MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Kirby Senate Resolution 152 (As Adopted by Senate) A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF DISTRICT 44 STATE SENATOR JOHN A. POLK FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT. WHEREAS, District 44 State Senator John Allen Polk has announced that he will not be seeking reelection to the Mississippi Senate and will be entering retirement; and WHEREAS, since 2012, John Polk has served as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate representing District 44 which covers Lamar County. In John Polk, the citizens of District 44 have had effective representation from a dedicated public servant with extensive business experience; and WHEREAS, John A. Polk was born on March 18, 1949, in Columbia, Mississippi. He was educated at the Prentiss High School in Prentiss, Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1974. Senator Polk has been an executive at Polk Meat Products, his family's meat business for many years. Since 2012, he has served as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate representing District 44; and WHEREAS, Polk is married to Jan Barnett. They have a son, Brian Polk and daughter, Julie Polk Breazeale; and WHEREAS, as a perennial Senate leader, Senator Polk exerted a powerful influence over the organization and efficiency of state government. Senator Polk chaired the Senate Business and Financial Institutions Committee which oversees the banking industry. Polk was assigned to various committees throughout his tenure. Some of these include the Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Education Committee, Senate Energy Committee, Senate Medicaid Committee, Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, Senate Universities and College Committee, and Senate Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee; and WHEREAS, in 2015, he proposed a bill for the repeal of annual vehicle inspections, arguing that cars are less dangerous now than they were when car stickers were introduced; and WHEREAS, on March 7, 2025, the Governor of the State of Mississippi, as authorized by the Mississippi Code of 1972 and attested by Adjutant General Bobby M. Ginn, Jr., awarded the Mississippi Meritorious Civilian Service Medal to Senator John A. Polk, District 44, for Outstanding Achievement in Support of the Mississippi National Guard. This is the highest civilian award that can be bestowed by the Mississippi National Guard; and WHEREAS, John Polk's long service has been marked by his commitment to success and recognized leadership. He excelled in a variety of major responsibilities and served the Senate, his constituents and the state exceptionally well. Senator Polk's public service has been exemplified by sound judgment and fairness, and he set the highest standard in all of his many roles, as a father, husband, grandfather, businessman, citizen statesman and leader in the Mississippi Pine Belt and in the Mississippi Senate and as a true friend: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend the outstanding leadership of District 44 State Senator John A. Polk for his distinguished service in the Mississippi Senate on the occasion of his retirement and extend to Senator Polk and his family the best wishes of the Senate for future success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Senator John A. Polk and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Kirby
# Senate Resolution 152
## (As Adopted by Senate)
A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF DISTRICT 44 STATE SENATOR JOHN A. POLK FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, District 44 State Senator John Allen Polk has announced that he will not be seeking reelection to the Mississippi Senate and will be entering retirement; and
WHEREAS, since 2012, John Polk has served as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate representing District 44 which covers Lamar County. In John Polk, the citizens of District 44 have had effective representation from a dedicated public servant with extensive business experience; and
WHEREAS, John A. Polk was born on March 18, 1949, in Columbia, Mississippi. He was educated at the Prentiss High School in Prentiss, Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1974. Senator Polk has been an executive at Polk Meat Products, his family's meat business for many years. Since 2012, he has served as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate representing District 44; and
WHEREAS, Polk is married to Jan Barnett. They have a son, Brian Polk and daughter, Julie Polk Breazeale; and
WHEREAS, as a perennial Senate leader, Senator Polk exerted a powerful influence over the organization and efficiency of state government. Senator Polk chaired the Senate Business and Financial Institutions Committee which oversees the banking industry. Polk was assigned to various committees throughout his tenure. Some of these include the Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Education Committee, Senate Energy Committee, Senate Medicaid Committee, Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, Senate Universities and College Committee, and Senate Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, he proposed a bill for the repeal of annual vehicle inspections, arguing that cars are less dangerous now than they were when car stickers were introduced; and
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2025, the Governor of the State of Mississippi, as authorized by the Mississippi Code of 1972 and attested by Adjutant General Bobby M. Ginn, Jr., awarded the Mississippi Meritorious Civilian Service Medal to Senator John A. Polk, District 44, for Outstanding Achievement in Support of the Mississippi National Guard. This is the highest civilian award that can be bestowed by the Mississippi National Guard; and
WHEREAS, John Polk's long service has been marked by his commitment to success and recognized leadership. He excelled in a variety of major responsibilities and served the Senate, his constituents and the state exceptionally well. Senator Polk's public service has been exemplified by sound judgment and fairness, and he set the highest standard in all of his many roles, as a father, husband, grandfather, businessman, citizen statesman and leader in the Mississippi Pine Belt and in the Mississippi Senate and as a true friend:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend the outstanding leadership of District 44 State Senator John A. Polk for his distinguished service in the Mississippi Senate on the occasion of his retirement and extend to Senator Polk and his family the best wishes of the Senate for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Senator John A. Polk and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.