Former Gov. William Winter continues to make a strong recovery following his head injury Saturday, according to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which is treating him.

The hospital said it expects to move Winter, 93, from the neuroscience intensive care unit to a regular room on Tuesday. Dr. Gilbert Mbeo, his neurologist, called this progress remarkable given his age.

“The governor looks great,” Mbeo said Monday. “We’re watching him closely, and his scans continue to improve. That’s reassuring.”

Winter, an avid walker, slipped on ice in his driveway Saturday morning after he ignored “the good counsel” of his wife to stay inside, according to family friend Dick Molpus. His traumatic head injury included a small brain bleed. As of Monday afternoon, he was listed in fair condition.

Winter, who served as governor from 1980 to 1984, is widely considered one of Mississippi’s most progressive state leaders. Last October, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis presented Winter the prestigious Freedom Award, which honors women and men whose work in civil and human rights have made global and national impact.

“Gov. Winter turns 94 in February, and he has spent his lifetime working for all of the people in Mississippi,” Christopher Schultz, director of development and communications at The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation in Oxford, said at the time. “It is really wonderful to have this recognition for the work he does. He works every day, and it is being recognized beyond the borders of our state among international luminaries for the cause of social justice.”


We want to hear from you!

By listening more intently and understanding the people who make up Mississippi’s communities, our reporters put a human face on how policy affects everyday Mississippians. We’re listening closely to our readers to help us continue to align our work with the needs and priorities of people from all across Mississippi. Please take a few minutes to tell us what’s on your mind by clicking the button below.


Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Larrison Campbell is a Greenville native who reports on politics with an emphasis on public health. She received a bachelor’s from Wesleyan University and a master’s from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.Larrison is a 2018 National Press Foundation fellow in public health, a 2019 Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts fellow in health care reporting and a 2019 Center for Health Journalism National Fellow.