Not long ago, I received a call that created a conversation I won’t soon forget. Tommy Duff, a fellow Southern Miss alumnus and one of Mississippi’s most remarkable sons, wanted to sit down and talk about Coastal Mississippi, its untapped potential, and its power to continue to propel our state forward.
What unfolded was a heart-to-heart that left me hopeful and convinced that Mississippi is very fortunate to have private-sector leaders across this state with track records of dreaming big.
Tommy was in Biloxi to speak to the Businessmen’s Club, and we huddled afterward. Despite his staggering success — building Southern Tire Mart with his brother Jim into the nation’s top truck tire retailer, amassing a $3.3 billion fortune, and employing over 15,000 people — he carries himself with a quiet, unpretentious grace. His story isn’t just one of business triumph; it’s a testament to what’s possible when vision meets Mississippi grit in the heart of our great state. Southern Tire Mart, the state’s largest privately-owned company, is more than a corporate giant; it’s a legacy of lifting communities and creating opportunity.
Our conversation zeroed in on Coastal Mississippi, a region Tommy knows intimately. Raised in the Hattiesburg area and a major investor on the Coast, he sees what I’ve long championed: this region is Mississippi’s economic engine, a vibrant spark that will continue to ignite progress for Mississippi — so goes Coastal Mississippi, so goes our state. He’d read my recent columns on urging bolder regional ambition for the Coast and came armed with questions and ideas rich with possibility. Here was a man of immense success, buzzing with the kind of forward-thinking energy our state needs in the years ahead. The conversation was a breath of fresh air.
What struck me most was Tommy’s profound connection to this place. He’s not just a titan of industry; he’s a servant leader who embodies the volunteer spirit that defines Mississippi at its best. Alongside Jim, he’s poured roughly $50 million into our universities, including Southern Miss, ensuring the next generation has the tools to soar. His commitment to education isn’t abstract. It’s personal, urgent, and rooted in a fierce belief that our schools must not hold talent back but propel it forward. In a state wrestling with brain drain, where too many of our brightest minds leave for opportunities elsewhere, Tommy’s focus on creating pathways for success here at home is exactly the private-sector leadership we need, whether he decides to run for governor or not.
As whispers swirl about a potential run, Tommy is already laying the groundwork by backing Republican campaigns and launching a political action committee to shape what’s next. His vision is taking form, and it’s one worth watching. But this moment isn’t just about Tommy Duff; it’s about all of us. Mississippians, we must seize this opportunity to engage, ask tough questions, demand clarity, and challenge our leaders to paint a vivid picture of where they’ll take us. Tommy’s exploration of what’s possible should inspire us all to step up and shape the future we want.
Coastal Mississippi’s pulse is strong. We need all our leaders to be driven by heart, grounded in purpose, and relentless in their commitment to progress. There’s no limit to what we can achieve together. I was pleased to hear Tommy’s passion for this place. I’m already eager for the next discussion, with Tommy and others considering throwing their hats in the ring. If he chooses to run, I hope he does so with the same fire I saw that day in Biloxi.
Let’s keep talking, dreaming, and building. Let’s harness the future sparks of Coastal Mississippi and continue to light up our entire state. The future is ours to shape — together.
