In its second year, the Mississippi Top 50 winners have been released.
Mississippi Top 50 is an annual list of the people who are judged to be the most influential leaders in the state. This bipartisan selection of leaders comes from the ranks of elected and appointed officials, economic development professionals, business, media and government affairs.
Former Governor Haley Barbour and Representative Steve Holland have been named as having Hall of Fame designation for 2017.
Haley Barbour – Governor of Mississippi (2004 – 2012)
Haley Barbour was elected as Governor in 2003 and after serving two consecutive terms, including two years as the Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
Barbour joined counsel at the law firm Butler Snow LLP in Ridgeland, Mississippi, where he specializes in economic and business development.
A native of Yazoo City, Miss., Gov. Barbour attended the University of Mississippi, where he received his JD in 1973. He resides in Yazoo City with his wife Marsha. They have two sons and seven grandchildren.
Steve Holland – Mississippi House of Representatives
Steve Holland was first elected a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1983 representing the people of Lee County for 34 consecutive legislative sessions.
Among the numerous committee’s he has served on during his time in the Mississippi House, Holland served as chairman of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee for 8 years and for 24 years, he chaired the Medicaid/Health Care Appropriations subcommittee. He also serves on the Appropriations Committee, Medicaid Committee. Transportation Committee, Banks and Banking and Fees and Salaries Committee.
Holland graduated from Mississippi State University in 1977 and has an Associate of Arts in Mortuary Science from Northwest Mississippi Junior College. He also has done graduate work at George Washington University in Washington, DC and received a Masters of Arts in Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi. He is owner/president of Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo, Okolona, and Nettleton and has farming interests in Lee and Monroe counties.
Steve is married to the former Gloria Temple, who was the Mayor of Plantersville for twelve years. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Here is the full list of MS Top 50 winners:
Phyliss Anderson, Tribal Chief of Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
John Arledge, Vice President of Public Affairs, Entergy Mississippi
Austin Barbour, Clearwater Group
Henry Barbour, Capitol Resources
Toby Barker, Mayor of Hattiesburg
Terry Burton, Senate Pro-Tempore
Mike Chaney, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner
Suresh Chawla, Owner, Chawla Hospitality Group
Beth Clay, The Clay Firm
Angela Cockerham, State Representative
Hayes Dent, Hayes Dent Strategies
Joey Fillingane, State Senator
Lynn Fitch, State Treasurer
Paul Gallo, SuperTalk Mississippi
Jeff Good, Mangia Bene Restaurant Group
Philip Gunn, Speaker of the Mississippi House
Chip Henderson, Senior Pastor, Pinelake
Clare Hester, Capitol Resources
