JACKSON, MS (April 17, 2003) – Mr. Bryan Hawkins, President of Hawkeye Industries, Inc. has been selected as the Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year for 2003 by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Mr. Hawkins is among 53 top small business persons -- from each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, and Guam -- who will be honored by the SBA at national ceremonies in Washington, D.C. later this year. As winner of the Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year 2003 award, Mr. Hawkins will represent Mississippi businesses during the national ceremonies and vie for the opportunity to be named the 2003 National Small Business Person of the Year.

This document may be viewed online at http://www.sba.gov/ms/sbpoy.pdf