Senate Resolution 104

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SINCEREST SYMPATHY OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY OF OXFORD MUNICIPAL JUDGE AND FORMER PROSECUTING ATTORNEY PHILIP HALBERT "HAL" NEILSON AND COMMENDING HIS SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY AND HIS STATE.

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of Oxford Municipal Judge Philip Halbert "Hal" Neilson, 63, on January 7, 2024, in Alligator, Mississippi, at his hunting camp; and

WHEREAS, Hal was born on December 27, 1960, in Lexington, Mississippi, to the late Rosemary Icke and Edwin Tye Neilson, Jr. Hal was an avid athlete who played numerous sports at Central Holmes Academy and later played football at Delta State. He continued his education at the University of Mississippi where he was President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi Law School; and

WHEREAS, Hal then moved to Washington, D.C., where he launched his career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He represented the FBI for over 20 years as a legal advisor and civil litigation attorney. Hal proudly started the Violent Crimes Task Force. He later moved to Jackson, Mississippi, then to Oxford, Mississippi, where he served as the Special Agent In Charge for North Mississippi. Hal retired from the FBI in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Hal started his own law practice, Neilson Law Office. He covered criminal defense, insurance fraud, civil rights violations, and torts in federal, state and local courts. He also served as prosecutor for the City of Coffeeville, Mississippi. Hal thoroughly enjoyed helping others; and

WHEREAS, on March 29, 2018, Hal was sworn in as the Municipal Judge for the City of Oxford. In June 2023, he was elected by his peers as President of the Mississippi Municipal Judges Association. He loved being the judge. Hal loved the people he worked with and the community he served; and

WHEREAS, Hal was an avid outdoorsman and thoroughly enjoyed deer hunting with his son and son-in-law. Hal loved cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels in both football and baseball. He also enjoyed spending time with his family at Rosemary Beach. He was always looking forward to the annual family beach trip that he took each year on July 4th; and

WHEREAS, Hal was an exceptional husband, father and grandfather, who loved his family. Hal is survived by his wife, Michelle Gebhart Neilson; daughters: Heather Neilson Nutt (Grady), Rosemary Elizabeth Neilson and Marjorie Ann Neilson; son, Philip Halbert Neilson, Jr.; grandson, Grady Lee Nutt, III; brothers, Tye Neilson (Kimberly) and Rob Neilson (Rhonda); his sisters, Melany Neilson (Fred Slabach) and Mary Beth Ahern (Tom); and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dean and Margie Gebhart; and

WHEREAS, Judge Neilson lectured on ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. Hal's life honored both The Mississippi Bar, Lafayette County, Oxford and this great state that he loved and served:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the sincerest sympathy of the Mississippi Senate to the surviving family of Oxford Municipal Judge and former Prosecuting Attorney Philip Halbert "Hal" Neilson and commend his service to his community and his state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Judge Philip Halbert "Hal" Neilson, forwarded to the Mississippi Municipal Judges Association and the Oxford Board of Aldermen, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.