John Phillips, a farmer, ginner and agribusinessman from Holly Bluff, Miss., has been named president of the Stoneville, Miss.-based Delta Council for 2008-09. He succeeds Bill Kennedy of Inverness, Miss.

Phillips is a partner in Phillips Farms, a partner in Phillips Brothers Fish Farms and a partner in Delta Construction. He is also president of Silver Creek Gin in Holly Bluff and a director of BankPlus.

He is a past vice president of Delta Council and a commissioner of the Silver Creek Drainage District. He serves on the board of trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Yazoo City, Miss.

He and his wife, the former Ann Elise Noble, have three children.

Serving with Phillips in 2008-09 will be Delta Council vice presidents Buddy Allen, Tunica, Miss.; Clarke Bishop, Minter City, Miss.; Bob Eley, Cleveland, Miss.; Roosevelt Lee, Clarksdale, Miss.; Merlin Richardson, Anguilla, Miss.; and Gibb Steele, Hollandale, Miss. Gary Gaines of Senatobia, Miss., will be Delta Council treasurer.

The new officers were named at Delta Council’s annual meeting in Cleveland, Miss.