Tom Hixon, Sr. was recently selected as the 2018 Alumni Fellow for the College of Business.
Thomas G. “Tom” Hixon, Sr. of Ridgeland, MS is chairman of Phoenix Development Company LLC. Hixon acknowledges Mississippi State gave him valuable life lessons and the foundation for success when he graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
After college, the Charleston native worked for the U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service, dealing with retail stores and distribution in the annex of the Pentagon.
After military employment, he shifted into accounting for food distribution and served as the CFO and director of operations for Valley Food Service. Next, he held several roles for Forestry Suppliers Inc., among them co-owner, CFO, president, and general manager. Following this, Hixon helped found Gulf South Medical Supply and achieved success there before the company merged with First Choice Medical Supply, of which he was founder, co-owner and chairman.
Hixon voluntarily serves on the boards of the MSU Foundation and the Bulldog Club.
This year’s group of Alumni Fellows assembles Oct. 25-27 to interact with MSU students, faculty and staff, share professional experiences and provide career guidance.
Alumni Fellows, who carry the title for life, are among the university’s more than 142,000 living graduates. Since establishment in 1989 by the MSU Alumni Association, more than 200 outstanding graduates have been selected for the lifetime honor of Alumni Fellow.