The state of Mississippi vests oversight of its transportation resources and operations in a three-member elected commission representing three geographic
areas in the state—Northern, Central and Southern districts. In accordance with state law, the commissioners have the authority and responsibility for the
supervision of all modes of transportation in the state dealing with aeronautics, highways, public transit, ports, and rail safety. The membership of the
Mississippi Transportation Commission appoints its chairman.
The administrative headquarters of the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is located at 401 N. West Street in downtown Jackson. The Northern
and Southern District Commissioners are located in Tupelo and Hattiesburg, respectively. The Central District Commissioner’s office is located in the
administrative headquarters.
The Transportation Commission appoints an executive director of MDOT to carry out day-to-day policies and procedures set by the commission.
The Transportation Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at its offices in Jackson, Mississippi; and at such sessions, the Commission
may hear, continue and determine any and all matters coming before it.
The Secretary to the Commission enters the proceeding of the Commission upon its minutes and is custodian of all Minute Books. The Secretary also serves as
the Department’s Advocating Highways for Economic Advancement and Development (AHEAD) coordinator.
Commissioner's Background History
Bill Minor (Northern District)
Born and raised in Benton County, Bill Minor graduated from Hickory Flat High School and attended Northwest Community College. He joined his brother in
establishing Minor Brothers Plumbing which grew into a chain of hardware stores in North Mississippi.
Before being elected transportation commissioner, Minor served in the Senate for 20 years representing Marshall, Benton, and DeSoto counties. He served as vice
chairman and chairman of the Senate Highway Committee and helped orchestrate the passage of the 1987 Four-lane Highway Program. He also chaired the committees
on Finance and Public Utilities.
Dick Hall (Central District)
After serving 24 years in the Mississippi Legislature, Dick Hall was appointed Central District Transportation Commissioner by Gov. Kirk Fordice in 1999 to fill the unexpired term of a former commissioner. Hall was elected later that year to his first full term as Commissioner and has been reelected to two subsequent terms.
As Commissioner of the Central District, Hall’s constituency includes a population of almost one million people who reside in 22 counties.
Hall’s experience in the Mississippi Legislature was extremely broad-based serving three terms as a Representative and three terms as a Senator. In both the House and the Senate, Hall chaired the Environment Committees of each chamber, respectively. Other chairmanships included the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee — the first Republican to occupy this position in over 100 years. He also served as president of the Mississippi Republican-Elected Officials Association and as state chairman of the United Republican Fund. Other honors have included being the first recipient of the Hugh L. White Free Enterprise Award and Conservation Legislator of the Year.
An elder and former deacon in the Presbyterian church, Hall and his wife, Jennifer, live in the Brandon area.
Wayne Brown (Southern District)
Wayne Brown was elected to his first term as Southern District Transportation Commissioner in 1999. No stranger to Mississippi, Wayne Brown was born and
raised in Lucedale, Mississippi. After graduating from Lucedale High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State
University in 1959. During college and for two years after graduating, he worked for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, known then as the
Mississippi Highway Department. In 1966, he founded Batson and Brown Engineers, a consulting engineering business, and in 1967, TAB Map Company.
He has served as county engineer in George, Greene and Jackson counties. He has also served as president of the Mississippi State Board of Registration
for Engineers and Land Surveyors, and has held the position of president of the Mississippi Consulting Engineers Council.
Brown and his wife, the former Vermell Goff have five children. He is a Mason, Rotarian, Red Cross Volunteer, a Paul Harris Fellow, ACEC Fellow, church
clerk, assistant Sunday School teacher, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Lucedale.