He worked 40 years at one South MS company and now he’s the Spirit of the Coast winner
A crowd of 600 business leaders applauded as the Pat Santucci “Spirit of the Coast” award was presented Tuesday to a man who spent 40 years working for his company and his community, and mentored young leaders.
Tommy Murphy collected his winged trophy at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce annual meeting at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi.
Murphy was employed at Mississippi Power for 40 years, joining the Southern Company in 1985. Before his retirement he held a variety of management positions with the company.
His many titles included community development director and chief information officer, employee relations manager, senior project manager and national recruiter for economic development.
In 2016, he became coastal division manager and led the company’s operations, customer service and local community and government relations. In 2021, he was named as vice president of customer service and operations where he continued until he retired in January 2024.
He also has a long list of professional and community activities over the years. Among them are president of the Coast Chamber, Hancock County Chamber board president, NASA Partners for Stennis board of directors, executive for United Way, president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Technology Council and the external advisory board for the University of Southern Mississippi and Leadership Gulf Coast.
He was named to South Mississippi’s Outstanding Community Leaders and was a recipient of the Coast Young Professional’s Forever Young Award that honors mentors.
“Tommy is the type of guy you want as a leader in your organization and in our community,” said Adele Lyons, CEO of the chamber. “Tommy is so very well deserving of this honor.”
Murphy graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Southern Mississippi. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology management program.
Past Spirit of the Coast winners are:
2024: Rodger Wilder
2023: Dave Dennis
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
