[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 149 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       HONORING MRS. KATIE BLOUNT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
remarkable leadership and lifelong contributions of Mrs. Katie Blount, 
whose tenure as Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and 
History (MDAH) has left an enduring mark on our state.
  Mrs. Blount began her career at Mississippi Department of Archives 
and history in 1994 as a public relations coordinator and steadily rose 
through the ranks. She served as assistant to the director for 
communication, working under former directors Elbert R. Hilliard and H. 
T. Holmes. In 2015, she was appointed as the agency's seventh director, 
becoming only the second woman to lead MDAH since its founding on 1902. 
Over the course of more than three decades of service, Mrs. Blount has 
provided steadfast leadership and vision, culmination in her announced 
retirement effective June 30, 2026.
  Under her stewardship, MDAH has grown into a nationally recognized 
institution. Mrs. Blount guided the creation of the Two Mississippi 
Museums, preserving and sharing the diverse storIes of our state, and 
she championed the public engagement that supported adoption of 
Mississippi's new state flag. She also worked tirelessly to strengthen 
relationships with Tribal partners through repatriation and advanced 
preservation projects across the state, including the new Vicksburg 
Civil War Visitor Center, the stabilization of Windsor Ruins, 
enhancements at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, and the 
development of Margaret Ann Crigler Park in Jackson.
  Her vision for inclusive storytelling reshaped programming and 
interpretation at MDAH, ensuring that the voices and histories of all 
Mississippians are represented. Earlier this year, the American 
Association for State and Local History honored Mrs. Blount with a 
Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary dedication to 
public history.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Katie 
Blount for her steadfast commitment to preserving the heritage of 
Mississippi and for her outstanding service to our communities. Her 
leadership has endured that future generations will better understand 
and appreciate the rich and complex history of our state.

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