Name: Johnny McGlown
Age: 75
Address: Lyon
Previous political office: None
Political affiliation: Democrat
Johnny McGlown has been serving as one of Coahoma County’s two representatives on the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee board since January, when he was unanimously appointed by the Coahoma County Board of Supervisors.
In that time, he’s learned of the various duties of the board.
“I’ve learned it’s our responsibility to protect the people from flooding. Our main thing is flood control,” McGlown said.
Secondly, in his opinion, would be recreation as the board approves leases with hunting and fishing clubs and also provides and maintains recreational access for the public.
“We’re very conscious of flood protection and recreational activities… and I’m still learning,” McGlown said.
With a lifetime in education, McGlown has been stressing the importance of educating the public about the importance of the levee.
“I aim to bring clarity to people, shine light and like to keep folks abreast about what’s happening,” he said.
He is a fan of the levee tours and educational programs provided to schools in the 10 counties served by the district. He would also like to see a scholarship program that used to be available to students from this area reinstated.
“I’ve acquired a lot of wisdom and I have the time and energy to deal with the problems of flooding and the recreational aspects. And I think I’m educationally qualified to deal with it,” said McGlown, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi Valley State University and a master’s degree from Delta State University.
He served as the band director at Clarksdale (for eight years), Coahoma County (four) and Quitman County (14) high schools and is a life member of the Mississippi Association of Educators and a past president of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association.
McGlown is a member and past chairman of the board of trustees at Coahoma Community College and a past board chairman with Coahoma Opportunities Inc.
“I’ve had a lot of expertise in dealing with boards and a lot of that comes into play in dealings with the levee board,” he said. “I’m at the point now, where I just want to serve the people.”
He is a deacon and Sunday school superintendent at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, and he’s also a member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
“I believe in God, family and church. With those three, it’s a winning combination,” McGlown said. “When I go out and campaign, it’s been good to touch so many lives.”
He said he is proud of the fact that the levee board is “keeping the folks dry” as there have been no major breaches in the levee since the record-setting 1927 flood.
In addition to the reinstatement of the scholarship program, McGlown is also hoping to provide even more recreational facilities and make them more accessible to the public.
And, still, his number one objective will be flood control.
“Water’s water,” McGlown said. “You can’t control the Mississippi River. You just have to protect yourself from it.”
