Former Speaker of the House Philip Gunn grins at his official portrait following the presentation of it at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis
The Mississippi Legislature unveiled the official portrait of former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn on Wednesday. He served as speaker from 2012 to 2023, making him one of the longest-serving Mississippi house speakers, and he represented Mississippi House District 56 from 2004 to 2023.
Here are some photos from the unveiling ceremony.
Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, left, and his wife Lisa Gunn, right, hold two of their grandchildren as they listen to portrait artist Jason Bouldin speak about the official portrait of Gunn following its presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisArtist Jason Bouldin makes a face as he assists in the hanging of the official portrait of former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn in the antechamber of the House of Representatives chamber at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Former House Speaker Philip Gunn, right, greets Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves at Gunn’s official portrait presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisArtist Jason Bouldin makes final adjustments on the portrait of former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn prior to its presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building rotunda in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisFormer House Speaker Philip Gunn, left, greets current House Speaker, Rep. Jason White, R-West, at Gunn’s official portrait presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisCapitol workers, lawmakers, family and friends watch the official portrait presentation of the former Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisFormer Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn shakes hands with Mississippi Sen. Sollie Norwood, D-Jackson, right, at Gunn’s official portrait presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisCurrent Mississippi House Speaker Rep. Jason White, R-West, left, and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves joke around prior to the official portrait presentation of the former Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisFormer Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn waits for the hanging of his official portrait in the antechamber of the House of Representatives chamber at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisArtist Jason Bouldin, center, assists a House Sergeant-at-Arms, left, and Allison Simmons with Brown’s Fine Art, in hanging the official portrait of former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn in the antechamber of the House of Representatives chamber at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. Bouldin painted the portrait. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, center, laughs with former Mississippi House Rep. Jim Beckett, left, and current House Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb following Gunn’s official portrait presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis The official portrait of former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, left, hangs alongside the portraits of former Speakers Charlie Capps, center, and Tim Ford, in the antechamber of the House of Representatives chamber at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Axel Gunn, 10, left, and his brother Aiden Gunn, 8, inspect the portrait of their grandfather, Philip Gunn, who served as Mississippi House Speaker from 2012 to 2024, following the unveiling of the official portrait at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, center, and his wife, Lisa Gunn, listen as portrait artist Jason Bouldin speaks during the presentation of the official portrait of Gunn at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Mississippi State Capitol workers, lawmakers and friends watch the official portrait presentation of the former House Speaker Philip Gunn, at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Mississippi House Speaker Rep. Jason White, R-West, left, and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves share a laugh at the official portrait presentation of former House Philip Gunn at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Former House Speaker Philip Gunn surveys the audience as he listens to portrait artist Jason Bouldin speak about his painting of Gunn during its official presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. SolisFamily members watch the official portrait presentation of former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Portrait artist Jason Bouldin, left, Mississippi House Speaker Rep. Jason White, R-West, center, and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves laugh during the official portrait presentation of the former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, left, and his wife Lisa Gunn, right, hold their grandchildren while posing under the official portrait of Gunn following its presentation at the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., on March 25, 2026. The portrait hangs in the antechamber of the House of Representatives chamber. MFP Photo by Rogelio V. Solis
Rogelio V. Solis is Mississippi Free Press' new senior photojournalist. A veteran journalist, Solis most recently served 28 years as the staff photographer with the Jackson bureau of The Associated Press.