1 SJR101
2 213429-3
3 By Senators Allen, Smitherman, Albritton, Barfoot, Beasley,
4 Butler, Chambliss, Chesteen, Coleman-Madison, Dunn, Elliott,
5 Figures, Givhan, Gudger, Hatcher, Holley, Jones, Livingston,
6 Marsh, McClendon, Melson, Orr, Price, Reed, Roberts,
7 Sanders-Fortier, Scofield, Sessions, Shelnutt, Singleton,
8 Stutts, Waggoner, Whatley and Williams
9 RFD:
10 First Read: 20-APR-21
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 SJR101
1 SJR101
2
3
4 ENROLLED, SJR101,
5 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MR. LAMAR P. HIGGINS, TROY
6 UNIVERSITY'S VICE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE BOARD OF
7 TRUSTEES.
8
9 WHEREAS, it is with profound sorrow that we note the
10 death on April 15, 2021, of Mr. Lamar P. Higgins, Troy
11 University's Vice President Pro Tempore of the Board of
12 Trustees, at the age of 61; and
13 WHEREAS, his passing leaves a void in the lives of
14 his loving family, many friends, and the entire community,
15 where he was highly regarded; and
16 WHEREAS, a native of Marbury, Alabama, Mr. Higgins
17 was Troy University's first black Student Government
18 Association President and first black Trustee, serving on the
19 university's Board of Trustees for the past 25 years; in March
20 2021, he was honored at Troy University's second annual Unity
21 Prayer Breakfast, where Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. announced
22 that the newly renovated ballrooms at the Trojan Student
23 Center would bear Higgins's name; he was also a partner at
24 Fine Geddie and Associates, a prominent Montgomery-based
25 lobbying firm, where he served for 26 years; and
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 SJR101
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Higgins first served on the Troy
2 University Board of Trustees in the late 1970s as a student
3 representative during his junior and senior years; he became
4 the first black member of the university's Board of Trustees
5 in 1996; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Higgins' caring heart and his steadfast
7 commitment to serving others inspired many during his
8 lifetime; some of his incredible achievements include serving
9 as a key figure in establishing the Rosa Parks Museum and the
10 John Robert Lewis Leadership Conference and in initiating the
11 African American Leadership Conference; serving the U.S. Space
12 and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as Assistant to the
13 Director and Assistant Director for Human Resources; serving
14 as the Equal Employment Officer for the City of Huntsville;
15 serving as Assistant Director of the Alabama Department of
16 Economic and Community Affairs, where he supervised the
17 department's 11 divisions and guided millions of dollars in
18 federal grant money to cities, counties, and corporations
19 across the state; serving as Special Assistant to the Mayor of
20 Huntsville; serving on Senator Howell Heflin's staff; and
21 serving as Deputy Director of the Alabama Department of
22 Economic and Community Affairs; and
23 WHEREAS, Mr. Higgins once stated, "I've been really
24 fortunate to be able to come to Troy University, get a great
25 education, and be able to come back and try to give back to
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 SJR101
1 the university and to the community for the things that I've
2 been fortunate enough to participate in and go through because
3 of Troy University"; and
4 WHEREAS, although his presence will be greatly
5 missed, the memory of Mr. Higgins will be cherished in the
6 hearts of all who knew and loved him; the beautiful legacy
7 that he created will indeed continue; now therefore,
8 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
9 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the death of Mr. Lamar P.
10 Higgins, Troy University's Vice President Pro Tempore of the
11 Board of Trustees, is recorded with deep sadness, and this
12 resolution is offered in tribute to his life, along with
13 heartfelt sympathy to his family, whose grief is shared by
14 many.
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1
2
3
4 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
5
6 Speaker of the House of Representatives
7 SJR101
8 Senate 20-APR-21
9 I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint Resolution
10 originated in and was adopted by the Senate.
11
12 Patrick Harris,
13 Secretary.
14
15
16
17 House of Representatives
18 Adopted: 27-APR-21
19
20
21 By: Senator Allen
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