list box initial select

[robojob]

i have this code which produces a list box dependent on items in a table in my database. i am creating an update page and need this list box to show the inital selected item dependent on the record in the database.

the code for the list box is

PHP Code:

 <? $query="SELECT catagory FROM catagory order by catagory asc";

$result = mysql_query ($query);
echo "<select name=catagory>Catagory</option>";
// printing the list box select command

while($nt=mysql_fetch_array($result)){//Array or records stored in $nt
echo "<option value=$nt[catagory]>$nt[catagory]</option>";
/* Option values are added by looping through the array */
}
echo "</select>";// Closing of list box 
?>

The record that are able to be updated are stored in a table called directory. this table has a catagory column. but when a new record is added the catagory is selected from a list box populated by the catagory table from the database. any suggestions on how i would add an initial selected item into the above code.

I have other list boxes with inital selections like:

<select name="start">
                  <option value="Jan">Jan</option>
                  <option value="Feb">Feb</option>
                  <option value="Mar">Mar</option>
                  <option value="Apr">Apr</option>
                  <option value="May">May</option>
                  <option value="June">June</option>
                  <option value="July">July</option>
                  <option value="Aug">Aug</option>
                  <option value="Sept">Sept</option>
                  <option value="Oct">Oct</option>
                  <option value="Nov">Nov</option>
                  <option value="Dec">Dec</option>
				    <option value="<?php echo($start) ?>" selected> 
                  <?php echo($start) ?>
                  </option>
                </select>

Thanks in advance.