2023 Hall of Fame

CHEVIS SWETMAN - INDUSTRY PIONEER

Chevis C. Swetman is president of The Peoples Bank, founded in 1896 and headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is the third generation in his family to be elected president of the bank, and under his leadership, The Peoples Bank is one of the most successful community banks in the southeast United States. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors for Peoples Financial Corporation and The Peoples Bank.

Swetman received his MBA from The University of Southern Mississippi, College of BusinessAdministration and was presented the USM College of Business Distinguished Alumnus Award on April 1, 2005.

A staunch community supporter, Swetman is chairman of the board for the popular Cruisin’ The Coast event, which has an economic impact of more than $30 million on the Coast alone. In April 2023, Cruisin’ The Coast was selected as America’s best car event by USA Today’s 10best.com.

Additional accolades for Swetman include being named Community Banker of the Year by American Banker Magazine in November 2005. He was also presented with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s Pat Santucci Spirit of the Gulf Coast Award for 2006.

He is a past member of the Governor’s Task Force for Economic Development, a past president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and a past president of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Swetman also served on the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The steps taken by the commission, particularly on the redevelopment of the Port of Gulfport, led to a remarkable economic recovery for casinos, hotels and other businesses on the Coast.

Swetman and his wife, Marcia, live in Biloxi. They have one son, Tanner, who also works with The Peoples Bank, and two grandsons.

THE ENGELSTAD FAMILY FOUNDATION - INDUSTRY INFLUENCER

The Engelstad Foundation was created in 2002 by Ralph and Betty Engelstad for the purpose of promoting medical research, improving the lives of people living with disabilities and creating new possibilities for high-risk individuals.

In the 1960s, the Engelstad family moved to Las Vegas, where Ralph started investing in land. He purchased land, improved it, built on it and then sold it. One of his deals involved selling the Thunderbird Airport and surrounding land to Howard Hughes. This transaction helped solidify his dream of building and operating a new kind of hotel and casino when the Imperial Palace Las Vegas opened its doors in 1979. At the time, it was one of the largest privately owned hotels in the world.

Following that success, he opened his second location in Biloxi, now known as IP Casino Resort Spa. In 2002, the Engelstad Foundation was formed. Ralph set the bar high, and even, with his passing that same year, the work continued. The Engelstad Foundation’s presence has grown over the years by focusing on education, healthcare and childhood issues with contributions spanning the states of North Dakota, Mississippi, Utah and Nevada.

Trustees include Kris Engelstad, Sean McGarry, Erin McGarry and Jeff Cooper.

Kris Engelstad is CEO of the Engelstad Foundation. She has been recognized for her work with a number of awards, including the Eric M. Hilton Philanthropy Award (2018) and Dignity Health/St Rose Philanthropist of the Year (2023).

Sean McGarry, a Nevada native, serves as investment director for the Engelstad Foundation. Over the past decade, McGarry has played a key role in the success and development of the Engelstad Foundation.

Erin McGarry is chief granting officer, assisting with the foundation’s grant proposal and management process. Her knowledge about the integration of nonprofits and foundations stems from working directly with her grandmother, Betty, and mother, Kris. With her involvement, the Engelstad Foundation is poised to continue to grow and impact future generations.

Jeffrey M. Cooper is chief financial officer of the Foundation, and has served as a financial and tax adviser for the Engelstad family since 1981. In 2002, he became a trustee. Rebuilding IP Casino in Biloxi following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has been his most fulfilling time with the Foundation to date.

BOBBY MOAK - INDUSTRY REGULATORY/GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

Bobby Moak is an attorney and a former 32-year member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Moak holds an AA from SMJC, BPA from the University of Mississippi, Toll Fellowship at the University of Kentucky and a JD from Mississippi School of Law. He served on The Council of Governments 12-member Legal Task Force, as a 21st Century Foundation board member and the Mississippi Supreme Court’s Drug Court Advisory Board. He is a member of the Lincoln County, Southwest, Fifth Circuit and American Bar Associations.

Moak practices law in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, where he focuses on criminal and tort law. He is the city attorney for Brookhaven, Mississippi, and counsel for other governmental entities. His practice also includes representation of artist in TV, music and other entertainment venues. During his first jury trial, Moak, along with co-counsel John Grisham and Danny Cupit, received the largest jury award at that time in Lincoln County, Mississippi. Conversely, it was Grisham’s last trial before he left the courtroom to focus on books, screenplays, television and movies.

Elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in his first run for political office in 1984, Moak served as Democratic Leader and the first Chairman of the Gaming Committee. He is credited with working across party lines and shepherding into law what is commonly referred to as “the 800-Foot Rule,” which allowed casinos to move on shore, helping to revitalize the Mississippi Gulf Coast gaming industry after Hurricane Katrina.

Moak has been recognized as one of Mississippi’s most influential people and has received various recognitions during his term in elected office. He is most proud of his recognition by the Student Body Government Association at his alma mater, Ole Miss, for his public service. Moak’s papers are housed in the University of Mississippi’s Library collection.

Moak values time with family at their Florida and North Carolina properties. He continues to speak on issues related to the legislative process, gaming and legal issues..

HALEY BARBOUR - INDUSTRY REGULATORY/GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

Haley Barbour, who served as the Governor of Mississippi from 2004 to 2012, played a significant role in the recovery and prosperity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including the gaming industry, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

He was instrumental in advocating for federal aid and securing significant financial assistance from the federal government to aid in the recovery and rebuilding process. Barbour lobbied tirelessly in Washington, D.C., to ensure that Mississippi received the necessary resources to rebuild the devastated areas.

As governor, he recognized the importance of the gaming industry to the economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He actively supported and encouraged the reopening and revitalization of the region’s casinos, understanding that their recovery would contribute significantly to the overall recovery of the area. He worked to streamline regulations and expedite the permitting process to facilitate the reopening of casinos, and he recognized the need to cut through bureaucratic red tape and create a business-friendly environment to attract investment and stimulate economic growth.

Barbour implemented various economic development initiatives aimed at attracting new businesses and investments to the Gulf Coast region. He directed resources towards rebuilding roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure damaged by the hurricane, creating a more robust foundation for economic growth.

A founding partner of BGR Group, Barbour returned to BGR in January 2012 after serving two consecutive terms as governor, including two years as the chairman of the Republican Governors Association. In 2021, Barbour and Paul Hurst formed BarbourHurst, a law firm based in Jackson, Mississippi.

Barbour began his political career in 1968 and in 1976, after supporting Ronald Reagan for the GOP nomination, he ran Gerald Ford’s fall campaign in the Southeast. Barbour later served as political director of the Reagan White House. In 1987, he cofounded the government affairs firm that later became BGR Group.

From 1993 to 1997, he served as chairman of the Republican National Committee. A native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, Barbour attended the University of Mississippi, where he received his JD in 1973.

Currently, Barbour resides in Yazoo City with his wife Marsha. They have two sons and seven grandchildren.