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CHS alums honor Palmer
Published Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
By L.A. Story
Staff Writer
The Corinth High School Alumni Committee has chosen a former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal as the recipient of their 2009 CHS Distinguished Alumni Award.
Currently a resident of Jackson, John N. Palmer is a 1952 graduate of Corinth High School and a former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal as well as an entrepreneur, telecommunications pioneer, community leader and venture capitalist.
Nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Award are solicited through the CHS Alumni Committee members, and the recipient is chosen by a committee comprised of CHS graduates. This is only the second award given. The first recipient was local attorney James E. “Jimmy” Price Jr. Palmer’s reaction to being chosen for the special award from his alma mater was one of humility.
“I think Corinth has a rich history and many extraordinary people have come out of Corinth. I am surprised and flattered and this is very meaningful to me,” said Palmer. “... to follow Jimmy Price ... he is one of my heroes ... just to follow him is an honor ... there are others I feel should have been elected ahead of me but [the award] gives me a great feeling.”
Palmer began his career in telecommunications in 1965 with the purchase of a local Mississippi radio common carrier. By 1973, he had developed more than nine regional paging companies throughout the South and formed MCCA (Mobile Communications Corporation of America).
During his 16-year tenure as chairman and president, MCCA grew to become a significant force in the cellular phone business.
With all his success in business, Palmer said his education at CHS had a big influence on him. One teacher, Emma Street, picked up on his fondness and aptitude for mathematics and pushed him to higher math classes.
However, perhaps the biggest influence and favorite teacher was Corinth High School Basketball Coach Chick Reece.
“What Chick Reece did was teach us to hustle and work hard. I was not all that good of a shot but he taught me that, if I could out-hustle my opponent, I could win. That stuck with me ... it’s been my theme in business,” said Palmer.
In business, Palmer has certainly seen a lot of success. He admits he has had a passion for the business world and he followed it.
“I am pleased with the success I’ve had ... in fact, any success I have had might have surprised a lot of people in Corinth,” said Palmer, with a laugh. “I was founder and chairman of the board of two companies that grew and became publicly traded. Both were sold with a market value in excess of a billion dollars. I think we had really good success in building up two good companies in Mississippi ... which was part of my drive. Mississippi can do more than people think. “One business was sold to BellSouth and later formed SkyTel which was sold to WorldCom ... I had a passion for the business world and that’s what I wanted to do. So, I put a lot of hustle in it.”
Palmer was named Ambassador to Portugal for three years from 2001 2004. He has served on the President’s Export Council as a private sector advisor to the secretary of commerce; and as a private sector trade advisor to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
He was a member of the boards of three New York Stock Exchange companies — AmSouth Bancorporation, EastGroup and Entergy Corporation.
The ambassador’s civic leadership efforts have included several board memberships: Chairman of the National Trustees of the National Symphony Orchestra; the Institute for Technology Development; Foundation for the Mid-South; Trustee of Millsaps College; and president and director of The University of Mississippi Foundation. While his achievements in business are among the items Palmer listed as sources of personal pride, he also named being made chairman of the National Trustees of the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as serving as ambassador as being among the things he is most proud of. Palmer holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Mississippi and an honorary doctor of laws degree from Millsaps College. He and his wife, Clementine Palmer, have four grown children.
When asked if he had a message to convey to the young people coming up through the high schools today, Palmer said, “Pursue your passion and your style ... you’ll go to heights you’ll never dream of. Go after your passion in your profession, whether it’s being a pianist, a scientist, a doctor, a lawyer or a business person ... go for it.”
Palmer will be presented the Distinguished Alumni Award during the half time portion of the CHS Homecoming game on Oct. 16.
