Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite with Mary Annette Mullins at the addition of Mike Mullins’ name to the City of Southaven Tribute Wall. (Mayor Musselwhite/Facebook)
Key Points
- Tribute Wall Induction: Former Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mullins was posthumously honored for his transformative impact on the city’s athletic facilities.
- Policy Overhaul: The Board of Aldermen replaced the “Inclement Weather Policy” with a broader “Critical Event Policy” to provide retroactive hazard pay for staff.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: The city moved forward with significant investments, including a $1.38 million police donation and a full-facility generator for public safety.
SOUTHAVEN — The legacy of the man who built Southaven into a youth sports mecca met the modern challenges of municipal management Tuesday night, as the Board of Aldermen honored a local icon before pivoting to address the fallout of recent historic winter storms.
Prior to the formal meeting, family and friends gathered at City Hall to witness the induction of the late Mike Mullins onto the city’s Tribute Wall. Mullins, the former Parks and Recreation Director who passed away in 2024, was remembered not just as an administrator, but as a “cornerstone” for generations of local athletes.
“He was a tough bird, a tough dude, but his cowboy, John Wayne shell covered a good heart,” said Mayor Darren Musselwhite, who played for Mullins in the 1970s. “He taught me physical and mental toughness and preparation that transcended sports with a standard I never abandoned.”
Redefining ‘Critical Events’
The spirit of “stepping up,” a trait Musselwhite attributed to Mullins, served as the bridge to the night’s primary legislative action. The Board voted unanimously to strike the decade-old “Inclement Weather Policy” from the employee handbook, replacing it with a more flexible Critical Event Policy…