MS SC509

Dr. Rod Paige, a Mississippi native born in Monticello, passed away on December 9, 2025, at age 92

Paige was the first African American to serve as United States Secretary of Education, appointed by President George W. Bush

As Secretary, he led implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, which established universal testing standards and sanctioned underperforming schools

Prior to federal service, Paige served as head football coach at Jackson State University, where his team became the first to integrate Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in 1967

The resolution directs transmission to Paige's surviving family, the current U.S. Secretary of Education, and the President of Jackson State University