As I sit here and face the upcoming close to another wonderful year here at Mississippi 811, I find myself reflecting back on the legacy of our founder, Mr. Sam Johnson. I believe Sam would be proud of how this organization has progressed in the damage prevention world since he left us. Sam built a very strong organization that was focused on Safety, Damage Prevention, and excellent service to the members of Mississippi 811 over his 39-year tenure. With all that being factored in, I have decided to take this time to introduce the Samuel P Johnson Damage Prevention Champion Award.
This award will be presented every year beginning in 2026 at our Damage Prevention Summit to the one person who has shown outstanding leadership, passion, and overall willingness to go above and beyond to promote and champion Damage Prevention in the Great State of Mississippi. We will start taking nominations during the months of September and October 2026, and the decision will be made by our MDPC Committee with input from our 811 Board of Directors.
This award will be the top award given by Mississippi 811 and will also symbolize and solidify the legacy of our Founder.