My first visit to this annual event was in 2018. Johnny Morgan and I were only passingly acquainted at the time. But as I walked about, camera in hand, Johnny started walking alongside me. As if he were confiding affairs of state with a lifelong friend, he put an arm around me and said it’s fine for me to take photographs — as long as no one is seen holding a beer!
Johnny was always the life of any party. Tragically, at this year’s event, his bodily life was no longer with us (tinyurl.com/munv4nr9) — though the presence of his spirit could be felt by all.
Johnny’s brother, Chip, has taken the reins of this annual get together. Chip has had a long career of public service himself. He currently sits on the board of the Institute of Higher Learning, which oversees Mississippi’s eight colleges, including Ole Miss.
He began the political speechifying portion of the evening with an invocation offering solemn thanks that Grace had given us another precious day of life.
Chip then noted that a big part of Johnny’s motivation for starting this event was to help return civility to Mississippi politics. A large chunk of Johnny’s success in life came from his always respectfully listening to what they had to say, even those he strongly disagreed with. Chip said that in more recent decades Mississippi politics had indeed become much less rancorous than in prior eras. As a result, a lot of progress, of every sort, had been made — to the benefit of all Mississippians.
Chip asked that, in memory of Johnny, we all show civility as the speeches were being delivered that night.
Ed Morgan, John’s brother — and Johnny and Chip’s 1st cousin — had spoken on behalf of the Morgan family at the celebration of life service for Johnny last May. He related that right after Johnny had passed, Nancy Frohn, a district director of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women and a member of the Lafayette County Republican Women’s board, told Ed that whenever a local individual or family was in need of assistance, such as a major home appliance, she would call Johnny. He would tell her to wait five minutes, then send the family to the local Sears to pick up their new appliance. Johnny took care of the rest.
Ms. Frohn said Johnny never failed to come through. The whole story came as a complete surprise to Ed and the rest of the Morgan family. But the revelation did explain why family members were being offered thanks, along with condolences, by many virtual strangers for what Johnny had done for them.
In recognition of his decades of Johnny’s performing this humanitarian service, Ms. Frohn presented the Morgan family with a framed portrait of Johnny.
On behalf of the state legislature, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives Philip Gunn presented a framed copy of the joint-chamber resolution honoring Johnny with a (necessarily lengthy) recital of his many services to Mississippi and its people.
After these tributes, MDOT Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell spoke of how his department had worked closely with municipalities along the way to insure that the path of the I-269 corridor would be of maximum benefit to Desoto and Marshall counties.
In addition to being Commissioner of Agriculture & Commerce, Andy Gipson is a lawyer, minister, and for more than 20 years a cattle rancher. He noted that Mississippi farms had produced the food we were having that night (BBQ chicken, kidney beans, cole slaw, pickles, cheese, crackers, peanuts). He has been active in promoting the Mississippi “brand” to draw more attention to locally grown food, along with other truth-in-labeling measures.
As Attorney General of Mississippi, Lynn Fitch has emphasized bringing to justice dealers of fentanyl, and other illegal drugs. Sex traffickers and child abusers also loom large on her office’s radar.
Secretary of State Michael Watson spoke of his success in cutting the state’s regulatory burden on businesses, while making government more transparent and effective, yet less costly. During his first term, he combined what had been three separate departments into one, reducing their cost to taxpayers.
As overseer of the upcoming statewide elections, he has made a great effort to insure the integrity of the outcome. If reelected, he will contine to work to bring about campaign finance reform.
US Senator Roger Wicker roared with laughter when Mr. Watson, notwithstanding Ed Morgan’s appeal for comity, (jokingly) declared that it had taken the four years since his election to finish straightening out the mess his predecessor had left behind. That predecessor, Delbert Hoseman (the current Lieutenant Governor), was standing right next to Mike when he said it.
Senator Wicker noted that it was just a few days before Johnny’s fatal plane crash that he had promised Johnny he would attend this year’s BBQ. Multiple conflicts abroad, consultations with House Republicans about picking a Speaker, and a looming government shutdown have been keeping him pretty busy these days, as ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
But he had made a promise to Johnny (they were friends in their college days). So, at 5:15 pm his flight from Washington, DC arrived in Memphis. He soon arrived at the BBQ to keep his promise. His overall point was that public service meant keeping promises.
Lt. Gov. Hoseman mentioned that while Secretary of State he had traveled enormously, in the US and abroad, to bring companies and skilled workers to Mississippi. (And he had left the Department of State in great shape!) As Lieutenant Governor, he has worked with both sides of the aisle in the legislature to get bills passed that benefit the whole state.
In 2019, Tates Reeves was in a hotly contested race for governor. Donald Trump Jr. had agreed to speak on his behalf at that year’s BBQ. His negotiations with Johnny went something like so (to the best of my rickety recollection):
Tate: I really need this boost.
Johnny: Our policy has always been that only elected officials or candidates for office can speak at the BBQ. Is he running for elective office?
Tate: Well, no. But I really need this. We go back a long ways, Johnny. I want you to think hard on this, and get back to me.
[About three hours pass. Johnny calls back.]
Johnny: Can he bring Kimberly to speak too?
Tate: Kimberly! What’s she got to do with this?
Johnny: If Kimberly will speak, Don Jr. can too.
So, Kimberly and Don Jr. both came to the BBQ and spoke. Tate said Johnny had always strictly confined him to the two-minute time limit for speaking. But he let Kimberly go on for 45 minutes.
Needless to say, Mr. Reeves won the governorship.
