IEEE Mississippi Section
History of the IEEE Mississippi Section
Honouring more than seven decades of engineering leadership, professional service, technical excellence, and volunteer dedication across Mississippi.
Our History
The IEEE Mississippi Section traces its origins to 1951, when it was officially established as a Sub-Section of the New Orleans Section of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE).
Over the years, the Section grew in scope and influence, formally expanding in 1963 by integrating counties from portions of the Huntsville and New Orleans Sections of the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE).
Since its inception, the Section has played a vital role in fostering professional growth, innovation, and collaboration among engineers and technology professionals in Mississippi. It has hosted significant events, including the Region 3 Convention in 1967 in Jackson, Mississippi, which attracted nearly 170 attendees, including 100 students.
Throughout the years, the Section has actively supported engineering education and student development, sponsoring student paper contests at Mississippi State University and later at the University of Southern Mississippi. The Section has also engaged with the broader engineering community by organizing joint meetings with other professional societies, hosting industry discussions, and participating in National Engineers Week activities since 1998.
With a legacy of leadership and technical excellence, the IEEE Mississippi Section continues to advance technology and professional development in the region, honoring the contributions of past leaders and inspiring future generations of engineers.
1951
Origins of the IEEE Mississippi Section
1963
Formal regional expansion
1967
Region 3 Convention hosted in Jackson
1998
National Engineers Week participation begins
Special Events and Historical Notes
The Region 3 Convention was held in Jackson, MS by the Mississippi Section on
April 17, 18, and 19, 1967, and was very successful. About 170 people registered,
including about 100 students. The location of the event was the Hotel Heidelberg
in downtown Jackson. The General Chair was Mr. D. E. Buck of Southern Bell
Tel. & Tel. Co. The Vice-General Chair was Mr. Norris L. Stampley of
Mississippi Power and Light Co.
For a number of years, the November meeting was a joint meeting with other
engineering societies, and the speakers were members of the Mississippi
Legislature. This was also ladies night.
The December meeting, for a number of years, was a visit/program at Mississippi
State University, Starkville, MS. This was also ladies night.
For several years, the Section sponsored student paper contests at Mississippi
State University and later at the University of Southern Mississippi. Joe Savage
and Harold Henson tied as second-place winners in 1967, each receiving $50.
First-place winner Martin Jue received $100 cash. The students came to the
Section meeting in Jackson in March each year and presented their papers and
received the awards. The contest was judged by Section members from central
Mississippi on the university campus.
The Section sponsored ladies night at Lake Tiak-O-Khata near Louisville, MS
in the month of December for several years. The Section was assisted by members
from Mississippi State University.
The Section has participated in National Engineers Week activities, along with
four or more other engineering societies, in Vicksburg, MS since February 1998.
Historical IEEE Mississippi Section Officers
Officer history compiled by Joe Savage, January 29, 2011 & Daniel R. Jagessar, May 17, 2026.
| Years | Chair | Vice Chair | Secretary | Treasurer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957–1962 | ? | |||
| 1963–1964 | Bill Stone | |||
| 1964–1965 | Frank Bates | Orris I. Hicks | ||
| 1965–1966 | Orris I. Hicks | Keith Daymond | R. C. Catledge | R. C. Catledge & L. E. Culver |
| 1966–1967 | L. E. Culver | K. W. Schell | Allen S. Lessem | A. S. Lessem |
| 1967–1968 | K. W. Scheel | R. L. Johnston | George M. Sansing | G. M. Sansing |
| 1968–1969 | R. L. Johnston | G. M. Sansing | E. B. Jenkins | T. G. Coleman |
| 1969–1970 | G. M. Sansing | E. B. Jenkins | M. H. Berryhill | T. D. Housley |
| 1970–1971 | Brack Jenkins | M. H. Berryhill | G. D. Causey | J. K. Harrell II |
| 1971–1972 | Bob Tipton | G. D. Causey | J. K. Harrell II | A. J. Lee |
| 1972–1973 | R. C. Catledge | M. N. Townsend | S. E. Johnson | E. W. Lowther |
| 1973–1974 | M. N. Townsend | F. C. Teetson | J. Lee Tinney | J. W. Bullin |
| 1974–1975 | Floyd Teetson?? | |||
| 1975–1976 | J. Lee Tinney | E. Ray Miller | M. E. Richardson | Sam Johnson |
| 1976–1977 | J. L. Oglesbee | S. E. Johnson | J. H. Caldwell | G. C. Shumaker |
| 1977–1978 | Sam Johnson?? | |||
| 1978–1979 | George C. Shumaker?? | |||
| 1979–1980 | Barrie McArthur | Darrell McCardle | Mark G. Torres | M. E. Richardson |
| 1980–1981 | Darrell McCardle | M. E. Richardson | Bill Hays | Mark G. Torres |
| 1981–1982 | Marvin E. Richardson | Bill Hays | Jesse L. Ross | Mark G. Torres |
| 1982–1983 | Bill Hays | Randy McCarty | Alfred E. Paullin | Jesse L. Ross & Mark G. Torres |
| 1983–1984 | Randy McCarty | Jesse Ross | Jerry L. Wilson | Alfred Paullin |
| 1984–1985 | Jesse Ross & David A. Church | Alfred Paullin & Forrest Hall | Forrest L. Hall | Jerry L. Wilson |
| 1985–1986 | Alfred Paullin | Forrest L. Hall | Richard Strahan | David Church |
| 1986–1987 | Forrest L. Hall | David Church | Doug Scott | Richard Strahan |
| 1987–1988 | David Church | David Dent | Jerry Baughn | Doug Scott |
| 1988–1989 | David Church? | Doug Scott & Glenn L. Mossy | John E. Pahlman | William Baughn |
| 1989–1990 | William G. Baughn | James S. Case | Jerry D. Tanner | John Pahlman |
| 1990–1991 | James S. Case | Jerry D. Tanner | Milton T. Watts | Thomas Riley |
| 1991–1992 | Thomas F. Riley & Thomas F. Riley | John R. Scott | Aaron J. Achord & Aaron Achord | Milton T. Watts |
| 1992–1993 | John R. Scott | Eric O. Brockman | Aaron J. Achord | Lisa Secrest |
| 1993–1994 | Eric O. Brockman | Aaron J. Achord | Lisa W. Secrest | Philip Williams |
| 1994–1995 | Aaron J. Achord | Lisa W. Secrest | Philip M. Williams | C. D. Pruett |
| 1995–1996 | Lisa W. Secrest | Chris A. Collins | Chris A. Collins | Steven Daniel, PhD |
| 1996–1997 | Philip M. Williams & Steven Daniel, PhD | Steven Daniel | Chris A. Collins | |
| 1997–1998 | Steven P. Daniel, PhD | Mark Cumberland | ||
| 1999–2001 | M. B. “Joe” Savage | Ray Franco, PhD | Carl Hovermale II | Steven Daniel |
| 2002–2003 | Ray Franco, PhD & George Sidders | Andy Harrison, PhD | Lee Hall | Joe Savage |
| 2004–2005 | George Sidders & Gerald Brown | David Schoggen | Joe Turner | Joe Savage |
| 2006–2007 | David Schoggen & Gordon Skelton, PhD | Gerald Brown | Ron Ogan | Joe Savage |
| 2008–2009 | Gordon Skelton, PhD | Ron T. Ogan | Catherine Anderson | Joe Savage |
| 2010–2011 | Catherine Anderson | Joel Harris | Samrat Datta | Joe Savage |
| 2012–2013 | Joel Harris | Ron T. Ogan | Winnfort Myles | Lee Robertson |
| 2013–2014 | Joel Harris | Ron Ogan | Winnfort Myles | James Robertson |
| 2014–2015 | Ron Ogan | Winnfort Myles | Thomas Field | James Robertson |
| 2016-2017 | Winnfort Myles | Thomas Field | Paul Edwin Watson | James Robertson |
| 2017-2018 | Winnfort Myles | Thomas Field | Douglas Seale | Paul Edwin Watson |
| 2018-2019 | Thomas Field | Randy Buchanan | Rajeev Agrawal | Paul Edwin Watson |
| 2019-2020 | Thomas Field | Randy Buchanan | Rajeev Agrawal | Winnfort Myles |
| 2020-2021 | Randy Buchanan | Rajeev Agrawal | Gordon Skelton | Winnfort Myles |
| 2021-2022 | Randy Buchanan | Rajeev Agrawal | — | Winnfort Myles |
| 2022-2023 | Rajeev Agrawal | Andrew Sung | John Ball | Winnfort Myles |
| 2023-2024 | Rajeev Agrawal | Andrew Sung | John Ball | Winnfort Myles |
| 2024-2025 | Rajeev Agrawal | Andrew Sung | John Ball | Winnfort Myles |
| 2025-2026 | Thomas Field | Brian Sullivan | Akanksha Wankhade | Winnfort Myles |
Additional Directors and Committee Chairs
1965–1966
- Program — E. B. Jenkins, Jr.
- Membership — B. R. Tipton
- Student Affairs — F. C. Teetson
- Publicity — C. A. Rogillio
- Executive Committee — G. C. Speed, R. L. Johnston, Ed May, L. E. Culver, Konrad Scheel
- Technical Discussion Group — J. R. White
- NorthEast Mississippi Sub-Section Chairman — W. C. Moncrief, Jr.
1966–1967
- Program — J. R. Burnie
- Membership — Kirby Harrell
- Student Affairs — J. E. Griffin
- Publicity — J. R. White
- Executive Committee — Tom James, Leigh Watkins, Brack Jenkins
- Technical Discussion Group — M. H. Berryhill
- NorthEast Mississippi Sub-Section Chairman — C. A. Hayes
1967–1987
- 1967–68 Executive Committee — G. C. Speed, Allen S. Lessem, B. R. Tipton
- 1968–69 Executive Committee — G. D. Causey, L. E. Culver, T. D. Housley
- Program — Floyd C. Teetson
- Student Activity — Tom G. James
- Publicity — Don S. Turner
- Membership — Carl E. Henderson
- Executive Committee — R. “Bob” L. Johnston, George D. Causey, J. Kirby Harrell, Marion N. Townsend
- 1971–72 Directors — S. E. Johnson, J. Lee Tinney, F. R. Sias, Jr.
- 1972–73 Directors — F. R. Sias, Jr., J. L. Maxwell, H. C. Moss, Jr.
- 1973–74 Directors — L. F. Campbell, C. A. Rogillia, Marvin E. Richardson
- 1975–76 Directors — M. B. “Joe” Savage, Jr.; George Shumaker; Fred H. Woodruff
- 1976–77 Directors — M. B. “Joe” Savage, Jr.; D. A. Church; S. D. Whitman
- 1979–80 Directors — Bill Hays, Jesse Ross, Don Lambert
- 1980–81 Directors — Ed Lowther, Basil Hinds, Jesse Ross, Don Lambert
- 1981–82 Directors — R. C. Catledge, R. L. Johnston, George Shumaker
- Program — Johnny Johnson
- Publicity — Barry McArthur
- Student Activities — W. L. “Bud” Nail, III
- Student Activities — Lee Hall
- Professional Activities — Don E. Lambert
- Membership Development — E. B. “Brack” Jenkins
- Educational Activities — Alfred E. Paullin
- 1982–83 Directors — Johnny Caldwell, Bob Catledge, Bud Nail, Marvin E. Richardson
- 1983–84 Directors — Bill Hays, Johnny Caldwell, Lee Hall, George Robertson
- 1984–85 Directors — W. G. Baughn, Douglas Scott, Richard Strahan, Randy McCarty
- 1985–86 Directors — Jesse Ross, Douglas Scott
- 1985–86 NorthEast Mississippi Sub-Section Officers — Chair, Eric J. Baker; Vice-Chair, David B. Miller; Sec/Treas, H. Wayne Rixie
- 1986–87 Directors — Tom James, Marvin E. Richardson
- 1986–87 NorthEast Mississippi Sub-Section Officers — Chair, David B. Miller; Vice-Chair, H. Wayne Rixie; Sec/Treas, Melvin M. Smith
1987–2005
- 1987–88 Directors — Marvin E. Richardson, Lisa Sandlin, Lee Hall
- 1997–2001 Programs and Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE, and Awards — John Marshall
- 1999–2000 Membership Development — Cary Cox, PhD & Dorothy Boswell
- GOLD — Michelle Picou
- Past Chair — Steven Daniel, PhD
- Programs and Professional Activities, PACE, and Awards — John Marshall
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- 2000–2001 Membership Development — Cary Cox, PhD & Dorothy Boswell
- Grade Transfer — Charles “Bob” Welch, PhD
- Educational Activities — Andy Harrison, PhD
- Webmaster/Newsletter Editor — Ernesto “Ernie” Cespedes, PhD & Ray Franco, PhD
- Programs and Professional Activities, PACE, and Awards — John Marshall
- Student Activities — Andy Harrison, PhD
- Educational Activities — Nicholas Younan, PhD
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- 2002–2005 Membership Development — Cary Cox, PhD & Dorothy Boswell
- Grade Transfer — Charles “Bob” Welch, PhD
- Webmaster/Newsletter Editor — Ray Franco, PhD
- Programs and Professional Activities, PACE — John Marshall
- Student Activities — Nicholas Younan, PhD
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- 2005 Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
2006–2012
- 2006 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster/Newsletter Editor — Ray Franco, PhD
- Programs and Professional Activities, PACE — John Marshall
- Student Activities — Nicholas Younan, PhD
- Teacher In-Service — George Sidders & Gerald Brown
- E-Notice & MathCounts — Ron Ogan
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- 2007 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster — Ray Franco, PhD
- Programs — John Marshall
- Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE — Arron Achord
- Student Activities — Nicholas Younan, PhD
- Teacher In-Service — George Sidders & Gerald Brown
- E-Notice & MathCounts — Ron Ogan
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- Transient Voltage Surge Suppression Seminar — Thomas Butcher
- 2008 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster — Ray Franco, PhD
- Programs — John Marshall
- Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE — Aaron Achord
- Student Activities — Nicholas Younan, PhD
- Teacher In-Service —
- E-Notice — Catherine Anderson
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- 2009 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster — Ray Franco, PhD
- Programs — John Marshall
- Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE — Aaron Achord
- Student Activities — Nicholas Younan, PhD
- E-Notice — Catherine Anderson
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- 2010 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster — Ray Franco, PhD and Eric T. Lee
- Programs and Awards — Ron T. Ogan
- GOLD — Kyle Watson
- Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE — Aaron Achord
- Student Activities — Jane Moorhead
- E-Notice — Samrat Datta
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- PDH Seminar — Samrat Datta
- 2011 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster — Eric T. Lee
- Programs and Awards — Ron T. Ogan
- GOLD — Kyle Watson
- Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE — David Schoggen
- Student Activities — Jane N. Moorhead
- E-Notice — Samrat Datta
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- PDH Seminar — David Schoggen
- Industry Relations —
- Publicity —
- 2012 Membership Development — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Senior Member Upgrade — Forrest “Lee” Hall
- Webmaster — Eric T. Lee
- Programs and Awards — Ron T. Ogan
- GOLD — Kyle Watson
- Professional Activities Committee for Engineers, PACE — David Schoggen
- Student Activities — Jane N. Moorhead
- E-Notice — Winnfort Myles
- EWEEK — Joe Savage
- Ethics Seminar — David Schoggen
- PDH Seminar — David Schoggen
- Industry Relations —
- Publicity —
Special thanks to Orris Hicks, George Sansing, Marvin Richardson, and IEEE HQ for the above Section information and assistance.
By: Joe Savage, IEEE Mississippi Section Chair 1999–2001, April 25, 2012. Updated by Daniel R. Jagessar, May 17, 2026.
Additional Compilation By: Daniel R. Jagessar, May 17, 2026.