Three Oxonians Featured in New 'Mississippi Entrepreneurs' Book

The stories told in Mississippi Entrepreneurs collectively draw the reader’s attention to an overlooked aspect of the state’s history: the tenacious and courageous journeys of Mississippi men and women who risk fortune and futures on creating successful enterprises.
Most tell author Polly Dement exactly “how they did it” in their own refreshingly forthcoming and open words, bringing to life their entrepreneurial spirits. Family members and former colleagues have picked up the story line for legendary entrepreneurs who have passed on, recalling vividly the characteristics that set them apart.
The dreams of business entrepreneurs in this state were usually inspired by a passion for something, whether that was casting red-hot liquid steel into industrial products; constructing buildings; making agricultural products grow; delivering and installing furniture; using technology to improve systems; publishing; expanding food operations or sheer love of music, food, art, or books. And social and cultural entrepreneurs found their places among stories about building successful enterprises, including those focused on social justice, access to health care, and public education.
The book includes stories of enterprise creation about Oxford entrepreneurs Richard Howorth, Square Books; Ed Meek, HoddyToddy.com and New Media Lab; and Don Newcomb, Newk’s Franchise Company.
Altogether the stories in Mississippi Entrepreneurs illustrate common traits, including vision, drive, and the willingness to take risks and change for a better way, the ability to innovate, solve problems, and turn luck (both good and bad) to advantage. Most of these individuals generously share the rewards of their hard work and ingenuity with their communities.
Readers will discover a wealth of entrepreneurial history and activity in Mississippi Entrepreneurs that they didn’t know existed. And aspiring entrepreneurs will discover role models who have salted their accounts with advice to follow.

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Polly Dement will talk about and sign copies of Mississippi Entrepreneurs at the following times and locations. Dement will also be joined by the entrepreneurs profiled (availability pending) who will also be on hand to sign books
Tuesday, June 3, 5:00 p.m. – Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, Jackson, MS 39206, www.lemuriabooks.com
Thursday, June 5, Noon – 1:30 p.m. – Reed’s Gum Tree Bookstore, 111 South Spring Street, Tupelo, MS 38801, www.reedsms.com
Thursday, June 5, 5 p.m. – Square Books, 160 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655, www.squarebooks.com
Friday, June 6, 5:00 p.m – Turnrow Book Company, 304 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 38930, www.turnrowbooks.com
Saturday, June 7, 2 p.m. – Lorelei Books, 1103 Washington Street, Vicksburg, MS 39183, https://www.loreleibooks.com
Wednesday, June 11, 5:30 p.m. – Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, 565 N. Fifth Avenue, Laurel, MS 39440, www.lrma.org
Wednesday, June 25, Noon – “History is Lunch”, The Winter Archives, 200 North Street, Jackson, MS 39205 0571, https://mdah.state.ms.us/admin/hil.html
About the author: Polly Dement grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi and graduated from Millsaps College. For the Senate Watergate Committee, she wrote profiles of the witnesses who testified, and for over a decade beginning in 1981 told in a variety of publications stories of the investors and entrepreneurs of the National Association of Investment Companies. She also worked for the National Commission on Children and Hager Sharp, Inc., a communications firm in Washington, D.C.