4/18/2019 - Jackson, Miss.

Trustee Shane Hooper passed the gavel to incoming President Hal Parker at the meeting of the IHL Board of Trustees held today in Jackson. Trustee Parker will officially take office on May 8.

Photo: Trustee Hal Parker (right) of Bolton, incoming President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, presents a plaque of appreciation to outgoing President Shane Hooper of Tupelo.

"The public university system is a powerful force for good in the state," said Trustee Parker. "The university system serves as an economic driver and improves the lives of all Mississippians through education, research and outreach. I am excited to serve in this role on the Board of Trustees and look forward to our continued work together to advance the system and the state."

Trustee Parker served as Vice President of the Board during Trustee Hooper's term. Trustee Ford Dye will serve as Vice President during Mr. Parker's term.

"Through instruction provided in classrooms on our campuses, the online courses offered and system initiatives, such as the Complete 2 Compete program, the public university system is raising the educational attainment level of the state and providing employers with a highly trained and highly skilled workforce," said Trustee Hooper. "These efforts, coupled with research initiatives and services offered to existing and potential businesses, make a tremendous impact on economic development throughout the state. I have enjoyed working with my fellow Trustees, the Commissioners, and the universities."

Mississippi Public Universities awarded more than 18,000 degrees in 2018, including almost 4,000 in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, and more than 2,700 degrees in healthcare, including nursing. The university system also attracted more than $460 million in external research funding.

Mr. Hal Parker was appointed to the Board by Governor Phil Bryant in May 2012 to represent the First (Central) Supreme Court District for a term to expire May 7, 2021.

Mr. Parker is a Pike County native. He is actively involved in his community and has built several successful distribution companies. He began his career with Sears after graduating from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business. He then moved into a partnership in Climate Masters, Inc.

In 1982, Parker founded Sunbelt Wholesale Supply Co., a regional distributor of fiberglass insulation and residential roofing products. The company became an integral part of Service Partners, LLC. Service Partners is the largest distributer of fiberglass insulation in the United States. In 2000, Parker became a partner in Mississippi Roofing Supply. He served the company until its sale in 2006. He is a general partner in Parker Land, LLC, and is now president of Parker-McGill Automotive in Starkville and West Point.

Parker is dedicated to serving his community and is a second-term member of the Hinds Community College Foundation Board. He also served four terms on the Mississippi State Development Foundation Board.

He has additionally served on the boards of directors for the Rankin Health Foundation, Rankin First and Bank Plus. He served two terms as president of the Bulldog Club and is a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Bolton.

Hal and his wife Linda live in Bolton and are very active with the Jackson and Mississippi State chapters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Trustee Shane Hooper of Tupelo was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Governor Phil Bryant in May 2012 to represent the Third (Northern) Supreme Court District for a term to expire May 7, 2021.

Mr. Hooper is a graduate of Itawamba Agricultural High School and David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. After graduation, he served his country as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

He has enjoyed a career in the insurance and financial services industry for 16 years. Mr. Hooper is president of Success Learning Corporation Inc., a training provider for the insurance and financial services industry.

Active in the community, Mr. Hooper is past president of the Tupelo Rotary Club, past president of the Gardner-Simmons Home for Girls and past president of United Way of Northeast Mississippi. He has also served as the Planning and Property division chair for the Community Development Foundation (CDF) and the Economic Development division chair for CDF.

Mr. Hooper has received the "Rotarian of the Year" award and the "Tupelo's Top Twenty Young Professionals" award. He is currently a board member of the United Way of Northeast Mississippi, the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi, North Mississippi Health Services, Health Link, North Mississippi Medical Center, Good Samaritan Free Clinic, Sanctuary Hospice House and Second Vice Chairman of CDF.

Shane and his wife Sarah have two sons, Christopher and Channing, and one daughter, EllaBess.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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