partnership of a Healthy Alcorn County. Having served as Vice President and President on the Board of Directors of the Corinth Rotary Club, he was selected as Rotarian of the Year in 1985 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. The Rotary Club again recognized him in 1994 for commitment to service to one's profession. Dr. Gann has been involved in numerous civic projects with the Corinth Rotary Club; and
WHEREAS, after moving to Corinth, Dr. Gann became involved with the Corinth-Alcorn Area Chamber of Commerce. He was elected as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Corinth-Alcorn Area Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Gann also served the Chamber as Chairman of the Education Committee and served several terms on the Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, Corinth School District was the first and one of the only two districts in the state in 1993 to attain Level 5 accreditation rating as a Model School District. The Corinth School District was Level 5 consistently for many years. Under Dr. Gann's leadership, the Corinth Schools proved that a school district can maintain a balance of academic achievement and extracurricular activities. While maintaining among the highest achievement and ACT test scores in the state, Corinth athletic teams won 16 State Championships. The performing arts groups also won state competitions and competed in national competitions; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gann retired in 2001. Since retirement, he has worked part time as a Consultant for the State Department of Education, the Mississippi School Boards Association, and local school districts. In 2006, Dr. Gann was appointed to the Mississippi Board of Education, and he has served with distinction as Chairman of the Board for the past two years serving during legislative sessions addressing critical educational issues of funding, conservatorship, consolidation and student assessment; and
WHEREAS, since 2003, Dr. Gann has served on the Board of Trustees of the Magnolia Health Center. He was Chairman of that Board for two years and has been Chairman of the Finance Committee for several years. He is married to former Martha Jane Nanney and they have one daughter, Vicki Childress, a practicing dentist in Corinth and married to Dr. Lee Childress, Superintendent of the Corinth Schools; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we honor the legacy and career of a school administrator who has enriched the lives of all his students and colleagues and of the citizens of the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Legislature for the educational legacy of State Board of Education Chairman Dr. Olen Wayne Gann as he retires from this leadership position on June 30, 2015, and join his family and the educational community on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Olen Wayne Gann, forwarded to the State Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.