Tennessee SJR 984: Memorials, Recognition - Jerry Kirk -

Bill Text

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 984
By Seal
SJR0984
015880
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A RESOLUTION to honor and commend Jerry Kirk on his forty
years of distinguished service to Tennessee
cooperative communications.

WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of the General Assembly should recognize
those citizens who, through professional excellence and a lifetime of service, have strengthened
the institutions that support the people and communities of this State; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Kirk is one such individual, whose distinguished career in cooperative
communications has spanned more than four decades and whose work has helped inform,
educate, and connect cooperative members and rural communities across Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, in 1973, Mr. Kirk became editor of The Tennessee Cooperator, the award-
winning membership publication of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, where his thoughtful
leadership and commitment to telling the story of Tennessee agriculture and rural life helped
shape one of the most respected cooperative publications in the region; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kirk later served as editor of The Tennessee Magazine, the member
publication of the State's electric cooperatives, broadening the reach of cooperative
communications and helping share the stories of locally owned utilities and the communities
they serve across Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, returning to The Tennessee Cooperator in 1990, Mr. Kirk continued his
exemplary service until his official retirement in April 2001, leaving behind a legacy of
professionalism, integrity, and dedication to the cooperative mission; and
WHEREAS, following his retirement, Mr. Kirk remained actively engaged in cooperative
leadership, serving two terms as Executive Secretary of the Tennessee Council of Cooperatives
and continuing to contribute as a writer, including through his longtime column "As I Was

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Saying," while also assisting with editorial work for both The Tennessee Cooperator and The
Tennessee Magazine; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his outstanding contributions, Mr. Kirk was presented the
prestigious James B. Walker Cooperative Spirit Award in 2012, the highest honor bestowed by
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative upon an individual whose service has had a positive and
enduring impact on Tennessee agriculture, farmers, and the cooperative system; and
WHEREAS, the Tennessee Council of Cooperatives further recognized Mr. Kirk in 2014
during its Young Leaders Conference for his many years of dedicated support of rural
cooperatives and his lasting service to the citizens of this State; and
WHEREAS, throughout his life and career, Mr. Kirk has been supported by his wife,
Jane Kirk, and has inspired a continuing legacy of cooperative storytelling through his son, Chris
Kirk, who now serves as editor of The Tennessee Magazine, reflecting the enduring influence of
Mr. Kirk's commitment to service and excellence; and
WHEREAS, a native of Hawkins County and a proud Tennessean, Mr. Kirk is known not
only for his professional achievements but also for his warm personality, including his
enthusiasm as a master player of Wheel of Fortune, his appreciation for The Andy Griffith Show,
and his steadfast loyalty as a fan of the University of Tennessee Volunteers; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Jerry Kirk for his
exceptional leadership in cooperative communications and extend our sincere appreciation for
his many years of devoted service to the cooperatives, the agricultural community, and the
citizens of the State of Tennessee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to

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the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
without House or Senate designation.