Senate Concurrent Resolution 659

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING DR. WILLIAM A. (BILLY) MOREHEAD FROM CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI, FOR HIS APPOINTMENT AS NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANTS.

WHEREAS, the National Association of Government Accountants has appointed William A. (Billy) Morehead, Ph.D., CGFM, CPA, CPM, as its National President. Since 1950, the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) has been, and remains today, the educational organization dedicated to the enhancement of public financial management. AGA serves the professional interests of over 14,000 financial managers, from local, state and federal governments, as well as public accounting firms, responsible for effectively using billions of dollars and other monetary resources everyday; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Morehead has 25 years of government financial management experience in the State of Mississippi. He has been at Delta State University (DSU) in Cleveland, Mississippi, since the Fall of 2000 and became the Chair of Accountancy, Computer Information Systems, and Finance and Assistant Professor of Accountancy in 2007. Billy has served DSU in other roles, including Vice President for Finance and Administration and Interim Dean of the College of Business; and

WHEREAS, Billy began his career with the State of Mississippi in 1984 at the State Auditor's Office, where he worked with a team to build Mississippi's statewide automated accounting system (SAAS), prepared the first Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and performed the first and second Single Audits on the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Billy transferred to the Department of Finance and Administration where he continued to work on the implementation of the SAAS; and

WHEREAS, in the 1990s, Billy worked with the Department of Mental Health as the Chief Financial Officer at two of its state hospitals; and

WHEREAS, Billy graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree in Accounting from Delta State University in 1984, a Master's degree in Accountancy from Millsaps College in 1995 and a Ph.D. in International Development from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2007 where his dissertation was entitled Internal Control and Governance in Non-Governmental Organizations Designed to Provide Accountability and Deter, Prevent and Detect Fraud and Corruption; and

WHEREAS, Billy is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Governmental Financial Manager and a Certified Public Manager; and

WHEREAS, during a one-year leave of absence (October 1998 through October 1999), Billy and his wife, Audrey, were International Service Corps Volunteers in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, where he served as Financial Facilitator for the International Board covering four countries. He also performed financial and compliance audits for the International Board in other West African countries; and

WHEREAS, Billy and Audrey have volunteered their talents, education and experience in various projects around the world, including Russia, Thailand, Benin, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Korea, China, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso and Mali; and

WHEREAS, Billy served as AGA National Treasurer from 1995-1996, Regional Vice President of the South Central Region for Section II from 2001-2004, Chair of the 1997 State and Local Conference, and has served on the Chapter Recognition Committee, the International Development Committee, the Ethics Board and the Finance Committee; and

WHEREAS, Billy has received several awards from AGA, including the National Educator Award in 2007 and Presidential Awards in 1998 and 2007. Billy is also active in the Mississippi Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and numerous other professional and civic organizations:

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding government financial manager and educator from Mississippi who has brought great honor to his community, university and 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 commend and congratulate Dr. William A. (Billy) Morehead for his selection as the National President of the Association of Government Accountants, and extend our best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Dr. Billy Morehead and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.