MGCCC Comptroller Jerry Bryan retires after 28 years of service

Jerry Bryan

Scott Wilson

Back in the late 1970’s, Jerry Bryan said a major change in his life came as he was working at a Biloxi accounting firm.

“I was assigned to work with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on a financial audit,” he said. “When it was completed, the final recommendation was that the college needed to hire an accountant, so I applied for the job and got it. I’ve been here ever since.”

Twenty-eight years later, Bryan has decided to step down as comptroller at Gulf Coast and trade in his adding machine for more time on his motorcycle. The Decatur native spends his off-time riding motorcycles, a hobby he dreamed about as a student at The University of Southern Mississippi.

“I was walking to class one day, and I saw a beautiful black Harley-Davidson parked in front of a building. I told myself I wanted one when I graduated, so I got it.”

During his time at Gulf Coast, Bryan worked side-by-side with Debbie Rogers. In 2007, both received accolades for their work from the Mississippi Association of Educational Office Professionals (MAEOP). Bryan was named 2007 MAEOP Educational Administrator of the Year, while Rogers, the college’s budget assistant finance clerk, was named MAEOP’s 2007 Official Professional of the Year. Now both are retiring at the same time.

“We’ve worked together for so long each of us knows what the other is thinking,” Bryan said.

“Her knowledge of our budget has been a tremendous help to me. “She knows what’s right and what’s wrong with the budget, as well as other financial issues involving the college. She never complains…she just gets the job done.”

Taking Bryan’s place on July 1, 2008 is Scott Wilson, who has served as the college’s grant coordinator since 2004.

“It’s a tremendous honor and challenge to be continuing the fantastic work done by people like Jerry Bryan,” Wilson said. “I could only hope to earn the respect of college employees that Mr. Bryan has over the years and maintain a long and successful career with Gulf Coast as Mr. Bryan has also done. We will strive to maintain the quality of work within the Central Business Office that has been here during his tenure.”