State Rep. Richard Bennett Honored with Friendship Oak Award
By: Gabriela Shinskie, USM Communications
Rep. Richard Bennett and Dr. Joe Paul
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) honored Mississippi state Rep. Richard Bennett with the 2026 Friendship Oak Award during its annual Gulf Coast Awards Day ceremony held April 29 at the Gulf Park campus.
The award recognizes individuals whose leadership and service strengthen the connection between the university and the Gulf Coast community it serves.
“It’s a great honor to be awarded the Friendship Oak Award. The Gulf Coast is a great place to be, and Southern Miss has a special place in my heart and is the future of Long Beach and the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Bennett.
Dr. Jeff Hinton, associate provost for Gulf Coast and lifelong learning success, credited Bennett with contributing significantly to the expansion of Southern Miss coastal operations through his leadership and efforts in the Mississippi Legislature.
“Representative Bennett has been instrumental in the continued growth and advancement of Southern Miss coastal operations. Through his leadership and consistent advocacy, he has helped secure critical resources that support the university’s mission and expand opportunities for students and the community,” said Hinton.
Bennett attended Southern Miss and has supported several university initiatives, including the development of the Executive Education Program, an initiative committed to influencing leaders across the Gulf Coast through executive training, workshops and professional development opportunities.
His efforts were also pivotal in securing funding that benefits the Children’s Center for Communication and Development and the DuBard School for Language Disorders. His contributions to furnishing the Kelly Gene Cook Center at Gulf Park will allow the space to include specialized classrooms, therapy and observation rooms, and a multipurpose area—each carefully planned to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, developmental language delays and hearing impairments.
The Friendship Oak Award is named for the historic 539-year-old oak on the Gulf Park campus, a symbol of resilience and connection to the region.
A native of Long Beach, Miss., Bennett has served 19 years in the Mississippi House of Representatives. Beyond his legislative duties, he remains active in civic and leadership organizations both locally and nationally. He currently serves as chairman of the House Public Property Committee; king of Carnival for the Association of Long Beach; president of the Gulf Coast Association; a member of the governing board and executive committee of the Council of State Governments; and a board member of the Southern Regional Education Board. He previously served on the Long Beach School Board and the Long Beach City Council.
The Gulf Coast has long been central to Bennett’s life, including landmarks such as the Friendship Oak.
“As a kid, I played under the Friendship Oak. I grew up with it, and I’ve seen people get married there. It’s so resilient. To see it go through all these storms, even watching it go through Camille and Katrina, it’s a resemblance of what the coast stands for,” said Bennett.
