Lynn Cartlidge servered as President of the board from 1980-2003.  He is married to the former Earleace Chain and they have three children.  Cartlidge was a Petal High School graduate in the class of 1949.  Cartlidge began his business career by establishing Perfect Video in 1953, the first cable company in this area, and another in Granada MS. in 1956, which he owned and operated until 1984.  He is the former owner and manager of Lynn's Ornamental Iron Works, Inc. Lynn's Seamless Floors, Inc., Lynn's Paint and Hardware, Inc., Lynn's Insulation Co.,Inc., and Better Homes Remodeling.  He continues to be owner and developer of the beautiful 850-acre Longleaf Acres Subdivision in Petal.  Cartlidge was recently recognized for his contributions to Forrest County with the honor having Forrest County's state-of-the-art 5,000 seat facility in the southern end of the county named after him.  Christened the James Lynn Cartlidge Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center, this facility has fast become a real asset to Forrest County.

                                                      Memberships and Awards:

Deacon - Petal-Harvey Baptist Church

Chairman - Local Elected Officials Workforce Investment Act Board

County Twin District Workforce Area Member - Twin District Workforce Area Steering Committee.

Member since 1982 - NACo Community and Economic Development NACo Board of Directors since 1983

President Pearl to Leaf River Rails to Trail Recreational District (Longleaf Trace)

Member - Area Development Partnership Board

Member - Hattiesburg, Petal, Forrest Lamar - Metropolitian Planning Organization

Member - Hattiesburg-Forest County Industrial Park Commission

Award - Petal-Harvey Jaycee Distinguished Service Member - Master Mason

Member - Scottish Rite Member - Shriner Member - Eastern Star Member - York Rite

1999 County Official of the Year - Mississippi Association of Supervisors

1997 HUB Award

Executive Committee Member - Mississippi Association of Supervisors - over 22 years

1995-1996 President of Mississippi Association of Supervisors

1996 - First Mississippi Association of Supervisors Presidential Award Winner for Distinguished Leadership  in County Government.

1994 - Present - President South Mississippi Planning and Development District Board of Directors

Committee Member - National Association of Planning and Development Organizations

Award - Uncompensated Service to the Selective Service System, 14-years for Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon

Award - Governor Cliff Finch for serving on the Governors Select Committee