Page 24 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2024

COAST NOTE
story by
Lynn Lofton
photo courtesy of
City of Gulfport
When George Schloegel died last October at age 83, he left a lasting
legacy of community service. The retired Hancock Bank Chairman & CEO and former Gulfport mayor will be missed for many years. The city recently honored him with the dedication of the lighthouse that stands in Jones Park.
A cofounder of the Friends of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Schloegel helped lead the construction of an exact replica of the Ship Island Lighthouse – a familiar Gulf Coast landmark that burned in 1972 and the inspiration for Hancock Bank’s corporate hallmark – according to original 1886 blueprints.
“George Schloegel was more than just a leader; he was a visionary whose profound impact will be felt for generations,” said current Mayor Billy Hewes. “We pay tribute to his vast contributions to our city’s recovery and growth. The event
celebrated a man whose legacy served as a beacon of resilience and community spirit, inspiring us all to uphold the values he championed.”
A member of a large family, Schloegel worked from an early age. While in
high school he worked in the mail room at Hancock Bank and rose to become chairman and CEO. He later oversaw the successful merger of Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank.
Following hurricanes Camille and Katrina, he instigated the Together We Build and Together We Rebuild campaigns, respectively, for Gulf Coast recovery.
“An inspirational leader by style, Schloegel challenged future leaders
to combine aspirational goals with uncompromising fundamentals,” Hewes said.
Schloegel served as chair of the
Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Mississippi
and on the Gulfport School Board. A co-founder of Leadership Mississippi, Leadership Gulf Coast, and Coast 21, he was selected as one of South Mississippi’s inaugural Top Ten Community Leaders and to the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame.
He and his gracious wife, Peggy, have been active in many local organizations, including the Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony, Salvation Army, Gulfport Little Theater, Gulfport Yacht Club, and St. James Catholic Church.
A GUIDING
George Schloegel Lighthouse Dedication
Light
24 | July 2024
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