Senate Resolution 15

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. RALPH BARNES FOR HIS COMMITTED DEDICATION TO THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF CONTRACTORS AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

WHEREAS, Ralph Barnes, a resident of Canton, Mississippi, has dedicated much of his life to the construction industry; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Barnes has a vision committed to the importance that quality road building provides to Mississippi's trade and commerce; and

WHEREAS, this vision could only come through many hours of laying asphalt on Mississippi highways and byways laboring in the Mississippi sun as he worked his way through Holmes Community College and Mississippi State University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Barnes rose from his humble beginning as a laborer to the President and owner of ADCAMP, Incorporated, a leader in providing road building and paving material throughout the State of Mississippi and neighboring states; and

WHEREAS, as a leader in the road building and construction industry, he was selected by Governor Haley Barbour to provide his wealth of experience and institutional knowledge to become one of only 10 members of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors to provide the citizens of Mississippi with peer oversight of the over 12,000 commercial contractors and residential builders and remodelers of our great state; and

WHEREAS, in his role as a board member, he has served faithfully and dutifully to God and the State of Mississippi as he assisted in the transformation of a small public state agency into its present role as the licensing and regulatory arm of Mississippi's construction industry administering examinations for licensure, investigating complaints, and providing consumer education and awareness to protect Mississippians against the risks of potential fraud and abuse from unscrupulous and unlicensed contractors that prey on our citizenry during times of natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, as a member of the board, Mr. Barnes sought fines and civil actions during his tenure totaling over 1,500 violations resulting in over $2.5 Million recovered by the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, through his leadership with others on the board, he proved to be a vigilant steward of these fines, which were used to enhance educational opportunities through grants to such organizations and institutions as the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation, the Mississippi State School of Engineering and Construction Technology, the University of Southern Mississippi's Construction Management Degree Program, the Mississippi National Guard Youth Challenge Program, the Hinds Community College Construction Education Program and others; and

WHEREAS, his contributions as a public servant to the construction industry would extend into the private sector as he has served faithfully as a past president and is currently serving in his 15th year as Secretary of the Mississippi Asphalt Paving Association, member of the Mississippi Road Builders Association, member of the Mississippi Home Builders Association, member of the Association of Building Contractors, member of the American Subcontractors Association of Mississippi, member of the Board of Trustees for Mississippi College, member of the Mississippi Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors, former member of the Board of Directors Association of the Canton Country Club, and former member and past President of the Board of Directors for Canton Academy; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding leader, who has contributed significantly to the construction industry, the community, the State of Mississippi, and the United States of America as a model of hard work and perseverance toward the furtherance of our "American Dream" for generations to come:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Ralph Barnes for his committed dedication to the health, safety and welfare of Mississippi's construction industry and express sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be furnished to Mr. Barnes and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.