Flag designed by Starkville man could become Mississippi's new state flag

News.

I'm alyssa martin.

We could be one step closer to a new state flag.

The state flag commission will decide between two designs.

Wtva's rhea thornton was in starkville meeting with one of the finalists about his design.

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I'm here outside dog pound printing where flag designer finalist rocky vaughan says he has been working on this design for nearly 7 years.

Rocky vaughan - state flag finalist "i wanted something timeless and that's what i've wanted from the, just from the beginning."

Rocky vaughan has been a graphic designer for over 20 years.

His passion for designing the state flag began in the most unusual place... the delivery room (why was he in the delivery room?) rocky vaughan - state flag finalist "i took my sketch book to the hospital to pass some time... so i just started doodling, coming up with something that represents mississippi."

And that was seven years ago.

Since then, rocky tweaked and edited new version of the flag making over 300 designs.

Rocky vaughan: "as an artist i'm like i don't like that, ah i need to change that.

I need to get back to the computer and do some work on that so... it was a love hobby for a long time because i knew it was coming.

We all knew that one day this was going to happen and i want my name in the mix."

Vaughan says his biggest inspiration was the magnolia, mississippi's state flower, but that his flag also incorporate small details highlighting other symbols of the state as well.

This includes the color gold for the state mineral and emerald leaves for the state's gemstone.

He attributes his design to his mississippi roots.

Rocky vaughan: "me being from mississippi, current mississippian, i didn't, there was no need for me to do research of how to design a flag to represent us all."

Tag: the commission is scheduled to announce the winning design in the morning.

That flag will go before voters in the november general election.

Reporting in starkville, rhea thornton wtva 9 news.