Distinguished Alumni

John A. Tomlinson (Bachelor of Science in Animal Science 1973, Master of Science in Animal Science 1986) served in various positions at Mississippi State University from 1978 to his retirement in 2016. The Tupelo native served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 as an E-5 specialist before earning his bachelor's degree at MSU. He later went to work at Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn) in Greenwood, Mississippi as an assistant herdsman in the livestock division.

He then returned to MSU, serving as assistant to the dean of the College of Agriculture while in graduate school. After earning his master's degree, he served as the university state government relations officer for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine; director of community/junior college relations in the Division of Student Affairs; and coordinator for the Department of State Government Relations, which he held for 22 years.

Tomlinson has always been passionate about MSU's land-grant mission and has strived to make things better for MSU and the people of Mississippi. Tomlinson continues to support MSU, the city of Starkville, and the state of Mississippi. John and his wife, Susan, have three married children and three grandchildren and reside in Starkville, Mississippi.