A dedicated servant to and for the people of Mississippi
Senator Roger F. Wicker was appointed to the United States Senate on December 31, 2007 by Governor Haley Barbour, starting a new chapter in his long history of dedicated service to Mississippi and the nation. Prior to his Senate tenure, Wicker served seven terms in the United States Congress, having been re-elected in 2006 with more than sixty percent of the vote.
Over the past 12 years, Roger has been a steady advocate for Mississippi in Washington, pushing for projects that bring new economic opportunity to the entire state of Mississippi. He has worked hard to create a favorable economic development environment through policies that support strong schools, tax incentives for new businesses, and valuable programs such as the Appalachian Regional Commission and Economic Development Administration. His advocacy for these issues has led to hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment for predominantly rural areas.
Roger was a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee for 12 years, serving on the Defense subcommittee and as the Ranking Member of the Military Construction - Veterans Affairs subcommittee. Roger was also a Deputy Republican Whip, and since 2001, had been a member of the Republican Policy Committee.
Many organizations have recognized Roger’s hard work and dedication for the people of Mississippi. In 2003, the American Cancer Society presented him with the coveted Capitol Dome Award, and in 2005 the National Association of Manufacturers honored him with the Award for Manufacturing Excellence for his support on pro-growth, pro-manufacturing initiatives. The American Heart Association honored Roger in 1998 with their National Public Service Award for his work to educate Americans about the risks of heart disease and prevention strategies.
Prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Roger was a member of the Mississippi State Senate from 1987-1994. Mr. Wicker also has the distinct honor of being the first Republican in the 20th Century elected to serve in the State Senate from north Mississippi.
Born in 1951 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Roger is the son of former Circuit Judge Fred Wicker and the late Mrs. Wordna Wicker. He attended public schools in Pontotoc prior to enrolling at the University of Mississippi where he was Associated Student Body President and earned his B.A. and law degrees. The University of Mississippi honored him by inducting him into the Hall of Fame.
In addition to his long list of accomplishments in his public life, Roger is a U.S. Air Force veteran. He became involved in politics in 1980 as counsel to then-Congressman Trent Lott on the House Rules Committee.
Roger and his wife, the former Gayle Long of Tupelo, have three children, Margaret, Caroline, and McDaniel. The Wickers are active members of First Baptist Church Tupelo. Roger sings in the choir, serves as a deacon, and is a former chairman of the deacons.