2014 was a year of change when it came to leadership positions in the Golden Triangle. Here’s a look at some of those notable transitions:
Goodbye: State senator Terry Brown, 64, died Sept. 4 after a year-long battle with cancer. Brown, a life-long Lowndes County resident, was elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate in 2012 and had served as District 17 senator since 2003. He also served as a representative from 1988 to 2000.
Hello: In November, political newcomer Chuck Younger emerged from a field of four candidates, including a run-off victory over Bobby Patrick, to claim Brown’s seat during a special elected. Younger will serve the remaining one year of Brown’s term.
Goodbye: In April, Columbus Police Department Chief Selvain McQueen announced his retirement after 26 years with the CPD, including three years as chief.
Hello: Former Tupelo Police Department Chief Tony Carleton, hired as assistant chief for the CPD in September of 2013, took over an interim chief upon McQueen’s retirement and was named permanent Chief in June.
Goodbye: Ken Moore ended his nine years as Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief when he announced his retirement in March. Moore had been with the department for 30 years.
Hello: Assistant chief Martin Andrews, who took over as interim chief when Moore retired, was announced as the permanent chief in May. Andrews, a Columbus native, has been with the department for 27 years.
Goodbye: Roger Short announced in August that he would retire from his position as executive director of the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority. Short had worked for the CLRA for more than 23 years, including 12 years as director. His retirement is effective Wednesday.
Hello: Greg Lewis, who like Short had been with the CLRA for 23 years, was approved as Short’s replacement in October. He took over that position Thursday.
Goodbye: Col. Jim Sears ended his two-year term as commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base in July. Sears left for his new position in as San Antonio, Texas, where he serves Chief of Officer Assignments at Randolph Air Force Base.
Hello: Col. John Nichols assumed the wing commander’s role on July 11. At the time of his appointment, Nichols had served as a senior pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours in the B-1, MQ-9, T-37, and T-38 aircraft, including 662 combat hours. He was commissioned in 1992 after receiving his degree in political science from the Air Force Academy.
Goodbye: CMSD board member Aubra Turner ended her one-year term on the board in February. Turner, who was appointed to the board to serve out the term of Aubra Turner, was not reappointed to the board although she had applied
Hello: Greg Lewis, then serving as programs director for the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority, was picked to replace Turner, but resigned in December after being promoted to CLRA Director.
Goodbye: Leon Ellis, who announced at the end of 2013 that he would not seek another term on the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Tourism Bureau Board of Trustees.
Hello: Lester King, a retired businessman, was appointed to the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Trustees by the county as Ellis’ replacement in February. In October, Thomas “Tango” Moore, a retired Marine, was picked to fill the joint city-county spot on the board, a board position that had vacant for more than 16 months.
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