Gene McGee was born and reared in Hickory, Mississippi. There he learned the values of hard work and perseverance from his parents, Beth and Chalmers, as he worked on the family’s dairy farm. He developed a strong belief that hard work is honorable and that we are limited only by ourselves.
A proud product of public schools, McGee moved to Ridgeland in 1971 where he started what would become a successful career in insurance and estate planning. McGee attended East Central Community College and has a degree in Insurance Marketing from The Institute of Insurance 
Marketing in Washington, DC. He served as President of Jackson Association of Life Underwriters, and as Regional Vice President, and Membership Chairman of Mississippi Association of Life Underwriters.
In 1985, McGee ran for Alderman, City of Ridgeland and won. In addition, in 1989, he ran for Mayor and defeated the incumbent. As mayor, he quickly utilized his experience in business, and a proactive management style to position the City of Ridgeland to create a positive atmosphere that encouraged residential and commercial growth. McGee has been the guiding force that has made City of Ridgeland a model that larger municipalities follow.
McGee believes that planning for growth, and sound fiscal management are paramount in positioning the City to maximize opportunities. Under his leadership, the City has created comprehensive plans that analyze trends and anticipate needs in a proactive manner. Because of these plans, the City has been able to secure federal and state funds, and has been able to implement projects without increasing taxes. Additionally, the City’s excellent financial standing allows financing of bonds at highly favorable rates.
