Fred is of counsel in the Tupelo office. He practices in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Prior to Phelps Dunbar, Fred was a partner in the firm of Fant & Bush from 1950 to 1960 and Mitchell, McNutt & Bush from 1961 to 1989. He has also been active in public service throughout his career. Fred was the Executive Director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Board from 1960 to 1961 and served on their board of directors from 1961 to 1968. He was also a member of the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority from 1980 to 1984. In addition to his legal practice and public service, Fred served in the United States Navy during World War II where he was on destroyer duty. He was Commanding Officer of the USS Kidd from 1945 to 1946 and retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve with the rank of Captain.

• University of Mississippi, LL.B., 1950; Phi Alpha Delta, Mississippi Law Journal
• U.S. Naval Academy, B.S., 1939

• Fellow, Mississippi Bar Foundation (Chairman 1978)
• Member: Lee County Bar Association (President 1969-1970); First Judicial District Bar (President 1974-1975); American Bar Association (Member, House of Delegates, 1986, 1989-90); Mississippi Bar Association (President 1986-1987); Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association (President 1973-1974); The Lamar Order (Chairman 1984-1985); Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel; Association of Insurance Attorneys; American Counsel Association; American Arbitration Association; Rotary Club (President 1954-1955)