Paul Harvey, who transformed a lengthy career in the U.S. Air Force to become one of the first regulators in Mississippi, died last month after a short illness.
Harvey served 32 years in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of general, and was serving as the commander of Keesler Air Force Base when he retired in 1991. He flew more than 160 combat missions in Southeast Asia, and oversaw operations of Air Force One during the Reagan presidency.
After retiring, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress from Mississippi and then became the first executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission in 1993. During those early years, Mississippi was opening casinos on a regular basis, and Harvey kept the wheels of the regulators on the track.
After leaving the commission, Harvey launched a consulting firm until being hired by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to run their gaming operations in 2007. He left that position last year.
