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SJR 1249

Memorials, Recognition - James Mack Hughes -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Steve Southerland

Commends James “Mack” Hughes for eight decades of continuous American Legion membership and his lifetime of military service and public service.

Transmitted to Governor for action.
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Bill Summary · SJR 1249

Summary of Bill: SJR 1249 (Session 114) – Tennessee

Title

Memorials, Recognition – James "Mack" Hughes

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill is a Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) intended to commend and recognize James "Mack" Hughes for his eight decades of membership in the American Legion.
  • It honors Hughes’s military service, long-term commitment to veterans and community leadership, and personal contributions to Tennessee.

Key Provisions

  • Formal commendation of James "Mack" Hughes for eighty years of continuous membership in the American Legion.
  • Acknowledgement of Hughes’s life milestones, including:
    • World War II veteran status.
    • 100th birthday on November 14, 2025.
    • Early military service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, including pilot training and B-25 bomber training.
    • Service in a College Training Detachment at Presbyterian College (Clinton, South Carolina).
    • Discharge from the Army Air Corps on November 8, 1945.
    • Post-military career with the FBI (married to Jewell Hughes; later transferred to FBI field office in Charlotte, NC).
    • Career with Motorola after leaving the FBI.
    • Retirement and return to Greeneville, Tennessee.
    • 68-year marriage to Jewell Hughes (deceased 2016) and family (daughter Cathy Hughes LaLonde, grandchildren Kellie Neve and Jon Michael).
  • The resolution requests that an appropriate copy be prepared for presentation, with standard formatting details about the copy (e.g., removal of extraneous clauses at the end).

Who or What Would Be Affected

  • James "Mack" Hughes: Central subject of the recognition.
  • The American Legion: Recognition of one of its long-standing members.
  • Tennessee General Assembly: Official acknowledgment and ceremonial appreciation.
  • No statutory or regulatory changes; the measure is symbolic and ceremonial in nature.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced and progressed through the 114th General Assembly in 2026.
  • Timeline highlights from the action history:
    • Filed for introduction on April 21, 2026.
    • Passed on first consideration on April 22, 2026.
    • Engrossed and prepared for transmission to the House on April 23, 2026.
    • Adopted on April 23, 2026, with unanimous support (Ayes 32, Nays 0).
    • Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar for April 23, 2026; subsequently concurred (Ayes 89, Nays 0, PNV 0) and transmitted.
  • The measure is a memorial honoring a private individual and does not create new laws or impose fiscal obligations.

Notable Details

  • The resolution explicitly notes Hughes’s 100th birthday in 2025 and his eight decades of American Legion membership.
  • It cites a long and varied career (U.S. Army Air Corps, FBI, Motorola) and extensive family history as context for the commendation.
  • The language includes a final clause about the copy's presentation and formatting, typical of ceremonial resolutions.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with other similar memorial resolutions or extract the exact operative clauses for quoting.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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