Page 14 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2025

COAST NOTE
PAT SANTUCCI
“Spirit of the Coast” AWARD WINNER
story and photo courtesy of the
Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
On February 18, 2025, Tommy Murphy was presented with the Pat Santucci “Spirit of the Coast” award in front
of a crowd of over 600 attendees at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber
of Commerce’s Annual Meeting held at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.
Murphy retired from Mississippi Power after 40
years of service having joined the Southern Company system in 1985 and has held a variety of management positions with Mississippi Power, Alabama Power, and Gulf Power. In April 2021, he was named as vice president of Customer Service and operations where he served until his retirement in January 2024.
His civic, community and professional activities and leadership roles include serving as president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Hancock County Chamber board president, NASA Partners for Stennis board of directors, loaded executive for United Way, president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Technology Council, the external advisory board for the University of Southern Mississippi and Leadership Gulf Coast.
“Tommy is the type of guy you want as a leader in your organization and in our community. He commitment is
100 percent and not a bit less. He continues to give back in meaningful ways,” stated Adele Lyons, CEO of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. “Tommy is so very well deserving of this honor.”
OCEAN SPRINGS
COMMUNITY
LEADERS RECEIVE
PRESTIGIOUS
AWARDS
story and photo courtesy of the
Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce – Main Street – Tourism Bureau
The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce – Main Street – Tourism Bureau announced recipients of its annual community awards on Wednesday, February 19. The ceremony was in conjunction with the Ocean Springs Chamber-Main Street’s Annual meeting. Ocean Springs Chamber-Main Street honored outstanding community members who have made an extraordinary contribution in service, economic development, and quality of life to the community in 2024.
The winners were: Community Leader of the Year – Rickey Authement; Ambassador of the Year – KC Conn, Triple Diamond Pawn; Volunteer of the Year – Bryan Rodgers, CoCard/Selah Pilates & Wellness; First Re- sponder of the Year Fire – Battalion Chief Keith Guice, Ocean Springs Fire Department; First Responder of the Year, Police – Sergeant Ron Bennett, Ocean Springs Police Department; Restaurant of the Year – Trilby’s, Anthony Rametta; Retailer of the Year – Love ivy, April Bullock; Entrepreneurs of the Year – Anthony Portera and McCade Hibbard, The District Coffee; Educator of the Year – An- gela Shelby, Ocean Springs Middle School; 2024 President Appreciation Award – Sandra Carter.
For more information, please contact the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce – Main Street – Tourism Bureau at 228.875.4424 or visit www.oceanspringschamber.com.
14 | April 2025
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