Jim Flanagan has retired as chief executive of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, which said he led the agency since 1988, according to a post on the mayor’s blog.
The council said Flanagan’s efforts “may very well be the most significant in DeSoto County history” for promoting positive growth and industrial development, and credited him with putting the county on the map, the post said.
The blog post — reprinting the council’s statement — said Flanagan is highly respected by companies across the United States and that his work created economic benefits that helped stabilize the cost of living for county residents.
The post’s author said they had worked closely with Flanagan over a 13-year city career and called him a man of integrity, a gentleman and a consummate professional. The author thanked Flanagan, congratulated him on his retirement and wished him well, the post said.
