iReport —            The state of Mississippi lost one of their longtime political leaders, last week, when 86 year old Rubel Phillips died.          Lifetime Democrat, Rubel Phillips started out as Alcorn County, Mississippi Circuit Clerk, and later elected as North Mississippi Public Service Commissioner, joined fellow Republican, Wirt Yerger, in the 50s, and joined the Republican Party.         Mr. Phillips was a Republican candidate for governor of Mississippi, in 1963, and took 38% of the vote away from J. P. Coleman, and again ran for governor of Mississippi, in 1967 and took  29% of the votes away from Paul B. Johnson Jr.       The 1st picture, here are the candidates for Mississippi governor, as they appeared at The Neshoba County, Mississippi Fair, in 1963, and are from left to right, Paul B. Johnson Jr, Rubel Phillips, J, P, Coleman, and Charles Sullivan..        The next picture are the runoff candidates in the Mississippi governor’s race, from left to right, Rubel Phillips, and Paul B. Johnson, who was elected.        Rubel Phillips helped pave the way for future Mississippi Republican leaders in Mississippi, such as, Gil Carmichael,Trent Lott,Thad Cochran,Leon Bramlett, Kirk  Fordice, and the present Mississippi governor, Haley Barbour.           Today, The Republican Party holds 7 of the 8 statewide elected offices, and 5 of the 6 Mississippi congressional delegation, thanks for the work of Rubel Phillips.