[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND RETIREMENT OF MABEL McCLANAHAN MURPHREE, 
 DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2016

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 
career and retirement of Mabel McClanahan Murphree, Ph.D., who has 
served as the District Director for the First Congressional District of 
Mississippi for the past five years. Not only has Dr. Murphree been an 
essential asset as District Director, but her involvement and active 
participation in the community is commendable and far-reaching.
  Dr. Murphree, is a former director of the Appalachian Regional 
Commission Office for Mississippi and a former senior vice president of 
the CREATE Foundation. In addition, Dr. Murphree served as the first 
Director of the Mississippi Corridor Consortium, which is a partnership 
among East Mississippi Community College, Itawamba Community College, 
and Northeast Mississippi Community College. This partnership was 
formed to strengthen the institutions' ability to provide services on a 
regional basis in the areas of workforce, community, and economic 
development as well as to increase the opportunities to leverage 
funding for regional initiatives at the local, state, and federal 
levels. Dr. Murphree has been involved in a variety of educational, 
economic development, community development, and telecommunication 
projects that range from designing teacher technology training programs 
to helping bring broadband access to Northeast Mississippi.
  She holds a doctorate degree from Mississippi State University in 
education with an emphasis in technology and a minor in curriculum and 
instruction. She also holds degrees from Mississippi University for 
Women and the University of Mississippi, and has received post-graduate 
training from Harvard University. Dr. Murphree was honored in 2014 by 
being awarded the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by Mississippi 
University for Women.
  Dr. Murphree serves or has served on the Boards of Directors for the 
Mississippi Economic Growth Alliance and Point of Presence (MEGAPOP), 
North Mississippi Medical Center, The Learning Skills Center, CATCH 
Kids, The Link Center, and the Community Development Foundation as well 
as the City of Tupelo's Planning Committee. She is a past President of 
the Natchez Trace Parkway Association and a Life Member of the Tupelo 
Junior Auxiliary.
  She was born and raised in Columbus, Mississippi. Presently she 
resides with her husband in Tupelo, Mississippi, where they are members 
of First United Methodist Church. They have two sons and three 
grandchildren.
  The people of the First Congressional District of Mississippi were 
well served under Dr. Murphree's leadership and her wisdom and positive 
attitude will be greatly missed. Her achievements will have a lasting 
impact on the First Congressional District and our state, and I know 
she will continue to accomplish great things for the state of 
Mississippi. I would like to thank Dr. Murphree for her years of 
dedication and service to the First Congressional District and our 
state, and wish her the best of luck in the next chapter of her life.

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