On Lincoln County Chancery Clerk TillmonBishop’s office wall hang two plaques commemorating his service tothe Mississippi Chancery Clerks’ Association.

    A third will join those after Bishop completes his term aspresident of the association for 2011-12. Bishop assumed thepresidency during the association’s recent state convention.

    “To be elected by your peers to be president is a great honor,”Bishop said. “It’s the first time in 50 years that a clerk fromLincoln County has been president, so I think that’s prettyneat.”

    The last president from Lincoln County was Royce Hart in 1961.Bishop said it is beneficial to have a president from the countybecause it allows him easy access to many officials throughout thestate, and a lot of residents of the county do business around thestate.

    “It also just gives recognition to Lincoln County,” he said.

    Bishop has served as Lincoln County’s chancery court clerk for 12years. He was elected the state organization’s secretary/treasurerin 2009, which set him on track to become vice president lastAugust, and now president.

    As president, Bishop will be responsible for appointing committeechairs in the association, he will lead any and all meetings, andhe will ensure that clerks’ planning sessions are completed.

    He will work even closer and more in depth with legislators andstate officials than he has had to in the past. This will beparticularly trying when lawmakers are in session.

    Bishop said that balancing the presidency of the association andthe clerkship of Lincoln County is something that could not bepossible without his great staff.

    “Without a competent staff, it just wouldn’t be possible,” he said.”And one of the biggest advantages of being a part of theassociation is the information you gather about your professionthat allows you to run a better office with less mistakes.”

    One of the things Bishop hopes to accomplish as the association’spresident is to offer training sessions for deputy clerks.

    He explained the training is important logistically because of allthe information that a clerk’s office has to handle. He reiteratedthat the more efficient an office and its staff can be, the betterit can operate.

    While Bishop is honored to be elected president by his peers, herealizes the opportunity would not exist for him without those whoelected him to be a clerk in the first place.

    “There is no substitute responsibility or task for a countyofficial to take care of the people who elected him here at home,”he said.

    Arthur Johnston, Madison County chancery clerk and head of theassociation’s education committee, explained that Bishop is thekind of person anybody would look to as a leader.

    “Being elected president really is a signal honor in his career,”Johnston said. “It really says from all clerks across the state,something the folks in Lincoln County have recognized for years,that he is a true and strong leader.

    “He’s going to do what’s right,” he said. “You want to see a guylike him in public service.”

    State Rep. Bobby Moak of Bogue Chitto resonated the same notionabout Bishop.

    “It’s certainly a great honor for Tillmon,” the representativesaid. “He has worked with that organization for a number of yearsand worked well through their legislative committees. He’ll do agreat job.”