Jackson Free Press

Jackson native Don Noblitt recently joined the board of directors for the Parents Television Council, a non-partisan education organization advocating for protection of children from graphic violence, sex and profanity in media.
 Noblitt is the co-owner and partner in charge of the financial and land activities of the Mississippi Oil Company, which owns oil and gas interests in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. He is also the former chairman of the Mississippi Food Network and serves on the advisory boards of the Salvation Army and the McClean Fletcher Center.
 The Parents Television Council, which has more than 1.4 million members, works with television producers, elected officials, broadcasters, networks, and sponsors to enforce broadcast decency standards and prevent negative messages targeted toward children. Noblitt told the Jackson Free Press that informing advertisers about the content of programs they sponsor is one of the PTC's most effective practices.

"A lot of the time, businesses don't know what programs their commercials are on, and we bring it to their attention, and a lot of the time, they are glad to change," Noblitt said. "We also find out which advertisers are for family-friendly programs and support them."

Noblitt, 62, grew up in Jackson and went to Murrah High School. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with a bachelor's degree in banking and finance in 1975. He then accepted a position at Deposit Guaranty National Bank in Jackson, which is now a Regions bank location. Noblitt remained with Deposit Guaranty until 1979, when he took a job at Hunt Energy Corp. He began working for the Mississippi Oil Company in 1982. He joined the advisory board for Mississippi Food Network in 2003 and served as its chairman in 2009.

"I got into this line of work with PTC because I think that to be a good corporate citizen and a good citizen, period, you need to give back," Noblitt said. "I think it's fulfilling to work with nonprofits to help pass it on and be a good role model to upcoming generations."

He currently lives in Ridgeland with his wife, Holley Noblitt, though the couple plans to move back to Jackson within three months. They have a daughter, Tatum Goodman, 33, and a son, Scott Noblitt, 31, as well as four grandchildren.

For more information on the PTC, visit http://www.parentstv.org/blog/ the organization's website or follow the PTC on Twitter @ThePTC.