05 LC 98
0363
House
Resolution 273
By:
Representative Cole of the
125th
A
RESOLUTION
Welcoming
and commending Representative Arnell Willis; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Representative Arnell Willis was born in Popular Grove, Arkansas, on November
15, 1954, and grew up attending local public schools; and
WHEREAS,
he went on to major in business administration with a concentration in
accounting at Philander Smith College, graduating with honors on May 8, 1977;
and
WHEREAS,
he received a scholarship to attend Atlanta University to pursue an M.B.A. with
an emphasis on finance; and
WHEREAS,
after graduating from Atlanta University in 1980, he went to work for Detroit
Bank and Trust Company in Detroit, Michigan, and then for the Xerox Corporation
in Rochester, New York, demonstrating his exceptional determination, energy, and
skill and gaining valuable and diverse experience in each position;
and
WHEREAS,
having met the career goals which he had set for himself while in high school,
receiving the educational and corporate training he knew would be a great asset
to his hometown, he resigned from his position in 1983 and returned home with
the goal of using his experiences to benefit his local community;
and
WHEREAS,
he started work at Phillips College in 1984 and became actively involved in
numerous community organizations and activities; and
WHEREAS,
in 1986, he was elected as alderman from the fourth ward in West Helena and
served in that position from 1986 until 1990 when he was tapped to serve as
president of Phillips County Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS,
he was then elected as Justice of the Peace, District Nine on the Phillips
County Quorum Court, serving from 1994 to 1996, and in 1996, he founded the
Phillips County Self-Help Federal Credit Union; and
WHEREAS,
he first was elected to serve as the State Representative of District 99 in the
Arkansas General Assembly in 1998 and was named Phillips County Citizen of the
Year for 1999; and
WHEREAS,
by the example he has made of his life, this distinguished statesman makes his
state and our nation a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS,
it is highly fitting and proper that this body express its gratitude to Pastor
George R. Scott, Sr., and New Damascus Baptist Church for inviting
Representative Willis to our state.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join in welcoming Representative Arnell Willis to New Damascus Baptist
Church and the State of Georgia and commend him for his numerous outstanding
achievements and his exemplary commitment to his community.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to
Representative Arnell Willis.