Rising Tide Award
Gulf Coast Business Council
For visionary leadership and strategic recovery following the 2023 tornado.
Office of the Mayor
Billy Knight Sr.
Mayor of the River City. Elected 2021. A lifelong community leader anchored by faith, family, and the long work of leaving Moss Point better than he found it.
About Mayor Knight
A lifelong community leader, anchored by faith and the long work of service.
Mayor Billy Knight Sr. is a lifelong community leader and dedicated public servant. He was elected Mayor of Moss Point in 2021 after previously running in 1997 and again in 2017. His passion for service spans education, healthcare, economic development, faith-based initiatives, and public office, all driven by a consistent desire to uplift the people of Moss Point.
A proud graduate of Mississippi Valley State University, Mayor Knight has been honored for his excellence both on and off the field. Although he formally retired in 2013, he has never stepped away from service. His return to elected office in 2021 reflected his continued calling to help guide Moss Point forward, especially during a time of recovery and rebuilding. Under his leadership, the city has seen renewed focus on economic revitalization, disaster response, youth engagement, and long-term infrastructure investments.
Through every chapter of his career, Mayor Knight has remained anchored by principle. He leads not with fanfare, but with humility, consistency, and resolve. Whether rebuilding after disaster or laying the groundwork for future generations, his goal remains unchanged: to serve with purpose and to build a stronger Moss Point, one step, one family, one future at a time.
Talk to the Mayor.
Residents, business owners, and community partners can request a meeting with Mayor Knight directly. Every request is reviewed by the Office of the Mayor.
Request meetingDepartments under the Mayor
Leadership awards and recognitions
Six honors. Two years. One throughline.
From 2023 through 2024, Mayor Knight was recognized by six organizations spanning business, civil rights, scouting, sorority service, community development, and child welfare. The throughline is the same: showing up for the people of the Gulf Coast.
Civil Liberties Award
Magnolia Elks Lodge #1354 & Emma V. Kelly Temple #995
For advancing civil rights and promoting justice and equality in the Gulf Coast region.
Good Scout Award
Pine Burr Area Council
For demonstrating character and service aligned with the core values of Scouting.
Empower Our Families Award
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
For championing family engagement and long-term community support.
Community Game Changer Award
United Way
For his role in reshaping and strengthening Moss Point through policy and outreach.
Community Champion Award
Toys for Tots
For his leadership in promoting youth programs and holiday outreach for underserved families.
Civic and organizational leadership.
Over the years, Mayor Knight has held numerous positions of civic and organizational leadership across the Gulf Coast.
- 01 President of the Gulf Coast Health Care Foundation, supporting hospice and indigent care patients across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- 02 President and Vice President of the Moss Point School District Board of Trustees, advancing district leadership and educational outcomes for the city's children.
- 03 President of the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church Pastoral Council, leading the parish's lay governance.
- 04 Project Manager for the construction of the Rev. Charles E. McMahon Family Life Center and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, both built in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
- 05 President of the MVSU Jackson County Alumni Chapter for more than 25 years, sustaining the bond between alumni and the Mississippi Valley State University community.
Hall of Fame
1980
Mississippi Valley State University Football
1997
Southwestern Athletic Conference Football
2004
MVSU National Alumni Association
Three-time Hall of Fame inductee, honored for excellence on the field and in the alumni community.
A line he keeps returning to
“Leave it better than you found it.”
Billy Knight Sr. · Mayor of the City of Moss PointAnchored at home.
The Knight family
State of the City · 2025
Mayor Knight is married to Lois Knight, principal of South Elementary and Lake Elementary Schools in Pascagoula. They have one son, Billy Knight Jr.; two granddaughters, Precious and De’ja; and two great-granddaughters, Kayla and Kiersten.
From the Office of the Mayor
The River City Chat with Mayor Knight.
Mayor Knight speaks directly to the people of Moss Point about the city's progress, the work ahead, and the conversations shaping the River City. New episodes drop on the city's official YouTube channel.
Latest episode
Episode 100
Family Sports Complex
Watch on YouTube
Mayor's Youth Leadership Council
An investment in the next generation of River City leaders.
The Moss Point Mayor's Youth Leadership Council is one of the most meaningful investments the City of Moss Point makes in its young residents. Made up of students from across the city, the council gives young people a direct line to civic leadership while developing the skills they will carry for the rest of their lives.
Council members work alongside city leaders and adult advisors to take on real projects, lead community service initiatives, and represent Moss Point at events across the state. Each year, delegates attend the Mississippi Municipal League Statewide Youth Leadership Summit, where they connect with peers from other Mississippi cities, participate in leadership workshops, and bring fresh ideas back to their community.
More than a club or extracurricular activity, the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council is a commitment. Members learn what it means to show up, speak up, and serve the people around them. They gain experience in teamwork, public speaking, civic engagement, and community planning, all while building relationships with mentors who are invested in their growth. Moss Point believes in its young people, and this is how the city puts that belief into action.
Office of the Mayor
Have an idea, a concern, or a request? Mayor Knight wants to hear it.
Residents, business owners, and community partners can request a meeting directly. The Mayor's office answers every message.
