Page 9 - MS811

George Lewis Steps Down as Municipal Liaison for Mississippi 811
Some folks just have the knack of putting people at ease and making them feel important. George Lewis is certainly at the top of that list.
Ten years ago, George retired as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Municipal League (MML). While at MML, he had met with the late Sam Johnson to discuss the potential opposition to an initiative promoted by the Mississippi Damage Prevention Committee (MDPC) requiring all owner/operators of underground facilities to become members of Mississippi 811. That meeting was memorable for a couple of reasons. One was that the meeting was a steppingstone for requiring membership in Mississippi 811. The other was that it began a relationship of mutual trust for George and Sam.
When George retired a few years later, Sam invited George
to consider coming to work for Mississippi 811. He created a special position that would prove to be critical in the building
of trust between Mississippi 811 and municipalities. Sam told me several times, “No one else in the state could do what George was doing.”
George did what he’d done for years. He met with elected officials and especially Mayors across the state promoting trust through working together. He speaks with a great fondness for the many Mayors and elected officials he’s met and become great friends with. He understood the difficulties they faced every day and how being a member of Mississippi 811 would benefit them by minimizing disruptions to their underground utilities and at the same time improve their bottom line.
George worked with Mississippi 811 for 10 years and laid a foundation that will stand for many years to come. When Fred Johnson, President of Mississippi 811 was asked about George’s contribution to the organization, he said, “George has been
an ally for damage prevention for many years. He’s worked tirelessly to ensure elected officials and Mayors were kept in the loop throughout the legislative process. We’ll certainly miss him. We wish him well going forward.”
When asked if there were any plans to replace the position in the immediate future. Fred replied, “No, at this time there are no plans to replace the position. I’m not saying that we’ll never replace it, but not any time soon.”
George’s last official day with Mississippi 811 is December 31, 2023. Thanks for all you’ve done, my friend, and may your next adventure be the best one yet!
Start the New Year with CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy training is focused on making sure your leadership
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Our training also covers the steps to prevent natural gas ignition, explosion, and inherent risks should blowing gas from a damaged pipeline occur in your community.
To schedule your training session, email
PublicAwareness@CenterPointEnergy.com
2023, Issue 4
Mississippi 811 • 7