House Joint Resolution 88 is a tribute to the late Dr. Harold Willoughby Jordan, a distinguished physician and the first Black commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's sorrow at his passing and highlights his significant contributions to public service and mental health care. Dr. Jordan, born in Georgia in 1937, followed a family legacy in medicine, graduating as valedictorian from Warner High School and later attending Morehouse College and Meharry Medical College. He made history as the first Black resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and held various esteemed positions, including assistant professor and director of the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic at Meharry, and ultimately, commissioner of the Department of Mental Health.

The resolution also acknowledges Dr. Jordan's extensive civic involvement, his deep faith, and the loving support of his family, including his wife of sixty-two years, Geraldine. It reflects on his legacy of integrity, compassion, and dedication, emphasizing the impact he had on his community and the field of mental health. The General Assembly honors his memory and extends condolences to his family, recognizing the profound loss felt by many due to his passing.