Biography:

Richard Baxter Wilson was born in Yazoo City on December 11, 1905. He was the son of Richard Baxter and Jennie Bowman Wilson. His youth was spent in Yazoo City where he attended the public schools and graduated from high school in 1923. He then entered the University of Mississippi and earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from that institution in 1927.

Wilson was employed by Mississippi Power and Light Company and served in various positions. He was elected chairman of the board of directors of MP&L in 1947. Wilson was president of MP&L from 1954 to 1971.

Box List:

• Box 1:
  • Master plans for the development of airport facilities at Jackson, 1957, and for the industrial development of Hawkins Field surplus airport property, 1960.
  • Airport progress reports, 1955–1961.
  • Complimentary letters, January 5, 1962–December 20, 1962.
  • Material concerning the dedication of the Jackson Municipal Airport, 1963.
• Box 2:
  • Preliminary cost estimate, first and ultimate stage, of the new Jackson Municipal Airport, January 22, 1959.
  • Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Audit report, September 30, 1960.
  • Accountants' reports, September 30, 1961–September 30, 1965.
• Box 3:
  • Airport Commission contracts, 1955 and 1960.
  • General file on the A&I Board, (1956–1960).
  • Air transportation statements, 1961.
  • Correspondence and material concerning the Capital City Club, 1958–1963.
  • Material on the Capital Development Fund, 1965.
• Boxes 4-5:
  • Airport files (miscellaneous), 1960–1967.
• Box 6:
  • Files on the Chamber of Commerce: Industrial, Meeting Notices, Annual Meeting, “Building Jackson," and General, 1959.
• Box 7:
  • File on the Chamber of Commerce: General, 1959.
  • Jackson Municipal Airport Authority progress record summary.
• Box 8:
  • Jackson Municipal Airport Authority monthly statements, 1960–1964.
• Boxes 9-12:
  • Material on the Pearl River Reservoir Development, 1959–1965.
• Box 13:
  • Applications for director for the airport, 1955.
  • Airport minutes, 1961–1964.
  • Jackson Municipal Airport Authority annual report, 1965.
• Box 14:
  • Site analysis for the Jackson Municipal Airport, 1956.
  • Airport Commission minutes, 1955–1960.
• Boxes 15-16:
  • General files on the Airport Commission, 1955–1959.
• Box 17:
  • Airport use panel, 1955, zoning, 1955, financial statements, 1955–1959; maps.
• Box 18:
  • Photographs and plats of property located in Rankin County, appraised by A. B. Graves and S. S. Taylor, 1957.
  • Airport Commission news clippings, 1955–1959.
• Box 19:
  • Oversized maps and progress reports.