Outstanding!

Linda Burton posting from Jackson, Mississippi – Some people are born with community spirit, and one such person I know is Ivous Sisk, a member of the Board of Directors of Capital Cities USA. And Ivous lives right here in Mississippi. I was hoping we’d get to visit during my stay in Jackson; I planned to have her do the “victory pose” or at least a “thumbs up” beside the Scion Journey car. But she’s at the far north end of the state and the miles and the family holiday festivities are too many; we haven’t been able to connect so I’m using a photo of us from last year. I felt particularly close to her last Friday evening, however, as I stood in the House Chambers in the State Capitol. Because that’s where the Mississippi Legislature passed House Resolution 26 back in 1998, recognizing her achievements and naming her an Outstanding Mississippian. I’ve known Ivous since we both were kids; I knew she preferred tomato juice and crackers over sweets as a ten-year-old; and I knew she was friends with Elvis back when only his Mama had heard him sing; but I didn’t know all the achievements she has racked up over the years. So I asked for a list, which she modestly provided. An Outstanding Mississippian? I say she’s just downright Outstanding.

Here’s the list.

The Basics. Born in Guin, Alabama; has resided in Mississippi for many years. BS degrees in Art and Home Economics from University of North Alabama. Extension Home Agent for the Cooperative Extension Service of the US Department of Agriculture at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Hosted her own radio show, which led to her long career as a radio broadcasting executive. Co-proprietor with her husband for television stations in Decatur and Tuscaloosa, Alabama and radio stations in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. Loves cruise travel and has visited more than 40 countries.

Community Service. Served as Girl Scout, 4-H Club and Juniorette Leader, on County Fair Association, Bicentennial Committee, Mental Health Organization, Cancer Society, Vocational Complex, Blind Prevention Program, Miss Itawamba Beauty Pageant, Miss Hospitality Pageant, Cystic Fibrosis Program, Arts Council, Friends of Library, Hospital Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Special Olympics, Very Special Arts. Selected as Volunteer Activist for the State of Mississippi in 1977.

The Boards. Served on National Board of Directors of The Gospel Music Association, the only person in Mississippi to do so; also during 1976-77 served on the National Board of Directors of The National Gospel Music Hall of Fame. From 1986-2004 served on the Board of Directors of The Friends of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Was appointed Itawamba County Education Chairman by Governor William Winter and to the Mississippi Arts Commission and The Mississippi Yellow Creek Port Authority by Governor Ray Mabus. Commended for her many years of dedicated service on the local, state, regional and national levels by the Mississippi State Legislature in 1998.

Still Serving. Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs State Board of Directors since 1978, General Federation of Women’s Clubs International Board of Directors since 1986, District Director Mississippi State Committee, National Museum of Women In The Arts since 1998, The City of Tupelo, Mississippi Quality of Life Committee since 2007, President Tupelo Sorosis Club since 2006. In 1988 she established the GFWC-Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs Malone-Sisk Education/Leadership Scholarship to assist in training leaders in GFWC-MFWC.

Offices Held. President of the Fulton Civic Club, District President of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs, President of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs, GFWC Southern Region Conference President.

Summing up, here’s the Official CCUSA bio for this outstanding woman. So pleased to have you on Board, Ivous Sisk!

Ivous Sisk is a successful businesswoman, and a firm believer in civic responsibility. House Resolution 26, passed by the Mississippi Legislature in 1998, commended her for her many years of community involvement on the local, state, regional and national levels.

Ivous devotes volunteer time to everything from Scouts to Special Olympics, and has sat on Boards such as Mississippi Arts Commission, Mississippi Port Authority, and Friends of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Her primary focus is the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. She has served on the International Board of Directors since 1986; she established the Malone-Sisk Scholarship for Leadership Training and conducted leadership seminars across the nation; and she is a Domestic Violence volunteer, working in local shelters and speaking before the US Congress on domestic violence issues.

Interested in gospel music as a child, her promotion of music led to her own radio show, and the beginning of a long career as a broadcast executive. She and her husband have owned and operated radio and television stations in the southeast since 1967. Prior to that, she was with the US Department of Agriculture at Auburn University, after earning degrees in Art and Home Economics from the University of North Alabama in 1959. Born in Guin, Alabama but now a resident of Tupelo, Mississippi, Ivous enjoys travel cruises, and has visited more than 40 countries. 

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 1998 Regular Session

To: Rules By: Representatives Miles, Ford, Holland, Scott (17th)

House Resolution 26 (As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MRS. IVOUS SISK FOR HER SERVICE AS SOUTHERN REGION PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S CLUBS.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Ivous Sisk has devoted many years of dedicated service through her affiliation with local, state and regional organizations of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Sisk is a former president of the Fulton Civic Women’s Club and organized the Fulton Juniorette Club; and WHEREAS, she served the Mississippi State Federation of Women’s Clubs as District III president from 1978 to 1980, and as state president from 1986 to 1988, during which time she was instrumental in the special project to continue to build Shadow Oak Camp at Mississippi State Hospital; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Sisk and former president Mrs. Harry Malone, established the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs (MFWC) Malone-Sisk Education/Leadership Scholarship to assist in training leaders in MFWC; and WHEREAS, dedicated to promoting self-improvement, Mrs. Sisk has conducted many leadership seminars across the state and nation; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Sisk is currently serving as General Federation of Women’s Clubs Southern Region President, which consists of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Puerto Rico; and WHEREAS, the House of Representatives finds it appropriate to recognize and pay special tribute to outstanding Mississippians such as Mrs. Ivous Sisk:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we commend Mrs. Ivous Sisk for her outstanding service as Southern Region President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and extend to her our best wishes in all her future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Ivous Sisk, the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs’ President and the Capitol Press Corps.