Before joining the 112th Congress, Alan Nunnelee represented Lee and Pontotoc counties in the Mississippi State Senate. He was elected to replace Senator Roger Wicker in 1994. As Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, he was a leader on several national committees addressing public health issues. Nunnelee was instrumental in bringing comprehensive Tort Reform to Mississippi. Nunnelee has also been nationally recognized for his success in making Mississippi the safest place for unborn children. In 2001, Nunnelee passed legislation to place our national motto, “In God We Trust” on the wall of every school classroom in Mississippi without spending any tax dollars to achieve this goal.

He has been rated as a Business Champion for his support of issues relating to the free enterprise system as well as recognized by the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank for invaluable service to the blind. The Mississippi Farm Bureau named him the “Friend of Agriculture” in 2001 for his outstanding contribution to agriculture and rural Mississippi.

Alan is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Prior to Congress, he was Vice President of Allied Funeral Associates, a life insurance company specializing in working through funeral homes and a member of the Community Development Foundation’s board of directors.

When at home in Tupelo, Alan is a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Calvary Baptist and coaches youth baseball. He and his wife Tori have three children, Reed (age 26) who is married to Kemily, Emily (age 23) who is married to Trey, and Nathan (age 21).