John A. Polk
John A. Polk | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 44th district | |
| In office January 3, 2012 – January 6, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Tom King |
| Succeeded by | Chris Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Allen Polk March 18, 1949 Columbia, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 2026 (aged 77) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jan Barnett |
| Education | University of Southern Mississippi |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician |
John Allen Polk (March 18, 1949 – July 20, 2026) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the Mississippi State Senator from the 44th district from 2012 until 2026. He retired following court-ordered redistricting.[1]
Early life
John A. Polk was born in Columbia, Mississippi on March 18, 1949.[2] He was educated at the Prentiss High School in Prentiss, Mississippi.[2] He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1974.[3]
Career
Polk was an executive at Polk Meat Products, his family meat business.[3] From 2012, he served as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate, representing District 44.[2] In 2015, he proposed a bill for the repeal of annual vehicle inspections, arguing that cars are less dangerous now than they were when car stickers were introduced.[4]
He was honored as one of the 2011 Alumni of the Year by the College of Business at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi.[3]
Personal life and death
Polk was married to Jan Barnett.[2] They had a son, Brian Polk and a daughter, Julie Polk Breazeale.[2] They resided in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[2] He was a Baptist.[2] Polk died on July 20, 2026, at the age of 77.[5]
References
- ↑ Harrison, Heather (April 8, 2025). "Republican Mississippi Senator Retires as District Lines Change". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "John A. Polk". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Polk, Palazzo honored". Mississippi Business Journal. December 18, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Miss. Senate passes bill to eliminate inspection stickers". Mississippi Business Journal. February 11, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ↑ Former Mississippi Sen. John Polk dies at 77
- 1949 births
- 2026 deaths
- People from Columbia, Mississippi
- Politicians from Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- University of Southern Mississippi alumni
- American business executives in the food industry
- Businesspeople from Mississippi
- Republican Party Mississippi state senators
- 21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature
- Mississippi state senator stubs