Retiring mayor celebrated at surprise retirement party
Photo: Retiring Horn Lake Mayor Allen Latimer receives a wood-carved clock as a gift during his retirement party. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
New people will begin taking their seats leading their respective cities this week but Friday night was about honoring the long public service to DeSoto County and Horn Lake of retiring Mayor Allen Latimer.
A surprise retirement party that featured city and county officials took place inside the Horn Lake Fire Headquarters on state Highway 301. They were on hand to celebrate Latimer, who chose not to run for reelection in the June municipal election.
The mayor said the evening came as a complete surprise.
“I was tricked. I was lied to,” Latimer said. “They said this was an occasion for (Fire) Chief (David) Linville.”
Latimer has had nearly three decades in public service for the county and city. It began in 1993 when he was first elected to the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors, where he was before choosing not to run in 2001. As a supervisor, Latimer was recognized for delivering conservative fiscal management along with his dedication to public service.
After stepping away from government to become a teacher at Southaven High School, Latimer ran for election for mayor in Horn Lake, his hometown. He won election and took office on July 1, 2013. Latimer was reelected in 2017 and again in 2021.
In addition to government and teaching, Latimer owned the Goodman Road Package Store for 27 years.
“I am so overjoyed,” Latimer said about the large turnout. “I’m really blessed to have this many friends. Not many people have this many good friends, and I am truly blessed. I was blessed by the people in the city.”
Allen Latimer’s journey reflects deep local roots: from Horn Lake student to small business owner, school teacher, county supervisor, and long-time mayor.
“I love this county, and I love this city, and I love these people,” Latimer said about why he’s been in public service for so long. “This is my home. This has been my home for 78 years.
His public career has been defined by conservative fiscal stewardship and a strong alignment with the community’s heritage and values. Latimer’s nearly three decades in public life have had a lasting impact on Horn Lake and DeSoto County.
