Hattiesburg Honors Vernon C. Floyd, First African American to Own a Radio Station in Mississippi

HATTIESBURG, MISS. - The community held The Proclamation Celebration for a local historian at New Zion Church on Feb. 25. Sunday, the Hattiesburg Community honored a pioneer through singing hymns. Vernon Floyd became the first African American to own and operate a radio station in the State of Mississippi. “We’re here today, because Mr. Floyd is an icon when it comes to civil rights and when it comes to being a person the African American community well respected,” President of the MLK Committee of the Pine Belt Thaddeus Edmonson said.

On June 7, 1969, Floyd became the first African American to own and operate a radio station in the state of Mississippi and the 77th black-owned station in the United States. Floyd used his station as a voice during the voter registration act to try and get more African Americans registered to vote. “I hope and pray Mr. Floyd is doing great, and I hope he continues to use the station to uplift the local community of Hattiesburg and surrounding communities,” Floyd’s former co-worker Leon Franklin. Floyd was recently hospitalized with an illness which is the reason why he missed the ceremony to honor his legacy. However, Monday morning Floyd was released.