Page 20 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2026

COAST NOTE
Biloxi
First Roast
story by Lynn Lofton
photo courtesy of Biloxi First
The 22nd Annual Biloxi First Roast honoring Richard
Schmidt will be held October 13 at IP Casino Resort Spa. The
event is the major fundraiser for Biloxi First, providing funds
for innovative classroom projects within Biloxi Public Schools
and for matches to named grant donations.
A lifelong Biloxi resident, Richard C. Schmidt Jr. has
dedicated his career and community service to strengthening
the Mississippi Gulf Coast through business leadership,
education, civic involvement, and volunteer service.
He and his wife Cecilia Gollott Schmidt are proud parents
of Jack, Heath, and Ann Lauren. Richard was honored as the
2007 Biloxi Lions Club Father of the Year.
He is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he
earned Bachelors and Masters degrees. He spent several
years in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2005, the Schmidts
opened Barry’s U Pull It Auto Parts in Mobile, Alabama.
Under their leadership, the company has grown into one of
the Gulf Coast’s leading automotive recycling businesses,
serving customers throughout the region. He is also a founding
member of the Ship Island Trading Company.
He serves as President of the Board of Trustees of the Biloxi School
District and has held leadership roles in numerous organizations.
20 | October 2026 story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of the
Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony
A special symphonic experience kicks off this season for the
Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony. It’s Morgan Freeman’s
Symphonic Blues Experience at 7:30 p.m., October 17 at
the Immersive Media Performing Arts Center (iMPAC) on
MGCCC’s Gulfport campus.
“This season is our boldest invitation yet. We’re opening
with Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience: a full
symphony orchestra paired with a touring blues band and
cinematic narration, telling the story of the music that was born
right here in Mississippi,” says Jonathan Woodward, Ph.D.,
president of the symphony board.
The concert includes the power, history, and soul of America’s
greatest musical tradition. This groundbreaking multimedia
event blends the richness of the symphony orchestra with the
energy of a live touring blues band, featuring custom orchestral
arrangements, narrated video content, and immersive storytelling
exploring the origins and cultural impact of the blues.
Woodward adds, “From there, we move into Peppermint Pops,
a beloved family holiday tradition, and into the spring with
masterworks from Beethoven to Dvořák. Whether someone’s
never heard a live orchestra before or has been a subscriber for
20 years, there’s a night on this calendar made for them. That’s
exactly what we want the Gulf Coast Symphony to be, an
orchestra for everyone.”
Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony
228.896.4276
www.msgulfcoastsymphony.net
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