Newest ‘Spirit of the Coast’ winner saluted as business and community champion
Coast contractor Dave Dennis of Pass Christian on Tuesday joined the distinguished roll of South Mississippi business leaders honored with the Spirit of the Coast award annually since 1989.
A crowd of about 600 people applauded him as he was presented with the award during the annual meeting of the Coast Chamber of Commerce at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi.
Dennis is president emeritus of Specialty Contractors & Associates in Gulfport, a contracting business he and his late wife, Jane Dennis, opened in 1985. They completed more than 9,000 projects, including commercial office buildings, industrial facilities, hotels, churches, hospitals, schools and casinos.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Coast in 2005, Dennis was one of the leaders selected to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Recovery as he helped rebuild the Coast.
Dennis is a commissioner on the Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport Authority and is chairman of the Board of the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi.
Among his long list of business accomplishments, he served three terms as chairman of Federal Reserve Bank in New Orleans, chairman of Leadership Mississippi, served on the executive committee for Mississippi Economic Council and Gulf Coast Business Council and many others.
Coast Chamber CEO Adele Lyons saluted Dennis for his professional and community involvement, such as Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Saint James School Board and serving as a youth leagues coach for 15 years.
“Dave is the type of guy you want as a leader in your organization. He is committed 100% to his leadership role and is very actively involved,” she said.
“Dave is very well deserving of this honor,” she said.
Past winners of the Spirit of the Coast Award are:
2022: Anthony Wilson
2021: Angie Juzang
2020: Arturo Barajas
2019: Dick Wilson
2018: Wes Fulmer
2017: Jerry Levens
2016: John Hairston
2015: Linda Watts
2014: Dorothy Wilson
2013: Elizabeth Joachim
2012: John McFarland
2011: Jon Lucas
2010: Gerald Blessey
2009: Duncan McKenzie
2008: Ricky Mathews
2007: Anthony Topazi
2006: Chevis Swetman
2005: Janice Young
2004: Mike Garrett
2003: Jim Williams
2002: Tim Hinkley
2001: Dwight Evans
2000: Ron Peresich
1999: Gene Warr
1998: George Thatcher
1997: Lucimarian Roberts
1996: George Schloegel
1995: Alton Bankston
1994: Bill Peden
1993: Bruce Stewart
1992: Jerry O’Keefe
1991: Pat Santucci
1990: Roland Weeks Jr.
1989: Walter Williams
This story was originally published February 14, 2023 at 1:48 PM.
