John (Tommy) Thomas Munro

John (Tommy) Thomas Munro, born in New Orleans, LA, April 19, 1931 died November 20, 2009. He is the son of the late Jack and Lucille Munro and had been a long standing resident of Biloxi since 1940. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1953 with a Bachelor Science. He became president of Munro Oil and Paint which later evloved into Munro Petroleum and Terminal Coporation and began his professional career in the petroleum business. Along the way he married the former Elizabeth Falls and had three cherished children, Lizana, Jata, Jerry and six grandchildren. In 1968 he was elected to the Mississippi Senate and served through 1972. Followed by appointments to the Institutions of Higher Learning, National Petroleum Council, President of the National Oil Jobbers Council and President of the Mississippi Oil Jobbers Association. Mr. Munro was the President of the Harrison County Development Commission, director and Chairman of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, board member of Bancorp South, Chairman of Bluebonnet Life Insurance Co. and Chairman of Mississppi Energy and Transportation Board. Mr. Munro was the Outstanding Citizen of the Year-Biloxi 1995, and Mississippi Business Hall of Fame 2001. He was a retired Brigadier General with the Mississippi National Guard receiving the Bronze Star and Magnolia Cross among other awards. He was a founding member and past president of the Biloxi Bay Chamber, Biloxi Chamber of Commerce and Biloxi District Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Munro served on the boards of University of Southern Mississippi, Armed Forces Museum Camp Shelby, Infinity (Stennis Museum), and Advisory Board of the Institute of Marine Sciences. Tommy was a proud member and past King of Gulf Coast Carnival Association, Mithras and Biloxi Yacht Club. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and former Sunday school teacher and member of the Vestry. Funeral Services will be on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 11:30 am at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Demiller Hall on Water St. Friends may visit from 9:00 am until 11:15 am. Break and service at 11:30 am. Interment will follow in Southern Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Mississippi Army National Guard. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, 4742 N. 24th St., Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016-4862. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Ave., Biloxi is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com