1976 2006

VOLUME V

FALL 2006

NUMBER 3

BOSWELL REGIONAL CENTER’S

BULLETINBOSWELL REGIONAL CENTER’S

BULLETIN

INSIDE THIS EDITION

OF THE BULLETIN...

Boswell salutes Dr. RandelHendrix as he retires

Day of Diversity celebrated byemployees

2 Boswell Regional Center

DIRECTOR’S COLUMN

Raymond Johnson

BRC BULLETIN

The Boswell Bulletinis a publication ofBoswell RegionalCenter. The Bulletinis published free ofcharge to inform thepublic and interested familymembers and individuals aboutBoswell Regional Center activi-ties, policies and progress. Thispublication also serves to provideinformation to those interested inmental retardation and theclients served at BRC.

Raymond Johnson, DirectorKathy Lee, Editor

It is the policy of the MississippiDepartment of Mental Healthand each facility to recruit,employ, and promote qualifiedemployees and applicants with-out regard to race, religion,color, sex, age, national origin, ordisability. The Department ofMental Health/Bureau of MentalRetardation complies with theAmericans with Disabilities Act(ADA) of 1990. It is the sole pur-pose of this act to provide a clearmandate for the elimination ofdiscrimination against individualswith disabilities.

part it has been made possiblethrough the leadership of Dr.Hendrix.

So, it is with some sorrow, buta host of well wishes that wededicate this issue of the Bulletinto our good friend, Dr. RandelHendrix.

On page 5 of the Bulletin, wefeature pictures from our Day ofDiversity held in October. Thisevent is a coordinated effort bythe Department of Mental HealthMulti-Cultural Task Force toinvite people throughout thestate to join together to dialogueon the diverse nature ofindividuals in our state. This wasour first year to participate in thisevent, but we plan to make it anannual day of observance on ourcampus.

May each of you have ablessed Christmas and a safe NewYear. We look forward to thecoming year and the challengesthat will come our way.

This edition of the Bulletin coverfeatures Dr. Randy Hendrix,long-time Executive Director ofthe Department of MentalHealth, who is retiring after adistinguished career of 35 yearsin the area of mental health.

Boswell thanks him for his manyyears of service, wishes him wellin the future and dedicates thisedition of our newsletter to himas a way of showing ourappreciation.

COVER PHOTO

In this issue of the Bulletin,Boswell bids a fond farewell tonot only our long-time ExecutiveDirector of the Department ofMental Health, Dr. RandelHendrix, but also to a faithfulfriend.

Dr. Hendrix has been on handon our campus for numerousgroundbreaking ceremonies andemployee of the year banquets,but the most important role hehas played in the life of Boswellhas been the tremendous supportwe have received on a day-to-daybasis.

Throughout his long career inthe mental health field he hasbeen a champion for mentallychallenged and developmentallydisabled individuals in our greatstate. For the past 20 years, hehas sat at the helm of theDepartment of Mental Health,leading us into the 21st century.

Together we’ve faced a longhistory of changes, challenges andopportunities. The followingpages chronicle the life andaccomplishments of Dr. Hendrix.

We can look forward to abright future and know that in

Fall 2006 3

Dr. Hendrix Retires After 35 Years of Dedicated Service

Dr. Randy Hendrix is a nativeMississippian, born and educatedin Panola County. He is a combatveteran of the United StatesArmed Forces, having served inVietnam from 1969 to 1970.Following his Army discharge, Dr.Hendrix returned to Mississippi tocomplete graduate studies at theUniversity of Mississippi, wherehe completed his Master’s Degreein 1971, and at the University ofSouthern Mississippi, where hecompleted his doctoral degree in1979. Dr. Hendrix has completedthe Executive Education Programat Duke University, the ExecutiveDevelopment Institute of the JohnC. Stennis Institute ofGovernment at Mississippi StateUniversity, and the CertifiedPublic Managers Program.

Hendrix was appointedDirector of the North MississippiRegional Center in Oxford,Mississippi. At the age of 28, hewas the youngest director of amajor facility in the nation.While in Oxford, he was also aprofessor of Special Education andan adjunct professor in Healthcare

Administration at the Universityof Mississippi. In November of1986, Dr. Hendrix assumed hiscurrent responsibilities asExecutive Director of theMississippi Department of MentalHealth, the state’s largest agency.Dr. Hendrix is the longest serving

Executive Director of MentalHealth services in the nation.

During his career with theDepartment of Mental Health, Dr.Hendrix has served on manyBoards and Commissionsincluding Chairman of the

Mississippi DevelopmentalDisabilities Council, member onthe Governor’s Council on Aging,and is currently the Chairman and

longest serving member of theMississippi Board of RehabilitativeServices, Past Chairman andmember of the State InteragencyCoordinating Council forChildren and Youth with SevereEmotional Problems, Member ofthe Mississippi Disability ResourceCommission, Children’s Trust

At the age of 28,he was the youngestdirector of a major

facility in the nation.

Dr. Hendrix is thelongest serving

Executive Director ofMental Health services

in the nation.

continued on page 4

Dr. Hendrix is pictured atthe grand opening of the

LeGrand Café onBoswell’s campus on Nov.

8, 2003. The facilityserves as the center’s

employee dining hall andspecial events area.

4 Boswell Regional Center

Fund Advisory Council andStatewide CDC BioterrorismPreparedness and ResponsePlanning Advisory Committee.He is a member and former officerof the Mississippi Chapter of theAmerican Association on MentalDeficiency, Board Member of theAssociation of Mental HealthAdministrators since 1987, and hasserved as Executive Director forthe Mississippi Arts Fair for theHandicapped since 1980.

Dr. Hendrix was selected asState Administrator of the Year,Herman C. Glazier Award Winnerin 1990, recipient of the AgencyLeadership Award of the NationalAssociation of Superintendents ofPublic Residential Facilities for theMentally Retarded in 1992,recipient of the Governor’s StennisAward for Excellence inGovernment in 1994, and selectedfor Honorary Membership in PiAlpha Alpha in 1997. Dr.Hendrix is also a member of theHonorary Scholastic Organizationof Phi Theta Kappa, Phi KappaPhi, and Phi Delta Kappa.

Dr. Hendrix and his wife,Sandy, are the parents of fourchildren, Jo Ellen HendrixTownsend, Sarah, Randel, andSandra and the grandparents ofGrace, Jessica and JeffreyTownsend.

DR. HENDRIX RETIREScontinued from page 3

Dr Hendrix is pictured third from left back row, at Wesson’s Ribbon Cutting ceremony inFebruary 1998. Also pictured are front, from left: Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, Dr. SuzieLassiter, Michael Terry and Robert Landrum. Pictured on the back row, from left are Mr. EdLeGrand, Billy Buford and Dr. Hendrix.

Dr. Hendrix is pictured above right with Cindy Allbritton, BRC’s Employee of the Year for2002 at the Employee of the Year Banquet.

Dr. Hendrix is pictured above at the dedication ceremony for Boswell’s State FarmApartments, May 13, 2005. Also pictured are: Simpson County Supervisor, Sammy Welch;Simpson County Supervisor Curtis Skiffer; Dr. Hendrix; apartment resident and BRCindividual Connie Green; Raymond Johnson, BRC Director; Bradley Sanders, DMH boardmember; Clint Rotenberry, state representative; Anthony Grayson, Smith County CircuitClerk, and Robert Landrum, DMH Board Chairman.

Fall 2006 5

Boswell celebrates Day of DiversityStaff celebrated a Day of Diversity on Oct. 13th in conjunction with other Mental Health Centers in the

state. The event featured a film with Dr. Hendrix explaining the origins and other aspects of the event whichwas shown each hour throughout the day.

Laurie Magee, Staff Development, pictured above, registeredemployees, passed out brochures and green ribbons to employees.

Employees view the various displays from different countries.

Employees learned interesting facts about ingredients contained insome of the native foods prepared.

Sheila Bryant, Dietary, pictured at right, discusses recipes withfellow employees used during the day’s event.

Red beans and rice originates in South America, but was definitely aSouthern favorite with many Boswell employees.

Randy Robinson, Maintenance, reads about the origin of the carnation. Avariety of flowers and their origins were featured and later given as door prizes.

6 Boswell Regional Center

2006Northwest Mississippi Community College 2006 Alumni of the Year Award Bradley Sanders Service AwardPaul D. Cotton Leadership AwardJimmy Stubbs Volunteer AwardAlbert Randel Hendrix PhD Leadership AwardAward for Outstanding Contribution To The Field of Mental Health

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – MS ChapterOutstanding Service On Behalf of Mental Health

Social Workers Education ConferenceRichard B. Dillard Award For Outstanding Leadership

Southeastern Region of the American Association on Mental RetardationFirst Annual Albert Randel Hendrix Award Of Excellence For Service

and CommitmentMental Health Association of the Capitol Area

Larry D. Scott Award For Outstanding Agency LeadershipSoutheastern Region of the American Association on Mental Retardation

2005Embracing Mississippi System of Care Award –

MS Families As Allies for Children’s Mental Health

2004Award For Outstanding Contribution To Mental Health Services

North Mississippi Mental Health Consumer’s ConferenceDistinguished Legislative Achievement Award

Mississippi Psychological AssociationAward For Outstanding Contributions to Mental Health Services

Central Mississippi Mental Health Consumer’s Conference

2002Honorary Membership

Mississippi Society of Certified Public AdministratorsService Award For Outstanding Service

Singing River Mental Health/Mental Retardation ServicesSpecial Recognition Award

Region VIII Mental Health/Mental Retardation CenterSpecial Recognition Award

Timber Hills Mental Health/Mental Retardation CenterDistinguished Service Award

The Mississippi Association of Personnel Administrators

2001Resolution For Service

Timber Hills Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center

Dr. Albert Randel HendrixHONORS AND AWARDS

Fall 2006 7

1998Bradley A. Sanders Leadership Award

Mississippi Chapter - Association of Behavioral Healthcare Administrators

1997Award For Exemplary Service And Commitment

School of Social Work – Jackson State UniversityAward For Service and Dedication To Children

Mississippi Families As Allies for Children’s Mental HealthHonorary Membership in Public Administration

Pi Alpha Alpha, Mississippi State University

1996Service Award For Enriching Lives Of Individuals With Disabilities

Sesquicentennial Committee - University of Mississippi

1994Stennis Award For Excellence In Government

Governor, State of Mississippi/State Personnel Board

1992Service Award – National Council on Disabilities

1991Agency Leadership Award – National Association of Superintendents of Public

Residential Facilities for the Mentally RetardedService Award – Mississippi Arts Fair for the Handicapped, Inc.State Administrator of the YearHerman C. Glazier Award

MS Chapter for the American Society for Public Administrators

1990Alumnus of the Year

School of Education, University of MississippiThe Richard B. Dillard Distinguished Agency Leadership Award

American Association on Mental Retardation, Southern RegionSupport of Community Mental Health Award

Mississippi Community Mental Health & Mental Retardation Council

1970Vietnam Service Medal

1969Army Commendation Medal W/ PalmCivil Action MedalNational Defense Service MedalVietnam Gallantry Cross W/PalmVietnam Campaign Medal

United States Army

Boswell Regional Center

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 128

Magee, MS 39111

Physical Address:1049 Simpson Highway 149

Magee, MS 39111

(601) 867-5000

Raymond Johnson, Director

IN MEMORIAMBoswell grieves the loss of long-time employee Peggy Raley, who retired from

Boswell in 2003. Mrs. Peggy Raley, formerly known as Peggy McCain, lost herfight with leukemia in August 2006. Just six short months prior to her death,she married her sweetheart of sixteen years, Boswell employee, Mr. Ike Raley.Our hearts and prayers go out to Ike, her children and extended family. Shewill be deeply missed.

We were also deeply saddened by the loss of Effie Marie Clark, 102, long-timedirector of the Preventorium, the children’s unit of the Sanatorium, who died onAugust 16, 2006 in Hattiesburg. She served as Preventorium director for 33years, from 1935-1968 and was known as “Miss Effie” to almost 3,000 childrenduring her tenure. She began her career at the Preventorium in 1931 as ateacher. After a total of 37 years at the Preventorium she retired in 1968.