9/27/2006 4:32:00 PM Barbour names commission
to plan civil rights museum
By DEBBIE MYERS Special to the Journal
Gov. Haley R. Barbour on Thursday appointed two prominent former judges to lead a commission that will plan a national civil rights museum in Mississippi.
Barbour told reporters at a press conference that if the museum "does justice to the subject matter" the facility he envisions being funded mostly by private donations will be one of the "premier tourist attractions in the United States."
The co-chairmen of the commission are Reuben Anderson of Jackson, who in 1985 became the first black member of the Mississippi Supreme Court, and former federal Appeals Court Judge Charles Pickering of Laurel.
James E. Prince III of Ridgeland and Philadelphia, the editor and publisher of the Madison County Journal and president of Prince Newspaper Holdings, was among Barbour's 39 appointees.
The governor's commission parallels a legislative committee established last year, two members of whom joined Barbour in making the announcement.
Sen. Gloria Williamson, D-Philadelphia, serves on that legislative committee.
"It's not our place or point to supplant that (legislative) committee - or compete with it. We're all in this together," Barbour said.
He welcomed Sen. Terry Burton, R-Forest, and Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, members of the legislative committee who stood with him and Commission leaders at the press conference at the Woolfolk Building in downtown Jackson.
Barbour said there is no state that's more appropriate historically as the scene of the civil rights struggle than Mississippi.
"We have begun a great task," Barbour said in the press conference.
Although the Commission's first report is due in mid-December, the governor said it was his view that "it's much more important to do this right than to meet some arbitrary deadline."
The governor stressed that it was his goal to see that the museum "does justice to the subject matter."
Private sector participation is important, he said.
"This commission will be much better positioned and more able to get private participation. But the goals are the same and we have had and are set to have a very good, friendly working relationship with the legislative committee," Barbour said.
He said there is enormous interest in the history of the civil rights movement.
"I am convinced visitors will come from all over the country - indeed, from all over the world - to experience the historical essence that the museum can and must capture," Barbour said.
Barbour said, "I am excited about this project on many different levels and appreciate the willingness of so many prominent Mississippians to serve on the commission that will guide its development."
The commission consists of three working groups for research, planning and implementation in the following areas: Finance and Design, Location, and Presentation.
Commission members will meet for a three-month period and complete an interim report by December 2006.
Members of the Commission are:
The Honorable Reuben Anderson of Jackson
Mayor Xavier Bishop of Moss Point
The Honorable Gerald Blessey of Biloxi
Representative Sid Bondurant of Grenada
The Honorable Willie E. Brown of Yazoo City
Lee Bush of Jackson
Myrna Colley-Lee of Charleston
Niania Colom of Columbus
Ellie J. Dahmer
Jerry Dattel
The Honorable Mike Espy of Jackson
The Honorable Charles Evers of Jackson
Representative George Flaggs of Vicksburg
Socrates Garrett of Jackson
Dr. Beverly Hogan of Tougaloo
Senator John Horhn of Jackson
Virginia House-Adolph of Gulfport
Helman Johnson of Columbia
Jon Levingston of Clarkdale
Susan Lunardini of Jackson
Dr. Leslie McLemore of Jackson
Alan Moore of Jackson
The Honorable John Palmer of Jackson
Dr. John Peoples of Jackson
Lisa Percy of Greenville
The Honorable Charles W. Pickering, Sr. of Jackson
