Jackson Jambalaya

one of JJs only memorable failures was not finishing this project

Excellent KF! Thanks for posting this. Mr. Speed was always a gentleman, and I enjoyed the few conversations we had. Like the former EF Hutton ads: When Mr. Speed spoke, people listened!

RIP Leland.

I've known Mr. Speed many years and this interview is what he was all about...a humble man who got things done. His demeanor and integrity attracted people and those people wanted to work with/for him. You cannot overstate how impactful his death is for the City of Jackson.

@11:58 AM, hit the tip jar?

Leland Speed modernized and must be considered a founder of the REIT industry - a huge American asset and industry. His most admirable civic work was equaled in the world of business

Great man and great family. Big loss for Jackson. Would love more of these interviews Kingfish. First time I have seen this. Very cool.

He's right. Jackson doesn't produce any large companies anymore. We are a chain city.

Leland taught me more about real estate in a 20 minute meeting than I could have learned in 20 years of college.

Great post Fish. Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Speed years ago when I was dabbling in real estate. An old George Jones tune comes to mind.."Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoe's".

Well done, Kingfish! Mr. Speed was a remarkable man and the world could sure use many, many more like him.

Great video KF. Leland Speed was a great combination of exceptional leader and "regular guy." Years ago, when I was a lowly government flunky, there was a called meeting of a public/private partnership (I don't even remember what it was) and my job was to notify Leland Speed of the afternoon meeting. I called his assistant and the next thing you know they are calling me back saying they can't find Mr. Speed. He had a "cellular telephone," but it was on his desk and he didn't tell anyone where he had gone (for you post-iPhone young people, it used to be a little harder to find folks). About 15 minutes went by and then I got another call from his assistant. "We found Leland," she said, obviously relieved. "Thank God I remembered it's Boiled Beef day at the Mayflower."

I wish ANY of Jackson’s current leaders had just a small bit of the wisdom and understanding of their job that Mr. Speed possessed. He will be missed.

His last project he was working on was endowments. He said that leaving fortunes to heirs resulted too often in the wasting of funds and the destruction of the heir's character. He was urging his well-off friends (and he had many not well-off) to increase their donations to colleges and universities in Mississippi instead of just spoiling their kids with a yuuuge inheritance.

He was always looking ways to make things better.

He wasn't a quitter. He had to give up the keys a few years ago due to eye problems. No problem. At age 84, he figured out how to use Uber quite well. He had his Iphone and Ipad completely figured out. Completely. He didn't slow down at all but didn't hesitate to use Uber if his family couldn't take him somewhere or he couldn't get me on the phone.

KF you need to look up Johnny Morrow. he has the story of the early auto dealers of Jackson MS. A lot of these men invested in many things in MS and outside of the state of MS. Johnny put together a magazine about their development of the city. Very similar to the work of Leland Speed. Out of this group of men came developments and businesses such as: Highland Village, PineSol, The King Edward Hotel, The Milner Building, Westland Plaza, The Sun N Sand Jackson and Biloxi, National Car Rental, Treasure Cay Island in the Bahamas, Twin Lakes Retreat Center, Other Hotels and real estate developments, WG Avery and Avery Industries, the Jackson Times Newspaper, Ferrari South, and owned/developed deals in many other states. It is a great story that Johnny Morrow could share with your readers.