2024 Pat Santucci Award Recipient Announced

MS GULF COAST – Mr. Rodger Wilder was named the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 recipient of the Pat Santucci “Spirit of the Coast” award on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The award was presented in front of a crowd of over 600 attendees at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting held at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.

Wilder has been an attorney with Balch and Bingham LLP in Gulfport since 1978.  He is a Founding Member of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and has served as Chair of the Board and has served as President and CEO since 2014.  Wilder is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering as well as a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. 

His civic, community and professional activities and leadership roles include serving as President of the Mississippi Bar Association and as President of the Harrison County Bar Association.  Since 2011 Wilder has served as co-chair of the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission. Other organizations include Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Foundation Board, Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Services, Gulf Coast Business Council, Knight Nonprofit Center and many more.

Wilder is passionate about helping children through the foster care system and assisting with child guardianship cases and has received several awards for his volunteerism including the Pro Bono Publico Access to Justice Award and the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for Community Service following Hurricane Katrina. 

“Rodger is the type of guy you want as a leader in your organization and in our community.  He is committed 100% to his leadership role and is very actively involved.  He continues to give back in meaningful ways again and again,” stated Adele Lyons, CEO of the Mississippi  Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.  “Rodger is very well deserving of this honor.”