Mayor Ken Adams and newly seated and returning members of the Olive Branch Board of Aldermen were sworn into office during a public installation ceremony that opened the board’s July 1 meeting.

The swearing-in included Mayor Ken Adams and aldermen Gil Earhart, Pat Hamilton, Donald Gammage, George Collins, David Wallace, Jan Aldridge and Dale Dickerson. Justice Doug Hollowell administered multiple oaths of office. Later in the meeting appointed officials, including Bill Clark, Steven Stewart and Pam Stout, repeated the oath for their positions.

The ceremony began with invocations and a children-led Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to individual oaths. Justice Hollowell led Mayor Adams through the standard oath — repeating support for the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and promising to “faithfully discharge the duties of the office.” Justice Hollowell then administered the oath to aldermen as each raised a right hand and recited the same pledge.

Mayor Ken Adams thanked those attending and noted the meeting would continue with the regular agenda. Adams also recognized long service by board members: the mayor noted that George Collins is the city’s longest-serving alderman across the state and congratulated members marking milestone service anniversaries.

Later in the meeting the board also administered oaths to appointed officers and staff. Those who took oaths in the later portion of the meeting included, among others, Bill Clark (police chief), Steven Stewart (city clerk) and Pam Stout (deputy clerk). The board then moved on to routine business including approvals and staff reports.

The swearing-in was conducted publicly at the start of the board’s meeting; no formal vote was required to administer oaths, which the board completed before carrying out the rest of its agenda.