[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E487-E488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING JOSEPH C. THOMAS FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, former Mississippi State Senator Joseph C. 
Thomas. Senator Thomas is a lifelong resident of Yazoo City, 
Mississippi. He is a graduate of Jackson State University where he

[[Page E488]]

received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and is 
a proud graduate of the University of Mississippi's School of Banking. 
After 30 years of service Senator Thomas retired as Vice President of 
AmSouth Bank.
  In 1977, Senator Thomas received the Jackson State University 
Business Award and was selected by the Mississippi Economic Council as 
one of 50 outstanding young men under the age of 35 in the state of 
Mississippi. In that same year, he was also the recipient of the 
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education Award in 
Washington D.C. A lover of history, Senator Thomas has served as 
Chairman of the Oakes African-American Culture Center since its start 
in 1992, earning him recognition as one of the most prominent Afro-
American historians in the state of Mississippi.
  Senator Thomas is a lifelong public servant. He served as National 
Treasurer and Executive Vice President of the Friends of Amistad, a 
national organization in support of the Amistad Research Center in New 
Orleans, Louisiana. He served on the Jackson State University National 
Development Foundation Board of Directors, served as Chairman of the 
Management Team of the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League, Inc., and 
was president of the League Management Team Corporation, whose purpose 
is to provide housing for the elderly and handicapped.
  In 1984 Senator Thomas was appointed to the Yazoo City Public Service 
Commission, where he served as Vice Chairman from 1986 to 1995, and was 
elected Chairman in April 2000. He also headed the Policy Council and 
on the Board of Directors of the American Public Power Association, a 
national organization representing about 2,000 not-for-profit community 
owned electric utilities. Senator Thomas has also served as President 
of the Yazoo City Municipal School Board as well as Vice Chairman of 
the Mississippi Real Estate Appraisal Board.
  In 2003, his lists of public service accomplishments were increased 
when he was elected as State Senator in Mississippi's 21st District. 
During his terms in office, he served on the Economic Development & 
Tourism, Education, Finance, Insurance, Judiciary, Division B and 
Public Health & Welfare Committees. In addition to his work in the 
State Legislator, Mr. Thomas has served on the National Conference of 
State Legislatures Health Committee and the Southern Conference of 
State Legislatures Education Committee.
  Senator Thomas is married to the former Elizabeth Wilburn of Benton, 
Mississippi, and they are the parents of three children, Joseph, Jr., 
Kirk, and Whitney. They also have two grandchildren, Tytianna and 
Kameron.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing former 
State Senator Joseph C. Thomas for his unyielding dedication and 
service to Yazoo City, Mississippi and the entire state of Mississippi.

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