Biography/History:

William A. Pyle was a senior partner in the law firm, Pyle, Dreher, Mills, and Dye, P.A., of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, as of 2002. He was married to Delia (Dee) Loyacono Pyle for twenty-four years prior to her death on February 26, 2000.

Pyle was elected to the board of directors of Mississippi 2001, Incorporated, in March of 1986. The goals of this non-profit organization were to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Mississippi state and local government by 2001. While a member of the board of directors, Pyle organized a public forum on October 27, 1986, regarding the proposed governor and state treasurer’s succession amendments to the 1890 Mississippi constitution.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 5 and Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 513 were introduced in the Mississippi legislature during the 1986 regular session. These two resolutions called for amendments to the 1890 Mississippi constitution, which would permit the governor and state treasurer to succeed themselves in office but limit their service to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. The resolutions passed both houses of the legislature in time to appear on the ballot of the November general election on November 4, 1986. Mississippi voters approved both amendments.

This collection consists of planning and publicity materials, correspondence, photographs, and printed materials of William A. Pyle, which date from 1976 to 1987. His papers concern the public forum sponsored by Mississippi 2001, Incorporated, on October 27, 1986.

The planning materials include board of directors’ meeting agendas and copies of the public forum agenda. Pyle apparently used a 1976 journal article entitled "Rediscovering the Future" as a resource in planning the public forum. There are also mailing lists and telephone numbers of various public officials and newspapers throughout the state.

The correspondence consists of letters from various political party leaders and state officials, some of whom spoke at the public forum expressing their support for the proposed constitutional amendments. Excerpts from these letters, which may have been annotated by Pyle, were also used in press releases promoting the proposed constitutional amendments and the public forum.

The photographs of forum speakers include former Governor Bill Waller and then Lieutenant Governor Brad Dye, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman Marshall Bennett, and Hinds County Supervisor Bennie Thompson. There are also corresponding photographic negatives.

The printed materials include newsclippings discussing the outcome of the public forum and the proposed amendments to be voted on in the November 1986 general election. Issues of Mississippi Business (October 27 and November 10, 1986) contain articles about the public forum and the passage of both constitutional amendments.

1. Planning Materials. 1976-1986.

   Box 1, folders 1-5

2. Correspondence. 1986-1987.

   Box 1, folder 6

3. Publicity Materials. 1986; n.d.

   Box 1, folder 7

4. Photographs. ca. 1986.

   Box 1, folders 8-9

5. Printed Materials. 1986.

   Box 1, folders 10-11

• Box 1, folders 1-5: planning materials, 1976-1986.

Box 1, folder 6: correspondence, 1986-1987.
Box 1, folder 7: publicity materials, 1986; n.d.
Box 1, folders 8-9: photographs, ca. 1986.
Box 1, folders 10-11: printed materials, 1986.