[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING ALBERT RANDEL HENDRIX

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, an enduring member of Mississippi's 
healthcare community will soon be retiring from his position as 
Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. Dr. 
Albert Randel Hendrix has contributed decades of time, energy, and 
passion into serving his community, State, and individuals with mental 
heath needs. Mississippi will miss his service.
  Dr. Randy Hendrix is a native Mississippian, born and educated in 
Panola County. He served in our armed forces in Vietnam from 1969 to 
1970. Following his Army discharge, Dr. Hendrix returned to Mississippi 
to complete graduate studies at the University of Mississippi, where he 
completed his Master's Degree in 1971, and at the University of 
Southern Mississippi, where he completed his doctoral degree in 1979. 
Dr. Hendrix has completed the Executive Education Program at Duke 
University, the Executive Development Institute of the John C. Stennis 
Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, and the 
Certified Public Managers Program.
  He began his professional career with the Department of Mental Health 
at Ellisville State School in 1971. In 1975, Dr. Hendrix was appointed 
Director of the North Mississippi Regional Center in Oxford, 
Mississippi. At the age of 28, he was the youngest director of a major 
facility in the Nation. While in Oxford, he was also a professor of 
Special Education and an adjunct professor in Healthcare Administration 
at the University of Mississippi. In November of 1986, Dr. Hendrix 
assumed responsibilities as Executive Director of the Mississippi 
Department of Mental Health, the State's largest agency. Dr. Hendrix is 
the longest serving Executive Director of Mental Health services in the 
Nation and will be retiring soon.
  During his career with the Department of Mental Health, Dr. Hendrix 
has served on many Boards and Commissions including Chairman of the 
Mississippi Developmental Disabilities Council, member on the 
Governor's Council on Aging, and is currently the chairman and longest 
serving member of the mississippi Board of Rehabilitative Services, 
past chairman and member of the State Interagency Coordinating Council 
for Children and Youth with Severe Emotional Problems, Member of the 
Mississippi Disability Resource Commission, Children's Trust Fund 
Advisory Council and Statewide CDC Bioterrorism Preparedness and 
Response Planning Advisory Committee. He is a member and former officer 
of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Association on Mental 
Deficiency, Board Member of the Association of Mental Health 
Administrators since 1987, and has served as Executive Director for the 
Mississippi Arts Fair for the Handicapped since 1980.
  Dr. Hendrix was selected as State Administrator of the Year, Herman 
C. Glazier Award Winner in 1990, recipient of the Agency Leadership 
Award of the National Association of Superintendents of Public 
Residential Facilities for the Mentally Retarded in 1992, recipient of 
the Governor's Stennis Award for Excellence in Government in 1994, and 
selected for Honorary Membership in Pi Alpha Alpha in 1997. Dr. Hendrix 
is also a member of the Honorary Scholastic Organization of Phi Theta 
Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Delta Kappa.
  Dr. Hendrix and his wife, Sandy, are the parents of 4 children, Jo 
Ellen Hendrix Townsend, Sarah, Randel, and Sandra and the grandparents 
of Grace, Jessica and Jeffrey Townsend.
  For over 30 years, Dr. Hendrix has used his talent, knowledge, and 
skills to make Mississippi a better place and enhance the care of 
individuals with mental health concerns. We thank him for his service 
and know that even after his retirement, he will continue to be a 
pillar of his community and his State.

                          ____________________