MISSISSIPPI STATEALUMNUSSpring 2012

Spring 2012 | Vol. 88 | No. 3USPS 354-520

This is Our State.

PresidentMark E. Keenum (’83, ’84, ’88)

Vice President for Development and AlumniJohn P. Rush (’94, ’02)

Alumni Association Executive Director and Associate Vice President, Development and AlumniJimmy W. Abraham (’75, ’77)twitter.com/drjimmyabraham

Editorial offices:102 George Hall,P.O. Box 5325,Mississippi State, MS 39762-5325Telephone, 662-325-3442 Fax, 662-325-7455E-mail, snowa@ur.msstate.eduwww.msstate.edu

Advertising:Contact Libba Andrews at 662-325-3479 or landrews@alumni.msstate.edu.

EditorAllen Snow (’76)

Associate EditorHarriet Laird

DesignerMatt Watson (’05)

PhotographersRuss Houston (’85)Megan BeanBeth Newman Wynn

Mississippi State UniversityAlumni Association National OfficersJerry L. Toney, ’96, national presidentCamille Scales Young, ’94, ’96, national first vice presidentTommy R. Roberson, ’67, national second vice presidentJodi White Turner, ’97, ’99, national treasurerKaren Dugard Lawler, ’82, ’94, immediate former national president

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26 Campus news36 Alumni news44 Foundation news46 Class news48 In memoriam

Cover illustration by Matt Watson

America’s unique education system celebrates 150 yearsIn 1862, American newspapers were full of reports from the battlefields of the Civil War, but there were other events that year that would forever change the nation. This year, MSU and universities in every state are celebrating the 150th anniversary of one of those events.

A half century of success in fundraising impacts universityThe Mississippi State University Foundation commemorated the 50th anniversary of its founding in February. Graduates and friends of the university have unselfishly supported the work of Mississippi State by giving through the MSU Foundation with loyalty, pride and passion since the organization’s incorporation in 1962.

30th Anniversary: CVM honors first graduatesIn 1981, the first 25 graduates of MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine received their doctor of veterinary medicine degrees. In October 2011, 19 of them returned to campus to participate in the Pegasus Gala, a series of events celebrating the 30th anniversary of their graduation.

Mitchell Memorial’s unique collections house invaluable treasuresFor thousands of students and other patrons, Mississippi State’s Mitchell Memorial Library offers the gamut of resources anyone would expect at a major university. But many do not realize what vast treasures housed as part of MSU Libraries’ rare and eclectic collections are right at their fingertips.

Global Connections: University forms International InstituteOne major component of Mississippi State’s vision is to become a “leading public research university that is globally aware and involved,” and this has led to the creation of the MSU International Institute.

ANNIVERSARYI S S U E

MISSISSIPPI STATEALUMNUSSpring 2012

Mississippi State Alumnus is published three times a year by the Office of University Relations and the Mississippi State University Alumni Association at Mississippi State, Miss. Send address changes to Alumni Director, P.O. Box AA, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526; telephone 662-325-7000; or e-mail fcarr@advservices.msstate.edu.alumni.msstate.edu // twitter.com/msstatealumni // facebook.com/msstatealumni

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 1

Students at Mississippi State and other land-grant colleges were originally organized along military lines. At the outbreak of World War II, the schools’ Reserve Officer Training Corps provided a valuable resource as the nation mobilized for the war effort.

LAND GRANTS:AMERICA’S UNIQUE EDUCATION SYSTEM CELEBRATES

150 YEARSBy BOB RATlIFF

Justin Morrill

2 SPRING 2012

In 1862, American

newspapers were full

of reports from the

battlefields of the Civil

War, but there were other

events that year that

would forever change

the nation. In 2012,

universities in every state

are celebrating the 150th

anniversary of one of

those events.

On July 2, 1862,

President Abraham

Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, and his signature

began the process of making higher education

possible for the sons and daughters of all Americans.

“The Morrill Act was the first in a series of steps

that created the nation’s land-grant universities, the

largest and most effective public higher education

system in the world and one that is uniquely

American,” said MSU President Mark Keenum. “As

a land-grant institution, Mississippi State University

is dedicated to academic excellence, research, and

service.

“Our graduates are leaders in business, education,

engineering and the state’s and nation’s agricultural

enterprises. All of this began with the Morrill Act

and was expanded with other legislation, including

the creation of experiment stations by the Hatch Act

in 1887, which created the experiment stations to

provide agricultural research, and the Smith-Lever

Act in 1914, which established the Extension Service

to provide university-based educational resources to

the public.”

The author of the first land-grant legislation was

Congressman Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont.

The son of a blacksmith, Morrill ended his formal

education at 14, when he went to work as a store

clerk. He went on to a successful career in business

and farming.

In 1854, Morrill was elected to Congress, and

in 1858, he introduced legislation to create public

schools of higher education in each state to provide

training in the agricultural and industrial arts, as well

as the traditional liberal arts. Funding for the schools

would be provided by income generated from federal

grants of public land to each state. His first bill

narrowly passed in Congress, only to be vetoed by

President James Buchanan.

The idea of making higher education available to

people of modest means was both unique and radical

150 years ago, said MSU Department of History

Head Alan Marcus.

“The purpose of the Land Grant Act was to

provide higher education to the sons and daughters

of working people, farmers and mechanics, people

who usually didn’t have an opportunity to go to

college,” he said. “Early on in the congressional

debate, there was the argument that if you really

educated these young boys and girls, they would

pursue more prestigious occupations rather

than applying their new skills to farming and

manufacturing.

“The idea that finally prevailed, however, was that

extending education would prosper both individuals

and the nation.”

Mississippi received its land grant following the

state’s re-entry into the Union in 1870. Income from

the sale of the state’s land grant, which was located

in New Mexico Territory, was first used to create an

agricultural and mechanical program for whites at

the University of Mississippi in Oxford and for blacks

at Alcorn University in Lorman.

In a 1979 journal article, “The Cow in the Front

Yard: How a Land-Grant University Grew in

“Our graduates are leaders in

business, education, engineering and

the state’s and nation’s agricultural

enterprises. All of this began with the Morrill

Act...”— Mark E. Keenum,

MSU president

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 3

Mississippi,” Mississippi historian John K. Bettersworth,

described the effort to establish the program at the

University of Mississippi.

“(Professor of geology and agricultural

chemistry Eugene Hilgard) strove valiantly to get

something going, but students would have no part

of it,” Bettersworth wrote. “After five enrollments in

‘agriculture and mechanical arts’ in 1873, and only

three in 1874, Hilgard left for California. In 1876, the

whole program was abandoned.”

The program at Lorman was successful and continued

as Alcorn A&M College. Efforts by the farm organization

Patrons of Husbandry, or Grange, led the Mississippi

Legislature to establish Mississippi Agricultural and

Mechanical College in Starkville in 1878.

Mississippi A&M became firmly established

under the leadership of its first president, Stephen

D. Lee. President Lee, who served as a general in the

Confederate Army, recruited experienced faculty

from northern schools. The new college also received

continuing support from farm organizations.

“The Grange and other agricultural organizations

were very vocal about what they wanted their children

to learn,” Marcus said. “These types of groups were the

land-grant schools’ earliest constituent group and remain

strong advocates for the land-grant system.”

Mississippi A&M and other land-grant schools soon

became important forces for economic development,

Marcus said.

“In 1926, the Borden Company was looking for a

site for a big new manufacturing plant for condensed

milk,” he said. “Starkville was one of the sites under

consideration because of the willingness of farmers in

the area to produce milk in the quantities needed for the

plant and the availability of the college to teach modern

dairy production methods. When Starkville was selected

as the site for the plant, a parade with the theme of

‘Prosperity’ was held to celebrate.”

Partnerships between Mississippi State University,

agricultural organizations and businesses have

continued to strengthen and are today a key part of

Mississippi’s largest industry, said Greg Bohach, MSU

Campus, circa 1930s.

“Agriculture, including

forestry and natural resources, is a $7 billion industry in Mississippi

and provides 29 percent of

the state’s jobs.”— Greg Bohach,

MSU vice president for

agriculture, forestry, and

veterinary medicine

4 SPRING 2012

vice president for agriculture, forestry,

and veterinary medicine.

“Agriculture, including forestry

and natural resources, is a $7 billion

industry in Mississippi and provides

29 percent of the state’s jobs,” he said.

“Our two land-grant schools, MSU

and Alcorn State University, provide

essential support to Mississippi’s food

and fiber enterprises and our rich

natural resources.

“While the vision of Justin Morrill and

the other early leaders of the land-grant

movement has become a reality, it must

be our vision to continue to apply the

resources, including new technology, to

ensure a food-secure future for our state,

nation and world.” •

Left: Graduation program from first graduating class, 1883.

Timeline1862 The Homestead Act opened millions of acres of farmland

in the West to settlement.

1862 The Morrill Act established the land-grant system of higher education.

1878 Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College founded.

1887 The Hatch Act gave federal funds to state land-grant colleges to create agricultural experiment stations.

1890 The Second Morrill Act required each state to show that race was not an admissions criterion, or else to designate a separate land-grant institution for persons of color.

1914 The Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension Service as the outreach arm of land-grant colleges.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 5

The Mississippi State University Foundation

commemorated the 50th anniversary of its

founding in February. Graduates and friends

of the university have unselfishly supported

the work of Mississippi State by giving through

the MSU Foundation with loyalty, pride and passion since the

organization’s incorporation in 1962.

It is perhaps fitting the then-Development Foundation was

chartered in the month of February, which is when Mississippi

State University also marks its 1878 founding. From Mississippi

Agricultural and Mechanical College to Mississippi State College to

Mississippi State University, the ever-evolving institution has come

to rely on the voluntary support of its graduates and friends through

service and philanthropic endeavors throughout its 134-year history.

A HALF CENTUrY OF SUCCESS IN FUNDrAISING IMPACTS UNIVErSITY

BY AMy CAGlE

6 SPRING 2012

In 1960, the incoming presidential

administration of Dr. Dean W. Colvard would

usher in a phase of growth for Mississippi

State University like no other. The late

Colvard believed an additional margin of

excellence would set the established land-

grant institution on a long-range course for

exponential growth. Unlike his presidential

predecessors, Colvard was not an alumnus

and not a Mississippian, but he was a

visionary who held a most respected view of

the institution and the state.

Although the MSU Alumni Association,

through its foundation, had been awarding small

student scholarships and assisting with securing

funds for campus improvements for many years,

Colvard decided that a more organized group

should be formed to solicit private gifts. These

contributions, he believed, would provide many

opportunities for alumni to impact the university

in ways never before realized. A group of

dedicated graduates shared his belief and worked

to fulfill his vision.

The MSU Development Foundation was

chartered on Feb. 5, 1962, with $120,000

from 200 founding members for its first three

years of operation. Incorporators were well-

known alumni: H.E. Allen, J.C. redd, Louie C.

Spencer Jr. and Charles S. Whittington, who

served as the organization’s first president.

Other early officers were Dorris Ballew, T.E.

Casey, H.B. Crosby, W.B. Donald, Lewis F.

Mallory Sr. and T.K. Martin. Although now

deceased, these men left their mark on the

institution through their work to firmly

establish the Development Foundation and

implement its operating procedures.

The early Development Foundation

began its fundraising operations from two

small rooms of Lee Hall on the historic Drill

Field. From there, the organization moved

to the Colvard Student Union, following

the building’s completion in 1966. By 1985,

operations for the Development Foundation

relocated to the Butler-Williams Center. From

1962 to 1992, the Development Foundation

enjoyed great success as it evolved into the

MSU Foundation Inc. in 1993.

The MSU Foundation would gain a

permanent home in 2002. The extraordinary

Hunter Henry Center, built entirely on the

strength of gifts, opened as a conference center

and special events venue. A cornerstone gift

from the late MSU engineering alumnus

Hunter W. Henry Jr., along with a matching gift

challenge, financed the facility. The building

houses offices for the MSU Foundation,

the MSU Alumni Association and the vice

president for MSU’s Division of Development

and Alumni. The upper mezzanine of the

building showcases lifetime recognition for the

university’s most loyal donors.

Over the years, Mississippi State has benefited

university-wide from outright gifts and pledges

paid over time as fundraising efforts increased.

In recent years, gifts of property through the

Bulldog Properties program and timberland

accepted as part of the Bulldog Forest have

also begun impacting the students, faculty

and programs of the university. Deferred gifts

such as bequests and annuities have aided the

university’s progress, as have countless gifts-in-

kind. The university’s endowment now exceeds

$347 million.

When the Development Foundation was

chartered, Mississippi State University’s

student enrollment topped 6,000 students.

Over the past five decades the university has

more than tripled its student body. In the

MSU Foundation’s 50th year, Mississippi State

boasts an enrollment of over 20,400 students,

coming from all 50 states and more than 70

counties.

A half century of MSU Foundation

history resulted in unprecedented growth for

Mississippi State University. These decades

stand as a testament to the generosity of

alumni, friends, and corporations as their

gifts yielded the margin of excellence

necessary for Mississippi State as envisioned

by Colvard. Highlights of the past five

decades follow in this special section of

Alumnus magazine.

“For Mississippi State University to reach its full potential and maintain that margin of excellence which will assure distinction, it must have extra support

other than that provided by fees, grants and legislative appropriations.”— Dean W. Colvard, MSU president, 1960-66

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 7

Reflecting on ouR accomplishments:THE

ninetiesthe

the foundation

sixties

THE TWO

THOUSANDS

THE FOUNDATION

THE FOUNDATION

THE

EIGHTIES

The first land gift accepted by the Development Foundation was from Floyd and Thera White of Okolona, who retained a life estate in the property.

A gift for the construction of the carillion tower for the Chapel of Memories came from George and Jane Perry.

The first contribution for a building, through the Development Foundation, was made by J.N. McArthur for McArthur Hall.

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2 3The Development Foundation recorded 88 contributions for a total of $12,542 at the close of its first full year of operation.

Patrons of Excellence became the first donor club. Members made 10-year commitments of $1,000 per year.

Alumni formed a group to assist with athletic fundraising, now the Bulldog Club.

Dean W. Covard with Thera and Floyd White

Charles S. Whittington, seated, left, signs the charter as MSU President Dean W. Colvard, seated, center, and Louie C. Spencer Jr. observe. Standing, from left, are: W.B. Donald, H.E. Allen and J. C. Redd.

8 SPRING 2012

MSU Development Foundation marks 10th anniversary on Feb. 5, 1972. At the close of its first decade, the Development Foundation had raised over $4.5 million, and the university’s endowment approached $1 million.

Allen Hall took its place as the main administration building on campus. A portion of funds for the facility came through a bequest from H.E. Allen.

A gift from alumnus E.B. “Dutch” McCool constructed McCool Hall to house the then-College of Business and Industry. He also supported MSU by funding lights for Dudy Noble Field and a scholarship fund.

MSU marked its centennial anniversary in 1978, and the Development Foundation’s accompanying fundraising project resulted in funds raised toward the construction of McComas Hall.

THE

ninetiesthe

the foundation

sixties

THE TWO

THOUSANDS

THE FOUNDATION

THE FOUNDATION

THE

EIGHTIES

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7Graduates of the then-College of Agriculture and Home Economics began supporting scholarships through the first alumni association established within one of MSU’s academic colleges. Since then, contributions to the AG 100 Club have supported numerous annual scholarships.

E.B. McCool

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 9

The annual giving program was launched and replaced the “dues” membership being used by the MSU Alumni Association.

THE FOUNDATION

Reflecting on ouR accomplishments:THE

ninetiesthe

the foundation

sixties

THE TWO

THOUSANDS

THE FOUNDATION

THE FOUNDATION

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EIGHTIES

The Development Foundation marked its 25th anniversary with a celebration in the Colvard Student Union, named in honor of the late Colvard, MSU’s 12th president.

Charles H. Templeton Sr. donated his extraordinary collection of musical machines, recordings and period sheet music. The Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum in the Mitchell Memorial Library now showcases the collection.

The Ottilie Schillig Leadership Scholarships began as MSU’s first effort to competitively pursue high-caliber students in Mississippi. The scholarships were the result of a trust from the Port Gibson opera singer.

A gift from alumnus Eugene Butler built the campus guest house adjoining the Butler-Williams Center.

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President’s Club was launched for donor recognition, as the Patrons of Excellence donor club continued to thrive.

Schillig Scholars with Dr. Donald W. Zacharias, MSU’s 15th president

10 SPRING 2012

The Development Foundation moved to a full-fledged constituency giving program with fundraisers in MSU’s academic colleges

MSU publicly launched its first comprehensive capital campaign, The Campaign for Mississippi State, with a goal of $78 million. Alumnus James K. Ashford served as its national general chairman. The five-year effort shattered its goal by raising $143 million.

Best-selling novelist and accounting alumnus John Grisham and his wife, Renee, established the John Grisham Teaching Awards. The couple also established scholarships for high-caliber students and contributed to MSU athletics.

The family of the late John H. Bryan Sr. provided funds for an Athletic Administration building to be constructed in his memory.

An endowment for the János Radvanyi Chair in International Security Strategies was created. The chair is a university-wide institute that provides students and faculty with opportunities to gain awareness of political, economic and security issues on an international level.

The Eternal Flame Monument and the 170-foot Walk of Honor were unveiled as a perpetual tribute to the thousands of Bulldog faithful who generously supported The Campaign for Mississippi State.

THE FOUNDATION

THE

ninetiesthe

the foundation

sixties

THE TWO

THOUSANDS

THE FOUNDATION

THE FOUNDATION

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EIGHTIES

The late Leo W. Seal Jr. memorialized his father with a contribution to build the Leo W. Seal Sr. M-Club. The facility hosts M-Club members when they return on game days, and is also used for a variety of functions.

The late engineering alumnus Dave C. Swalm made a $14 million gift for an endowment for the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, and a building to house the academic unit. An earlier gift from Swalm was the first contribution to the MSU Foundation in excess of $1 million.

Jane Perry pledged $1.5 million to renovate the historic campus cafeteria in honor of her late husband, George D. Perry. The facility was then named Perry Cafeteria.

The Joe Frank Sanderson Sr. Center, an indoor recreation complex, opened. A substantial portion of the cost of the facility was made possible by a gift from the late Sanderson.

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Leo W. Seal Jr.

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MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 11

1 MSU’s largest gift, $25 million from

engineering alumnus James Worth Bagley and

wife, Jean, created endowments to further

engineering education at MSU. In Bagley’s honor,

the engineering college is known as the James

Worth Bagley College of Engineering.

MSU officially opened the Cullis Wade Depot and

Welcome Center, which houses a clock museum.

The facility was built, in part, from a significant

contribution from Wade and his late wife, Gladys.

New lifetime giving levels for donor recognition were

created to keep pace with the phenomenal growth

in fundraising at Mississippi State.

Joe Ann Ward established the College of

Veterinary Medicine’s first endowed faculty chair,

the Hugh G. Ward Chair in Small Animal Medicine

in memory of her husband, who was instrumental

in the college’s founding.

Engineering alumnus Jack Hatcher established

the Jack Hatcher Chair for Engineering

Entrepreneurship in the engineering college to

create an environment that helps students better

understand the business startup process.

Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field was enlarged to

incorporate sky boxes and new club-level seating. The

$30 million expansion was initiated with a contribution

in excess of $8 million from the late alumnus F. Davis

Wade Sr., along with self-generated funds.

MSU marked its 125th anniversary in 2003 with a

celebration in Humphrey Coliseum.

The Maroon Mile program began as recent graduates

and parents help pave the parade grounds of MSU by

purchasing engraved brick pavers.

A $10 million commitment from the Riley

Foundation renovated the 1890 Grand Opera

House and the adjacent 1889 Marks-Rothenberg

Building into the state-of-the-art Riley Center

for Education and Performing Arts, which is an

education and conference center for MSU and the

city of Meridian.

The MSU Foundation was recognized nationally

with a coveted Circle of Excellence Award from

the Council for the Advancement and Support

of Education, marking the first time organized

development efforts at MSU had been cited for

this overall achievement.

A $1 million gift from alumnus Hassell Franklin,

along with state funds, built the Franklin Center

for Furniture Manufacturing and Management.

2 MSU stepped up its efforts to attract

top-echelon students with the launch of the

prestigious Presidential Endowed Scholars

program. The inaugural PES class entered MSU

as freshmen in 2001, with four-year scholarships

funded by separate endowments.

The MSU Foundation publicly launched State

of the Future: The Mississippi State Campaign

with a $400 million goal. A volunteer steering

committee, led by alumnus Richard C. Adkerson,

secured $200 million in the silent phase. The

campaign concluded with nearly 60,000 MSU

alumni and friends contributing $462 million, with

half being first-time donors to MSU.

The first endowed position in the College of

Architecture, Art and Design was the Crane

Professorship in Architecture established with a

gift from Johnny and Bessie Lynn Crane.

3 The Richard C. Adkerson School of

Accountancy was named for alumnus Richard

C. Adkerson, who created an endowment for

accounting education at MSU.

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Beginning a new chapter

4 MSU broke ground for a band and choral

rehearsal facility to provide much-needed space for

the Famous Maroon Band and choral programs.

The facility, built in part with gifts, aids in student

recruitment for the College of Education.

The first fully endowed faculty position in MSU’s

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was

established by Glover and Imogene Triplett. The

Dr. Glover B. Triplett Endowed Chair in Agronomy

honors the longtime MSU faculty member.

The Seal Family Business Complex, a

52,000-square-foot addition to McCool Hall,

opened as part of the MSU College of Business.

Generous gifts from a host of donors, as well

as the cornerstone contribution from the Seal

family, made the facility enhancement possible.

Waterfowl- and wetlands-related teaching,

research and service were greatly enhanced

at MSU as James C. Kennedy established the

Kennedy Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands

Conservation in the university’s College of

Forest Resources.

5 Alumnus Bobby Shackouls and his wife, Judy,

created a $10 million endowment transforming

MSU’s honors program into the Judy and Bobby

Shackouls Honors College for the university’s

most talented students.

MSU Foundation marked its 50th anniversary as total funds raised for MSU,

through the organization, more than $1 billion.

As the MSU Foundation turns the page on its first 50 years, the

organization’s story continues to bring more maroon and white moments

to the university. Each year truly builds on the success of the previous

year, as the students, faculty and programs of Mississippi State continue to reap the benefits of

endowments and a steady stream of annual support from alumni and friends.

From our humble beginning in 1962 as the Development Foundation, into the full-service MSU

Foundation, faithful contributors have provided MSU with the margin of excellence needed to fulfill

the dream of Colvard and the founding fathers. Steadfast university leadership and volunteers have

shaped our efforts for half a century.

The MSU Foundation gratefully acknowledges the unwavering support of the many contributors

over the course of Mississippi State’s history. Through volunteerism and financial support, you

preserved the Bulldog traditions that make our institution special, and allowed us to further the

university’s mission of teaching, research and service.

The future of Mississippi State University and the history of the MSU Foundation remain forever

intertwined. In the next 50 years, the MSU Foundation will continue to work to keep pace with the

growing needs of the university as Mississippi State strives to become one of the nation’s best

education, research and service institutions.

As we continue our quest to succeed beyond tomorrow, just as the chartering members of our

foundation paved the way, we pledge to remain good stewards of your investments in the future of

Mississippi State University. With your continued support, we will move Mississippi State forward

with much-needed funds for scholarships for talented students, new and improved facilities,

endowed positions for our acclaimed faculty, and enhancements for the university’s global programs.

The MSU Foundation is ready for the challenge of a rising generation. •

MSU debuted StatePride: An Initiative

for Student and Faculty Support with the

investiture of MSU’s 19th President Mark E.

Keenum. The initiative, with a goal of $100

million, was launched to assist MSU as it works

to prepare for further enrollment growth.

MSU Foundation celebrated its highest giving

year in history with more than $80.3 million

raised during FY 2011.

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MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 13

In 1981, the first 25 graduates of MSU’s

College of Veterinary Medicine received their

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. In

October 2011, 19 of them returned to campus

to participate in the Pegasus Gala, a series

of events celebrating the 30th anniversary of

their graduation.

“It was a landmark decision to bring a

veterinary college to Mississippi,” Julie Burt,

CVM clinical services coordinator and gala

organizer, said. “The gala celebrated the original class and our

entire faculty and staff who have made each graduating class

possible through the years.”

Kent Hoblet, dean of the college, said the first group of

graduates and the founding dean and faculty set the tone for

CVM for decades to come.

“The contributions our graduates have made to their

communities, to science, to government, and to the military are

extraordinary, and our first graduating class set a great example

for others to follow,” he said. “There are only 28 colleges of

CVM hONORSfIRST GRADUATESYEARS

By BoB Ratliff | Photos By Beth Newman Wynn & Tom Thompson

30

14 SPRING 2012

veterinary medicine in the U.S., so it’s pretty special to be

one of those schools, but of course we think our program is

pretty special on its own.”

The events were held over the Oct. 14–15 weekend

and began with the Human-Animal Bond Lecture Series

sponsored by Nestle Purina. Other events included a VIP

dinner, tailgating, tours, and a program hosted by special

guest Jack Hanna.

Hanna is director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and

Aquarium and host of the nationally syndicated TV programs

Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild and Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown.

He entertained Starkville-area school children with a show

featuring exotic animals in the CVM auditorium. Hanna also

hosted a show for guests at a Gala dinner held at MSU’s Hunter

Henry Center. His visit was made possible through the support

of Nutramax Labs Inc. The company researches, develops and

markets high-quality health supplements for humans, animals

and plants. Dr. Todd Henderson of the MSU-CVM class of

1992 is the company’s CEO.

The weekend activities also included the unveiling of

plans for a courtyard garden honoring the first graduating

class. Following the unveiling, attendees enjoyed food and

fellowship at a tailgate party before MSU’s football game

against the University of

South Carolina.

“We are so proud of our

founding faculty and first

graduating class,” Dean

Hoblet said. “They led

the way for all those

who came after them,

and we were pleased to

see them back here on

campus.”

Donations will be

accepted for the Class of

1981 courtyard garden.

For more information,

contact Keith Gaskin at

662-325-3815 or kgaskin@

foundation.msstate.edu. •

Dr. Gary AllenDr. Charles Blakeslee, Jr.Dr. Jerry Bounds, Jr.Dr. Karyl BuddingtonDr. Mitchell ClemmerDr. Janet WelterDr. Robert DennisDr. Johnny GeotesDr. LaJoyce Hathorn

Dr. Joel JoseyDr. Larry KerrDr. Joe MartinDr. Thomas PickeringDr. Lowell RogersDr. Thomas SmithDr. Marlon Springer, Jr.Dr. Sylvia StewartDr. Cheryl Stroud

Dr. John SullivanDr. Sue ThomsonDr. Cory LangstonDr. John Hays IIIDr. Lawrence MyersDr. Mark HealeyDr. Lane Corley

CVM CLASS Of 1981

MSU President Mark Keenum and anniversary special guest Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium.

“The contributions our graduates have made to

their communities, to science, to

government, and to the military are

extraordinary, and our first graduating

class set a great example for others

to follow.”— Kent Hoblet,

dean of MSU’s CVM

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 15

For thousands of students and other

patrons, Mississippi State’s Mitchell

Memorial Library offers the gamut

of resources anyone would expect at

a major university. But many do not

realize what vast treasures housed as

part of MSU Libraries’ rare and eclectic

collections are right at their fingertips.

Traditionally referred to as “Special Collections,” the distinctive

resources now span the library physically, from top to bottom

floors, as well as have an ever-expanding digital presence. The

variety of materials represents the university’s broad reach and

diverse constituencies.

Holdings range from historical documentation of life in the

rural South to the modern collection of a nationally renowned

theatrical costume designer, Myrna Colley-Lee. From Mississippi’s

own former U. S. Sen. John C. Stennis and former U. S. rep. G.V.

“Sonny” Montgomery to bestselling author John Grisham, the

library is the repository for collections that represent not only jewels

of Mississippi, but assets of national significance. A “cherry on the

sundae” for the library is the collection of Civil War general and

United States President Ulysses S. Grant’s papers and memorabilia,

illustrating that Mitchell Memorial’s unparalleled resources serve as a

point of pride for the university and for the state.

In fact, the name “Special Collections” really represents

one department within the university’s many collections. It

encompasses manuscripts, Mississippiana and rare books, as well

as University Archives. Among others are the Ulysses S. Grant

Presidential Collection, the Congressional and Political research

Center, the Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum and the John

Grisham room. CHArM, which is an acronym for Consortium

for the History of Agricultural and rural Mississippi, is also housed

at the library to preserve the state’s rich agricultural heritage. The

library’s digital collections reflect efforts to support teaching,

service and research by developing projects that provide greater

access to unique university holdings.

Special collectionS

Each year, the library assists countless researchers

from MSU and other locations. Mattie Abraham,

manuscripts coordinator for the Special Collections

department, says whether library patrons are students

or faculty visiting the library at its physical location or whether they

are remote patrons who need assistance, library staff members are

eager to help.

“Our researchers work on books, genealogy and family history,

theses and dissertations, documentaries and other films, and

many other projects,” Abraham says. “Many of our researchers are

distance researchers, like Emma Folwell of the U.K. who recently

came to do research in our political papers for her dissertation on

modern conservatism in Mississippi.”

Abraham cites Giselle roberts of Australia as another recent

researcher. “Nine of our collections are featured in her book,

Confederate Belle. She is currently working on another book that

By Allison Matthews | Images courtesy of Mitchell Memorial Library

MITChELL MEMORIAL’S UNIQUE COLLECTIONS hOUSE INVALUABLE TREASURES

16 SPRING 2012

will feature some of our materials,” Abraham says, noting that

roberts did not visit the campus location but received assistance

from Mitchell Memorial staff entirely by email.

Last year, the Special Collections department

assisted researchers working on a segment for

the “History Detectives” television show and also

seeking visual materials for the movie “The Help.”

Within Special Collections, Mississippiana

comprises published materials by and about

Mississippi and Mississippians. rare books, state

documents, genealogical materials, and subject

files on Mississippi topics are included.

University Archives, which is housed in the

Congressional and Political research Center on

Mitchell Memorial’s first floor, contains materials

that document Mississippi State University’s

more than 130-year history. Publications by

faculty, staff and students, as well as presidents’

papers are among the files. Additionally, maps,

blueprints, visual media, oral histories, alumni

records and extensive subject files are housed,

as well as records of the Mississippi State

University Extension Service and the Mississippi

Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

More than 650 collections of papers on individuals, families

and organizations are contained within the department. The

manuscripts document Mississippi and the South from the early

19th century to the present, offering a wealth of rich historical

materials for both research and general enjoyment.

Some of the collections include papers by contemporary Mississippi

journalists, such as Bill Minor and Sid Salter. Salter, a statewide

columnist and former Perspectives editor with the Clarion-Ledger,

joined the university staff in 2011 as journalist-in-residence. With his

office in the library, he now works with the unique collections.

“What separates Special Collections is that these materials are

not available anywhere other than this institution,” Salter says. He is

charged with assisting in the acquisition of additional manuscripts,

as well as collections that would become part of the Congressional

and Political research Center.

Papers and memorabilia from author John Grisham and

costume designer Myrna Colley-Lee are also part of the

manuscripts collections, some of which are on display in the

library’s John Grisham room.

Salter says from professional writers to “arm-chair researchers,”

many people find a great deal of fascination from viewing papers

and memorabilia in the library’s collections.

Above, clockwise from left: Music poster, Grant portrait, sideline pass from 1940 Egg Bowl, Mississippi Press Association members Mary Cain, Hazel Brannon Smith and Lois Anderson, and postcard image of Great Southern Hotel, Meridian

“Professional writers to

arm-chair researchers find a great

deal of fascination

from viewing papers and

memorabilia in the library’s

collections.” —Sid Salter,

MSU journalist-in-residence

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 17

He notes that Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman, who was

appointed head of all library units at the land-grant university

in 1997, has provided critical leadership during a period

when the library’s collections have greatly expanded.

“Dean Coleman is a visionary leader, who is always

looking ahead. She has positioned MSU Libraries as a leader

in technology, a strong collaborator with other libraries in

the state, and she ensures the library meets standards of

excellence so that it is not only an outstanding library today,

but for the future, as well,” Salter says.

“Old memories fail, people’s recollections differ over time,

but the files found in the collections throughout the library

are very accurate,” Salter observes.

John GriSham room

The John Grisham room contains displays from

the extensive collection of papers and materials

donated to the university by the author who

is also an MSU alumnus. In addition to the

papers from Grisham’s literary career, his collection includes

materials from his service as 7th District representative in the

Mississippi Legislature 1983-90.

Visitors to the Grisham room can view literary

manuscripts for the author’s novels, correspondence with

editors, research materials, and other memorabilia. Fan

mail, reviews and articles, and even publicity materials

give insight into the process of producing

bestselling novels.

After 24 best-selling novels and his

non-fiction The Innocent Man book,

there are currently more than 275

million John Grisham books in print

worldwide. His latest

novel – a baseball-themed novel called Calico Joe – is set

for an April 2012 release.

The room, which opened in 1998, is often chosen as the

location for many university special events.

conGreSSional and political reSearch center

Anchored by the collections of former U.S.

Sen. John C. Stennis and U.S. rep. G. V.

“Sonny” Montgomery, the Congressional

and Political research Center was founded

in 1999. Numerous other legislators and staff intimately

involved with political processes have been added to the

ever-growing collections. Among the papers are those of

Chip Pickering, Mike Espy, Charles Griffin, and Tennessee’s

U. S. rep. Marsha Blackburn.

The library established the center with the major goal of

developing a repository of quality, significant collections

in the field of politics and government from sources at

all levels. The center also provides access via the Internet

to researchers interested in materials on a broad range of

historically significant events and issues at the local, state,

national and international levels. Subjects include civil

rights, wars, women’s history, foreign relations, agricultural

history, government functions, elections and major political

issues, as well as various

other economic and

social issues. The

center also operates an

ongoing oral history

program, portions of

which are available to

researchers.

Above: A line of Grisham novels from the John Grisham Room exhibit

Rough draft of John Grisham’s novel The Associate, 2008

Phot

o by

Meg

an B

ean

18 SPRING 2012

UlySSeS S. Grant collection

When the Ulysses S. Grant

Association selected MSU’s Mitchell

Memorial Library as home for the

U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant

Collection, some noted the irony of the former Union

general’s papers being housed at a southern university.

“The University of Tennessee has three collections from

U.S. presidents that were Tennesseans, but we are the only

other SEC university that has presidential papers,” says

Michael Ballard.

With more than 28 years of service at Mitchell Memorial,

Ballard wears several hats at the library, including coordinator

of the Congressional and Political research

Center, university archivist, and associate editor

of the Ulysses S. Grant Publications.

“Becoming the host for this collection was

really great for the university and great for the

state. There is a lot of prestige in presidential

papers, and I think it has enlightened a lot

of people across the country that Mississippi

has come a long way, and we don’t look back,”

Ballard says.

Ballard says he has spent his career and

his preceding student years with long-time

colleague and his former professor John F.

Marszalek, who retired from MSU as Giles

Distinguished Professor Emeritus in history.

A nationally renowned Civil War historian,

Marszalek now serves as executive director

and managing editor for the Ulysses

S. Grant Association, which made

Mitchell Memorial Library the home

of its vast Grant collection in 2008.

The collection was previously

housed at Southern Illinois

University.

Correspondence,

photographs, memorabilia,

books, and other documents

related to Grant’s

military career and

presidency, as well as

papers from some of

Grant’s contemporaries,

make up the most

complete collection

of Grant material in

the nation. Some of

the documents are

originals, but most of

the collection consists

of copies of every

known letter that Grant

wrote and received.

Ballard remarks that

the archivists and historians

who have the privilege of

working with the Grant papers

and other collections “are

having a ball.”

referring back to the Stennis papers, Ballard explains

that reading letters, legislation, and even personal family

history of the political leader allows researchers to see

American history unveiled right before their eyes as they

explore the materials.

“There is just documentation of so much,” he says. “It’s amazing.”

charleS h. templeton, Sr. mUSic mUSeUm

The Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum

is located on Mitchell Memorial’s 4th floor.

Visitors can step back in time to an era when

many types of American musical influence

came together to form the distinctive sounds of ragtime

in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection

showcases more than 200 period musical instruments,

13,000 records and 22,000 pieces of sheet music.

Stephen Cunetto, library administrator of systems,

says the late Charles H. Templeton, Sr. was a Starkville

Ulysses S. Grant

“We are the only

other SEC university

that has presidential

papers.”—Michael

Ballard,university

archivist

Below: Grant’s family Bible

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 19

Above: Artwork from sheet music in the Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum

businessman who loved the ragtime genre and combined

business and music during a 40-year period. Templeton

amassed one of the largest collections of instruments,

recordings, and sheet music in the country and donated this

collection to the university in 1987. The collection moved to

its home in the library in 2006.

Most of the music and instruments Templeton collected

are circa 1895 to 1930. In describing his fascination and love

for ragtime music, the late Templeton once explained that

ragtime and the musical instruments of the era were from

a time period in history when music was rapidly changing

and evolving, with significant invention and development.

Templeton once said, “Music is a language which has no

barriers and has its own power. It creates moods for funerals

and weddings, churches, victories in war, and romance.”

Mitchell Memorial continues to celebrate the love of

ragtime with the annual Charles Templeton ragtime Jazz

Festival.

“There certainly are a wide variety of people who come to

the festival, from renowned performers who play throughout

the country and the world to attendees who just love the

ragtime and jazz music. A lot of musicians enjoy attending,”

says Cunetto, who also serves as the festival’s coordinator.

Cunetto says the festival draws nationally known

ragtime jazz artists and the event helps promote the unique

Templeton collection.

“Quite a large number of people use the collection itself as

a research tool when they are looking for materials for their

repertoires. Many performers want to see what pieces they can

discover that they haven’t played before,” Cunetto explains.

“During the Templeton ragtime Jazz Festival, we’re

able to promote the music genre itself, but it also helps in

promoting the collection at this university. We want people to

understand that this is a living collection, and by that I mean

it’s not just sitting in a vault somewhere.

We want it to be used by historians and

musicians, as well as everyday people who

love music,” Cunetto says.

charm collection

Another fascinating

collection housed at

Mitchell Memorial is

CHArM, the Consortium

for the History of Agricultural and rural

Mississippi. Hundreds of the state’s farm

families were featured during the mid

1950s through early 1960s on a “Farm

Family of the Week” segment for WLBT-

TV in Jackson. Scripts and photographs

used during the program were donated by

producer Howard Langfitt. The collateral

“We want it to be used by historians and musicians, as well as everyday people who love music.”—Stephen Cunetto,library administrator of systems

20 SPRING 2012

Top center and right: Letterhead titles from the Todd A. Herring Collection, and photo-collage of the Noxubee County Club for the 1917 Reveille

for a former television segment are now preserved and

continue to document the roles of agriculture, forestry and

rural life in Mississippi.

Established in 2002, CHArM includes an array of

documents and artifacts in numerous collections, such

as the Lenoir Family Plantation records, the Fernwood

Lumber Collection, and the Todd A. Herring Collection,

which extensively documents Mississippi and Louisiana

plantation culture and history.

The collection is available for teaching, learning and

research, and individuals compiling information for their

family histories have found it particularly helpful. Access

to the materials is available online through the CHArM

digital database.

In 2005, the CHArM

project was

designated a site

for Southern

regional

agricultural

history and

rural life by the Agriculture Network Information Center,

a section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National

Agricultural Library.

More than 10,000 digital items from 39 collections

in the CHArM database are available online at charm.

msstate.edu.

acceSS

Cunetto says Mississippi State Libraries under the

leadership of Frances Coleman, dean of libraries,

has prioritized access to their unique collections.

The process for digitizing collections is ongoing

so that a vast amount of the materials are available literally at

the fingertips of any Internet user.

For more information, visit MSU Libraries online at

http://library.msstate.edu/. Online visitors can peruse resources,

find staff contact information, and find out how to donate

unique materials to the collections. •

Above: Butter box stencil from Oktibbeha County dairy farm

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 21

To be successful, a clear vision is a must for any

individual, small group, sizeable organization, or

multi-faceted institution. It’s a path for enriching

and expanding opportunities and improving

internal functions and external possibilities.

One major component of Mississippi State University’s vision

is to become a “leading public research university that is globally

aware and involved,” and this has led to the creation of the MSU

International Institute.

Led by Associate Vice President Benjy Mikel, who also is the

institute’s executive director, the newly formed, all-encompassing

program has been developed to focus and organize international

academic, research and service activities carried out by

Mississippi State.

While MSU has a strong history of global involvement, changes

in funding and decentralized priorities have prompted campus

leaders to take a fresh look at becoming a more active leader

across the continents.

“If we look now at the international funding arena, there are

tremendous opportunities related to global activities and events.

With one of the university’s major goals to be a ‘Top 50’ university, we

have to demonstrate that we are very active beyond our borders to

accomplish this,” Mikel said.

For the dream to become reality, Mikel lists several components

that are necessary for climbing the ladder to MSU’s ultimate

recognition as being internationally immersed.

“First of all, we are trying to make sure that our academic, research

and service elements are linked and aren’t silos that just look at one

UNIVERSITy FORMS INTERNATIONAl INSTITUTE

Phot

o by

Meg

an B

ean

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS:By Harriet Laird

22 SPRING 2012

another. When you look at internationally

successful universities, they include links

between all three,” he said, explaining that it’s his

job to see and develop these connections.

Mikel also is adamant that MSU’s

international activities be faculty driven,

identifying this core group as the one which

should be “most engaged” in these efforts.

“I certainly see the institute as a unit that

supports faculty and departments, and we are

looking at how we can help them identify global

opportunities. Whether it’s a research grant

program, academic program, or work with such

things as memorandums of agreement, we want

to make faculty aware and help save them some

time in identifying options,” he explained.

While working to cultivate a more “faculty

friendly” international concept, MSU professors

and instructors have continued to carry the

Mississippi State name into other countries

and partner with foreign researchers and

academicians from abroad. Some of these recent

projects include:

• Keith Moser and Jack Jordan, both of

the Department of Classical and Modern

Languages & Literatures,

participated in a United

Nations literacy project in

Mauritius with 2008 Nobel

Laureate L.M.G. Le Clezio.

• Mark Welch of the

Department of Biological

Sciences has studied the population biology and

conservation genetics of six

endemic Caribbean iguanas

in collaboration with

scientists working in five

Caribbean countries and

the United Kingdom.

• Tim Walker of the Delta

research and Extension Center works with an

International rice Leadership Development

Program sponsored by the rice Foundation.

The effort involves growing rice exports in

Mexico.

• Fulbright scholar Jane Greenwood of the

School of Architecture is working in Armenia

on the cultural identity of

the country’s vernacular

architecture that has been

especially impacted by the

Soviet regime.

• Jerry Belant of the

Department of Wildlife,

Fisheries and Aquaculture works extensively

on global mammal and carnivore conservation

issues and recently co-published an article on

worldwide mammal extinction risk. He is chair

of the International Union for Conservation

and Nature/Species Survival Commission/

Small Carnivore Specialist Group, an entity of

more than 100 scientists from 30 countries, and

is charged with assessing the conservation status

of 165 carnivore species worldwide.

• The Egyptian government is supporting a

research graduate student

who is conducting fish health

work with Attila Karsi of

the College of Veterinary

Medicine’s Basic Science

Department. Henry Wan

of this same department is

collaborating with Chinese scientists to study

the spread of H5N1 influenza

virus from birds to humans.

• The rehabilitation

research and Training

Center on Blindness and

Low Vision collaborated

with the University of

Montreal School of Audiology and several

other research and service organizations in

the areas of aging, blindness and low vision,

and/or deafness and hearing impairment

to submit a proposal entitled Self-Stigma in

Older Adults with Sensory Impairment.

• Merrill Warkentin of the Department

of Management and

Information Systems

is conducting several

research projects which

address international

and cross-cultural

issues in information

systems security. Working with scholars in

Europe and the U.S., he has analyzed data

collected from employees of a large global

company with offices and facilities in more

than 30 countries to assess the role that

sanctions and deterrence play in preventing

noncompliant workplace behavior in the

area of computer security.

• Sandra Orozco of the Department of

Finance and Economics is focusing on

the labor market effects of migration and

return migration of Mexican workers in

the U.S. Preliminary findings suggest that

after adjusting for education, occupation,

and a host of other individual factors, legal

immigrants earn about a 10 percent wage

premium in the production sector and a

6 percent wage premium in the service

sector compared to otherwise equal illegal

immigrants. Further evidence suggests

that return migrants possess a considerable

advantage in marketable skills.

With so much current activity by MSU

faculty, another important step to Mikel in

building MSU’s new institute is “bringing

everything international under one umbrella.”

Moser

Welch

Greenwood Warkentin

Karsi

Wan

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 23

Upon encouragement from MSU President

Mark E. Keenum and with a “Top 5” strategic

plan goal of being more globally competitive, an

increased emphasis has been placed on uniting

available resources and dedicated people in one

cohesive unit.

“We already have a lot of international

activities and people in these areas, but there

needs to be more synergy. We’re taking some

baby steps and some giant leaps in this, with the

ultimate goal of pulling everything together to

better support faculty and staff,” he said.

Along with the urgency in establishing a

reputable institute of this type comes the urgent

objective of recruiting new international students

to the MSU campus and, at the same time,

providing international experiences abroad for

current students.

And it doesn’t end, according to Mikel, with

recruitment. He said once international students

are here, there is a responsibility to engage them

in the campus culture and in more student

activities.

“There is a tremendous opportunity to look

at how we can better recruit and work with

undergraduate international students. We

have current efforts along these lines, but we’re

still formulating how our major emphasis is

going to be on this,” he said, adding, “We’ve

also got to understand how we’re going to pay

for it, but the payoff can be huge.”

“Another part of what we truly want to do is

get more of our students studying abroad and, if

they can’t go oversees for whatever reason, then

we can inject more internationalization in the

classroom curriculum,” Mikel said.

He explained that there are many courses

across campus where international topics

can be discussed and that this brings a

wealth of understanding to those in the

classroom.

“There may be a lot of our students who never

have the opportunity to go outside the U.S.,” he

said, “but at least we can give them the chance to

understand–to think internationally.” •

MSU graduate student Ademola Olandunjoye of Nigeria, above right, is the 2011 StudyMississippi International Student of the Year. He is congratulated for receiving the organization's inaugural award by faculty adviser Rama Nannapaneni. Photo by Beth Newman Wynn

Photos by Megan Bean

“There may be a lot of our students who never have the opportunity to go outside the U.S.,” he said, “but at least we can give them the chance to understand–to think internationally.”

– Benjy Mikel, Associate Vice President, MSU International Institute

24 SPRING 2012

AlUMNUS MAGAzINE IS NOw EASIER TO VIEw

ON ThE wEB.Visit

www.msstate.edu/web/alumnus to read the new Issuu-based format.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 25

12CampusNEWS

SPRINGALUMNUS

26 SPRING 2012

A widely recognized former

member of Mississippi

State’s English faculty is

continuing her lifelong mission of

service to the university.

Nancy D. Hargrove of Starkville, a

William L. Giles Professor Emerita,

is funding a twice-yearly literary

contest organized through the

university’s national literary journal,

Jabberwock Review.

Her gift will support a poetry

contest each spring semester and a

fiction competition each fall. The

winner of the Nancy D. Hargrove

Editors’ Prize will receive $500.

A North Carolina native and

University of South Carolina

doctoral graduate, Hargrove received

numerous teaching and related

honors over a long MSU career that

began in 1970.

She is an authority in 20th century

American and British poetry and

drama, and Southern literature,

among other areas. She has written

books on the poetry of T.S. Eliot,

Sylvia Plath, and numerous essays on

the works of major literary figures.

Jabberwock Review is a literary

journal published semi-annually

by MSU students and faculty

that features poetry, fiction, and

nonfiction from around the world.

For more, visit www.jabberwock.org.

msstate.edu. •

A Mississippi State faculty

member with an

extensive background in

criminal justice and sociology is the

new associate dean in the College of

Arts and Sciences.

As associate dean of academic

affairs and student services in the

university’s largest academic unit,

Gregory Dunaway coordinates

all aspects of the undergraduate

programs, including curriculum

issues, student advising and awards,

and scholarships.

With administrative offices in

Allen Hall, the college provides the

majority of the university’s general

education courses. Among its separate

14 departments are nearly two dozen

academic degree programs, more than

5,200 students, and some 350 full-time

faculty members.

ENGLISh DEpARTMENT ANNOUNCES hARGROVE LITERARY CONTESTS

DUNAwAy NAMED ArTs AND scIENcEs AssOcIATE DEAN

Hargrove

Dunaway

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 27

The Mississippi governor

considered to be among

the most progressive state

leaders of the 20th century was

the keynote speaker in January for

Mississippi State’s annual Martin

Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast.

A Grenada native who held

the state’s highest office 1980-84,

Winter gained national recognition

for leading efforts that resulted

in groundbreaking passage of

education reform legislation.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum

gave the program’s welcome and

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman

made special presentations. The

student Black Voices gospel choir

also performed.

The campus event and its

activities were sponsored and

organized by MSU’s offices of

the President and Diversity and

Equity Programs, along with the

President’s Commission on the

Status of Minorities.

Prior to holding the state’s

highest elective office, Winter

served as a member of the

Mississippi Legislature, state tax

collector, state treasurer, and

lieutenant governor. Over a long

public service career, he also has

chaired the Southern regional

Education Board, Appalachian

regional Commission, Southern

Growth Policies Board, and

Commission on the Future of the

South, among others.

After leaving office, he was

instrumental in founding the

William Winter Institute for racial

reconciliation at the University of

Mississippi, from which he holds

undergraduate and law degrees.

The Profile in Courage Award

of the John F. Kennedy Library

Foundation is among many lifetime

honors and recognitions he has

received.

Winter continues a long legal

career as an attorney with the

Jackson firm of Jones, Walker,

Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere &

Denegre. •

foRmeR gov. WinteR LEADS ANNUAL MLK pROGRAM

Winter

“The first thing on my agenda is to

learn as much as I can about individual

departments,” Dunaway said. “I

also want to work with academic

coordinators to improve academic

advising and services for students and

down the road, would like to assist in

developing and enhancing programs

within departments.”

During a distinguished campus

career of more than two decades,

Dunaway has served as undergraduate

coordinator of the sociology and

criminology programs, director of

the criminal justice and corrections

certificate program and director of

sociology graduate studies. Several

years ago, he also served as the college’s

interim associate dean.

The Thomas Bailey Professor of

Sociology and former sociology

department head, he was

instrumental in creating the state’s

only criminology degree program.

Additionally, he has been a research

fellow at the land-grant institution’s

nationally recognized Social Science

research Center.

Dunaway, a Loyola University

Maryland graduate who also holds

master’s and doctoral degrees

from the University of Cincinnati,

succeeds Dave Breaux, who

recently became graduate school

dean at the University of Louisiana

at Lafayette. •

12CampusNEWS

SPRINGALUMNUS

28 SPRING 2012

A major U.S. Department

of Education award to

Mississippi State’s College

of Education will aid in recruiting and

training new middle school teachers

from some of the state’s poorest, most

rural areas.

The department’s recent five-year

Transition to Teaching grant for the

Teacher Education for rural Middle

Schools (TErMS) program is designed

to provide an alternative route for those

interested in teaching in rural middle

schools. The university has received

$446,893 for the first year, with more

than $3 million to be distributed over

the remaining four years.

During that time, the two-pronged

goal will be to train 125 Mississippi

teachers and establish a self-sustaining

program.

The Transition to Teaching

program specifically recruits

mid-career professionals, as well

as recent graduates with degrees

outside of education. It also assists

participants to become teachers

through alternative certification

routes and helps place them in high-

need schools. A unique feature of

the program is its distance-learning

structure. All of the classes are

provided online, beginning with the

summer of 2012.

Prior to entering the degree

program, participants must take the

state licensure examination in middle

grades content knowledge.

The middle school alternate

route degree program will be

available to anyone eligible, and

special incentives will be offered

through the TErMS program to

match interested new teachers with

high-need schools in Mississippi.

MSU RECEIVES $3.7 MILLION EDUCATION GRANT TO AID hIGh-NEED SChOOlS

MARTIN CENTER ADMINISTRATOR hONORED fOR ADVOCACY

A case manager at Mississippi State’s T.K. Martin Center

for Technology and Disability is being recognized for her

efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Judy Duncan recently was honored as the Advocate

of the Year by the Starkville Commission on Disability

for her role with a center program that helps people with

significant physical disabilities to become artists.

The EXPrESS Yourself program works to unlock

the “inner artist” in those with cerebral palsy and other

disabilities, which limit movement and communication.

Program volunteers serve as “trackers,” developing

communication with the participants and acting as their

arms and hands to paint the canvases.

Funded through grants from the Mississippi Arts

Commission and other sources, EXPrESS Yourself

has aided numerous persons in communicating and

expressing themselves who otherwise wouldn’t have had

opportunities to do so.

Duncan expressed appreciation for the recognition,

especially since it helps bring additional awareness to the

Martin Center and the EXPrESS Yourself program. The

real reward comes from working with dozens of artists

over the years, she added.

“I believe everyone has wonderful things to say,” she

explained. “I feel fortunate to help some people unlock

their gifts inside of them.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 29

These incentives include a $5,000

scholarship and two years of

mentoring after completion of

the degree. TErMS participants

also will receive $5,000 worth of

equipment for their classroom,

which will stay with the school.

Scholarship recipients are required

to teach in the schools for at least

three years.

As they enter the degree

program, participants will be hired

in a teaching position in fourth-

through eighth-grade classrooms.

They may remain in those positions

after completing the degree.

Terry Jayroe, Devon Brenner and

Anastasia Elder are co-principal

investigators for the grant. Jayroe

is associate dean of the College of

Education; Brenner, professor and

interim head of the curriculum,

instruction and special education

department; Elder, associate professor

of educational psychology.

A primary reason MSU

received the TErMS grant was its

administration of an earlier Transition

to Teaching program, which was

created three years ago for high school

teachers.

Well-documented needs of the state

and an established record of success

with the Learning and Educating

through Alternative Programs were

among major reasons the 133-year-old

land-grant institution’s education college

received the grant.

“There is a recognized need for a

degree program such as this, because

of a teacher shortage, particularly in

rural areas,” Brenner said. “Many of

the school districts we are working

with are in the Delta.”

She said MSU will work with a

consortium of 19 school districts to

recruit and train new teachers. The

program targets individuals with roots

in their local communities, making it

a “homegrown” effort that encourages

teachers to remain in the area.

MSU’s TErMS grant is among

30 national teacher training projects

funded this year. By the end of the five-

year period, a total of nearly 4,800 new

teachers are expected to be certified

throughout the country. •

Duncan, along with fellow EXPrESS Yourself

tracker Laurie Craig, are organizers of a permanent

art gallery at the Martin Center. Additionally, they

collaborate with other locations to showcase the works.

Duncan holds an MSU master’s degree in

counselor education from MSU. She also is a

paralegal studies graduate of Mississippi University

for Women. •

Judy Duncan of MSU’s T.K. Martin Center, works with Thalamus Brown, who has cerebral palsy, to help him paint in the EXPRESS Yourself program.

12CampusNEWS

SPRINGALUMNUS

30 SPRING 2012

An innovative wastewater

technology developed

at Mississippi State is

entering the international energy

market as part of a licensing

agreement with a Canadian

company.

The university’s Office of

Entrepreneurship and Technology

Transfer recently formed an

agreement with Montreal-based

New Forest Industries to use

technology created by rafael

Hernandez and Todd French,

associate professors in the Bagley

College of Engineering’s Swalm

School of Chemical Engineering.

“This opportunity allows MSU

researchers to implement unique

technology through a commercial

venture that will provide a fuel

product from sustainable sources,”

said Josh Jeanson, MSU’s licensing

associate. “This will also provide

a mechanism to build more

relationships and technologies

through ongoing research.”

As part of the licensing

agreement, New Forest Industries

will build a commercial facility that

incorporates the MSU technology

with other proprietary methods to

generate an alternative fuel. The

next phase for the company will

include using the technology to

“optimize the process before wide-

scale implementation happens,”

Jeanson said.

Hernandez, whose research

specializes in biofuels and

alternative energy, said the

technology enables wood producers

to create value from what would

otherwise not be used again.

“This will convert wastewater

generated during production of

wood chips for power generation

into oil for producing biofuels and

a potential animal feed,” Hernandez

explained. “The integration of NFI

and MSU technologies will result in

more efficient generation of power,

biofuel and bio-products.”

Along with Hernandez and

French, Mark Zappi, now dean

of the University of Louisiana-

Lafayette’s College of Engineering,

also is a co-inventor of this fuel

technology. They received funding

from the U.S. Department of

Energy with the goal of creating

technology to find new methods of

producing energy from alternative

sources.

The research and technology

resulted from a scientific

investigation by the university’s

Sustainable Energy research

Center and the Swalm School to

find ways for creating additional

energy products from sustainable

sources, particularly waste

products and biomass. •

TEChNOLOGY LICENSED fOR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY MARKET

Hernandez

French

30 Alumnus SPRING 2012

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 31

Richard V. Damms is being

recognized as the 2011

Humanities Teacher

of the Year by Mississippi State’s

College of Arts and Sciences and the

Mississippi Humanities Council.

Presented annually at public and

private institutions of higher learning

around the state, the award carries a

$500 honorarium and the responsibility

to share humanities-based research in a

public setting with students, colleagues,

and the community.

“Greeks and romans: Harold

Macmillan, Dwight Eisenhower

and the romance and reality

of the Anglo-American ‘Special

relationship’” was the title of the

associate professor of history’s recent

presentation.

Damms, a history department

faculty member since 1995,

specializes in American foreign

relations and 20th century U.S.

political history. His current

research examines Anglo-

American relations in the

aftermath of the 1956 Suez crisis.

An Ohio State University

doctoral graduate, he has

participated in several projects

designed to improve the quality of

history education in Mississippi.

These have included direction

to the department’s Teaching

American History grant program

and service as editor-in-chief of

Mississippi History Now: The Online

Journal of the Mississippi Historical

Society.

Most recently, he has worked

with the Mississippi Department of

Education to revise the state’s U.S.

history curriculum.

He is a rotherham, United

Kingdom, native who also

graduated from the University of

Durham. •

Mississippi State’s student

chapter of the Society of

American Foresters is

once again the best in the nation. The

chapter competed with 75 chapters

nationally for the recognition.

This is not the first national

championship win for the

28-member organization, placing in

the top three over the last 11 years.

Led by MSU associate forestry

professor robert Grala, the chapter

is judged on service to members,

the community, and the forestry

program, among other criteria. Grala

notes that service is one of the key

components in the chapter’s goals.

“We are involved in several

community projects including

Habitat for Humanity, Adopt-A-

Highway, and Project Learning

Tree,” Grala said. “The chapter also

provides professional involvement

for members including attendance

at professional meetings and guest

speakers from the forest industry.”

All senior forestry majors, the 2011-

12 officers include president Greg

Bentley of Starkville, vice president

Jonathan Stoll of Columbus, secretary

David Ohlrich of Athens, Ala., and

treasurer William Hunter of Brandon.

Founded in 1900, SAF is

the world’s largest professional

organization for foresters. Its 18,000

active members are engaged in a

variety of programs to improve the

health, productivity and use of the

nation’s forestlands. •

STUDENT fORESTRY GROUp NAMED BEST IN NATION

hISTORIAN NAMED 2011 Humanities teacHer of tHe Year

Damms

Alumnus SPRING 2012 31

12CampusNEWS

SPRINGALUMNUS

32 SPRING 2012

When a group of five

Mississippi State

freshmen visited

Happy Start Learning Center last fall,

the preschool on Highway 182 had

about 20 books.

That’s not the picture the MSU

Day One Leadership team wanted

to see in a place where young

children spend significant parts of

their weekdays. Studies have shown

children exposed to reading at early

ages perform better in school.

The college students wanted to help

give the children at the preschool and

their parents access to children’s books

and parenting materials.

During the fall semester, the

students organized book drives and

even converted a storage room at the

center into a library. The students

installed bookcases they built to hold

more than 600 books they collected.

Each of the five students also

invested 20 hours of time mentoring

kids at the center, reading to them,

assisting staff, and generally helping

however they could.

That’s what the Day One Leadership

Community helps accomplish. Since

2007, the student leadership program

has partnered with community

organizations to help students learn

teamwork and leadership skills while

contributing to worthy causes larger

than themselves.

Cade Smith, director of MSU’s

Office of Student Leadership and

Community Engagement, wants

students to get involved in leadership

training and opportunities to help

those around them as soon as they

enroll at the land-grant university.

“The community benefits in

many ways,” Smith said. “Teams

of students work with partners to

develop and deliver projects that

bring new value to the organizations

and others who live in the area.”

In fact, since August MSU

students in the Day One Leadership

Community have contributed about

5,000 hours of community service

in Starkville to about 30 different

organizations.

Nearly 250 students have

contributed to the area in ways as

diverse as the Starkville community

itself. From helping build exercise

areas for the local Boys and Girls

Club to improving landscaping at

the Oktibbeha County Humane

Society, students find ways to make

a difference in the community and

improve themselves.

For many of the students who

began the leadership program

as first-semester freshmen, they

transformed during their time with

other group members. Even if they

didn’t notice, others saw how their

shyness went away as they focused

on helping others.

Alicia Barnes mentored the Happy

Heroes, the group who built the

bookcases, held the book drive, and

mentored children at the preschool.

As an employee of the Mississippi

Child Care resource and referral

Network, housed at MSU Extension

and the university’s School of Human

Sciences, she knows the benefits for

the children and the students.

She smiled recently when

discussing how she has seen students

in her group change during the

semester.

“They’ve really become confident

with each other,” she said. •

DAY ONE STUDENT LEADERS LEAVE pOSITIVE IMpACT ON COMMUNITY

As part of the 44 teams in the MSU Day One Leadership Community, the Happy Heroes led a book drive that collected more than 600 books, built two bookcases, and mentored children at the Happy Start Learning Center in Starkville. Students participating were, standing left to right, Michael Houston of Lyon; Tyler Howell of Orlando, Fla.; Joshua Mellott of Hoschton,Ga.; and sitting, Hannah Weisenberger and Ramsey Rankin, both of Clinton.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 33

Jesus J. Valdez knows two

things about people who

can help his business--

they’re busy and need convincing.

A Mississippi State MBA graduate,

Valdez’s interest in business and

marketing developed even before

he enrolled at the university as an

undergraduate. Now, he works as

a marketing research associate for

MSU’s Thad Cochran Endowment for

Entrepreneurship.

For the Pascagoula native,

however, actually “doing” business

has proved quite different from

studying in the field.

Two years ago, he partnered with

the campus’ then newly formed

Entrepreneurship Center to hone his

experience in the field. The center

helps students, faculty and staff

members interested in creating their

own businesses.

He worked with different

companies to help them prepare

to enter the marketplace. For the

novice entrepreneurs, the assistance

included start-up planning,

accounting, logistics, and other areas

necessary for success.

That experience led Valdez to a

partnership with robbie Spears, a

senior interdisciplinary studies major

from Meridian, who created a high-

end, custom-design guitar pedal

company, The Juliet Collective. As

chief operating officer of the company,

Valdez travels to key events for the

music instrument industry.

Along with helping sell units

of the different guitar pedals

with unique artistic designs, he

recently took time to successfully

showcase his sales acumen at the

2011 Elevator Pitch Competition,

held by Collegiate Entrepreneurs’

Organization, in Fort Worth, Texas.

He placed in the top six among 128

competitors.

The Elevator Pitch helps prepare

budding entrepreneurs for the

“fast pitch”--a quick information

delivery persuasive enough to

convince venture capitalists or other

professionals to take some type

of positive action. Valdez and the

other participants had 90 seconds to

explain their business idea.

“I can speak, maybe, 200 words

a minute,” said Valdez, discussing

his pitch prowess. “But, if you want

to add character and charisma, you

can’t speak as fast.”

Competitors in the challenge

received scores based on content

and pitch delivery. Judges

included venture capitalists and

entrepreneurs.

Valdez said his pitch for guitar

pedal products seemed like second

nature, even if he practiced dozens of

times in front of others and mirrors.

“I wanted it to sound like the first

time I said it,” he added.

Gerald Nelson, who directs

MSU’s Office of Entrepreneurship

and Technology Transfer, said

successful business leaders must

possess many qualities and

characteristics. The ability to

communicate a company’s product

or service in the most succinct way

is among the most important skills,

he said.

“If you can’t boil it down to a

minute or two, you may not get

the sale or the right meeting,” said

Nelson, who works with business

leaders throughout the state.

Earlier this year, Valdez and

Spears received first place honors

from the Mississippi Technology

Alliance’s business plan competition.

The company also received financial

and other support valued at about

$10,000 from MSU’s Thad Cochran

Endowment for Entrepreneurship.

In addition to working with

The Juliet Collective and Cochran

Endowment, Valdez takes courses

toward a second bachelor’s degree,

this time in psychology. He wants

to learn as much as possible about

consumer behavior and why

people have particular purchasing

patterns. •

STUDENT ENTREpRENEUR FINDING ‘ELEVATOR’ TO SUCCESS

MBA graduate Jesus J. Valdez, left, with Gerald Nelson, director of MSU’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer

12CampusNEWS

SPRINGALUMNUS

34 SPRING 2012

Mississippi State

President Mark E.

Keenum is Corinth

High School’s 2011 Distinguished

Alumnus of the Year.

The university’s 19th chief

executive was selected for the honor

by the Corinth High School Alumni

Association. A 1979 CHS graduate,

he formally accepted the award in

October during halftime activities of

the school’s home football game with

Amory High School.

He is the son of Charles and

Shirley Keenum, now of Belzoni.

“This is a great honor, and it is

especially meaningful because I owe

so much of my personal development

to my experiences at Corinth High

School,” Keenum said. “Strong

academics and my involvement as an

athlete at CHS helped shape me into

who I am today.”

Keenum praised his alma mater

for the many important lessons

learned from teachers and coaches,

as well as lifelong friendships made

there. On the Corinth Warriors

football team, he played center and

on the defensive line. He earned

a football scholarship and played

two years at Northeast Mississippi

Community College. •

Mississippi State Director

of Bands Elva Kaye

Lance is being honored

with the first Edythe McArthur

Outstanding Director Award.

Given by the Mississippi

Bandmasters Association during

its recent state clinic in Natchez, the

honor is a memorial to the longtime

state band director who died in 2009.

It recognizes outstanding women in

the field.

“Edythe McArthur was my

teacher, my mentor and my friend,”

Lance said. “Her knowledge of the

instruments and her demanding style

have challenged and supported me

throughout my career.”

Appointed 2002, Lance is the

first woman among eight Famous

Maroon Band directors in the

program’s more than 100-year-long

history. She also is the only female

serving currently as director of

bands at a Southeastern Conference

university.

A music educator for the past 35

years, she also conducts the wind

ensemble, teaches methods classes

and assists with student-teacher

supervision in the MSU music

department. Additionally, she

serves regularly as a clinician and

adjudicator for concert and marching

band events throughout the country.

A 1976 MSU graduate and

former Famous Maroon Band

member, Lance was a selection

for Who’s Who and Hall of Fame

as an undergraduate. She also is

a Southern Oregon University

graduate. •

Keenum

Lance

CORINTh hIGh SChOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION hONORS KEENUM

BAND DIRECTOR HONOrED wITH INAUgUrAl AwArD

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 35

The university’s Center

for Advanced Vehicular

Systems Extension is a

major honoree of the Mississippi

Economic Development Council.

The Canton-based office recently

accepted the Community Economic

Development Award for its work

with Nissan at its auto assembly

plant in central Mississippi. The

MEDC recognition specifically cited

the “Enhancing On-the-Job Problem

Solving” training program.

“MEDC is proud to honor this

outstanding community and the

people who have been involved in

the planning and implementation

of this worthwhile project,”

said council executive director

Carol Hardwick. “We applaud

their commitment to excellence

in moving their communities

forward.”

The training program is an example

of MSU’s commitment to service,

said Clay Walden, CAVS Extension

director and a research professor at

the land-grant institution. “CAVS

Extension and the university as a

whole are actively engaged in the

lives of Mississippians,” he said. “This

recent work with Nissan is a perfect

example of the assistance we can

provide, as well as the partnerships we

develop with employers in the state.”

The project also is being

submitted to the Southern Economic

Development Council for regional

competition.

CAVS Extension is a major unit

of the Engagement and Outreach

Service at MSU’s Bagley College

of Engineering, which developed

and delivered the training program

with CAVS Extension and Holmes

Community College, whose primary

service area includes Central

Mississippi.

In addition to more than 400

employees at Nissan’s Canton facility,

it provided skills training for the

vehicle manufacturers’ in-state

suppliers and related high-growth

companies.

As the training program began,

an initial analysis revealed that

only 5.8 percent of Mississippi’s

automotive workers possessed

higher-order skills--a rate well

short of the 10.5 percent national

average. To help overcome the gap,

the coalition provided instruction

through a three-phase curriculum:

instrumentation and diagnostics,

problem-solving methodologies and

teaming topics.

Bagley faculty and researchers

trained students to use specialized

data-gathering equipment and

analysis software. CAVS Extension

provided specialized problem-

solving training and spawned

projects, with ongoing coaching,

to solve chronic “live, on-the-job”

problems from students’ companies.

Holmes enhanced students’

communication, leadership and

collaboration skills.

The Mississippi Development

Authority and Mississippi

Department of Employment

Security shared oversight

responsibilities for the 15-month

project that was competitively

funded by a $660,000 federal

stimulus grant administered by

MDES. •

CAVS ExTENSIONwINS ECONOMIC DEVELOpMENT hONOR

MSU's Clay Walden and Robert Sheely, center left and right, respectively, accept the Community Economic Development Award from MEDC board president Tom Troxler, left, and MEDC executive director Carol Hardwick. Troxler is executive director of the Rankin First Economic Development Authority.

12AlumniNEWS

SPRING

ALUMNUS

36 SPRING 2012

Mississippi State

University recently

honored a 1962

industrial management graduate

with its highest alumni honor. James

J. “Jim” rouse was named 2012

National Alumnus of the Year in

February.

Born in Libertyville, Ill., rouse

was raised in Germantown, Tenn.

He came to Mississippi State

as a freshman in 1958, where

he was a member of Alpha Tau

Omega fraternity, president of the

Interfraternity Council, and cadet

brigade commander for the Army

rOTC. He was also listed in the

Who’s Who Among Students in

American Universities and Colleges.

While in school, he met Julia

Ann Bennett of Laurel, who was

an elementary education student

at then-Mississippi College for

Women. The rouses married in

1962, and have two daughters, Lisa

and Connie.

Upon graduation, rouse joined

Humble Oil and refining Co.,

which later became Exxon USA.

He took two years of military leave

to serve as a lieutenant in the U.S.

Army, and then later rejoined the

company. rouse served in various

positions at Exxon across the

country in marketing, supply and

transportation, human resources,

and government relations. He

retired as corporate vice president of

ExxonMobil in 2004.

An active volunteer for his alma

mater, rouse currently serves as

president of the MSU Foundation

board of directors, and is on the

boards of the Bulldog Club and

Alumni Association. He also serves

on the dean’s advisory board for the

College of Business, and in 2010, the

college honored him as its Alumnus

of the Year.

rouse’s philanthropic support

extends to both athletics and

academics. In 2009, he and Julia

created an endowed professorship

in the management department at

MSU. The couple has also funded a

9,000-square-foot weight room in the

Holliman Athletic Center, and donated

a 1929 replica Model-A roadster now

used in campus events. Most recently,

a gift from the rouses supports the

strength and conditioning center in

the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex, now

under construction.

rouse and his wife live in

Houston, Texas, and enjoy spending

time with their six grandchildren,

attending MSU athletic events, and

traveling. •

MSU President Mark E. Keenum, left, presents the Alumnus of the Year award to James J. “Jim” Rouse.

rouseRECEIVES TOp ALUMNI AwARD

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 37

New York, N.Y., Alumni

Chapter president

Ameilia r. Young was

recently named the 2011 Outstanding

Young Alumna by Mississippi State

University. Young, who earned a

degree in risk management, insurance

and financial planning in 2006,

received the award at the annual

alumni awards banquet in February.

A native of Maumelle, Ark., Young

graduated summa cum laude, and was

a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor

Society and Golden Key International

Honor Society at MSU. She was also a

member of Delta Gamma Sorority.

Young, who has served as

chapter president since 2008, has

been instrumental in spreading

the maroon and white spirit in

the Big Apple. She organizes

game watching parties, social

events, and assists with the annual

Mississippi in the Park celebration.

She also organizes the annual SEC

alumni touch football game and

softball teams in conjunction with

ZogSports NYC.

In New York City, Young is an

assistant regional underwriting

manager with the Chartis

Insurance Executive Liability

Group, where she helps underwrite

directors and officers insurance

for financial institutions and real

estate partnerships. She is also a

member of the National Association

of Insurance Women and the

Professional Liability Underwriting

Society.

Apart from her service to

the Alumni Association, Young

volunteers with Forefront Church

and New York Cares, the city’s largest

volunteer organization, running

volunteer programs for 1,200

nonprofits, city agencies and public

schools. •

Four alumni were honored

as the 2011 Distinguished

Service Award winners

at the Alumni Awards Banquet in

February. Chosen for their years

of service and dedication to the

MSU Alumni Association, these

individuals represent the most

excellent alumni volunteers.

Tupelo native Betty Latimer Black

was awarded for her service to the

Lee County and Oktibbeha County

chapters. Black, who graduated

in 1974 with a degree in music

education, is a former national

president for the Alumni Association

board of directors, and served as

president for both the Oktibbeha and

Lee chapters.

A 1998 alumnus served as the

driving force behind revitalizing the

Alcorn County Chapter. Christopher

E. “Chris” Carson of Corinth is

currently president of the chapter.

He is an office manager for a retail

grocery chain.

John F. “Jack” D’Arcy was honored

for his work with the Atlanta, Ga.,

Alumni Chapter. D’Arcy, a 1964

engineering graduate, has been

involved with the chapter since

1962. Now retired, he was owner

of Mountain

Air Products

and served as

an industrial risk

insurance account manager.

Finally, the association honored

robert P. “Patrick” White of Houston,

Texas, for his service in the role of

chapter president. White, a 1990

communication graduate, is an

account executive with LSI Industries,

Inc. in Houston. He was instrumental

in bringing an M-State license plate

to Texas, with proceeds benefitting

prospective high school students in

Texas who wish to attend MSU. •

2011 Distinguished Service Award winners, left to right, White, D’Arcy, Carson and Black.

Young

yOUNG hONOREDFOr sErvIcE TO AlUmNI cHApTEr

DISTINGUIShED SERVICE AwArD wINNErs rEcOgNIzED

12AlumniNEWS

SPRING

ALUMNUS

38 SPRING 2012

Each year, outstanding

alumni are recognized for

their personal, professional

and community accomplishments.

These individuals truly represent the

mission and values of Mississippi

State around the state, nation and

world. The 2012 College Alumni of

the Year were named in February.

Larry E. Castle, College of

Forest Resources – Castle is a

1976 and 1978 graduate with a

bachelor’s in education and master’s

in wildlife ecology, respectively. He

is director of technical programs

for the Mississippi Department

of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in

Jackson. Castle began working for

the department in 1978, and has

served as a wildlife biologist, white-

tailed deer program coordinator

and bureau wildlife chief. He

now oversees state wildlife law

enforcement, wildlife and fisheries.

Dr. James E. “Jim” Newsome,

College of Agriculture and Life

Sciences – Newsome earned a

master’s degree in animal science

in 1985, and a doctoral degree in

nutrition and agricultural economics

in 2001. He also holds a bachelor’s

degree in food and resource

economics from the University of

Florida. A member of the MSU

Foundation board of directors, he

is the retired president and CEO of

the New York Mercantile Exchange,

Inc., and former chairman of the

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading

Commission. Newsome and his wife,

Mary, live in Mendham, N.J., with

their two daughters, Molly and riley.

Wendy J. Allen, College of

Architecture, Art and Design

– Allen, of Arlington, Va., is a

1998 graduate with a master’s in

architectural studies and an emphasis

in digital visualization, design and

technology. Since 2001, Allen has

worked for Public Broadcast Service

(PBS), and is currently vice president

for the media operations center and

engineering. She also oversees the

PBS media library, which includes

the Library of Congress contractual

agreement.

Dr. Donald L. “Don” Hall, College

of Arts and Sciences – A 1962

graduate, Hall was a board certified

doctor of ophthalmology at the Steen-

Hall Eye Institute in Shreveport, La.

Now retired, he was also a clinical

associate professor at Tulane University

Medical School in New Orleans and

Louisiana State University Medical

School at Shreveport. He is a native of

Vicksburg.

Cornelious D. “C.D.” Smith

Jr., MSU-Meridian – Smith, a

Larry Castle, Jim Newsome, Wendy Allen, Don Hall, C.D. Smith, Locke Karriker, Franc Lee, Henry Blakeslee.Not Pictured – Corey McKern

2012 college alumni of the Year

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 39

Meridian campus alumnus, earned

his bachelor’s degree in business

and industry in 1991, and an MBA

in 1995. He is a regional director

with AT&T Mississippi, as well as

member of the Mississippi Board

of Trustees of State Institutions of

Higher Learning and chair of the

G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Institute

board of directors. Smith and his

wife, Linda, have three children,

Cynthia, Drew and Danielle.

Francis C. “Franc” Lee, College

of Business – Since 1999, Lee has

served as president and CEO of First

Tower Corp., a consumer finance

company that owns and operates

158 loan branches throughout

Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri.

He earned a bachelors of business

administration in banking and

finance in 1989. He and his wife,

Shirley, divide their time between

rankin County and Starkville.

Henry E. “Ed” Blakeslee III,

James Worth Bagley College of

Engineering – A 1963 electrical

engineering alumnus, Blakeslee is a

retired vice president of Mississippi

Power Company. During his nearly

40-year career, he served in various

positions in engineering, accounting

and administration. He is currently

vice president of the Mississippi

Board of Trustees of State Institutions

of Higher Learning. Blakeslee is

married to fellow MSU graduate,

Marilyn, and lives in Gulfport.

Dr. Locke A. Karriker, College of

Veterinary Medicine – Karriker earned

a doctorate in veterinary medicine

and Master of Science in veterinary

medicine in 1999 and 2000, respectively.

He serves as director of the Swine

Medicine Education Center at the Iowa

State University College of Veterinary

Medicine, where he is also an associate

professor of veterinary diagnostic and

production animal medicine.

Corey M. McKern, College

of Education – McKern, a 1999

music education graduate, is a

rising New York operatic baritone.

He has performed with opera

companies and orchestras in New

York, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee,

Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Nevada

and Nebraska, among other

states. recently, McKern made his

international debut with Opera

Hong Kong. Also, he has been seen

at Carnegie Hall as the baritone

soloist in Faure’s “requiem.” •

Each year the Alumni

Association recognized

chapters for their

dedication to MSU throughout the

state and nation. This February,

more than 30 chapters were honored

at the annual alumni awards

banquet. Gold, silver and bronze

cowbells were given to chapter

representatives in appreciation for

their service.

Gold chapters included: Lawrence-

Jefferson Davis, Hancock County,

Oktibbeha County and East Texas

Silver chapters included: George-

Greene, Panola County, Central

Mississippi and Atlanta, Ga.

Bronze chapters included:

Covington County, Lincoln County,

DeSoto County and Birmingham, Ala.

Also recognized were the honor

chapters, which included:

Alcorn County

Attala County

Chickasaw County

Houston, Texas

Huntsville-Decatur, Ala.

Jackson County

Lauderdale County

Lee County

Leflore-Carroll

Memphis, Tenn.

Mobile, Ala.

Nashville, Tenn.

Northeast Florida

Scott County

South Texas

Southeast Mississippi

Southwest Mississippi

Warren County

Washington County

Washington, D.C. •

2011 OUTSTANDING ChAPTERS NAMED

12AlumniNEWS

SPRING

ALUMNUS

40 SPRING 2012

The MSU Alumni

Association has

broken its membership

record for a third consecutive

year. As of December 31, the

association boasted 41,216 active

members, breaking its yearlong

40,000-member goal.

“We are thankful for continuous

support by our active members,” said

Dr. Jimmy Abraham, associate vice

president for development and alumni

and executive director of the Alumni

Association. “Year after year, we

celebrate the overwhelming generosity

of our alumni and friends.”

Since 2006, the association has

grown its membership by more than

10,000 individuals, an increase of

over 32 percent.

“By offering financial and

volunteer support, MSU alumni

play a vital role in the success of our

university,” continued Abraham.

“We simply could not achieve our

mission and goals as a university

and association without our

members.”

A gift or pledge of any amount

to the MSU Foundation or Bulldog

Club qualifies a person for active

membership. Membership lasts

for one year and may be renewed

annually with additional financial

support.

For more information on the

MSU Alumni Association, visit the

website at www.alumni.msstate.edu

or call 662-325-7000. •

On Friday, Feb. 10, the

Alumni Association

officially welcomed its

93rd chapter in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The foundation of this chapter has

been in the works since 2010, when

alumni staff were approached by

alumni and friends from that area.

Because of its close proximity to the

Birmingham chapter, Tuscaloosa has

never formed its own group. However,

several hundred Bulldog alumni in

the area proved reason to establish a

new charter.

After several months of planning

and gaining local interest, the

newest chapter was made official at

the recent meeting of the national

board of directors. The Tuscaloosa

chapter will include the Alabama

counties of Tuscaloosa, Pickens,

Hale and Greene.

“We are so happy to welcome the

Tuscaloosa chapter to our alumni

association family,” said Jimmy

Abraham, associate vice president

for development and alumni and

executive director of the MSU

Alumni Association. “Mississippi

State is proud to be represented by

such dedicated and loyal Bulldogs in

our sister state of Alabama.”

For more information on the new

chapter, contact chapter president,

Andy ryder, at aryder@cedtuscaloosa.

com. You may also find them on

Facebook. •

AlUMNI ASSOCIATION exceeds 2011 active member goal

association welcomes

93rd cHapter in tuscaloosa

Alumni Association Executive Director Jimmy Abraham, left, and Jerry Toney, association national president, right, present a banner to Tuscaloosa Chapter President Andy Ryder, center.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 41

Last spring, a group of

Bulldog alumni and friends

took the trip of a lifetime

to experience a true American

tradition – the 137th running of the

Kentucky Derby.

MSU alumnus James J. “Jim”

rouse, and his wife Julia, were

among a group of six travelers

affiliated with Mississippi State

who attended the event, which was

hosted by Premiere Global Sports.

“Julie and I have taken many tours

in our life, and I found this one to

be as well organized as any we have

been involved with,” stated Jim.

“The company held an orientation

meeting to tell you everything that

was going to happen and where we

would go. Everything was handled

for us.”

The trip included tickets to the

world famous Kentucky Derby, as

well as a tour of a local distillery.

A highlight of the trip was a tour

of three horse farms surrounding

Louisville, each focused on breeding,

training and retirement.

“One of my favorite experiences

was touring a local rescue farm for

retired horses, and seeing the care

they receive after their breeding

or racing career has ended,” Julia

commented.

The rouses described the day

of the Derby as a carnival like

atmosphere. Guests are dressed

in their finest spring dresses and

suits, and the show of hats is

almost as exciting as the beautiful

thoroughbreds racing that day.

“It is an electrifying experience

when several hundred thousand

people are watching the beautiful

thoroughbreds coming around

the bend,” said Jim. “You hear the

thunder of the hooves and the

people cheering, and it is an exciting

experience.”

“We really enjoyed the entire

trip,” added Julia. “We met new

friends from MSU, as well as other

universities such as Texas A&M,

Oklahoma and Tennessee.”

Each year, the MSU Alumni

Association sponsors several trips

like the Kentucky Derby through the

Traveling Bulldogs program. In 2012,

there are several trips across Europe

and the United States, including the

Kentucky Derby. For a listing, please

visit alumni.msstate.edu/travel2012.

For information about the

Traveling Bulldogs program, contact

Libba Andrews at landrews@alumni.

msstate.edu or 662-325-3479. •

On Feb. 10-11, hundreds

of alumni and friends

gathered on the Mississippi

State University campus for the

annual awards banquet and

conference. The Alumni Association

recognized some of its most

outstanding alumni and friends, and

also offered informative sessions for

chapter volunteers.

Honorees and conference attendees

enjoyed networking and sharing ideas

with other alumni in attendance.

Participants also had the opportunity

to watch the MSU men’s basketball

team play a couple of Southeastern

Conference games at the Hump against

Ole Miss and Georgia.

For more on the 2012 alumni

awards banquet and conference, visit

alumni.msstate.edu. •

2012 BANqUET, CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

Bulldogs travel to the derBY

Bulldog alumni visited Churchhill Downs and witnessed the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby.

12AlumniNEWS

SPRING

ALUMNUS

42 SPRING 2012

This summer, the MSU

Alumni Association will

host a conference for

alumni professionals within the

Southeastern Conference. Titled

APSEC, the annual event will take

place August 6-8, and welcome the

newest members of the SEC – Texas

A&M and Missouri.

Conference attendees will network

and brainstorm on alumni activities

with peers from each of the 14 SEC

universities. Sessions include topics

on chapters, alumni events, marketing

and communication, alumni relations,

and more.

“We are very excited to host

our colleagues from around the

conference and showcase our

beautiful campus and community,”

stated Dr. Jimmy Abraham, associate

vice president for development and

alumni and executive director of the

MSU Alumni Association. “APSEC

allows each university to come

together and share ideas and best

practices, as well as build lifelong

relationships with our peers.”

APSEC stands for Alumni

Professionals of the Southeastern

Conference. Each year, a different

university hosts the event.

Mississippi State last hosted this

conference in 2000.

For more on the MSU Alumni

Association, visit alumni.msstate.

edu. •

The 126 year-old MSU

Alumni Association

has named officers for

its student liaison group for 2012.

Leading the MSU Alumni Delegates

in the group’s 31st year are, left to

right, John Guyton, president, a

senior chemical engineering major

and the son of Cheryl and Mark

Guyton of Starkville; Claire Faccini,

vice president for public relations, a

junior anthropology major who is the

daughter of Patricia and Peter Faccini

of Moss Point; rivers Uithoven,

secretary, a junior kinesiology and

clinical exercise physiology major

who is the daughter of Susan and Joe

Uithoven of Brandon; and Jacob Kent,

vice president for education, a junior

secondary education and English

major who is the son of Kevin and

JoAnne Kent of Tupelo.

Founded in 1980, Alumni Delegates

serve as student liaisons between

the land grant university and its

more than 121,000 living graduates.

Their purpose is to improve the

understanding of the role of the MSU

Alumni Association by education

and involving students in activities

and events of the association. The

new officers are part of a 40-member

group of delegates who were chosen

through a highly selective process

from among nearly 300 applicants.

For more information on the MSU

Alumni Association and the delegates

organization, visit www.alumni.

msstate.edu/alumnidelegates. •

AlUMNI TO hOST All SEC CONFERENCE IN AUGUST

MSU NAMES alumni delegate officers

Left to right, Guyton, Faccini,Uithoven and Kent

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 43

The Mississippi State

University Alumni

Association recently

launched a mobile-friendly version

of the organization’s website. Located

at www.alumni.msstate.edu/mobile,

the new site features important

links and information about the

association, alumni chapters and

university.

“Our goal is to stay on the

cutting edge of communication and

marketing in order to keep our over

121,000 alumni informed about

MSU,” stated Sheri Pape, marketing

and communication coordinator.

“The new mobile site will allow our

alumni to access information on the

go in an easy format.”

The mobile website, which

features only a portion of the

information available on the full

website, will continue to grow and

change over time. Users will navigate

between the mobile site and full

website depending on which section

or feature they are trying to access.

The site is best viewed on iPhones

and Android phones, but can be

accessed on any mobile Internet

browser.

“The mobile site will be a

dynamic tool used to communicate

our message, news and event

information to alumni and friends,”

said Jimmy Abraham, associate

vice president for development and

alumni and executive director of the

Alumni Association. “As we grow, it

will continue to evolve.”

For questions or to offer feedback

on the mobile website, e-mail

spape@advservices.

msstate.edu. To view

the website, visit www.

alumni.msstate.edu/

mobile. •

AlUMNI wEBSITE GOES MoBilE

rediscover DOWNTOWN JACKSONrediscover DOWNTOWN JACKSON

· 25,000 people work Downtown

· Apartments are 100% leased

· Over 100 events annually

308 E. PEARL ST., SUITE 101JACKSON, MS 39201

www.ITSDOWNTOWN.com

12FoundationNEWS

sPRING

ALUMNUS

44 SPRING 2012

In its 50th year, the MSU Foundation board of directors is being presided over by

James J. “Jim” rouse, who enters his third term as president. rouse is a 1962 industrial

management graduate and a retired vice president of ExxonMobil Corp.

rouse is joined by returning officers Bobby Shackouls of Houston, Texas, a 1972 chemical

engineering graduate, and D. Hines Brannan Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., a 1970 industrial engineering

graduate, serving as vice president and treasurer in their third terms, respectively. Brannon

also received an MBA at MSU in 1971. Shackouls is the retired chairman, president and CEO

FOUNDATION NAMES OFFICERS, incoming memBers for 2012

of Burlington resources Inc., and

Brannan is a retired partner with

Accenture. Each began a new one-

year term January 1, along with

rouse.

Other leadership for the

45-member board of directors

includes John P. rush, MSU vice

president for development and

alumni, who serves as CEO;

David Easley, executive director of

finance, who serves as CFO; and

Jack McCarty, executive director of

development, who serves as secretary.

All three are MSU graduates.

New board members who began

three-year terms in January include

two Mississippi residents, richard

Mills Jr. of Flora and William C.

“Bill” Mitchell of Gulfport. Mills

is a 1980 petroleum engineering

graduate and founder and manager

of Tellus Operating Group LLC. A

1975 civil engineering graduate and

1987 master of public policy and

administration graduate, Mitchell is

vice president of Brown, Mitchell &

Alexander Inc. A third new member,

Rouse

McDaniel

Shackouls

Parker

Taylor

Mills

Starr

Brannan

Jordan Sanders

Mitchell Gwin

Puckett

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 45

Mississippi State students

will play a more active

role in the MSU

Foundation starting this spring.

The Foundation Ambassadors

is a new student organization that

will assist the MSU Foundation in

its mission to build relationships

between the institution, its donors and

prospective donors. The students who

serve as Foundation Ambassadors

will assist in fundraising initiatives,

and communicate with donors and

potential donors. In addition, the

Ambassadors will raise awareness of

the importance of giving back to MSU

among current students and campus

organizations.

“We are excited to have our

students play an integral role in

raising private funds at Mississippi

State University,” says Jack McCarty,

executive director of the MSU

Foundation. “Mississippi State

students benefit greatly from gifts,

and now they have the opportunity

to interact with our donors who

make their education possible.”

Not only will the Foundation

Ambassadors group serve as a valuable

resource to the MSU Foundation, but it

will also provide students with beneficial

skills and experiences.

“I look forward to helping MSU

attain its fundraising goals through

this organization,” says Foundation

Ambassador President Jessica Hearn.

“Additionally, I’m eager to meet

influential alumni and friends while

building a professional fundraising

background.”

The inaugural class of Foundation

Ambassadors was appointed in

February. Students will serve for the

remainder of 2012, and new members

will be selected in January 2013.

For more information on the

Foundation Ambassadors, contact

Barbie Hampel at 662-325-5975 or

bhampel@foundation.msstate.edu.•

NEw STUDENT ORGANIzATION TO ASSIST MSU FOUNDATION

Mike M. McDaniel of Houston,

Texas, is a 1979 MSU mechanical

engineering graduate who is currently

CEO of M3 resources LLC.

Members of the MSU Foundation

board may serve again after vacating

their board seats for a one-year

period. Those rejoining the board

in three-year appointments include

two out-of-state residents and five

Mississippi residents.

Jan L. Gwin of Memphis, Tenn.,

and Douglas T. “Doug” Terreson of

Point Clear, Ala., are returning to the

board. Gwin is a 1971 banking and

finance graduate who is managing

director of Morgan Keegan Co.

Terreson is a 1984 MSU petroleum

engineering graduate, and the

senior managing director of energy

research for International Strategy &

Investment.

Mississippi residents rejoining the

board are Mark S. Jordan of Canton;

Hal Parker Jr. of Bolton; Michael W.

“Mike” Sanders of Cleveland; John

Walter “Walt” Starr Jr. of Columbus;

and William A. “Lex” Taylor III of

Louisville.

A 1976 MSU landscape architecture

graduate, Jordan puts his degree to

use as a real estate developer of Mark

S. Jordan Companies. Fellow board

member Parker is a 1969 general

business administration graduate and

managing partner of Parker Land

LLC.

Incoming member Sanders is a

1964 physical education graduate who

is chairman of Jimmy Sanders Inc.,

while Starr, a 1980 general science

graduate, is a periodontist with

Golden-Triangle Periodontal Center.

Taylor, a 1977 general business

administration graduate, is chairman

and CEO of the Taylor Group.

Another 1977 general business

administration graduate, richard H.

Puckett of ridgeland, will fill the one-

year term of the late Hunter W. Henry

Jr. Puckett is chairman and CEO of

Puckett Machinery Co.

For more information on the work

of the MSU Foundation, individuals

should visit www.msufoundation.

com or follow us on twitter @MSU_

Foundation. •

12ClassNEWS

SPRING

ALUMNUS

46 SPRING 2012

’59 ED EcHOls

of Houston, Texas, recently made

a hole-in-one at the BraeBurn

Country Club. It is his sixth hole-

in-one in his 50-year golf career.

‘68 HArrIs H. BArNEs

of Jackson, president of Barnes

Law Firm, has been named a

Mid-South Super Lawyer by Super

Lawyers magazine.

HArry DENDy

of Clinton, retired president of

Farm Credit/Capitol Agricultural

Services, has been named to the

4-H Hall of Fame.

’74 llANA smITH

of Memphis, Tenn., owner of

Broadway Travel, has been named

the first female president of Skal

International-USA, a professional

organization of tourism leaders.

’76 BArry lIpsky

of Bayport, N.Y., is president

of Lipsky Enterprises, which

recently received the Jeffrey J. Zogg

Build New York Award from the

Associated General Contractors of

New York State.

’80 TIm rOsENBUry

of Springfield, Mo., a lead principal

with Butler, rosenbury & Partners

architectural firm, has received

the 2011 American Institute of

Architects’ Missouri Distinguished

Service Award.

’87 mArIlyN crOUTHEr has been named senior vice

president and general manager of

HP Enterprise Services, U.S. Public

Sector region.

kIm cOrrErO FANDEl (M.S. ’94), a first grade teacher

at Carver Elementary School in

Tupelo, has been inducted into

the Mississippi Hall of Master

Teachers. She also has been

named Tupelo’s Teacher of the

Year.

wIllIAm l. sTOppEl

(M.A. ’90) of Arlington, Va.,

has been promoted to brigadier

general with the Army National

Guard. He now serves as Chief of

Staff with the Guard.

mIcHAEl wATsON of Shelbyville, Tenn., has been

named vice president of the

Duck river Electric Membership

Corporation. He previously was

director of operations for DrEMC.

ANTHONy wIlsON

has been named executive vice

president, customer service and

operations for Georgia Power. He

previously served the company as

vice president of transmission.

’93 DOrsEy r. cArsON Jr., a partner in the Jackson office of

Burr & Forman LLP, has been

named a 2011 Mid-South Super

Lawyers rising Star.

cHErI l. gATlIN,

a partner in the Jackson office of

Burr & Forman LLP, has been

named a 2011 Mid-South Super

Lawyers rising Star.

’94 HAl B. clArk

of Nashville, Tenn., a landscape

architect, has been named a

principal at Civil Site Design

Group, a civil engineering,

planning and design firm.

’00 rIcHArD rUssO,

football defensive coordinator

of the Water Valley Blue Devils,

has been elected a member of the

Mississippi Association of Coaches

region 2-3A Coaching Staff of the

Year.

‘01 BrIAN s. sHElTON

of Nashville, Tenn., has been

named a partner with the law firm

of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.

’05 DrEw mUIrHEAD

of Brentwood, Tenn., a civil engineer

with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and

Cannon, has achieved the designation

of Professional Engineer.

’06 rEID sTONE

co-founder of the New Orleans

marketing strategy and design

agency HErO-farm, has been

named to YFS Magazine’s Top 20

Young Entrepreneurs of 2011 list.

’11 grAy mArcHETTI is currently serving handicapped

and disabled children at Joytown

Primary School in Thika, Kenya.

BIRTH announcementslyNDI KATE PAPE, July 6, 2011, to

Joey Pape (’05) and Lauren Brown

Pape (’05) of raymond.

NICOlAS BUCK PARKER, Oct. 13,

2011, to Helen Moore Parker (’98,

M.B.A. ’00) and husband Gordon

of Chattanooga, Tenn.

ThOMAS ANDREw PEACOCK,

July 25, 2011, to Andrea Peacock

(’01) Marcus Peacock (’02) of

Dallas, Texas.

AVERy lEIGh SMITh, Oct. 27,

2011, to Art Smith (’01) and wife

Emily of Brandon.

AIDEN PEAy ThOMPSON, June

29, 2011, to Abby Lammons

Thompson (’10, M.B.A. ’11) and

husband Brent of Starkville.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 47

WWW.msbeef.orgMississippi Beef Council • 680 Monroe St. Suite A • Jackson, MS 39202 • (601) 353-4520

Sponsored by Mississippi’s Beef Producers through the Beef Checkoff Program

For great BEEF recipes and nutrition information go to:

Warm up with BeefChilly Day Beef Chili(Makes 6 to 8 servings)Ingredients:2-1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck or round, cut into 1/2-inch pieces2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) black beans, rinsed, drained1 can (15-1/2 ounces) chili-style tomato sauce with diced tomatoes1 medium onion, chopped2 teaspoons chili powder1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 teaspoon pepper1 cup prepared thick-and-chunky salsa

1. Combine all ingredients except salsa and toppings in 4-1/2 to 5-1/2-quart slow cooker; mix well. Cover and cook onHIGH 5-1/2 to 6 hours, or on LOW 8 to 9 hours, or until beef is tender. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.)2. Just before serving, stir in salsa; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Serve with toppings, as desired.Toppings: Shredded Cheddar cheese, diced red onion, diced green onion, diced avocado and dairy sour cream

Students, alumni and friends of Mississippi State now can leave a permanent mark on the university’s campus. Through a gift to the MSU Annual Fund, your name or message can become a part of the Maroon Mile. Donors may select from two sizes of pavers to place on MSU’s historic parade grounds. Call 662.325.5975 or visit msufoundation.com.

12InMEMORIAM

summer / FALL

ALUMNUS

48 SPRING 2012

James Kellum (’39)—94, Jackson; owner of Bet-r-Value Produce and World War II veteran, Dec. 2, 2011.Clifton Arlie wilson (’40)—Starkville; professor emeritus of entomology at Mississippi State, Dec. 1, 2011.wilbur l. harper (’41)—89, raymond; retired geophysicist and World War II veteran, Feb. 11, 2010.leon Paulette (’43, M.S. ’52)—90, Hattiesburg; retired Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service employee, January 2012. william Bruce P’Pool (’43)—90, Baton rouge, La.; retired from Grant Chemical Divide Ferro Corp. and World War II veteran, July 7, 2011.Nicholas Rodgers Stevens Jr. (’46)—Jackson; retired executive director of the Mississippi Veterans Home Purchase Board and World War II veteran, Dec. 15, 2011. william hunter Eubanks (’47)—89, Tampa, Fla.; retired department head of engineering graphics at Mississippi State and World War II veteran, Oct. 22, 2011. Omar D. Craig (’49)—84, Oxford; attorney, MSU Alumni Association national president in 1970, and World War II and Korean War veteran, Dec. 1, 2011. henry lyman havens (’49)—94, Pascagoula; retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, Ingalls Shipbuilding employee and World War II and Korean War veteran, Dec. 3, 2011. G.C. Mcleod Jr. (’49)—Lucedale; retired farmer, timberman and state senator, Sept. 5, 2011.

Dan C. Meacham (’49)—Scooba; retired cattle farmer, teacher, and principal and World War II veteran, Aug. 28, 2011. homer C. Dickinson (’50)—Blacksburg, Va.; retired chemical engineer for Hercules, Inc. and World War II veteran, June 19, 2011. Billy l. James (’50)—Petal; retired physician, July 17, 2011.James Paul Richie (’50)—86, Corinth; retired, Sept. 30, 2011.Joseph J. Cornish III (’51, Ph.D. ’60)—86, Marietta, Ga.; retired vice president for engineering for Lockheed Aircraft Co. and former head of aerophysics at MSU, Jan. 3, 2012. Jack Davis (’51)—83, Miami, Fla.; retired from Kraft Foods Inc., Aug. 5, 2011. Joseph Robert Davis (’52, M.S. 54)—83, Eupora; retired Webster County superintendent of education and NAEP supervisor, June 15, 2011.lenard G. Elder (’52)—80, Deering, Mo.; retired school teacher and bus driver and Korean War veteran, March 17, 2010. hugh Evans Scott (’52)—81, Benton, Ky.; retired electrical engineer for Tennessee Valley Authority and Korean War veteran, Jan. 14, 2012.John T. Alford (’57)—ridgeland; retired executive director of the Mississippi Food Network, Oct. 1, 2011. John Allen Gilliland Jr. (’57, M.P.A. ’60)—76, Laurel; retired certified public accountant, Nov. 30, 2011.

Gerald A. Matthews (’59, M.S. ’63)—81, Starkville; associate professor emeritus of computer science and director of the Computing Center at Mississippi State, July 19, 2011. Sue V. Oliver (’60)—74, Louisville; retired county supervisor for the state Welfare Department, Sept. 29, 2011. william Randolph Oliver (’60)—72, ridgeland; retired employee of Mississippi Vocational rehabilitation Services, Sept. 29, 2011. Gerald l. Tutor (’60)—St. Louis, Mo.; retired research chemist for Anheuser-Busch, July 7, 2011. Rodney l. Mansfield (’61)—Pascagoula; retired senior marine engineer for Litton Ship Systems, May 3, 2011.Charles C. Nelson III (’64)—68, Charleston; retired president of Cason Financial Corp., Dec. 25, 2010.Don Nevels (’65)—Foley, Ala.; retired Mississippi Forestry Commission employee, Jan. 21, 2012.Bryant Moore Barron (’66)—73, Liberty; retired from State Farm Companies Foundation, Jan. 16, 2012. James william Gordon (’68)—Maryville, Tenn.; retired industrial hygienist for Celanese in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 13, 2012.larry Melvin Clanton (’69)—65, Gore Springs; owner of Clanton farms and former forester, Sept. 22, 2011. Janice lynn howard Delk (’72)—Ellisville; retired teacher at Beat Four High School in Wayne County and South Jones High School in Jones County, Dec. 6, 2011.

Marisa Christiane loftis Bruner (’78, M.E. ’79, Ph.D. ’87)—56, Starkville; retired director of Cady Hill Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation in Columbus, Nov. 6, 2011.Kent hull (’84)—50, Greenwood; retired center for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, member of the MSU Sports Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and was owner and operator of Hull Farms in Vaiden, Oct. 18, 2011. Jeff David Rhodes (’84)—50, Corinth; president of rainbow International, a subsidiary of General Construction Services of Memphis, Nov. 6, 2011. Berry lawrence Chesser Jr. (’92)—54, ridgecrest, Calif.; aerospace engineer for Jacobs Naval Systems Group, June 24, 2011.Casey Cameron Dunagan (’02)—34, Fairfax, Va.; program analyst for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior, Nov. 30, 2011.

Paul J. Brignac Jr. (faculty member)—67, Starkville; analytical chemist and professor at MSU and associate state chemist, Nov. 13, 2011.

Contributing to per capita income, providing brain

power for the state’s business and industry, encouraging

better health and education, volunteering to improve their

communities. Mississippi Public University graduates are

involved in all aspects of civic and community life.

Studies have shown that college graduates are less likely

to need government programs and more likely to read to

their children, vote, and volunteer. Collectively, they are a

powerful force for advancing Mississippi.

The return on investing in public higher education?

Mississippi’s future.

Alcorn State University | Delta State University | Jackson State University | Mississippi State University

Mississippi University for Women | Mississippi Valley State University | The University of Mississippi | The University of Southern Mississippi

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PUBLICUNIVERSITIESA powerful resource for Mississippi

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Draft a winning charitable gift plan with our help.

You probably know that Mississippi State University thrives with gifts from alumni and friends like you. But, you might not realize that by making a planned gift, you can often create a much larger impact on MSU’s tomorrow, without sacrificing as much today. Take that first step and start your charitable gift planning now. Contact the MSU Foundation’s Office of Planned Giving at 662.325.3707. Or, visit our website at msufoundation.com and click on “Planned Giving.”

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