Travis W. Childers knows hard work.

Chancery clerk in his native Prentiss County for the past 16 years, the candidate also owns Travis Childers Realty & Associates, one of the most successful real estate firms in Northeast Mississippi .

Travis Childers' resume is one of industry, self-reliance and public service. After the death of his father when Travis was 16 and still in high school, he worked nights and weekends at Booneville's first convenience store to help support his mother and sister.

Travis attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College and the University of Mississippi , where in 1980 he received a degree in business administration. Even before graduating from Ole Miss, Travis was licensed as a realtor. He soon joined the real estate business of Robert Davis in his hometown of Booneville.

In 1991, recognizing his strong character and leadership ability, Prentiss County neighbors first chose Travis as their chancery clerk. They recently re-elected him to a fifth term with 75 percent of the vote. In 2001-2002 professional peers across the state chose Travis to serve as President of the Mississippi Chancery Clerks Association.

Travis has been married for 27 years to the former Tami Gibson, and the couple has two children -- Dustin, a first-year law student at Mississippi College , and Lauren, a freshman at Ole Miss. They all are members of East Booneville Baptist Church .

Together, Tami and Travis also own the Landmark Community, a personal care home, and the Landmark Nursing Center , an 80-bed skilled care facility and Alzheimer's unit.

Travis Childers, 49, has proven himself as both businessman and public servant. He has helped create regional jobs by working for decades with an enterprising and bi-partisan spirit. He knows how to navigate the halls of government, and how to meet a payroll on Friday.

Travis Childers hopes to continue to serve North Mississippians, this time in Washington as their next congressman.