From: "pat creel" <patcreel@cableone.net> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 2:07 PM [copied from Jackson, MS Newspaper] September 8, 2004 Daniel 'Kirk' Fordice Jr. Madison Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice, Jr., former Governor of Mississippi from 1992 to 2000, died Tuesday, September 7, 2004, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Visitation and viewing for the public will be from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 9, 2004, in the Rotunda of the Mississippi State Capitol. There will be a private visitation for family and friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on High Street. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 10, at First Baptist Church of Jackson, with burial following in Parkway Memorial Cemetery. He was born February 10, 1934 in Memphis, TN. After graduation from East High School, where he was president of the student body, a varsity football player, a swimmer, and Commander of the ROTC Battalion, Fordice attended Purdue University, earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1966, and a masters degree in industrial management in 1957. In 1996, he received the Civil Engineering Achievement Award through the Purdue University School of Engineering. He was a life member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In 1994, Sigma Chi honored him with its prestigious Significant Sig Award. Following graduate school, Fordice served two years active duty as an engineer officer in the First Infantry Division of the U. S. Army. He served eighteen more years in the Army Reserve, and retired in 1977 from the Reserve with the rank of Colonel at age 43. Fordice was former CEO of Fordice Construction Company, a heavy-construction general contracting firm. Fordice became national president of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) in 1990. In 1992, AGC, whose 32,000 member companies employ 3.5 million people, presented its "Man of the Year" award to Governor Fordice, the first time the award had ever gone to a member of the association. On January 14, 1992, Fordice became Mississippi's sixty-first governor, making him the first Republican elected as its chief executive in 118 years. Fordice, in conjunction with the Mississippi Legislature, set about returning the state to fiscal integrity; maximizing its economic development potential, emphasizing accountability in education at all levels, and cutting taxes. On November 7, 1995, Mississippians went to the polls and ensured Fordice yet another place in Mississippi history as the only Mississippi Governor in the twentieth century elected to serve two consecutive four-year terms, and as only the second governor to do so since statehood in 1817. During the 1997 legislative session, Governor Fordice proposed and signed into law legislation to eliminate the marriage penalty in the state income tax code; created charter schools, banned same-sex marriages and partial-birth abortions. In 1998, the Governor's Commission on Criminal Justice Reform recommended several bills that were passed by the Legislature. These bills included a Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, a Victim's Rights Constitutional Amendment, and death penalty reform measures. The Commission was appointed by Governor Fordice to present legislation on death penalty reform and victim's rights to the Legislature. In addition, other legislative agenda items proposed by Governor Fordice were enacted, including a $6,000 raise for Master Teachers and the creation of a statewide trauma care network. Governor Fordice was a registered professional engineer, a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and past-president of its Vicksburg branch. Fordice was an avid outdoorsman and horseman. He competed regularly in cutting-horse competitions throughout Mississippi and has won titles in these competitions. He is a member of both Game Conservation International and the Safari Club International, and has listings in Rowlands and Wards and SCI Big Game record books. Fordice has received several SCI awards. He was also an active pilot and held a commercial pilot's license with instrument and multi-engine ratings. He has logged more than five thousand hours as pilot in command and is a QB. Being term-limited, Fordice completed his eight years as governor on January 17, 2000. Governor Fordice is survived by Former First Lady Pat Fordice; daughter, Angela and husband David Roselle of Vicksburg; sons, Dan and wife Ann Claire Fordice of Vicksburg, Hunter and wife Sallie Fordice of Vicksburg, and Jim and wife Sarina Fordice of Nashville, TN; 12 grandchildren; sister, Grace and husband William Holt of Monticello, AR; numerous nieces and nephews; and his dog, Lance. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 405 Fontaine Place, Ridgeland, MS 39157; The Southern Heritage Air Museum, P. 0. Box 821568, Vicksburg, MS 39182; or the Young America Foundation, % the Ronald Reagan Ranch Center, 217 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.