MS SR18

Senate President Pro Tempore Grady Franklin "Gray" Tollison announced he will not seek reelection after representing Senate District 9 (Lafayette County and portions of Panola County) for 24 years since 1996.

Tollison was unanimously elected Senate President Pro Tempore on January 11, 2019, by the 51 other members of the Mississippi Senate and previously served as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee since 2012.

Led significant education reforms including third-grade literacy promotion, improved school grading systems, early learning collaboratives, school district consolidation, and public charter schools, resulting in Mississippi's highest graduation rates and top-5 national ranking in early education.

Received multiple legislative awards including the 2010 Award for Leadership in Juvenile Justice Reform, Mississippi Homebuilders Association's 2008 Legislator of the Year, and the Education Commission of the States' 2016 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation.

Resolution commends Tollison's 24-year service to Mississippi and wishes him and his family success in future endeavors.