Pictured are Becky Farley, seated, executive director of The Riley Foundation, with newly elected officers of the Foundation’s Board of Directors: Marty Davidson, left, president/treasurer; Malcolm Portera, Ph.D., vice president/secretary; and Robert B. Deen Jr., chairman/CEO.

    New officers were elected at the recent board of directors meeting of The Riley Foundation.

    Robert B. Deen Jr., was elected chairman/CEO, Marty Davidson, president/treasurer, and Malcolm Portera Ph.D., vice president/secretary.

    Board Director Gail Riley noted that Davidson is the first non-founding member to serve as president of the Foundation, and said his vision and service to the community is a valuable asset in helping guide the Foundation.

    A graduate of Tulane University with a master of business administration degree, Davidson is chairman of the board of Southern Pipe and Supply Co., Inc. a plumbing supply wholesale business with 100 branches in seven states. He is a member of the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame; recipient of the Hartley D. Peavey Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence; past president of Southern Wholesaler Association; member of the World Presidents’ Organization; past president of Temple Beth Israel; advisory board member of Regions Bank; board member of Rush Foundation Hospital; past chairman of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation; board member and chairman of the Investment Committee of the Phil Hardin Foundation; first recipient of the Neville Humanitarian Award; named Meridian “Citizen of the Year” in 2011, and, an Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient.

    Davidson has been married to the former Linda Glazer of Ft. Worth, Texas, for 52 years, and they have two children, Melanie and Jay, and three grandchildren.

    Under the leadership of Deen, Davidson and Portera, the board will continue to follow its mission and be proactively involved in making charitable grants for the betterment of cultural, environmental, and economic conditions for the people of Meridian and Lauderdale County.

    Other board members include: Gail W. Riley, Richard F. Riley Jr., Edwin Downer, Tommy Dulaney, Mary Ann Riley, Manny Mitchell and Christine Riley.

    The Foundation was created in 1998, and, according to Executive Director, Becky Farley, has awarded more than $60 million to the community for many worthy causes, including transforming a block of deteriorated buildings in downtown Meridian, into what is now the Mississippi State University-Riley Campus.