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Mississippi Newspaper SUNDAY DEC. 10, 2000 |
Deadline this month for state's quarterIn October, I sent a letter to our governor suggesting that he select for Mississippi's state quarter design, in our nation's 50 State Quarter program, a depiction of Hernando DeSoto discovering the Mississippi River. This design would commemorate a significant event in the history of the New World, our nation and state. It would also coincide with the Majesty of Spain exhibit coming to our state in 2001 and could provide the incentive for the king and queen of Spain to visit the exhibit opening to unveil the new coin. However, time is running very short. I got a reply from the governor's office that they were going to let the U.S. Mint submit designs, this month, for the governor to choose from. Please don't let this happen. We will end up with a coin that will impart to others years from now that all Mississippi had to offer this great nation was a mockingbird and a magnolia (the design the Mint described to me). Please ask the governor's office (call Donna Simmons at (601) 359-5551) to give the people of this state a little time to submit additional ideas. Our governor's mansion is the oldest in the nation that the state's governor still resides in; we gave the world country music, the blues, and the King of rock 'n' roll. Artists Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Walter Anderson and George Ohr have blessed our state and nation with their genius. Certainly we can offer our nation a more inspiring design. On Dec. 5, Barbara Bradford at the Mint said it was not too late for the governor to request to submit other design alternatives. Please ask our governor to give us a coin we can be proud of and not the usual magnolia and mockingbird. WILLIAM LEE MATHEWS |
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