Mississippi State University Alumnus Winter 2012

MISSISSIPPI STATEALUMNUSWinter 2012

Tom Goode’s former players help out around the house

“I stay involved because Mississippi State University had sucha huge impact on the person I became. From academics to

athletics, Julie and I share a passion for ensuring the growthof the university. It seems appropriate to give back financially

so that others can hopefully have a similar experience.”

Jim Rouse ('62), retired exxon mobil corp. vice presidentand Julie Rouse, former teacher

Houston, Texas

post office box 6149 | mississippi state, ms 39762 | 662.325.7000 | www.msufoundation.com

Winter 2012 | Vol. 89 | No. 1USPS 354-520This 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, [email protected]

Advertising:Contact Libba Andrews at 662-325-3479 or [email protected].

EditorAllen Snow (’76)

Associate EditorHarriet Laird

DesignersMatt Watson (’05)Hal Teasler (’12)

PhotographersRuss Houston (’85)Megan BeanBeth Wynn

Mississippi State UniversityAlumni Association National OfficersCamille Scales Young, ’94, ’96, national president Tommy R. Roberson, ’67, national first vice presidentRon E. Black, ’80,national second vice presidentJodi White Turner, ’97, ’99, national treasurer Jerry L. Toney, ’96, immediate former national president

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30 Campus news40 Alumni news47 Foundation news50 Class news51 In memoriam

Cover photo by Russ Houston

Former players make good on devotion to coachTom Goode’s home is not easy to find, set deep in the Kilgore Hills of Clay County. But, recently, drawn together by respect and concern for the man who helped shape their lives, 20 of his former players, managers and fellow coaches gathered there to tackle a list of projects for the former Mississippi State coach and NFL legend.

Nationally recognized researcher, cardiologist inspires future generationsEven as a youngster in Clarksdale, Dr. Ervin Fox knew education was important. His parents, both educators, made scholastic excellence a priority in their household. So when the time came for him to enroll in college, he knew exactly where he was going.

Forest management from a different point of viewWhen many people think of foresters, images of park rangers in green uniforms or lumberjacks armed with chainsaws may come to mind. Certainly most do not immediately picture a software developer working at his computer.

Partnerships focus of world food security conferenceWhile feeding the world may seem an impossible feat to some, especially as the population grows from 7 to 9 billion by the year 2050, American land-grant universities like MSU are in a position to supply vital research to find solutions for critical food supply and security issues.

A Passion for Service From negotiating the release of prisoners of war to affecting the lives of hundreds of students, few can claim a life as dedicated to service as MSU’s history professor emeritus Janos Radvanyi.

Mobile clinics train veterinary students, save shelter animals In one of many states across the nation facing the monumental difficulty of pet overpopulation, Mississippi’s largest university and only veterinary college is helping address the issue and saving lives, one dog and cat at a time.

Bulldogs, Ramblers renew hardwood rivalry 50 years after historic 1963 NCCA gameFor the first time since the historic night of March 15, 1963, Mississippi State University and Loyola University Chicago will meet again on the hardwood in basketball competition.

MISSISSIPPI STATEALUMNUSWinter 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 [email protected] // twitter.com/msstatealumni // facebook.com/msstatealumni

“I stay involved because Mississippi State University had sucha huge impact on the person I became. From academics to

athletics, Julie and I share a passion for ensuring the growthof the university. It seems appropriate to give back financially

so that others can hopefully have a similar experience.”

Jim Rouse ('62), retired exxon mobil corp. vice presidentand Julie Rouse, former teacher

Houston, Texas

post office box 6149 | mississippi state, ms 39762 | 662.325.7000 | www.msufoundation.comMISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 1

Tom Goode at his home in northern Clay county

Photo by Russ Houston2 WINTER 2012

Tom Goode’s home is not easy to find,

set deep in the Kilgore Hills of Clay

County. It takes a good 20 minutes

or so to get there from town, if you

know where you are going, but the ride is worth the

time, for the setting is idyllic and has been home to

the former Mississippi State coach and NFL legend

for nearly 70 years.

Set against a small lake and rolling hills, the

Victorian farmhouse where he and his siblings were

raised, by strong and loving parents Buster and

Geneva Goode, has stood as a beacon to the player

and coach, as his long career has taken him from

Miami to Canada and many places in between.

The home’s exterior has seen better days, but at 73

and “my health not being the best,” said the coach, he

began to fret about a growing list of repairs and tasks

that he could have easily and pleasurably handled

himself before a bout of cancer and related illnesses

interfered with his strength.

Like his home place, Coach Goode has been a

beacon to many of his former players, who have

found their way back to him at different times in

their lives. They come to these hills to sit on his

porch or in his comfortable sitting room filled with

a remarkable life’s memorabilia seeking guidance,

advice and leadership.

As the offensive line coach at Mississippi State

for four seasons, 1972-75, before returning to his

alma mater from 1984-89, he became a father figure

to the young men he coached. Recently, drawn

together by respect, friendship and concern for the

man who helped shape their lives, 20 of his former

players, managers and fellow coaches gathered on

his property to tackle his list of projects one by one.

Ronnie Cuevas, who played at MSU from

1972-76, organized the workdays and reunion,

which culminated with cooking a hog on the

front lawn under a shade tree. “I was his smallest

lineman,” he joked.

By KRisten stevens

Former players make good on

devotionto coach

MISSISSIPPI STATE AlUMNUS 3

Cuevas came to visit “our dad” as

many of the players refer to Coach

Goode, a few months ago “and

stayed about four days,” he said.

“There were a lot of things that

needed to be done around here,

and coach was really fretting about

all the work.”

Cuevas, like many of Goode’s

former players, went on to coaching

after graduating from MSU. Cuevas

was head coach at Gulfport,

Starkville and Harrison Central high

schools for a coaching career that

spanned 34 years.

Cuevas rounded up his football

buddies through their private

Facebook page, which has about

40 members, including Larry

Greenlee, a defensive tackle who

played from 1970-74 and lives in

nearby Kilmichael. He volunteered

to drive over three weeks ago and

make an assessment of what work

needed to be done.

His coach, former MSU defensive

coordinator S.E. Sullins, joined the

carefully planned event.

Greenlee had mowed three acres

of grass and was saying good-bye to

fellow player Larry Brooks, who was

driving home to Memphis. Brooks

was a wide receiver from 1973-75

and broke his neck during spring

training. He still uses one crutch to

aid his walking, but recalled, “They

said I’d never walk again.”

“Coach Goode, he is a great man

and teacher of young men,” Brooks

added, who grew up knowing

Goode as a child. His father was a

Methodist minister in West Point

and Siloam, “So I’ve known Coach

Goode practically my whole life. We

lived in Siloam when the parsonage

was built,” he remembered fondly.

His coach, former NY Giants,

University of Alabama and Tampa

Bay Buccaneers head coach, Ray

Perkins, also came.

Goode, Sullins and Perkins have

Former players of Goodes’ from Texas, Tennessee and throughout Mississippi convened on his property recently to make repairs and clean up the landscaping for the coach who had a significant impact on their lives as young players. Those attending included, kneeling front row, from left, Mark Trogdon, Ray Purnell, Fred Ranier, Stan Black, Coach Ray Perkins, Coach Tom Goode, George Purnell and Dennis Walton. Standing in the back row are Jim Eidson, Larry Greenlee, Wayne Jones, Howard Lewis, James Harris, Ronnie Cuevas, Bill Maxey, Coach S.E. Sullins, Roger Cook, Johnny Bruce, Larry Brooks and Norman Joseph. Photo by Jana Beth Eidson

4 WINTER 2012

been friends for years. Perkins and

Goode met in Baltimore when

they played for the Colts; both men

played on the Colts’ 1970 Super

Bowl team, beating Dallas 16-13,

and both made stunning, history-

making plays that the players

talked about throughout the day.

Perkins coached wide

receivers at MSU with Goode for

the 1973 season; then Goode joined Perkins

at the University of Alabama coaching the

offensive line for the 1983 season.

Sullins coached the defensive line at MSU from

1973 until 1978, and then returned to State in

1982. He joined Coach Goode at East Mississippi

Community College’s Scooba Campus for a

number of years. After retiring from EMCC-

Scooba in 2003, the duo spent a number of seasons

at West Point’s Oak Hill Academy and helped the

team achieve its best record in recent years. Goode

left in 2007 when he was diagnosed with cancer.

“He’s a great guy, coach, friend,” said Perkins of

Goode; “I don’t know if I’ve ever met better.”

The Facebook group tried to keep the workdays

a secret, but coach knew something was up, and

when former offensive tackle and Dallas Cowboy

Jim Eidson made his weekly call, Goode fished for

answers and finally asked him if he was coming. “I

couldn’t lie to Coach,” he said.

Eidson doesn’t just like Coach Goode; he loves

him dearly. He’s like a father to him, and the two

have spent a lot of time together over the years.

“Coach has a way of figuring out the void in your

life and filling it. For me, it was a father.

“Why did we come here? This is not just a ‘today’

event. Coach Goode was my life coach,” said Eidson.

“He taught us how to lead, how to be men,”

agreed receiver Howard Lewis, who played for

MSU from 1971-76.

“Coach Goode helped me get into coaching. He

was an assistant at Vanderbilt and helped me get my

first job. I’m here to honor him today,” said Norman

Joseph, former MSU quarterback and head coach at

Mississippi College since 2005.

“Coach Goode is one of the few coaches who

treated me like a human being,” said James Harris,

who played defensive end for MSU from 1970-74

and went on to coach at Pontotoc and Tupelo high

schools as well as schools in Georgia.

Honored to be once again covered in sweat, dirt

and grass clippings for Goode’s benefit, nothing

new for these veterans of countless football fields,

were All-SEC running back and Louisville defensive

line and strength coach Wayne Jones; tight end

and businessman Bill Maxey; offensive lineman

and construction company manager Roger

Cook; linebacker, former college and high school

coach and businessman Johnny Bruce; 1976 All

American defensive back and businessman Stan

Black; defensive tackle and former South Panola

and Batesville coach Jackie Chapman; manager and

Former MSU tight end Bill Maxey and offensive lineman Ronnie Cuevas rehang

the swing on Tom Goodes’ porch after the floorboards had been replaced

toward the end of a long workday at the coach’s Clay County residence.

Photo by Kristen Stevens

Goode’s Super Bowl ring

“Why did we come here? This is not

just a ‘today’ event. Coach Goode was

my life coach.”– Jim eidson,

Goode’s former player at MSU and former

Dallas Cowboy

Photo by Russ Houston


retired bank examiner Ronald Bailey;

tackle and financial manager Mark

Trogdon; guard and agricultural loan

manager Fred Rainer; and equipment

manager and businessman George

Purnell.

They replaced rotten fascia

boards, window sills and porch

boards. They mowed, weed-eated,

cut down brush, dug holes and

planted countless rose bushes for

Goode’s wife, Sonia. Also pitching

in was Purnell’s son Ray, who played

for Goode at Oak Hill in 2005 and

just earned his graduate degree in

industrial engineering from MSU.

Coach Goode touched all their

lives in different but similar ways.

“He told me once that the key is

you treat everyone the same but in

different ways,” said Eidson.

“No two people are the same. You

have to figure out what motivates

this one or that one,” said Goode.

Coach Perkins, who came out of

retirement to take the head coaching

position at Jones County Junior

College in 2011, shares Goode’s

philosophy. “I’ve always coached one

way. I’ve always thought I’ve cared

about the individual I’m coaching. I

care about my player as a person, as

a student. If you cannot get to know

him as a person, you cannot motivate

him. We’re not perfect in any shape

of the imagination, but with coaching

it’s my responsibility to that player to

get to know him, to help him become

successful.

“I’m one who believes if you work

to have success in one area of your

life, chances are pretty good you will

work to have success in all areas of

your life, so it should equal a certain

level of success on the football field,

and everywhere I’ve been that has

been the case,” said Perkins.

“I take very seriously my responsibility

to the player,” added Perkins.

“It’s transferrable,” said Eidson.

“Coach Perkins and I talked about that

today. What good you do in athletics

transfers to good in life,” he added.

Both coaches believe strongly in

Bible studies for their players and held

weekly group sessions throughout

their careers. Eidson remembered

how Goode would have the more

timid members of the team lead the

sessions to give them confidence.

At 73, Goode has seen many

changes in players in his coaching

career. “The players today are not

used to a lot of discipline and family

support,” said Goode. “If my mother

told me to do something that is

what I did; or my daddy told me a

certain thing or a way to do, that is

the way I did it. I’ve always had the

motto, ‘Do right, and be on time,’

that will keep you out of a lot of

problems,” said Goode.

“Coaches have changed. The

biggest mistake coaches make I

believe is not being themselves. I

could not be a Bear Bryant. That’s not

what’s in me. He was a great success.

He was a great man. But we could

not do everything the same way.

“You have to be smart enough as

a coach to motivate your players,

to know your players. Know about

his home life. I think Ray Perkins

asked me this, ‘What do you think

motivates people more? Is it fear?’

No. It’s not fear. It is in a way, but

it’s the fear you are going to let the

coach down. You have to earn their

respect. Love is the way. ‘Coach put

the fear in us,’ I’d hear boys say.

“It’s not the fear of the coach, it’s

the fear you are going to let him

down that motivates. It comes back

to love for that person. Love is the

way to get somebody fired up. If you

want to get somebody fired up, don’t

talk about what you are going to do

to him,” Goode philosophized.

“Your job as a coach is to get the best

he can give you,” concluded Goode.

“Different coaches use different

ways. Coach Goode would lean into

“No two people are the same. You have to figure out what motivates

this one or that one.”– tom Goode,

Former MSU Coach

6 WINTER 2012

a huddle on a particularly tough day,”

recalled Eidson, “and of course us

players would never want to let him

down…he’d watch the replays with

us, he never critiqued us in harsh

ways. He never degraded a player.

“You have to understand, the type

of men who are drawn to play this

game are type A personalities. They

are pleasers to begin with. They

desperately want to please. He’d lean

into the huddle sometimes, whisper

into my headgear, ‘Son, are you

giving me your best effort, are you?’

“It would make cold chills run

down your back. You knew you

weren’t going to be perfect, but you

wanted to get better that day, that day.

Boy, that’s a motivator,” Eidson said.

“That’s what motivated me,” said

Goode. He learned his mild ways

from his first coach and his parents.

“My first coach was a preacher,” he

added, “and my parents. My dad

was a big, old country guy, hard as a

rock. He treated people right, would

do anything for them,” he said.

“We were pretty skeptical of an

old, new guy,” said Ray Purnell.

“Our first year, our coach

died, our second year, we did not

win many games. He came into

summer camp, and we already

had our positions. I had always

played defense, and he moved me

to offensive tackle the first day. It

became apparent that year was going

to be very different,” said Purnell.

“Coach Goode was far more

cerebral. We got so smart. We may not

have been the most talented offensive

line, but when we were in a game, we

knew how to block; we won seven

games that year, and the next year’s

team went to the playoffs for the first

time in I don’t know how long.

“He has the most amazing way of

dealing with players. If someone had

a discipline issue, he could pull a story

out of his trove from his experiences

that related to whatever the issue was

and make it relative. One time he

broke up a couple of players fighting,

and he starting telling us a story

about Dick Butkus picking a fight

with him. Who has stories like that?

How fortunate were we to get to hear

them?” asked Purnell.

For his father, George Purnell,

who managed the MSU football

team’s equipment from 1974-78,

he said, “Coach Goode was the

kindest coach on the staff. Here I

was, doing the blue collar, lowest-

glory job, and he treated me like his

son. He was this huge man, who

seemed untouchable, but he was a

real person. I remember his great

big hands, and I can tell you, his

coaching shoes, which I had to keep

polished, were great big too. I cannot

tell you what it means to me that my

son got to experience a year of being

coached by Tom Goode.”

Big shoes are difficult to fill, but

the young men, who are now in their

50s, would not have congregated in

the Kilgore Hills of Clay County had

they not strived to fill those shoes in

the years since leaving the rigors of

Tom Goode’s locker room.

“I’m glad I came,” said Larry

Greenlee. “I would not have taken

anything for it.”

Goode’s memorabilia room

Phot

o by

Rus

s Hou

ston


MSU alumnus Dr. Ervin Fox, recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for

Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor given by the U.S. government to science

and engineering professionals in the early stages of their research

8 WINTER 2012

Even as a youngster in

Clarksdale, Dr. Ervin

Fox knew education

was important. His

parents, both educators, made

scholastic excellence a priority in their

household. So when the time came

for him to enroll in college, he knew

exactly where he was going.

He was going to Mississippi State

University to pursue a degree in

biomedical engineering, but that was

only the beginning.

After he graduated from MSU in

1989, he studied at the University

of Mississippi School of Medicine,

completed an internal medicine

residency at Washington University

School of Medicine in St. Louis,

completed a general cardiology

fellowship at Tulane Medical Center in

New Orleans, completed a fellowship in

clinical and research echocardiography

at Massachusetts General Hospital in

Boston, and earned his master’s degree in

public health from Harvard University.

Now a cardiologist and professor

of medicine at the University of

Mississippi Medical Center, Fox is a

senior investigator for the Jackson

Heart Study, where his research

project recently earned him the

Presidential Early Career Award

for Scientists and Engineers, the

highest honor bestowed by the

U.S. government on science and

engineering professionals in the early

stages of their independent research

careers.

nationally recognized researcher, cardiologist

inspires Future generationsBy LeaH BaRBouR | Photos By Megan Bean


President Barack Obama personally

congratulated Fox in Washington, D.C.,

this summer, on his research achievements

in his study of the genetic and clinical

determinants of cardiac structure and

function and vascular function in African-

Americans.

At Mississippi State, Fox gained the tools

for success, he said.

“Definitely, the work ethic required to

complete the engineering program prepared

me for medical school. I acquired a strong

background in biology and physics at

Mississippi State and it continues to serve me

well,” he said. “For example, the principles

of fluid mechanics and human physiology I

studied at State can be applied to my current

research in vascular function in Jackson.”

Acknowledgement of his ongoing research

from the receipt of the PECASE award will

enhance Fox’s recruitment efforts to have

3,829 Jackson Heart Study participants go

through his newly established Vascular

Function Laboratory.

“Findings from this research may lead to the

discovery of novel markers of cardiovascular

outcomes in this population and help lead

to improved prevention and management

strategies for all,” he said. “I consider the

PECASE award a wonderful honor that gives

recognition to my research efforts.”

Fox said that his research not only can

make a difference in his patients’ lives, but

also allows him to build future generations of

new researchers in science and engineering.

“The PECASE award recognizes each

awardee’s efforts to inspire the next

generation of investigators. I am honored by

that part of the recognition, because I place

working with a diverse group of medical

students and trainees as an important part of

my research at the university,” he said.

Fox’s goal of inspiring the next generation

of researchers and thinkers is no surprise,

because of the benefits he had having a

family focused on instructing and mentoring

children, he said.

”That’s the story of my life — growing

up in my family where my parents

encouraged each of us to optimize his or

her opportunities to achieve more than the

previous generation could,” Fox said. “My

oldest brother graduated from Mississippi

State in civil engineering, my sister finished

at Mississippi State in biochemistry, my

brother next to me completed computer

science at State, and I subsequently finished

in biomedical engineering. We are a very

science-oriented family.

“Of course, there is always one special one

Dr. Fox and his assistant, Abril Grant, examine one of almost 4,000 Jackson Heart Study participants in his newly established Vascular Function Laboratory at UMMC.

10 WINTER 2012

in the bunch. The middle child wanted to go into

pharmacy, so he was the only one who strayed

to the University of Mississippi to complete his

pharmacy degree there.’”

Fox explained that his parents always expected

him and all his siblings to go to college, and the

knowledge he gained at Mississippi State has

been invaluable to him as an investigator, scholar

and now, as a nationally recognized researcher.

“It always feels good to get appreciation for

hard work and dedication, and it’s great that this

brings attention to the research that’s going on

here in Jackson,” Fox said.

He knows he didn’t do it all on his own. Fox

thanked God for His help over the years, not only

in his career-related achievements, but in his and

his patients’ lives.

Even while he was traveling the country to

pursue the education that would give him the

ability to impact others and save lives, Fox said he

always knew he’d come back to Mississippi.

“It just seemed to be the right decision to

make in choosing a career path after completing

my training in Boston,” he said. “I would return

to Jackson and begin a career as an academic

clinician-researcher, where I would direct the

Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory at the university

hospital and do cardiovascular research on a large

African-American group based in Mississippi.

“I always stayed committed to giving back to

my state and it’s proven to be a wise, fulfilling

life decision.”

“Definitely, the work ethic required

to complete the engineering

program prepared me for medical

school. I acquired a strong background

in biology and physics at

Mississippi State and it continues to

serve me well.”– Dr. ervin Fox,

1989 MSU Alumnus

One of five children to complete science-related degrees, Dr. Fox said his parents encouraged their children to optimize their opportunities to achieve more than previous generations.


MSU Alumnus Zack Parisa

Phot

o by

Kat

hryn

How

ard

12 WINTER 2012

When many people think of

foresters, images of park rangers

in green uniforms or lumberjacks

armed with chainsaws may

come to mind. Most do not immediately picture a software

developer working at his computer.

However, developing software to enhance forest

management is where Zack Parisa, a 2006 Mississippi

State graduate, has positioned himself, at the forefront of

burgeoning technology. In 2009, he and co-founder Max

Uhlenhuth established SilviaTerra, a Boston-based company

that began as a graduate research project at the Yale School

of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Traditionally, foresters gather information about a forest

using what they call a “timber cruise.” They hike through the

woods with a compass and property map and, using paper

and pencil, record information on trees at regular intervals.

From the representative data, they are able to assess the

resources on the whole property.

New technology is beginning to make the laborious

process of timber cruising easier, less expensive, and

more time efficient. A growing number of foresters,

therefore, are spending a little more time at the computer

and a little less time on the ground.

At Yale, Parisa and his partner developed a program

called Timber Scout. It uses satellites to gather data

on the number, size, and species of trees on any given

property. The program, Parisa says, makes it possible to

create an accurate predictive model for clients based on

the land’s species and attributes.

After establishing Timber Scout as its “flagship” product,

SilviaTerra released a timber-cruising app with the clever

name Plot Hound. This app allows foresters to record data

on their smartphones rather than with paper and pencil.

The two decided to apply for a patent for their

programs after receiving encouragement from professors

and professionals in the forest industry. Parisa asked

himself, “Why not me? Why shouldn’t I grow that niche

market?” That decision resulted in starting SilviaTerra,

and Parisa has never looked back.

At 29, Parisa is already a successful entrepreneur. He

currently works with clients across the U.S. and as far

away as South America, providing forest management on

more than 500,000 acres.

“Companies use information to value forest assets and

develop management plans to increase future value of

forest land, whether it be for a conservation agency that

wants to provide a better habitat for salamanders or an

ForEsTmanagementfrom a different point of view

By MeG HenDeRson


industrial owner who wants to increase the

value of the timber,” Parisa said.

Despite his enthusiasm for his company

and the programs he has developed,

Parisa worries about those who fear that

this technology might put foresters out of

touch with the land they manage. However,

he maintains that it would improve land

management and that the results are as

accurate as with traditional methods.

Much of the land in the U.S. currently goes

unmanaged. But Parisa believes that the data

SilviaTerra’s technology provides can help

foresters use and grow the resources better than

traditional methods alone.

“I’m excited about not only the technology,

but about the type of decision making that the

software can enable and positively impact,”

Parisa said.

Although Parisa knew what he wanted to

do with his life from the age of 13, owning a

business was not his main goal. It was then—and

remains today—all about his love of the land.

Parisa has fond memories of childhood

days spent in the woods near his suburban

neighborhood in Huntsville, Ala.

“I grew up near the Tennessee River and

spent much of my free time in the woods,

trying to get to the river,” Parisa said.

He also credits a family friend who worked

as a forester. He encouraged Parisa at a young

age to study the woods where he spent so

much of his time.

“It seemed like everything I cared about –

insects, soil, economics – all of these things

wrapped together in this big, beautiful,

problem-solving venue,” Parisa said.

As a high school senior, Parisa kept an open

mind to attending any forestry program in the

country. However, after a recommendation

from a neighbor and a visit to Mississippi

State’s campus, he wanted to call Starkville

home for the next four years.

Mississippi State, Parisa said, was a “stark

contrast to what I experienced at other schools

I visited.” He recalls touring another university

where he felt “nameless and faceless.”

In contrast, Parisa’s experience at Mississippi

State made him truly feel like a guest. He

recounts his first visit to campus.

“The faculty were really interested in what

I wanted to do. They made sure I got into

every class I wanted to sit in on and answered

every question.”

The hospitality Parisa experienced as a high

school senior only grew over his next four years.

He remembered the opportunities his professors

in the forestry department and the Shackouls

Honors College gave him to explore ideas and

ask questions. Although he left Starkville years

ago, the concern they showed Parisa in all of his

academic endeavors has remained with him.

“I felt like the professors were happy that I

was engaged,” Parisa said. “My education was

tailored to what I wanted and felt that I needed.

It was the base, the backbone, the primer for

“My education was tailored to what I

wanted and felt that I needed. It was the

base, the backbone, the primer for everything

that followed: graduate studies, overseas

research and a start-up business.”

– Zack Parisa,2006 MSU

forestry graduate Parisa collects field data for his master’s research in Margahovit, Armenia in 2007.

14 WINTER 2012

everything that followed: graduate studies,

overseas research and a start-up business.”

The most remarkable quality about his

professors at Mississippi State, recalled Parisa,

was not found in grand gestures or life-

changing moments. “The heroic thing that

these professors do is being there all of the

time for their students’ problems, questions,

concerns,” Parisa said.

One of these seemingly small acts resulted

in an extraordinary opportunity for Parisa.

Aware of his interest in international forestry,

a faculty member informed him of an

opportunity to study abroad and intern for a

company in Brazil.

“That changed me,” Parisa said. “It’s simple, a

forwarded e-mail, but I’m still friends with my

advisor and several professors and correspond

with them regularly.”

Parisa still thinks of his professors in the

College of Forest Resources as outstanding.

Likewise, they remember him as a student

who was not only bright and motivated, but

exceptionally so.

Donald Grebner, a forestry professor, recalls

Parisa as a “very rare” kind of student. While he was

never enrolled in Grebner’s class, Parisa approached

him about an independent study project.

After studying in South America, he told

Grebner that there was “something missing” in

his knowledge of forest management. He wished

to study different perspectives and applications

and knew that Grebner could help him.

The project was as rewarding for the

professor as it was for the student. “He always

had great ideas. He was actually someone who

tried to do something about his ideas,” Grebner

said, “and he’d give you more than you’d ask.”

Andrew Ezell, head of the forestry

department, agreed that Parisa was not a typical

undergraduate. According to Ezell, Parisa

would often ask questions after his practices

of silviculture class – not because he did not

understand the material, but because he wanted

to learn about its practical applications and

relate it to his personal experiences.

According to Ezell, Parisa was “not one to

sit on the sidelines and watch the game. He’s

going to be involved. I don’t know if I would

have labeled him as an entrepreneur, but it

doesn’t surprise me. Whatever he’s involved

with, he’s going to be a leader.”

And Zack Parisa is well on his way to

doing that. SilviaTerra is not just a job for

him; it is a passion.

“You don’t ever put your work away. There’s

no five o’clock and you go home and not think

about it. It’s what you dream about, it’s what

you relate everything to,” he said.

It is Parisa’s combination of creativity,

dedication and love of his profession that have

earned him the recognition he has received

lately in his industry and in news outlets such

as Bloomberg and Forbes. Those same

qualities are sure to continue to bring him

success in years to come.

Screenshot of Plot Hound, a simple timber cruise data-collection application for Android and the iphone.


partnerships Focus oF

WORLD FOOD SECURITY conFerence

By MaRGaRet KovaR AnD aLLison MattHews | Photos By Russ Houston, Megan Bean, and Beth Wynn

Dr. Raj Shah, left, of the U.S. Agency for International Development, listens to master’s degree student Yu-Ting Chen, center, explain current research in Mississippi State’s food processing plant. Shah was on a facility tour, conducted by Dr. Juan Silva, MSU professor of food science, nutrition and health promotion, during the international conference “Technology Implementation at the Local Level: Food Security for the Future.”

16 WINTER 2012

Mississippi State

University’s

recently established

International

Institute brought an issue of global

concern into focus on campus during a

September conference.

While feeding the world may seem

an impossible feat to some, especially

as the population grows from 7 to 9

billion by the year 2050, American

land-grant universities are in a position

to supply vital research to find solutions

for critical food supply and security

issues.

Organized by the university’s

International Institute and titled

“Technology Implementation at the

Local Level: Food Security for the

Future,” the conference explored new

opportunities for agriculture, global

challenges and university engagement,

and other issues related to the world’s

growing food needs.

Leading international experts,

researchers and state and federal

policymakers joined MSU President

Mark E. Keenum and U.S. Sen.Thad

Cochran (R-Miss.) for an in-depth

examination of global food safety and

security issues.

Speakers examined how

collaboration between public and

private sectors can meet the world’s

food needs as the population continues

to multiply. The importance of

partnerships between universities

and governmental, business and

philanthropic entities, among others,

was the primary topic of the daylong

food safety and security conference.

“If food production does not

increase significantly, the number of

people living in poverty will increase

greatly,” Keenum said. “We are

compelled to help feed the world and

alleviate suffering, first, because it’s the

right thing to do, but also because it is

important to our national security.”

Keenum explained that Mississippi

State has expertise pertinent to every

aspect of the food chain, including

crop production, post-harvest

processing, livestock, aquaculture,

food policy, water resources, geospatial

technologies and biofuels.

In addition to research, Keenum

said the university has formed

strategic partnerships, including a

memorandum of understanding for

research with the United Nations Food

and Agricultural Organization, as well

as a formal agreement with Nigeria

to educate poultry science students,

among other partnerships.

Keenum said the United States and

the nation’s land-grant universities have

the resources to help make feeding

the world an entirely achievable goal,

although not an easy one.

“We cannot add more land, so the

question is how can we get more out of

the resources we have today,” he said.

Cochran opened the morning

session with a look at America’s

commitment to global food security,

“If food production does not increase significantly, the number of people living in poverty will increase greatly.We are compelled to help feed the world and alleviate suffering, first, because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it is important to our national security.”– Mark e. Keenum,MSU President

Daniel Yohannes, left, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corp., listens as MSU President Mark E. Keenum, discusses the university's role in food safety research.


and Daniel Yohannes, CEO of

Millennium Challenge Corporation,

discussed why the U.S. should play

an important role in solving critical

global challenges.

MCC is an independent U.S.

foreign aid agency created by

Congress in 2004 to improve

delivery of foreign assistance. Its

programs focus on sound policies,

country ownership and results.

Yohannes said making strategic

investments in the world’s poorest

countries is tied to American

national security and prosperity.

He added that MCC’s investments

have long addressed food security

needs, including irrigation projects

and infrastructure to help get

commodities from farm to market.

“Helping the world’s poor helps us

too,” Yohannes said, explaining that it

is more cost effective to help develop

poor countries than to react with

military forces when problems escalate

to the point of threatening security.

However, he explained

development projects must proceed

only with complete transparency

and accountability.

Raj Shah, administrator of the

U.S. Agency for International

Development, also spoke of the need

to deliver meaningful results.

“At the end of the day, the work

we do reduces the risk of conflict

across the globe. It is harder to find

a more powerful way to connect

with people than with these types of

issues,” he said.

Shah reiterated that the world is

facing a food security crisis, with

people around the world suffering

from real hunger and chronic

malnutrition. He explained that Feed

the Future, the U.S. Government’s

global hunger and food security

initiative, is bringing together

collaborative entities and seeking to

partner with universities like MSU.

“For every dollar invested in

agricultural research, it returns about

$26 over time,” Shah said.

Shah also took the opportunity

to announce a new program offered

through his agency to help college

students who want to work abroad.

He said the program, called “Fall

Semester,” will be a resource to make

sure more Americans can be part of

solutions to global problems.

President of the Association of

Public and Land-Grant Universities

Peter McPherson also expanded

on the critical role universities will

play in helping find solutions for

problems facing developing nations.

“To achieve the food production

we’re going to need, there’s no way

this will get done without harnessing

the expertise of the land-grant

system,” McPherson said.

“Even if they’re not in a position

to continually have people on

the ground in these countries,

During a luncheon, conference participants heard a keynote from President of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Peter McPherson, who emphasized the critical role universities will play in helping find solutions for problems facing developing nations.

The university’s International Institute arranged for Dr. Shah to engage with domestic and international students while he was on campus. He spoke about the U.S. Agency for International Development, it’s activities, and how students can get involved.

18 WINTER 2012

universities help create technology, train people and

analyze situations,” he added.

While speaking about the role that the collective land-

grant system has to play in solving world issues, McPherson

said that because of Keenum’s unique background before

stepping into the role of university president, he has been

“captured” by food security issues. Keenum previously held

responsibility for international programs administered by

the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Throughout the day, panels of speakers gave

presentations and engaged audience questions on

topics including effectively delivering technology in a

local context, monitoring and evaluating success and

returns on investment, and models of success. Officials

and administrators from around the world, including

Mozambique, Korea and Brazil participated in the agenda.

Keenum noted that globalization is one of MSU’s

strategic goals, in addition to promoting research and

creativity and expanding outreach and engagement,

among others. He said taking MSU’s expertise to a world

platform is an ongoing effort with renewed dedication.

The International Institute helps centralize the

university’s international programs including

research, outreach and academics, he said.

“This is the center that can help pull together

resources that we have here on this campus, and it’s

the nucleus upon which we can draw to best focus on

the challenges we’re trying to meet.”

He noted the university has made significant

contributions to date, including the development of

a food product made from cashew nuts now used in

United Nations feeding programs.

“We met the need of developing a nutritious

product that is able to be stored and maintained,”

Keenum explained.

MSU also is conducting research to address the

problem of aflatoxin in crops like corn. The naturally

occurring toxin results from various fungi, but can

threaten crops around the globe.

“The issue of global food security offers many

challenges, but it also creates opportunities for our

faculty and students to be globally engaged. This

is what today is about, showing our abilities to be

partners in the global arena,” Keenum said.

For more information on the Feed the Future

program, visit www.feedthefuture.gov/. For more

information on the new “Fall Semester” program for

students offered through the U.S. Agency for

International Development, visit www.usaid.gov/

fallsemester.

“At the end of the day, the work we do

reduces the risk of conflict across the

globe. It is harder to find a more powerful way to connect with

people than with these types of issues.”

– Raj shah,Administrator of the U.S. Agency

for International Development

USAID Administrator Raj Shah joined U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss, and MSU President Mark E. Keenum at the conference


By MaRGaRet KovaR | Photos By Beth Wynn

20 WINTER 2012

From negotiating the

release of prisoners

of war to affecting

the lives of hundreds

of students, few can claim a life as

dedicated to service as MSU’s history

professor emeritus Janos Radvanyi.

Born in 1922 in Budapest, Hungary,

he was drafted into the Hungarian

army in 1941, but because of his anti-

Nazi feelings, joined the Hungarian

resistance.

“I guess you could call me an urban

guerilla. I was in a little unit that

blew up German tanks and trucks

and tried to save Jews who at the

time were being taken to the Danube

River, stripped of their clothes and

executed,” he said.

After the war, Radvanyi decided to

become a diplomat, beginning in an

entry-level position in 1947. A year

later, he received his first overseas

diplomatic assignment in Turkey.

This was followed by assignments in

France, Syria and Switzerland. But

after returning from Switzerland,

Radvanyi found himself under

suspicion for being a spy.

“But there was absolutely no reason

for their suspicions,” he said.

Dismissed from the foreign

ministry, Radvanyi went to work as

a tour guide with a travel agency and

a foreign trade company until 1957,

when the Hungarian government

decided to “rehabilitate” some of its

former “enemies.”

Accepting an opportunity to return

to the diplomatic corps, Radvanyi

eventually was named Hungary’s chief

of protocol, followed by becoming

director of Far Eastern affairs.

His next assignment was as a

charge d’affaires in the U.S., which did

not have full diplomatic relations with

Hungary. As an ambassador in all but

title, Radvanyi’s main assignment was

to persuade the U.S. State Department

to drop its objection to Hungary’s

admission to the U.N.

“When I contacted the State

Department, I found that the U.S.

would give its okay if Hungary

released all persons imprisoned as a

result of the revolution,” he said. “It

is a long story, but finally I got the

government to let every one of the

several thousand out.”

Because turmoil was once again

brewing among Communist leaders,

Radvanyi decided to seek political

asylum for himself and his family

while in the U.S. The family relocated

to California, where he completed a

doctorate in history from Stanford

University.

Radvanyi came to MSU in 1972 and

taught contemporary Russian history

and Far Eastern studies. Extensively

published, he has served as the

principal investigator for numerous

international conferences, presented

testimony to the U.S. Congress, and

organized multinational workshops

for promoting economic and social

development in Central Europe.

“I not only found a lot of common

ground with the students, but a lot of

personal reward,” he said.

“I guess you could call me an urban guerilla.

I was in a little unit that blew up German tanks and trucks and

tried to save Jews who at the time were being

taken to the Danube River, stripped of their clothes and executed.”

– Janos Radvanyi,MSU’s history

professor emeritus


Radvanyi’s scholarly work

focused on research, writing and

teaching special seminars. Much

of his attention was directed

toward vital global problems with

emphasis on the post-Communist

era’s complex security problems.

He also was active in the field of

environmental security; he worked

on ocean-dumping nuclear waste

problems with American, Japanese,

Korean and Russian participation.

In fact, his efforts contributed to

Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s

historic decision to ban dumping of

radioactive waste into the oceans.

Radvanyi is a member of the

American and International

Associations for the Advancement

of Slavic Studies; a member of the

International Institute for Strategic

Studies, London; Councilor of the

Atlantic Council of the United States,

Washington, D.C.; and a senior

adviser in MSU’s Office of the Vice

President for Research.

He founded the MSU Center for

International Security and Strategic

Studies in 1982, and in 1996, the

university named him the first chair

holder for the newly-established

CISS chair. In 2000, the chair

was named the Radvanyi Chair

in International Security Studies.

The center has brought major

international figures to the state,

including ambassadors, assistant

secretaries of state, the deputy

director of the U.S. Arms Control

and Disarmament Commission, and

numerous other government figures.

Other honors Radvanyi has

received include the MSU Alumni

Association’s Outstanding Service

Award in 1988, and the Award for

Development of Foreign Economy

in 1994, given to him by the now free

and independent Republic of Hungary

for his achievements through the CISS

to help it begin erasing nearly 40 years

of Communist mismanagement, as

well as for his role in strengthening

Hungary’s ties with the U.S. and Japan.

The former diplomat also was

presented the Guy Tozzoli “Peace

Through Trade” Distinguished

Leadership Award by the Mississippi

World Trade Center in Jackson in

2002. Former U.S. Secretary of State

Lawrence Eagleburger gave the

keynote address at the event.

The university formally honored

Radvanyi for his achievements during

a campus banquet in August, an event

also marking his 90th birthday.

A recurring theme during the

Radvanyi was presented with a plaque honoring his lifelong achievements.

Ambassador Janos Radvanyi with Burmese Ambassador and Mrs. U Tun Win.

22 WINTER 2012

evening event was Radvanyi’s

lifelong passion for service, primarily

through international diplomacy.

“Dr. Radvanyi is a man of courage,

and also a man of humility; he has

a passion for peace, freedom and

a better world,” said retired Vice

Adm. Eduardo Ma R Santos, former

Philippine navy chief and, later, first

president of the Maritime Academy

of Asia and the Pacific;

Santos, a Radvanyi friend, was

among five speakers paying tribute.

Others included:

· James Kraska, a former Radvanyi

student now holding the Howard

S. Levie Chair of Operational Law

at the U.S. Naval War College in

Newport, R.I.

· Retired Rear Adm. Sumihiko

Kawamura of the Japan Maritime

Self-Defense Force and vice

president of the Okazaki Institute,

who along with his own tribute,

read a letter from Shotaro Yachi,

former vice minister of foreign

affairs of Japan;

· James E. Auer, the director of

the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies

and Cooperation at Vanderbilt

University’s Institute for Public

Policy Studies;

· William D. “Billy” Mounger, Jackson

businessman who served among

Ronald Reagan’s advisers and was

former Sen. Trent Lott’s longtime

fundraising chairman; and

· Lewis Brown, MSU research

professor emeritus of microbiology.

After the tributes, Radvanyi was

presented a plaque by Jerry Gilbert,

provost and executive vice president.

“I am very fortunate to have touched

history through you,” Gilbert said.

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman

also read a proclamation naming

Radvanyi an honorary ambassador

of the city.

“It is truly humbling to be

associated with such greatness,”

Wiseman said. “You have given us

much through your service to the

university and the community.”

And Radvanyi continues to serve

the university, community and state.

While many his age would be

slowing down, he has, since 2000,

participated in four to six executive

lecture forums per year in Jackson,

and regularly brings speakers to the

MSU campus. Radvanyi also has

presented numerous international

workshops and conferences on topics

including economic and social

development and, most recently,

maritime conflict resolution.

The Hungarian diplomat also celebrated his 90th birthday during the banquet held in his honor.


With many states

across the

nation facing

the monumental difficulty of pet

overpopulation, Mississippi’s largest

university and only veterinary college

is helping address the issue and saving

lives, one dog and cat at a time.

The issue isn’t a new problem,

according to Mississippi State Professor

Phil Bushby, who says he came face

to face with staggering euthanasia

statistics during a post-graduate

internship more than 35 years ago.

“During my one-year internship

with the ASPCA, which ran animal

control for New York City, 132,000

dogs and cats were euthanized in

that one city. In a five-day work

week, that’s 500 animals a day. That

number never left me,” said Bushby,

who this year received national

recognition from the American

Veterinary Medical Association for

his dedication to animal welfare.

At MSU, the Marcia Lane

Endowed Chair in Humane Ethics

and Animal Welfare in the College

of Veterinary Medicine’s clinical

science department oversees the

Mobile Veterinary Clinic, which

travels to 15 North Mississippi

shelters to spay and neuter animals.

mobile clinics train vet students, help animals

By aLLison MattHews | Photos By Tom Thompson

24 WINTER 2012

Not only does the university outreach activity

save the lives of hundreds of animals a month,

but it also gives junior and senior veterinary

students plentiful opportunities for hands-on

surgical experiences before graduation.

“We balance our schedule so all students get

an equivalent experience,” Bushby said. Senior

students participate in a two-week elective

rotation and every junior makes two trips on the

mobile unit. The clinic travels to area shelters four

days a week for 50 weeks out of the year.

Chris Magee, a senior from Brandon,

performed an exceptional amount of

surgeries during his two-week rotation

on the mobile unit. Bushby said while

Magee performed more than 100 surgeries,

veterinary students at other universities

often get the chance to perform only a few

surgeries during their course of study.

“Our program is very marketable because

it’s not uncommon for an MSU vet student

to become so proficient at these surgeries

that when they begin work after graduation,

they may do the surgery faster than the

veterinarian who hired them,” Magee said.

“We treat these surgeries as a life-saving

surgery, not as an elective surgery,” he added.

“It really is because if they are not spayed or

neutered, their chances of being euthanized go

way up,” Magee explained.

When students in MSU’s veterinary class

of 2014 realized the far-reaching impacts of

the Mobile Veterinary Clinic, affecting both

the students’ educational experiences and the

region’s animals, they came to one conclusion:

they must have an additional unit to double

capacity for training and service. The class

worked together, with guidance from the

“We treat these surgeries as a life-

saving surgery, not as an elective surgery…It really is because if

they are not spayed or neutered, their chances of being euthanized go

way up.”– Chris Magee,

MSU Senior

The College of Veterinary Medicine's new Mobile Veterinary Clinic, attained through student efforts with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, and the original Mobile Veterinary Clinic, funded by the American Kennel Club, enable MSU veterinary students to help the region's shelter animals with life-saving surgeries and attain valuable hands-on experiences before graduation. The vehicles also allow the college to help with response to animals after disasters, such as a hurricane.


Office of Development, to raise $56,000

toward the purchase of an additional

traveling unit.

In response to the students’

enthusiasm, PetSmart Charities

donated an additional $250,000 toward

the purchase. The clinic will begin

operation in early 2013, and not a

moment too soon.

Bushby said many of the animal

shelters have as high as a 70 percent

euthanasia rate, but more than an 80

percent adoption rate for the animals

which are spayed or neutered.

“It’s a little bit like taking an animal off

death row and placing it in someone’s

home,” Bushby said. His passion for saving

animal lives is evident as he explains why a

spay/neuter approach to overpopulation is

the only path to an acceptable solution.

“We have to get the number of

puppies and kittens born each year to

an equilibrium with the number of

homes available,” Bushby said. “Now,

our best hope is to spay and neuter as

many animals as we can. They are more

adoptable, and obviously, much less

likely to be euthanized. And by the way,

they’re not out there producing more

puppies and kittens.”

Bushby was integral in getting the

mobile program started in 2007, and he

still stays on the road with the clinic two

or three days each week. Dr. Kimberly

Woodruff, an MSU-CVM alumna,

has joined the faculty as the program’s

second clinical instructor. Emily Childers

is a certified veterinary technician who

travels with the clinic every day, and as

the college prepares to launch the new

mobile clinic, an additional technician

will come on board.

Emily Childers, left, a certified veterinary technician, assists CVM faculty members Dr. Phil Bushby and Dr. Kimberly Woodruff, who oversee the students and operations of the college’s Mobile Veterinary Clinics.

Tori Hall, a third-year vet student from Cincinnati, Ohio, enjoys holding a puppy at the West Point-Clay County Animal Shelter before surgeries begin on the Mobile Veterinary Clinic.

26 WINTER 2012

Operational funds for the mobile unit are

generated strictly from grants and donations.

Bushby said he spends a significant amount

of time writing grant proposals and talking

to potential donors in order to keep the units

on the road.

“Generous contributions allowed us to

purchase both mobile units, but that is only

part of the fundraising equation,” said Keith

Gaskin, CVM’s senior director of development.

“It costs us at least $250,000 a year per unit to

operate this program, so we are always seeking

support from individuals and foundations to

keep the program moving forward.”

MSU also works with private veterinarians,

many of whom were trained at the university,

to ensure a team approach to battling

overpopulation.

During a recent meeting of state

veterinarians and animal shelter managers

hosted by CVM, Dr. Joel Josey of Starkville

Animal Medical Center said he supports the

program, and his own business benefits when

shelter animals are adopted by local owners.

Those who adopt shelter pets bring their

animals to their local veterinarians like Josey,

giving him the opportunity to help keep the

rescue animals healthy.

The mobile clinic works with shelter

managers to ensure that no privately owned

animals are included in the spay and neuter

surgeries. The services are provided only to

animals that are available for adoption, and no

one can bring privately owned animals to the

mobile clinic for treatment.

Bushby said animal overpopulation

continues to be an overwhelming problem,

but he has seen improvements during his

career. Educating the public about the

importance of having animals sterilized is

one key to winning the battle for animal

welfare, he said.

“We have to get the number of puppies and kittens born each year to an equilibrium with the number of homes available. Now, our best hope is to spay and neuter as many animals as we can.”– Phil Bushby,MSU CVM Professor

Above: The interior of the new Mobile Veterinary Clinic. Below: Vet students Brianne Williams and Steven Davison, PetSmart Charities director of grants Julie White and PetSmart CEO Sue Della Maddalena, Dr. Phil Bushby, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Kent Hoblet, and students David Gillen and Elizabeth Hiebert celebrate the additional clinic at a dedication ceremony.


For the first time since the historic night of March 15, 1963,

Mississippi State University and Loyola University Chicago

battled on the hardwood in basketball competition. The

Bulldogs and Ramblers met on Dec. 15 at Joseph J. Gentile

Arena in Chicago, Ill., to commemorate the NCAA Basketball Tournament

game played 50 years ago at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Mich.

The MSU Alumni Association, along with the Bulldog Club and the

office of MSU President Mark E. Keenum, hosted a social for Bulldog

alumni in the Chicago area prior to the game at Harry Caray’s Italian

Steakhouse and Bar.

The two teams are also scheduled to play in 2013 at Humphrey Coliseum,

with the date and time to be determined at a later date.

The 1963 NCAA Tournament game between MSU and Loyola ranks

as perhaps Mississippi State University’s finest hour both in terms of

athletics and racial reconciliation.

On three occasions prior to the 1963 season, MSU’s men’s basketball

team was prohibited from participating in the NCAA Tournament due

to the possibility of playing a team with African-American players. The

No. 3-ranked Ramblers, behind Jerry Harkness’ 20 points, went on to

defeat Mississippi State 61-51 en route to winning the 1963 national

basketball championship.

“The 1963 SEC champion Bulldogs were given the opportunity

previous Mississippi State teams were denied – to compete for a national

championship against the best teams in the country,” MSU athletics director

bulldogs, ramblers renew hardwood rivalry 50 years after historic 1963 NCCA game

By siD saLteR | Photos from University Archives

Mississippi State’s All-SEC team captain Joe Dan Gold, left, and Loyola All-American Jerry Harkness, right, met at center court in Michigan State’s Jenison Field House for the tipoff for the historic 1963 NCAA Basketball Tournament game. Gold extended his hand and Harkness shook it - making national headlines as MSU’s administration and coaches defied the state’s political power structure aligned against integration to compete for a national championship.

28 WINTER 2012

Scott Stricklin said. “To do so, they had to defy a sitting governor, avoid a

court injunction, and sneak out of the state. We’re excited to join Loyola

over the next two seasons in celebrating this historic occasion. Loyola won

a national championship; Mississippi State helped to make for a better way

of life. As a Bulldog, I’m proud of this team and the individuals who helped

move our state forward when doing so took courage and conviction.”

In 1963, MSU’s basketball team was again invited to play in the

NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs, under Head Coach Babe McCarthy,

were slated to play Loyola College, a team that started four black players.

At the time, state law prohibited Mississippi teams from playing against

integrated athletic teams. The basketball team devised a plan to sneak off

campus to play in the tournament anyway.

With their plan successful, the game between the Bulldogs and racially

integrated Loyola became a watershed moment for the state of Mississippi

and the civil rights movement. The 2012 matchup between the Bulldogs and

the Ramblers marks the 50th anniversary of this game.

“Coach McCarthy was really ahead of his time,” said former MSU

“Voice of the Bulldogs” Jack Cristil in 2011. “He was a great innovator

and a great motivator. McCarthy could get players to play above their

talent level in the system they ran. McCarthy’s teams challenged the

best and generally came out on top.”

McCarthy won 169 games and lost 85 at MSU, winning or sharing

four SEC titles and earning SEC Coach of the Year honors three

consecutive years from 1961 to 1963. He produced All-Americans Jim

Ashmore, Bailey Howell, Red Stroud, Leland Mitchell, and All-SEC

performers Jerry Graves, Charles Hull, Joe Dan Gold, and Doug Hutton.

But McCarthy is best remembered, along with MSU President Dean W.

Colvard, for leading MSU’s team to break the barrier of segregation by

accepting the automatic bid to meet Loyola University of Chicago in the

1963 NCAA basketball tournament.

For many, the courage that Colvard and McCarthy showed in defying the

Mississippi Legislature and fiery segregationist Gov. Ross Barnett to enable the

all-white MSU men’s basketball team to compete against a Loyola team with

four African-American starters represented the university’s finest hours. For

many, Mississippi State’s 1962-63 basketball team, coach and the university

administration came together to create a defining moment not only for MSU

athletics but for American civil rights and universal sportsmanship as well.

In 1963, MSU for the third-straight year won the Southeastern Conference

basketball championship. State won the championship in 1959 and declined

the NCAA invitation because of the official integration policy that existed in

Mississippi. The same thing happened in 1961 and 1962, but in 1963 McCarthy

and Colvard were determined MSU was going to play in the tournament.

Colvard’s biographer Marion A. Ellis in the 2004 book Dean W.

Colvard: Quiet Leader, wrote: “Colvard had several reasons for wanting

the team to compete. First of all, it would give a positive boost to the

MSU and Mississippi image. Second, he felt the four seniors on the team

deserved a chance after having played together for three years and having

won the SEC championship all three years.”

In 1963, Loyola head coach George Ireland said: “I feel Mississippi

State has a right to be here, no matter what the segregationists say. They

may be the best basketball team in the nation and if they are, they have

a right to prove it.” Harkness, the Loyola All-American, and State’s All-

SEC team captain Joe Dan Gold met at center court in Michigan State’s

Jenison Field House for the opening tip. Gold extended his hand and

Harkness shook it. “About a thousand flashbulbs went off,” Gold would

say after the game. The game saw State jump to any early lead only to

trail the Ramblers 26-19 at the half. The Maroons went on an 8-4 run

to pull to within 30-27 in the second half but would get no closer. State

was down four with two minutes to go and missed the shot. Cristil said

it was “a good shot that just didn’t go down. We had to start shooting,

and Loyola beat us by 10, 61-51. It was a disappointing loss, but it had

been a marvelous opportunity for the young men.”

Loyola would go on to win the 1963 NCAA national championship. Ron

Miller, Loyola’s 6’2” guard and one of the four black starters, told writer John

Thomas on the 40th anniversary of the game: “I remember the (Mississippi

State) guys being nice. I remember the guys wishing us luck (after the

game), and wanting us to win (the national championship). And during the

game it was polite. They played a very hard, very aggressive, very strong

defensive game, very clean, and they didn’t back off.”

The 1963 NCAA Tournament game between MSU and Loyola ranks as perhaps Mississippi State University’s finest hour both in terms of athletics and racial reconciliation.


12CampusNEWS

WINTERALUMNUS

30 WINTER 2012

MSU-Meridian celebrated its 40th

anniversary on Aug. 17, 2012 with

cake and MSU ice cream and an open house for the

community. On that date in 1972, MSU opened the

Meridian branch, as it was called, on the campus of

Meridian Community College.

“Forty years ago, the vision and commitment of

a group of extraordinary leaders helped bring the

benefits of higher education to East Central Mississippi

and Western Alabama. During the following four

decades, remarkable faculty and staff members,

administrators, and outstanding students pulled

together to develop a top-quality university devoted to

serving the community and the region. Educational,

corporate, business, and philanthropic groups have

also worked tirelessly to provide incredible support and

assistance for MSU-Meridian,” said Steven F. Brown,

MSU-Meridian dean and associate vice president.

Forty years later, the university’s presence has grown

to include two campuses as well as the MSU Riley

Center for Education and the Performing Arts.

The College Park campus built in 1993 is located

across from Meridian Community College and houses

the divisions of Arts and Sciences and Education.

The downtown campus, adjacent to the MSU Riley

Center, is located in the historic Newberry Building,

which was donated to the university in 2009 by the

Riley Foundation. The campus, which houses MSU-

Meridian’s Division of Business, opened its doors to

students in January 2012.

40 Years of ServiceMSU-Meridian celebrates

MSU-Meridian’s College Park campus houses the divisions of Arts and Sciences and Education.

MISSISSIPPI STATE ALUMNUS 31

The MSU Riley Center for Education and

Performing Arts, located in the heart of

downtown Meridian on 5th Street, opened its

doors in fall 2006. The center is the result of a

$15 million grant in 2000 by the Riley Foundation

to restore the Grand Opera House and the Marks

Rothenberg department store into the state-of-

the-art, multi-functioning facility it is today.

In 2010, the Riley Foundation and other

generous benefactors also established the

Riley Next Step Scholarship which recognizes

outstanding students who transfer from one of

four area community colleges. This scholarship

provides full tuition for two years to those who

are eligible. Since its inception, more than 188

scholarships have been awarded.

Over the past 40 years, numerous new degree

programs have been added at MSU-Meridian,

including the newest one, a bachelor of science

in special education. The dean, associate deans

and their respective faculty continue to study and

research other degree programs that, if added, will

meet the needs of the people and businesses in

East Mississippi and surrounding counties.

Visitors to MSU-Meridian will soon see

construction begin on a new library located on

the College Park campus which will offer students

the scholarly benefits and research opportunities

associated with a major university library. Funded

by the Phil Hardin Foundation, this will be the

first of a pair of libraries to serve the Meridian

campuses. Plans call for a second library to be

located in the Kress Building, which was also

donated by the Riley Foundation as part of the

downtown campus.

“Our task as we face the coming years,”

Brown added, “is to honor the efforts of those

founders, employees, students and supporters,

and lead MSU-Meridian to continual growth in

enrollment, quality and relevance to the state

and the region.” •

Mississippi State recently hosted Gov. Phil Bryant and energy-industry

leaders for a program on “Powering Mississippi in the 21st Century.”

The early October gathering examined strategies for Mississippi’s

energy future. The Mississippi Energy Institute and Mississippi Development Authority

sponsored the panel discussion.

“Our state has vital contributions to make in finding solutions to the world’s growing

energy needs, and helping meet those needs is a vital part of our land-grant mission of

research and service,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum, who welcomed the visitors

to campus.

Executives who participated in “Perspectives from the Energy Sector” included: Bob

Balzar, vice president for energy efficiency, TVA; Richard Mills, CEO, Tellus Operating

Group; Stephen Johnston, president, Itron Cellular Solutions; and Haley Fisackerly,

president and CEO, Entergy Mississippi.

The event concluded with a question and answer session with Mississippi State and

local high school students.

“Mississippi is a leader in the energy sector because of our diversity of resources and

our proactive approach to providing infrastructure for this industry, and I believe that we

have only just scratched the surface of energy growth in our state,” Bryant said.

Also in October, the Governor’s Energy Summit was held in Jackson and featured

state and national energy leaders with a luncheon keynote address by former New York

City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. •

Gov. Phil Bryant spoke to local high school students at Mississippi State in October, encouraging them to be well prepared in STEM subjects and ready to adapt to changing technologies as they become future leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. Photo by: Beth Wynn

Governor, energy leaders visit campus


The MSU Riley Center for Education and

Performing Arts, located in the heart of

downtown Meridian on 5th Street, opened its

doors in fall 2006. The center is the result of a

$15 million grant in 2000 by the Riley Foundation

to restore the Grand Opera House and the Marks

Rothenberg department store into the state-of-

the-art, multi-functioning facility it is today.

In 2010, the Riley Foundation and other

generous benefactors also established the

Riley Next Step Scholarship which recognizes

outstanding students who transfer from one of

four area community colleges. This scholarship

provides full tuition for two years to those who

are eligible. Since its inception, more than 188

scholarships have been awarded.

Over the past 40 years, numerous new degree

programs have been added at MSU-Meridian,

including the newest one, a bachelor of science

in special education. The dean, associate deans

and their respective faculty continue to study and

research other degree programs that, if added, will

meet the needs of the people and businesses in

East Mississippi and surrounding counties.

Visitors to MSU-Meridian will soon see

construction begin on a new library located on

the College Park campus which will offer students

the scholarly benefits and research opportunities

associated with a major university library. Funded

by the Phil Hardin Foundation, this will be the

first of a pair of libraries to serve the Meridian

campuses. Plans call for a second library to be

located in the Kress Building, which was also

donated by the Riley Foundation as part of the

downtown campus.

“Our task as we face the coming years,”

Brown added, “is to honor the efforts of those

founders, employees, students and supporters,

and lead MSU-Meridian to continual growth in

enrollment, quality and relevance to the state

and the region.” •

Mississippi State recently hosted Gov. Phil Bryant and energy-industry

leaders for a program on “Powering Mississippi in the 21st Century.”

The early October gathering examined strategies for Mississippi’s

energy future. The Mississippi Energy Institute and Mississippi Development Authority

sponsored the panel discussion.

“Our state has vital contributions to make in finding solutions to the world’s growing

energy needs, and helping meet those needs is a vital part of our land-grant mission of

research and service,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum, who welcomed the visitors

to campus.

Executives who participated in “Perspectives from the Energy Sector” included: Bob

Balzar, vice president for energy efficiency, TVA; Richard Mills, CEO, Tellus Operating

Group; Stephen Johnston, president, Itron Cellular Solutions; and Haley Fisackerly,

president and CEO, Entergy Mississippi.

The event concluded with a question and answer session with Mississippi State and

local high school students.

“Mississippi is a leader in the energy sector because of our diversity of resources and

our proactive approach to providing infrastructure for this industry, and I believe that we

have only just scratched the surface of energy growth in our state,” Bryant said.

Also in October, the Governor’s Energy Summit was held in Jackson and featured

state and national energy leaders with a luncheon keynote address by former New York

City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. •

Gov. Phil Bryant spoke to local high school students at Mississippi State in October, encouraging them to be well prepared in STEM subjects and ready to adapt to changing technologies as they become future leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. Photo by: Beth Wynn

Governor, energy leaders visit campus

12CampusNEWS

WINTERALUMNUS

32 WINTER 2012

Mississippi State’s recycling program

is growing and achieving important

benchmark goals as it enters its

third year.

According to university officials, the campus-

wide initiative’s success is due to the concerted

efforts of students, faculty and staff.

Since the summer of 2010, MSU has provided

comprehensive recycling on the Starkville

campus, and from the very beginning simplicity

has been a key component.

“We have been working to make recycling as

easy as possible by turning people’s wastebaskets

into individual recycling bins so that they can

recycle right at their desks and don’t have to

use a central recycling container,” said the MSU

Office of Sustainability’s Jeremiah Dumas.

“Comprehensive, single-stream recycling

SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING PROGRAM ROLLS INTO THIRD YEAR

MSU and Korean institute missions yield 'natural partnership'

Mississippi State is officially partnering with a South Korean

entity which has a complementary research mission with the

university's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.

MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert signed a

Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Institute of Industrial

Technology (KITECH) in November.

The alliance will allow CAVS and KITECH to support global

manufacturers' efforts to develop products and train employees for their

facilities in the southeastern United States. Because South Korean companies,

including carmakers like Hyundai and Kia, have located in the region, other

Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers are also investing in the region. KITECH serves as

a research and development resource for small and medium enterprises, such

as these suppliers.

The agreement establishes the KITECH-CAVS Center for Root

Technologies. 'Root technology' refers to several key technologies of the

manufacturing industry—casting, molding, forming, surface treatment,

thermal treatment, and welding/joining technologies, and any related fields.

"We were hoping that this day would come soon. We were delighted to

make the agreement while we were at KITECH, and we're so happy that we

are following through in this formal way," Gilbert said, referring back to an

international trip he and other senior university officials took earlier in the

year to develop more collaborative projects with partners abroad.

"KITECH's mission and our mission are so complementary. We thought

this was a natural partnership that we need to make flourish," said Vice

President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw.

CAVS is a premier research entity within the Bagley College of Engineering.

Dean Sarah Rajala said the research and economic impact produced by the

center and their extension office has garnered prestigious national awards.

Specifically, MSU and KITECH will encourage direct contact and

cooperation between their faculty and research staffs. They also will jointly

execute research projects, as well as facilitate personnel exchanges.

Roger King, CAVS director and endowed chair, said the center is KITECH's

manufacturing research partner in the U.S. They also fund research with

partners in Germany, China and Japan. •

MSU Provost Jerry Gilbert and Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Incheon Region Division Chief Executive Officer Sang-Mok Lee celebrate agreement between their two entities. Photo by: Beth Wynn


Mississippi State is

welcoming six new

Fulbright scholars

this semester who chose the

university to study in the fields

of engineering, public policy and

administration, mathematical

sciences and biological sciences.

“We welcome you and are

very honored that you have

selected Mississippi State to

pursue your studies,” said Jerry

Gilbert, provost and executive

vice president, during a recent

luncheon with the new students.

The international scholars had the

opportunity to meet one another

and talk with administrators

and faculty members during

the informal lunch, as well as

share their past experiences in

their native countries.

Fulbright is the nation’s flagship

international exchange program,

established in 1946 under

legislation introduced by Senator J.

William Fulbright of Arkansas.

“Having this significant number

of Fulbright scholars at MSU

brings added prestige to the

MSU Graduate School relative to

other graduate schools across the

country, and increasing the number

of graduate Fulbright scholars on

campus is part of our strategic

plan,” said Lou D’Abramo, dean of

the graduate school and associate

vice president for academic affairs.

“MSU is right up there with other

‘Very High Research Activity’

institutions,” he added.

In addition to encouraging

foreign nationals to study and

conduct research in the U.S., the

program also enables Americans to

engage in similar activities abroad.

Faculty members also are eligible

to participate in the Fulbright

program to teach, lecture and

conduct research abroad. •

New Fulbright Scholars shown with MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert, center, are front row, left to right, Gina Rico Mendez and Job Bonyo; and back row, (left to right) Rosanna Carreras de Leon, Mohammad Al Boni, Carlos Cabrera and Anara Kozhokanova. Photo by: Beth Wynn

University welcomes SIX new Fulbright students this semester

provides an easy-to-use and cost-effective

complement to MSU’s existing waste

management program,” he added.

Extensive research and planning went

into the design of the university’s recycling

program, along with valuable experience

gained during a three-month trial held on

campus, Dumas said. Initially, over a nine-

month FY 2011 period, 306,628 pounds of

recyclables were collected.

In FY 2012, collections grew to some

613,672 pounds—an impressive 51,139 pounds

per month, Dumas noted.

“We are excited about the increased

participation in our recycling program. The

increase in collection is encouraging,” said

Amy Tuck, vice president for campus services

at the land-grant institution.

As the campus recycling program moves

forward, the university will continue to

monitor the process and make changes, when

needed, Tuck said.

“We evaluate and review our recycling

procedures on an ongoing basis, and that helps

us gauge how effective and efficient we are at

reducing the waste that ends up in the local

landfill,” Dumas explained

MSU recycles all paper and plastics,

cardboard, metals and aluminum.

The university also has programs

that address electronic waste and

hazardous materials recycling. •


Mississippi State is

welcoming six new

Fulbright scholars

this semester who chose the

university to study in the fields

of engineering, public policy and

administration, mathematical

sciences and biological sciences.

“We welcome you and are

very honored that you have

selected Mississippi State to

pursue your studies,” said Jerry

Gilbert, provost and executive

vice president, during a recent

luncheon with the new students.

The international scholars had the

opportunity to meet one another

and talk with administrators

and faculty members during

the informal lunch, as well as

share their past experiences in

their native countries.

Fulbright is the nation’s flagship

international exchange program,

established in 1946 under

legislation introduced by Senator J.

William Fulbright of Arkansas.

“Having this significant number

of Fulbright scholars at MSU

brings added prestige to the

MSU Graduate School relative to

other graduate schools across the

country, and increasing the number

of graduate Fulbright scholars on

campus is part of our strategic

plan,” said Lou D’Abramo, dean of

the graduate school and associate

vice president for academic affairs.

“MSU is right up there with other

‘Very High Research Activity’

institutions,” he added.

In addition to encouraging

foreign nationals to study and

conduct research in the U.S., the

program also enables Americans to

engage in similar activities abroad.

Faculty members also are eligible

to participate in the Fulbright

program to teach, lecture and

conduct research abroad. •

New Fulbright Scholars shown with MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert, center, are front row, left to right, Gina Rico Mendez and Job Bonyo; and back row, (left to right) Rosanna Carreras de Leon, Mohammad Al Boni, Carlos Cabrera and Anara Kozhokanova. Photo by: Beth Wynn

University welcomes SIX new Fulbright students this semester

provides an easy-to-use and cost-effective

complement to MSU’s existing waste

management program,” he added.

Extensive research and planning went

into the design of the university’s recycling

program, along with valuable experience

gained during a three-month trial held on

campus, Dumas said. Initially, over a nine-

month FY 2011 period, 306,628 pounds of

recyclables were collected.

In FY 2012, collections grew to some

613,672 pounds—an impressive 51,139 pounds

per month, Dumas noted.

“We are excited about the increased

participation in our recycling program. The

increase in collection is encouraging,” said

Amy Tuck, vice president for campus services

at the land-grant institution.

As the campus recycling program moves

forward, the university will continue to

monitor the process and make changes, when

needed, Tuck said.

“We evaluate and review our recycling

procedures on an ongoing basis, and that helps

us gauge how effective and efficient we are at

reducing the waste that ends up in the local

landfill,” Dumas explained

MSU recycles all paper and plastics,

cardboard, metals and aluminum.

The university also has programs

that address electronic waste and

hazardous materials recycling. •

12CampusNEWS

WINTERALUMNUS

34 WINTER 2012

Mississippi State officials

joined with U.S.

Sens. Thad Cochran

and Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep.

Gregg Harper in September to

celebrate the grand opening of

the newest building in the Thad

Cochran Research, Technology and

Economic Development Park.

Funded by grants from the

U.S. Department of Commerce’s

National Institute of Standards and

Technology and the Mississippi

Development Authority, the

20,000-square-foot building is

home to a new business incubator,

as well as operations for II-VI

Inc., according to Mississippi State

University Research and Technology

Corporation Director Marc McGee,

who oversees the research park.

II-VI Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based

firm with manufacturing facilities,

distributors and agents around the

world. It is recognized as a global

leader in engineered materials and

optoelectronic components.

“The presence of a major

international manufacturer of high-

tech products with applications

in industrial manufacturing,

military and aerospace, high-power

electronics and telecommunications,

and thermoelectronics applications

in the park illustrates the significant

impact that university research parks

can have in the communities they

serve, particularly in a rural state

like Mississippi,” said David Shaw,

MSU’s vice president for research

and economic development.

The celebration included

comments by Cochran, Mississippi’s

senior senator; Wicker, who

has served in the Senate since

December 2007; Harper, the

second-term congressman for the

3rd District, which includes the

university; MSU President Mark E.

Keenum; Greg Bohach, MSU’s vice

president for agriculture, forestry

and veterinary medicine and

president of the MSU RTC board

of directors; Vincent Mattera, II-VI

Inc. executive vice president; Jim

McArthur, MDA deputy director;

and Shaw.

“We are very excited about

achieving this milestone, and are

looking forward to additional

expansion of the park in the near

future,” Shaw said.

The 272-acre park is home to nine

buildings and 1,500-plus employees,

and represents some $100-million-

plus of investment.

Construction of a second

entrance and boulevard connecting

the park with Highway 182 is under

way with completion expected early

next year. •

MSU President Mark E. Keenum, second from left, joined with U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran and U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper to celebrate the grand opening of the newest building in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. The 20,000-square-foot facility is home to a new business incubator, as well as operations for II-VI Inc., a global leader in engineered materials and optoelectronic components. Photo By: Russ Houston

New Research Park building opens


On Sept. 11, 2001,

four United States

commercial planes

were hijacked by terrorists

and thousands died.

The president, vice president,

secretary of state and other national

officials mobilized. One military

official who watched as the national

response unfolded in Washington,

D.C., spoke to a Mississippi State

crowd in November to explain what

happened on 9/11 and confirm

that freedom in the United States is

worth the price paid.

Retired Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling

presented “24 Hours Inside the

President’s Bunker: 9-11-01,” also

the name of his recently published

memoir, as part of the university’s

observance of Veterans Day, Nov.

11.

He gave a minute-by-minute

account of his experiences,

beginning with the shock and

disbelief he, like so many other

Americans, experienced when he

saw the second airplane careen into

the north tower of the World Trade

Center.

“It was at that very moment,

there was no doubt in our minds,

inside the Eisenhower Building (in

the White House), that we had a

full-blown terrorist attack unfolding

right before our eyes in the city of

New York,” Darling said.

Amid evacuations, flight

cancellations and reports of

explosions, people in the White

House were doing all they could to

protect Americans and destroy the

enemy, he explained.

Darling remembered President

George Bush’s speech he gave the

night of 9/11, and emphasized

how Bush’s concern was always the

people first: Were they receiving

help? What resources could be

mobilized? How long would they

take to arrive?

Even with his concern for

ordinary citizens, though, Bush did

all he could to prepare the military

for a battle against radical terrorism

that has lasted these more than 11

years since 9/11.

“We absolutely must

finish this job. Freedom in

America will always be worth

the price,” Darling emphasized.

He thanked the MSU students

who attended, especially

the ROTC members who

attended in full uniform.

“Veterans Day -- a day that we

celebrate, thank and honor every

man and woman who have served in

our armed forces, and the sacrifices

continue today.…We’re a country

of 303 million people, and yet 2.3

million people serve in the armed

forces. Less than 1 percent protect

the 99 percent of us,” Darling said.

Darling donated part of his

speaker fee to MSU’s G.V. “Sonny”

Montgomery Center for America’s

Veterans, and his appearance

was organized by the MSU

Student Affairs Activity Center

and the university. •

Speaker shares 9-11 first-hand experiencesRetired Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling signed copies of his book, “24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker: 9-11-01,” both before and after his November presentation at MSU, where he remembered the events surrounding Sept. 11, 2001, and thanked all service members, past and present, for their sacrifice. Photo by: Russ Houston


On Sept. 11, 2001,

four United States

commercial planes

were hijacked by terrorists

and thousands died.

The president, vice president,

secretary of state and other national

officials mobilized. One military

official who watched as the national

response unfolded in Washington,

D.C., spoke to a Mississippi State

crowd in November to explain what

happened on 9/11 and confirm

that freedom in the United States is

worth the price paid.

Retired Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling

presented “24 Hours Inside the

President’s Bunker: 9-11-01,” also

the name of his recently published

memoir, as part of the university’s

observance of Veterans Day, Nov.

11.

He gave a minute-by-minute

account of his experiences,

beginning with the shock and

disbelief he, like so many other

Americans, experienced when he

saw the second airplane careen into

the north tower of the World Trade

Center.

“It was at that very moment,

there was no doubt in our minds,

inside the Eisenhower Building (in

the White House), that we had a

full-blown terrorist attack unfolding

right before our eyes in the city of

New York,” Darling said.

Amid evacuations, flight

cancellations and reports of

explosions, people in the White

House were doing all they could to

protect Americans and destroy the

enemy, he explained.

Darling remembered President

George Bush’s speech he gave the

night of 9/11, and emphasized

how Bush’s concern was always the

people first: Were they receiving

help? What resources could be

mobilized? How long would they

take to arrive?

Even with his concern for

ordinary citizens, though, Bush did

all he could to prepare the military

for a battle against radical terrorism

that has lasted these more than 11

years since 9/11.

“We absolutely must

finish this job. Freedom in

America will always be worth

the price,” Darling emphasized.

He thanked the MSU students

who attended, especially

the ROTC members who

attended in full uniform.

“Veterans Day -- a day that we

celebrate, thank and honor every

man and woman who have served in

our armed forces, and the sacrifices

continue today.…We’re a country

of 303 million people, and yet 2.3

million people serve in the armed

forces. Less than 1 percent protect

the 99 percent of us,” Darling said.

Darling donated part of his

speaker fee to MSU’s G.V. “Sonny”

Montgomery Center for America’s

Veterans, and his appearance

was organized by the MSU

Student Affairs Activity Center

and the university. •

Speaker shares 9-11 first-hand experiencesRetired Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling signed copies of his book, “24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker: 9-11-01,” both before and after his November presentation at MSU, where he remembered the events surrounding Sept. 11, 2001, and thanked all service members, past and present, for their sacrifice. Photo by: Russ Houston

12CampusNEWS

WINTERALUMNUS

36 WINTER 2012

MSU President Mark E. Keenum, left, welcomed Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman and North Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert to campus for the announcement of a $2 million federal grant funding the new Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit system. The system will include three campus-city connector routes offered free to students and Starkville residents.Photo by: Russ Houston

More than $2 million

in federal grant

funds has been

announced by Mississippi State to

support an integrated transit system

connecting the university campus

and city of Starkville.

Distributed through the Mississippi

Department of Transportation, the

grant includes more than $800,000 for

transit operations and approximately

$1.5 million for the purchase of up to

12 buses.

The announcement was made in

October by MSU President Mark E.

Keenum, Mississippi Transportation

Commissioner Mike Tagert and

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman.

“This convenient, timely transit

operation between key areas of

campus and the city will meet an ever-

growing need for improved public

transportation in our community and

definitely enhance the quality of life

for students and Starkville residents,”

Keenum said.

Labeled “Starkville-MSU Area

Rapid Transit” or SMART, the new

public system will include three

scheduled routes: city-campus, city

circular and Sportsplex connectors.

Routes will include retail and grocery

stores, housing and other city venues,

with most stops having fixed shelters.

Also, riders will be able to track

movement of the shuttles with real

time GPS information available

through www.transit.msstate.edu.

Offered free to all riders during

its first year, the new public system

will reduce traffic congestion both

on campus and in the city, while also

reducing carbon emissions that harm

the environment.

Mike Harris, MSU’s parking and

transit services director, said of the

grant award, “In connecting our

campus and community, we all win.

Having a reliable and sustainable way

for students and Starkville residents to

visit health centers, retail outlets and

recreational facilities is a major step in

overall growth of our community.”

Along with MDOT, the city

of Starkville, Oktibbeha County

Board of Supervisors and

Greater Starkville Development

Partnership will be involved with

implementing the system. •

Federal grant funds connect university, Starkville with SMART system


A Pennsylvania-based

media company

that works to

support all U.S. military

members reentering civilian life

is again including Mississippi

State in its 2013 Military

Friendly Schools list.

The recognition by Victory

Media honors the top 15 percent

of U.S. colleges, universities

and trade schools that “are

doing the most to embrace

America’s military service

members, veterans and spouses

as students and ensure their

success on campus.”

Founded in 2001 and led by

veterans, the Pittsburg company

owns and operates five global

brands: G.I. Jobs, G.I. Education,

NaVOBA, Vetrepreneur and

Military Spouse.

“Inclusion on the 2013 list of

Military Friendly Schools shows

Mississippi State University’s

commitment to providing a

supportive environment for

military students,” said company

vice president Sean Collins. “As

interest in education grows,

we’re thrilled to provide the

military community with

resources to assist in their search

for schools.”

Collins said the annual list

is compiled through extensive

research and a data-driven

survey of more than 12,000

schools nationwide.

Ken McRae, director of the

G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery

Center for America’s Veterans,

said MSU is “honored to again

be recognized by G.I. Jobs and

Victory Media as a top military

friendly school.”

He attributed the recognition

“to the impassioned work of our

staff, our extremely supportive

university administration,

private donors, and a hard-

working student veteran

population.” •

Mississippi State has been named among the nation’s educational institutions “doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students.” Photo by: Meagan Bean

MSU among top veteran-friendly educational institutions


A Pennsylvania-based

media company

that works to

support all U.S. military

members reentering civilian life

is again including Mississippi

State in its 2013 Military

Friendly Schools list.

The recognition by Victory

Media honors the top 15 percent

of U.S. colleges, universities

and trade schools that “are

doing the most to embrace

America’s military service

members, veterans and spouses

as students and ensure their

success on campus.”

Founded in 2001 and led by

veterans, the Pittsburg company

owns and operates five global

brands: G.I. Jobs, G.I. Education,

NaVOBA, Vetrepreneur and

Military Spouse.

“Inclusion on the 2013 list of

Military Friendly Schools shows

Mississippi State University’s

commitment to providing a

supportive environment for

military students,” said company

vice president Sean Collins. “As

interest in education grows,

we’re thrilled to provide the

military community with

resources to assist in their search

for schools.”

Collins said the annual list

is compiled through extensive

research and a data-driven

survey of more than 12,000

schools nationwide.

Ken McRae, director of the

G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery

Center for America’s Veterans,

said MSU is “honored to again

be recognized by G.I. Jobs and

Victory Media as a top military

friendly school.”

He attributed the recognition

“to the impassioned work of our

staff, our extremely supportive

university administration,

private donors, and a hard-

working student veteran

population.” •

Mississippi State has been named among the nation’s educational institutions “doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students.” Photo by: Meagan Bean

MSU among top veteran-friendly educational institutions

12CampusNEWS

WINTERALUMNUS

38 WINTER 2012

One Kenyan leader is setting

an example both in Africa

and the world as an empathetic

leader representing the sick, the

poor and the isolated.

The Kenyan ambassador to the

U.S., His Excellency the Ambassador

of the Republic of Kenya Elkanah

Odembo, shared his knowledge and

his mission in November as a 2012

Maroon Edition speaker at MSU.

Odembo personally knew fellow

Kenya-native Wangari Maathai, the

late author of Unbowed who wrote

the memoir selected by university

leaders for the 2012 Maroon Edition

first-year reading experience. The

annual projects shared among

the MSU family feature a book

for incoming students, as well as

returning classes, faculty and staff,

and anyone interested in being part

of the extended university family,

to connect with a powerful and

inspirational narrative.

“Our Maroon Edition book is

about Kenya, and the ambassador

personally knew Wangari Maathai,”

said Linda Morse, chair of the

Maroon Edition committee,

and professor and director of

the counseling and educational

psychology department. “His

personal ties to the author and his

global perspective as a diplomat

offered a unique and special

presentation to our campus.”

Even though he was educated in

the United States, Odembo uses his

degrees in biology, sociology and

public health to benefit his native

country. As a Fellow of the Africa

Leadership Initiative and a Synergos

Senior Fellow, Odembo’s career

has concentrated on promoting

philanthropy and using natural

resources to improve quality of life

in Kenya.

Odembo has encouraged

social responsibility, cross-sector

partnerships and policy research

among his many roles as a Kenyan

leader over the years, and during

his visit to MSU, he plans to meet

personally with the Kenyan-national

students enrolled at the university,

including one Fulbright Scholar.

Like Maathai, Odembo’s work

focuses on improving quality of life

for the poor and unrepresented:

prior to becoming ambassador

to the U.S., Odembo was the East

Africa representative for World

Neighbors and was appointed

chairman of the Kenya Community

Development Foundation and

named the lead facilitator for the

Kenya Poverty Reduction Strategy

Paper Consultation Process. •

Kenyan ambassador welcomedfor Maroon Edition Program

Kenyan Ambassador to the U.S. Elkanah Odembo Photo By: Beth Wynn


Climatology, disaster experts forecast continued dominance in broadcast meteorology at MSU

As Hurricane Sandy

pummeled the East

Coast, Mississippi

State University meteorology experts

were some of the most trusted

voices in the national conversation

about natural disaster education and

awareness.

When people are aware of a

coming storm and understand its

dangers and its capacity to obstruct

electricity, transportation, water

and other everyday comforts, fewer

people die.

That’s the goal for MSU

climatology and disaster relief

experts when they offer their

expertise to outside media outlets

and inside their classrooms,

according to Charlie Wax,

professor of meteorology and

climatology at MSU.

“Our program is all about

education and awareness: that’s what

brings down the death rates,” said

Wax, who is considered an expert

climatologist. “Having a general

understanding of the risks associated

helps you be more prepared.”

Close to 70 percent of United

States broadcast meteorologists have

direct ties to the MSU program, said

Mike Brown, associate professor and

state climatologist.

“If there’s a discussion about

weather, Mississippi State is part of

that discussion,” Brown explained.

“That just says it all: Our program

here is big, it’s nationally known,

and it’s very well respected. Our

graduates are doing very good stuff.”

Ninety-one percent of broadcast

meteorology graduates enter

television jobs within six months

of graduation, and 94 percent of

operational meteorology graduates

continue in graduate school or

are hired by the National Weather

Service, the military or private

industry within six months of degree

completion, Wax noted.

Mississippi is an epicenter

for severe weather, and MSU

meteorology professors are quick

to use actual weather patterns as

teaching tools for students.

Not only are meteorology

students learning from storms as

they intensify and dissipate, U.S.

planners and media outlets are quick

to call MSU climatologists when

severe weather is on the horizon

After MSU-trained

meteorologists from the National

Weather Service offices in Jackson,

Memphis, Tenn., and Birmingham,

Ala., predicted the severe weather

outbreak on April 27, 2011,

broadcast meteorologists all over the

South warned the public, Wax said.

The National Weather

Association meeting in October

2011 credited MSU meteorologists’

“timely warnings” and “accurate

dissemination of information” as the

reason more people did not die from

the outbreak of tornadoes.

To learn more about meteorology

at MSU, go to http://www.

geosciences.msstate.edu. •

Mike Brown, Mississippi State University associate professor of meteorology and climatology, works with broadcast meteorology student Rachel Kroot, of Lancaster, Penn. Her parents’ basement is flooded because of Hurricane Sandy’s impact across the East Coast.Photo by: Russ Houston


Climatology, disaster experts forecast continued dominance in broadcast meteorology at MSU

As Hurricane Sandy

pummeled the East

Coast, Mississippi

State University meteorology experts

were some of the most trusted

voices in the national conversation

about natural disaster education and

awareness.

When people are aware of a

coming storm and understand its

dangers and its capacity to obstruct

electricity, transportation, water

and other everyday comforts, fewer

people die.

That’s the goal for MSU

climatology and disaster relief

experts when they offer their

expertise to outside media outlets

and inside their classrooms,

according to Charlie Wax,

professor of meteorology and

climatology at MSU.

“Our program is all about

education and awareness: that’s what

brings down the death rates,” said

Wax, who is considered an expert

climatologist. “Having a general

understanding of the risks associated

helps you be more prepared.”

Close to 70 percent of United

States broadcast meteorologists have

direct ties to the MSU program, said

Mike Brown, associate professor and

state climatologist.

“If there’s a discussion about

weather, Mississippi State is part of

that discussion,” Brown explained.

“That just says it all: Our program

here is big, it’s nationally known,

and it’s very well respected. Our

graduates are doing very good stuff.”

Ninety-one percent of broadcast

meteorology graduates enter

television jobs within six months

of graduation, and 94 percent of

operational meteorology graduates

continue in graduate school or

are hired by the National Weather

Service, the military or private

industry within six months of degree

completion, Wax noted.

Mississippi is an epicenter

for severe weather, and MSU

meteorology professors are quick

to use actual weather patterns as

teaching tools for students.

Not only are meteorology

students learning from storms as

they intensify and dissipate, U.S.

planners and media outlets are quick

to call MSU climatologists when

severe weather is on the horizon

After MSU-trained

meteorologists from the National

Weather Service offices in Jackson,

Memphis, Tenn., and Birmingham,

Ala., predicted the severe weather

outbreak on April 27, 2011,

broadcast meteorologists all over the

South warned the public, Wax said.

The National Weather

Association meeting in October

2011 credited MSU meteorologists’

“timely warnings” and “accurate

dissemination of information” as the

reason more people did not die from

the outbreak of tornadoes.

To learn more about meteorology

at MSU, go to http://www.

geosciences.msstate.edu. •

Mike Brown, Mississippi State University associate professor of meteorology and climatology, works with broadcast meteorology student Rachel Kroot, of Lancaster, Penn. Her parents’ basement is flooded because of Hurricane Sandy’s impact across the East Coast.Photo by: Russ Houston

12AlumniNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS

40 WINTER 2012

Mississippi State was

privileged to host the 2012

meeting of the Alumni Professionals

of the Southeastern Conference in

August. Titled APSEC, the annual

conference allows alumni staff

from the SEC to come together

for idea sharing and networking

opportunities.

Representatives from each of

the 14 SEC institutions were in

attendance, including staff members

from the two newest members–

Texas A&M University and the

University of Missouri.

Guests arrived and were greeted

at the conference hotel by several

Alumni Delegates. They were then

treated to a campus tour and dinner

at the Hunter Henry Center. MSU

legend Roy H. Ruby entertained

the crowd as the evening’s speaker.

APSEC attendees then enjoyed

an evening of music with local

performer Bill Cooke.

To open the conference, Greg

Sankey, executive associate

commissioner and COO of the

SEC, delivered the keynote address.

He spoke on SEC policy and

regulations, and gave an overall

update of the conference.

Following Sankey, alumni

professionals had the opportunity

to learn from each other in a series

of breakout sessions. Each of the

14 institutions gave presentations

on topics ranging from alumni

events to chapter programs to

communication and more.

“One of the most beneficial

aspects of the APSEC conference

is being able to learn best practices

and gain ideas from our peers,”

stated Jimmy Abraham, associate

vice president for development and

alumni and executive director of the

MSU Alumni Association. “This is a

great opportunity for each school to

highlight a special program or event

that they are proud of, and each year

we learn so much from each other.”

Abraham, who served as

president of APSEC for 2012, also

hosted a meeting for executive

directors of the 14 institutions

throughout the day.

“The executive directors came

together to really share the nuts and

bolts of our separate operations,”

he commented. “Collectively, our

associations represent over 3 million

alumni worldwide. By collaborating

with one another, we not only

further the goals and mission of our

own institutions, but also the SEC as

a whole.”

In addition to breakout sessions,

attendees enjoyed lunch with

a presentation from former

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who

now serves as vice president for

campus services at MSU. There was

also time set aside to visit with the

many APSEC sponsors on hand,

who represented affinity partners

associated with alumni activities.

University hostsSEC alumni professionals

Greg Sankey, executive associate commissioner

and COO of the SEC, offered the Tuesday

morning keynote address to APSEC

representatives.Photo by: Russ Houston


That evening, a special celebration

was held at The Little Dooey in honor

of the SEC alumni professionals.

Thirty Fingers provided live music

while guests dined on crawfish, catfish

and Dooey’s famous pulled pork

barbeque. An after-dinner party was

held at the Hunter Henry Center

featuring local party band The Flames.

The 2012 APSEC conference

wrapped up on Wednesday with

a special keynote presentation

from Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO

of ALSAC, the fundraising arm

for St. Jude Children’s Research

Hospital. Shadyac spoke on the

mission and work of St. Jude and

the nature of philanthropy in a

challenging economic environment.

More than 100 alumni professionals

and sponsors attended the three-

day event, which was held primarily

at Colvard Student Union and the

Hunter Henry Center.

“The 2012 APSEC conference was

a wonderful event where we were

able to gather together as peers and

friends and celebrate the work of

alumni professionals in the greatest

conference in the country,” said

Abraham.

Next year, the University of

Kentucky will host the annual meeting

of alumni professionals. For photos

of the event, visit www.facebook.

com/apsec2012. Watch a video of the

conference at www.youtube.com/

MSUAlumniAssociation. • The MSU Student Association, Alumni

Association and Athletics hosted a late night fan

event prior to the home football opener against

Jackson State. Titled “Cowbell Yell,” the event, in

its second year, commemorates the start of football

season.

Students and fans enjoyed the public debut of

the team introduction video, as well as a celebration

of SEC’s “cowbell compromise” for home games.

Guest speakers included Athletic Director Scott

Stricklin and Head Football Coach Dan Mullen.

Former Bulldog standout Jerious Norwood

surprised the crowd as a special guest this year.

Norwood, a running back who played in the early

2000s, was drafted in the NFL in 2006. He has

played for the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams.

“Cowbell Yell is the first opportunity for us to

teach new students the traditions we hold dear,

and to celebrate those traditions with the Bulldog

family,” stated Student Association President Shelby

Balius. “It is also our way of showing the best

support for our hard-working football team and

coaches to kick off their next winning season on the

eve of their first game.” •

MSU holds second annual

Cowbell Yell

The MSU Alumni Association is sponsoring the radio broadcasts

at all football, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball games

throughout the 2012-13 athletic season.

“We are very proud of the opportunity to let all Bulldog fans know of

the Alumni Association’s support of MSU Athletics,” said Jimmy Abraham,

associate vice president for development and alumni and executive director

of the Alumni Association. “Not only are we excited to partner with athletics

in this endeavor, but this will also allow us to promote our association

numerous times to thousands of listeners.”

The Alumni Association radio sponsorship began in September as the

Bulldogs opened the football season against Jackson State University. Radio

broadcasts can be heard on over 25 statewide networks, online at Maroon to

the Max, and on some Sirius and XM satellite stations.

For more information on radio broadcasts, please visit the MSU Athletics

website at hailstate.com. •

Association sponsors 2012-13 athletic radio broadcast


That evening, a special celebration

was held at The Little Dooey in honor

of the SEC alumni professionals.

Thirty Fingers provided live music

while guests dined on crawfish, catfish

and Dooey’s famous pulled pork

barbeque. An after-dinner party was

held at the Hunter Henry Center

featuring local party band The Flames.

The 2012 APSEC conference

wrapped up on Wednesday with

a special keynote presentation

from Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO

of ALSAC, the fundraising arm

for St. Jude Children’s Research

Hospital. Shadyac spoke on the

mission and work of St. Jude and

the nature of philanthropy in a

challenging economic environment.

More than 100 alumni professionals

and sponsors attended the three-

day event, which was held primarily

at Colvard Student Union and the

Hunter Henry Center.

“The 2012 APSEC conference was

a wonderful event where we were

able to gather together as peers and

friends and celebrate the work of

alumni professionals in the greatest

conference in the country,” said

Abraham.

Next year, the University of

Kentucky will host the annual meeting

of alumni professionals. For photos

of the event, visit www.facebook.

com/apsec2012. Watch a video of the

conference at www.youtube.com/

MSUAlumniAssociation. • The MSU Student Association, Alumni

Association and Athletics hosted a late night fan

event prior to the home football opener against

Jackson State. Titled “Cowbell Yell,” the event, in

its second year, commemorates the start of football

season.

Students and fans enjoyed the public debut of

the team introduction video, as well as a celebration

of SEC’s “cowbell compromise” for home games.

Guest speakers included Athletic Director Scott

Stricklin and Head Football Coach Dan Mullen.

Former Bulldog standout Jerious Norwood

surprised the crowd as a special guest this year.

Norwood, a running back who played in the early

2000s, was drafted in the NFL in 2006. He has

played for the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams.

“Cowbell Yell is the first opportunity for us to

teach new students the traditions we hold dear,

and to celebrate those traditions with the Bulldog

family,” stated Student Association President Shelby

Balius. “It is also our way of showing the best

support for our hard-working football team and

coaches to kick off their next winning season on the

eve of their first game.” •

MSU holds second annual

Cowbell Yell

The MSU Alumni Association is sponsoring the radio broadcasts

at all football, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball games

throughout the 2012-13 athletic season.

“We are very proud of the opportunity to let all Bulldog fans know of

the Alumni Association’s support of MSU Athletics,” said Jimmy Abraham,

associate vice president for development and alumni and executive director

of the Alumni Association. “Not only are we excited to partner with athletics

in this endeavor, but this will also allow us to promote our association

numerous times to thousands of listeners.”

The Alumni Association radio sponsorship began in September as the

Bulldogs opened the football season against Jackson State University. Radio

broadcasts can be heard on over 25 statewide networks, online at Maroon to

the Max, and on some Sirius and XM satellite stations.

For more information on radio broadcasts, please visit the MSU Athletics

website at hailstate.com. •

Association sponsors 2012-13 athletic radio broadcast

12AlumniNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS

42 WINTER 2012

The MSU Alumni Association welcomed the

2012 class of Alumni Fellows to campus

in November. The group was honored in

conjunction with the MSU vs. Arkansas football game.

Sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association, the

colleges, the Meridian campus and the Office of the

Provost, the fellows program recognizes alumni who

have distinguished themselves in their respective careers.

Honorees are invited to return to campus to meet with

students, both in the classroom and informally.

This year’s class includes:

Thomas H. “Hunt” Shipman was selected for the

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Shipman, of

Falls Church, Va., is a 1992 agribusiness graduate, who is a

partner with Cornerstone Government Affairs LLC.

The College of Architecture, Art and Design honored

Bradley C. Touchstone, AIA, of Tallahassee, Fla., as

fellow. Touchstone is a 1993 graduate, and a founder

and principal architect at Touchstone Architecture and

Consulting P.A.

Dr. David E. Wigley of Smyrna, Ga., has been chosen as

fellow for the College of Arts and Sciences. Wigley earned

a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and soil science in 1977,

and a bachelor’s in chemistry in 1979 . He is currently an

attorney at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP.

Paul J. Karre was named fellow for MSU’s business

college. Karre, a resident of Germantown, Tenn., earned

a bachelor’s of business administration in management

in 1974. He now serves as senior vice president of human

resources and communications for International Paper.

The College of Education is honoring 1979 graduate Lt.

Gen. Darrell D. Jones as the 2012 fellow. Jones earned a

degree in elementary education in 1979. He now is deputy

chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services for the

U.S. Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington,

D.C.

The James Worth Bagley College of Engineering named

Anthony L. Wilson of Fayetteville, Ga., as fellow. Wilson

serves as executive vice president of customer service and

operations for Georgia Power. He earned an electrical

engineering degree from MSU in 1987.

David E. Wesley, a 1962 and 1968 alumnus, is the 2012

fellow for the College of Forest Resources. Wesley holds

two degrees from MSU – a bachelor’s in history and

political science and a master’s in wildlife and fisheries

with an emphasis in zoology. He currently resides in

Missoula, Mont.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is bestowing the

honor of fellow to husband and wife team, Drs. Neil

M. Williams and Dr. Deborah Maples Williams. Both

employees of the University of Kentucky, Neil serves as

a professor and association director of the Veterinary

Diagnostic Lab, while Deborah is the diagnostic services

coordinator. The couple resides in Nicholasville, Ky.

MSU-Meridian, which celebrated its 40th anniversary

this year, named alumnus Raymond L. “Ray” Gibbons

as fellow. Gibbons earned a master’s in business

administration this year. •

2012 Alumni Fellows

visit campus

Front Row Left to Right - Anthony L. Wilson, Dr. Neil M. Williams, Dr. Deborah Maples Williams, Dr. David E. Wesley and Mr. Thomas H. “Hunt” Shipman Back Row Left to Right - Dr. Jimmy W. Abraham, Dr. David E. Wigley, Mr. Raymond L. “Ray” Gibbons, Mr. Bradley C. Touchstone, AIA, Paul J. Karre and Lt. Gen. Darrell D. Jones


Mississippi State hosted its

annual outdoor concert in

November. Bulldog Bash,

in its 13th year, brought thousands of

students, alumni, fans and community

members to Starkville’s historic Cotton

District for a night of music and revelry.

The event kicked off with FanFare at 3

p.m. Campus organizations, local eateries

and sponsors set up booths for the public,

as well as bounce houses and activities

for children. Sponsored by the MSU

Alumni Association, FanFare day brought

hundreds of fans of all ages to enjoy the

festivities.

“We were honored to support Bulldog

Bash again this year and sponsor FanFare

for all to enjoy,” stated Jimmy Abraham,

associate vice president for development

and alumni and executive director of the

MSU Alumni Association. “The event

not only brings together our campus and

community, but it also attracts thousands

of Bulldog faithful from all over the

country who come back home for this

great event.”

Following FanFare, the MSU spirit

groups led the crowd at the DawgRally

and pumped everyone up for the football

game against Texas A&M the next day.

Wayne Madkin, former MSU quarterback,

made a special appearance and addressed

the excited Bulldog crowd.

The live music kicked off at 6 p.m.

on the Bulldog Bash stage. Rock band

Surviving Allison, winner of MSU’s battle

of the bands, was first to perform for the

evening. Pop artist Andy Grammer was

next to take the stage. Grammer, who is

most popular for his top 10 singles “Fine

by Me” and “Keep Your Head Up,” thrilled

the crowd with his vocal and instrumental

talents.

The final two acts that evening were a

pair of country music bands, Gloriana and

Eli Young Band. Gloriana is most popular

for their recent hit “(Kissed You) Good

Night.” Band members Tom, Mike and

Rachel entertained the crowd with high

voltage southern rock and smooth ballads.

The 2012 Bulldog Bash headliner,

Eli Young Band, brought a bit of Texas

country to Starkville. The group, which

was started by Mike Eli and James Young,

has recently made their way to the top of

country charts and were nominated for

two Country Music Awards. With hits like

“When it Rains,” “Crazy Girl,” and “Say

Goodnight,” Eli Young brought excitement

and energy to thousands of Bash attendees.

“Bulldog Bash is one of the many

events we are happy to sponsor for our

students, alumni and fans each year,”

said Abraham. “It is an exciting time in

Starkville and Mississippi State, and we

plan to continue to support events like this

for years to come.” •

Bash rocks Cotton District in November

Gloriana's Rachel Reinert

Photos by: Megan Bean

Around 30,000 music fans came to the 2012 Bulldog Bash.

Mike Eli, lead singer of The Eli Young Band


Mississippi State hosted its

annual outdoor concert in

November. Bulldog Bash,

in its 13th year, brought thousands of

students, alumni, fans and community

members to Starkville’s historic Cotton

District for a night of music and revelry.

The event kicked off with FanFare at 3

p.m. Campus organizations, local eateries

and sponsors set up booths for the public,

as well as bounce houses and activities

for children. Sponsored by the MSU

Alumni Association, FanFare day brought

hundreds of fans of all ages to enjoy the

festivities.

“We were honored to support Bulldog

Bash again this year and sponsor FanFare

for all to enjoy,” stated Jimmy Abraham,

associate vice president for development

and alumni and executive director of the

MSU Alumni Association. “The event

not only brings together our campus and

community, but it also attracts thousands

of Bulldog faithful from all over the

country who come back home for this

great event.”

Following FanFare, the MSU spirit

groups led the crowd at the DawgRally

and pumped everyone up for the football

game against Texas A&M the next day.

Wayne Madkin, former MSU quarterback,

made a special appearance and addressed

the excited Bulldog crowd.

The live music kicked off at 6 p.m.

on the Bulldog Bash stage. Rock band

Surviving Allison, winner of MSU’s battle

of the bands, was first to perform for the

evening. Pop artist Andy Grammer was

next to take the stage. Grammer, who is

most popular for his top 10 singles “Fine

by Me” and “Keep Your Head Up,” thrilled

the crowd with his vocal and instrumental

talents.

The final two acts that evening were a

pair of country music bands, Gloriana and

Eli Young Band. Gloriana is most popular

for their recent hit “(Kissed You) Good

Night.” Band members Tom, Mike and

Rachel entertained the crowd with high

voltage southern rock and smooth ballads.

The 2012 Bulldog Bash headliner,

Eli Young Band, brought a bit of Texas

country to Starkville. The group, which

was started by Mike Eli and James Young,

has recently made their way to the top of

country charts and were nominated for

two Country Music Awards. With hits like

“When it Rains,” “Crazy Girl,” and “Say

Goodnight,” Eli Young brought excitement

and energy to thousands of Bash attendees.

“Bulldog Bash is one of the many

events we are happy to sponsor for our

students, alumni and fans each year,”

said Abraham. “It is an exciting time in

Starkville and Mississippi State, and we

plan to continue to support events like this

for years to come.” •

Bash rocks Cotton District in November

Gloriana's Rachel Reinert

Photos by: Megan Bean

Around 30,000 music fans came to the 2012 Bulldog Bash.

Mike Eli, lead singer of The Eli Young Band

44 WINTER 2012

12AlumniNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS

*Can you get the photo of the day from August 7 taken by Russ? Greg San-key addresses SEC alumni professionals.

Hundreds of Mississippi

State University students

benefit each year from

the support of MSU’s 93 alumni

chapters around the world. Since its

earliest roots, alumni of Mississippi

State have taken an active role in

educating Bulldogs by providing

funds for student scholarships.

Today, many of the MSU Alumni

Association’s chapters award

funds to top performing scholars.

One of these students, Wyatt

Gamble, is a proud recipient of

a chapter scholarship.

Gamble is a freshman majoring

in computer engineering in the

James Worth Bagley College of

Engineering. He is one of three

students receiving an annual

scholarship from the George-

Greene Alumni Chapter this year.

“The George-Greene Alumni

Scholarship covered the remaining

required fees I owed, and has

helped me to not worry about

how I will be paying for college,”

stated Gamble. “With that burden

taken off of me, I have been able

to focus on my studies with fewer

distractions.”

Managed through the

MSU Foundation, annual and

endowed chapter scholarships

play a significant role in helping

exceptional students like Gamble

attend MSU. Awards are typically

given to students within the

chapter’s local area, and are

based on criteria set forth by the

individual chapters.

“The alumni and friends from

our area have gone above and

beyond to sponsor scholarships for

our local community,” said Brenda

Smith, president of the George-

Greene Chapter. “We have two

counties and two high schools to

support, and students who are truly

in need of scholarships to fulfill

their dreams of attending college.”

The George-Greene Chapter has

established two endowed funds

and one annual fund, and awarded

10 scholarships to area students

this year. “We work hard to recruit

students to MSU in the schools

and the community, and the

scholarships we can provide offer a

huge advantage to these students,”

stated Smith. The tradition of

chapter scholarships dates back to

the late 1880s when members of

then-Mississippi A&M’s alumni

group began collecting money for

students in need.

“Our chapters offer so much

more to MSU than just a venue

for events and activities,” said

Jimmy Abraham, associate vice

president for development and

alumni and executive director of

the MSU Alumni Association. “By

providing scholarship opportunities

for our students, chapters are

not only making an important

investment in the education of

their community, but also the

Bulldog family as a whole.”

For Gamble, having a chapter

scholarship was one of the most

important factors in his decision to

attend Mississippi State.

“When faced with the decision of

which college I would be attending,

it was a no-brainer. Mississippi

State is a top-notch engineering

university located in my home state

and it caters to my engineering

discipline of choice,” Gamble said.

Many chapters have established

scholarships, but do not have

enough funds to make awards

each year. Individual gifts are

extremely important to keep these

scholarships active. Gifts of any

amount from individual donors

may be designated to a specific

chapter’s endowed or annual

scholarship fund.

To find out more about how

to make a gift, contact your local

chapter representative, or Jackie

Hudson with the MSU Foundation

at 662-325-4214 or jhudson@

advservices.msstate.edu. You may

also make a gift online at www.

msufoundation.com. •

George-Greene alumni chapter supports students through scholarships


Tailgate Scrapbook Members of MSU’s spirit squad pause for a photo opportunity with a young fan.

Jimmy W. Abraham, associate vice president for development and alumni and executive director of the MSU Alumni Association, catches up with former national president Charles Cascio.

Fans enjoy complimentary barbeque from The Little Dooey courtesy of the Alumni Association.

Anne Elise Parks, a 2011 graduate and former Alumni Delegate, enjoys visiting with Memphis alumnus Stephen Woo.

Tim and Katie Thomas, Tyler Hall and David Moore stop by the tent for a visit prior to the Jackson State game.

MSU cheerleaders perform in front of the crowd at the alumni tailgate.

Mississippi State kicked off its 2012 football season in September with a few thrilling home field victories. As always, the MSU Alumni Association held its tailgating festivities before each game welcoming alumni and friends back home to MSU. Hundreds of fans gathered under the big top tent to celebrate the start of a fantastic football season.


Tailgate Scrapbook Members of MSU’s spirit squad pause for a photo opportunity with a young fan.

Jimmy W. Abraham, associate vice president for development and alumni and executive director of the MSU Alumni Association, catches up with former national president Charles Cascio.

Fans enjoy complimentary barbeque from The Little Dooey courtesy of the Alumni Association.

Anne Elise Parks, a 2011 graduate and former Alumni Delegate, enjoys visiting with Memphis alumnus Stephen Woo.

Tim and Katie Thomas, Tyler Hall and David Moore stop by the tent for a visit prior to the Jackson State game.

MSU cheerleaders perform in front of the crowd at the alumni tailgate.

Mississippi State kicked off its 2012 football season in September with a few thrilling home field victories. As always, the MSU Alumni Association held its tailgating festivities before each game welcoming alumni and friends back home to MSU. Hundreds of fans gathered under the big top tent to celebrate the start of a fantastic football season.

46 WINTER 2012

Show your support for Mississippi State by

purchasing a trademark license plate for your

personal vehicle. Tags are now available in

Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas with a minimal additional

cost to the standard fee.

More than 200 individuals have purchased a Texas M-State

tag since it was released in the fall. Tags are available for

purchase through www.myplates.com/go/mstate, an affiliate of

the Texas Department of Transportation. Drivers can choose

from three options – the luxury, custom or design series – with

varying prices starting at $30. Once purchased through the My

Plates website, the license plates are delivered to your local tax

assessor’s office for pickup. A portion of the sales is directed to

a scholarship fund for Texas residents who attend MSU.

In Mississippi, nearly 17,000 drivers are representing “Our

State” with an MSU plate, and we are leading the way in 59 of

82 counties. Mississippi tags may be purchased through the

local county tax collector’s office. Cost of the M-State plate is

approximately $53.50 per year, in addition to the normal cost.

Of that, $32.50 is tax deductible and goes directly to help fund

priority programs at MSU.

Tennessee residents may purchase an M-State tag for

$56.50 at the county clerk’s office. A portion of the proceeds is

allocated to the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Highway

Fund. The plate can be personalized with five characters

available for a total of $91.50. Over 1,100 drivers in Tennessee

are promoting MSU with a university license plate.

Help MSU rule the road in Mississippi, Texas and

Tennessee by purchasing an M-State car tag the next time you

renew. For more on M-State license plates, please visit alumni.

msstate.edu/cartag. •

M-State tagsavailable in three states

Bully shows off his Mississippi State license plate, which is also available for purchase in Tennessee and Texas.

12AlumniNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS



Mississippi State University

has already made an

impact on the life of

Carlos Morris, and a much-needed

scholarship is paving the way for his

junior year of study in the College of

Agriculture and Life Sciences

“MSU makes you feel special, not just

like any other student,” said Morris. “I

have a great adviser who has guided me

since my freshman year, and with my

scholarship I feel like I am on the right

track for graduation.”

Although an undeclared major when

he enrolled, Morris found a part-time

job in the Custer Dairy Processing Plant.

A unit of the Mississippi Agricultural

and Forestry Experiment Station, the

plant serves as a teaching and research

laboratory for students studying dairy

foods. The facility houses some of the

most modern equipment available.

“The total manufacturing process

fascinated me, and I decided to major in

food science,” said Morris, who is from

Greenville. “As a future food scientist, I

feel like I will have a lot of opportunities

to make a positive impact on how food is

produced, manufactured and marketed.”

In the future, Morris hopes his

efforts will eventually lead to a research

position with a major food company or a

federal agency such as the United States

Department of Agriculture. He also

plans to pursue master’s and doctoral

degrees.

For the current academic year, the

R.C. and Sophie E. Paige Endowed

Scholarship is helping make Morris’

education possible. The scholarship was

established in 2003 and has grown into

an endowment in recent years.

The scholarship honors Mississippi

natives and lifelong educators Raynor

and Sophie Paige. As parents, they

brought education to the forefront

for their family and ensured their five

children earned degrees. After retiring

from education, Raynor Page worked

as a county agent for the Mississippi

Extension Service.

“The purpose of the scholarship is

to enable highly qualified students to

pursue their dreams of education and

prepare them for careers that will benefit

the community,” said Raygene Paige, the

couple’s youngest daughter. “My parents

instilled values in their students, and our

family is pleased to continue to inspire

recipients at MSU to achieve their goals

through this scholarship.”

Paige followed her father into the

extension field after graduating from

MSU with a doctor of education degree.

She served the state of Mississippi in

leadership roles with the extension

service for 39 years. Now retired, she

resides in Cordova, Tenn.

“The Paige scholarship makes me

feel worthy to receive it because it

honors the Paiges for their commitment

to education. Being selected for the

scholarship has given me a great sense of

pride,” Morris said.

Furthermore, the scholarship has

helped Morris remain in school.

“Since I am not eligible for federal

assistance, I have to supplement my

college years with student loans.

Scholarships lessen the amount I have to

borrow, so to be chosen for this award is

a true blessing,” he said.

Morris realizes the importance of

private gifts to Mississippi State and

how fortunate he is to be among the

beneficiaries of these gifts.

“Contributors allow students like

me to receive scholarships through

their generosity. Gifts for scholarships

help students strive for their goals

without worrying about paying for

college,” he said. •

MSU junior uses scholarships to prepare for future career

Carlos Morris

12FoundationNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS



Mississippi State University

has already made an

impact on the life of

Carlos Morris, and a much-needed

scholarship is paving the way for his

junior year of study in the College of

Agriculture and Life Sciences

“MSU makes you feel special, not just

like any other student,” said Morris. “I

have a great adviser who has guided me

since my freshman year, and with my

scholarship I feel like I am on the right

track for graduation.”

Although an undeclared major when

he enrolled, Morris found a part-time

job in the Custer Dairy Processing Plant.

A unit of the Mississippi Agricultural

and Forestry Experiment Station, the

plant serves as a teaching and research

laboratory for students studying dairy

foods. The facility houses some of the

most modern equipment available.

“The total manufacturing process

fascinated me, and I decided to major in

food science,” said Morris, who is from

Greenville. “As a future food scientist, I

feel like I will have a lot of opportunities

to make a positive impact on how food is

produced, manufactured and marketed.”

In the future, Morris hopes his

efforts will eventually lead to a research

position with a major food company or a

federal agency such as the United States

Department of Agriculture. He also

plans to pursue master’s and doctoral

degrees.

For the current academic year, the

R.C. and Sophie E. Paige Endowed

Scholarship is helping make Morris’

education possible. The scholarship was

established in 2003 and has grown into

an endowment in recent years.

The scholarship honors Mississippi

natives and lifelong educators Raynor

and Sophie Paige. As parents, they

brought education to the forefront

for their family and ensured their five

children earned degrees. After retiring

from education, Raynor Page worked

as a county agent for the Mississippi

Extension Service.

“The purpose of the scholarship is

to enable highly qualified students to

pursue their dreams of education and

prepare them for careers that will benefit

the community,” said Raygene Paige, the

couple’s youngest daughter. “My parents

instilled values in their students, and our

family is pleased to continue to inspire

recipients at MSU to achieve their goals

through this scholarship.”

Paige followed her father into the

extension field after graduating from

MSU with a doctor of education degree.

She served the state of Mississippi in

leadership roles with the extension

service for 39 years. Now retired, she

resides in Cordova, Tenn.

“The Paige scholarship makes me

feel worthy to receive it because it

honors the Paiges for their commitment

to education. Being selected for the

scholarship has given me a great sense of

pride,” Morris said.

Furthermore, the scholarship has

helped Morris remain in school.

“Since I am not eligible for federal

assistance, I have to supplement my

college years with student loans.

Scholarships lessen the amount I have to

borrow, so to be chosen for this award is

a true blessing,” he said.

Morris realizes the importance of

private gifts to Mississippi State and

how fortunate he is to be among the

beneficiaries of these gifts.

“Contributors allow students like

me to receive scholarships through

their generosity. Gifts for scholarships

help students strive for their goals

without worrying about paying for

college,” he said. •

MSU junior uses scholarships to prepare for future career

Carlos Morris

12FoundationNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS

12FoundationNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS

48 WINTER 2012

illis Durden McGeary left

Mississippi to follow his dream

of becoming a pilot, but he never

forgot his connection to his home state and the university

where he earned his degree.

As the last surviving member of a prominent Mississippi

Delta family, McGeary chose to give Mississippi State

University his beloved Sidon Plantation in Leflore County

to honor his heritage. The longtime California resident

died in 2011 at the age of 91.

The $8 million bequest of real estate, the largest in

university history, is designated as “unrestricted,” meaning

agricultural lease proceeds from the property will provide

an annual source of revenue for MSU as part of the

university’s Bulldog Properties program. The funds will

assist university areas that exhibit the greatest need.

The bequest includes 2,069 acres of farmland and 568

additional acres around Sidon Plantation near Greenwood,

as well as one of the oldest homes in Leflore County.

During his lifetime, the land meant more to McGeary than

the beauty of the home and the bountiful row crops that

grew there. The property remained in his

family for generations, and he wanted to preserve it.

“Row crops are still grown on the farmland – cotton,

corn and soybeans – and we are proud to say our efforts

are prosperous each year,” said John Doty Porter, one of the

property’s tenant farmers.

Doty and his family have farmed the property since the

early 1970s, and he is happy the land will now belong to

MSU since the McGeary family had no heirs.

Although McGeary deeply appreciated agriculture, he

had aspirations outside of farming. From the age of 10,

he decided to become a pilot. His dream led him to then

Mississippi State College where he earned an aeronautical

engineering degree in 1940.

Following graduation, McGeary was employed with

several aircraft manufacturing companies as an engineer

before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps. He became an

aircraft commander, flying missions in the European

Theater during World War II. For his valiant efforts, he

was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. One of his

favorite pastimes was to chronicle his many adventures of

piloting the B-24 Liberator.

After the war, McGeary returned to Mississippi

and managed the family plantation. He later

became a captain for American Airlines where

he worked for 29 years until his retirement.

In McGeary’s later years, California became his home.

Late pilot bequeaths Delta plantation to MSU

McGeary in his early years as a pilot.

Sidon Plantation, an $8 million bequest of real estate to MSU, is the largest in the university’s history.


He resided in Marina Del Rey for a number of years.

“Willis was always very adventurous and he loved flying.

He even took the first flight on a Concorde jet that went

around the world,” recalled Joy Andresen McGeary, his wife

of nearly 18 years.

Although his adventures took him away from Mississippi,

McGeary wanted to ensure his legacy in his home state

would be perpetually sustained.

“My husband wanted to leave the plantation and farmland

to MSU because he felt the university would be good

stewards of the property and because of his genuine fondness

and appreciation for the school,” Andresen McGeary said.

By gifting the land in this manner, alumni and friends like

McGeary can take comfort in knowing their family legacy

will be competently managed by the MSU Foundation real

estate team.

Mississippi State University accepts gifts of real estate and

timberland through its Bulldog Properties and Bulldog Forest

programs. Individuals who wish to support the university,

but are unable to make large cash gifts, are encouraged

to consider these giving programs through the MSU

Foundation and gain tax advantages.

“Mississippi State University is extremely grateful to

Willis McGeary for allowing us to transform his treasured

possession into a valuable resource for the students, faculty

and programs of the university,” said Jud Skelton, director of

real estate giving.

He continued, “The gift is remarkable, not only for the

level of generosity, but also for the investment in future

generations and the demonstration of confidence he placed

in Mississippi State.”

Gifts of real estate and timberland can help individuals

achieve financial, philanthropic and estate-planning goals.

Because of carefully laid plans, the McGeary name will

continue to be associated with Mississippi as part of the state’s

leading university.

For more on real estate giving opportunities, contact

Jud Skelton at [email protected] or 662-

325-0643, or Jeff Little at [email protected]

or 662-325-8151. •

StatePride: An Initiative for Student and

Faculty Support is still going strong, surging

past its $100 million goal on its way to a

much-anticipated finish.

“We set an ambitious goal of $100 million with

the StatePride initiative, and I am very pleased

we have been able to surpass that mark ahead of

schedule,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

“Mississippi State is extremely grateful to its

alumni and friends for understanding our needs

and stepping up to support this effort to assist our

talented students and dedicated faculty.”

Over the past four years, StatePride’s success

has been evident in the significant growth in

university scholarships, faculty development

opportunities and endowed positions.

The StatePride initiative will draw to a close at

the end of December, but specialized fundraising

efforts at Mississippi State will continue as the

MSU Foundation works to cultivate additional

sources for private gifts.

“We will continue to seek the support of our

alumni and friends in fulfilling many of the

unmet needs of our university,” said John P. Rush,

vice president for development and alumni. “Our

efforts will focus on securing gifts for specific

scholarships and endowed positions in crucial

areas as we move forward.”

Scholarships continue as one of the key goals

for StatePride. While many areas of the university

have received generous support for annual and

endowed scholarships, gifts for scholarships are

still needed university-wide, especially those

designated for general university.

Gifts for endowed positions in the form of

chairs and professorships through StatePride

can help MSU better serve its students. It takes

esteemed faculty in every area of the university

to challenge the best and brightest students to

excel in all learning environments. Additional

endowed positions will allow Mississippi State to

lure top educators to the academic community,

who in turn attract significant research support,

outstanding graduate students and other

distinguished faculty.

Gifts for StatePride may be made in honor

or in memory of a family member, classmate or

mentor. Donors may earmark gifts for the college,

school or priority of their choosing. Individuals

can visit www.msufoundation.com and make

their gift today for StatePride, or contact an

MSU Foundation fundraiser to discuss specific

opportunities at 662-325-7000. •

MSU fundraising initiative exceeds $100 million goal


He resided in Marina Del Rey for a number of years.

“Willis was always very adventurous and he loved flying.

He even took the first flight on a Concorde jet that went

around the world,” recalled Joy Andresen McGeary, his wife

of nearly 18 years.

Although his adventures took him away from Mississippi,

McGeary wanted to ensure his legacy in his home state

would be perpetually sustained.

“My husband wanted to leave the plantation and farmland

to MSU because he felt the university would be good

stewards of the property and because of his genuine fondness

and appreciation for the school,” Andresen McGeary said.

By gifting the land in this manner, alumni and friends like

McGeary can take comfort in knowing their family legacy

will be competently managed by the MSU Foundation real

estate team.

Mississippi State University accepts gifts of real estate and

timberland through its Bulldog Properties and Bulldog Forest

programs. Individuals who wish to support the university,

but are unable to make large cash gifts, are encouraged

to consider these giving programs through the MSU

Foundation and gain tax advantages.

“Mississippi State University is extremely grateful to

Willis McGeary for allowing us to transform his treasured

possession into a valuable resource for the students, faculty

and programs of the university,” said Jud Skelton, director of

real estate giving.

He continued, “The gift is remarkable, not only for the

level of generosity, but also for the investment in future

generations and the demonstration of confidence he placed

in Mississippi State.”

Gifts of real estate and timberland can help individuals

achieve financial, philanthropic and estate-planning goals.

Because of carefully laid plans, the McGeary name will

continue to be associated with Mississippi as part of the state’s

leading university.

For more on real estate giving opportunities, contact

Jud Skelton at [email protected] or 662-

325-0643, or Jeff Little at [email protected]

or 662-325-8151. •

StatePride: An Initiative for Student and

Faculty Support is still going strong, surging

past its $100 million goal on its way to a

much-anticipated finish.

“We set an ambitious goal of $100 million with

the StatePride initiative, and I am very pleased

we have been able to surpass that mark ahead of

schedule,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

“Mississippi State is extremely grateful to its

alumni and friends for understanding our needs

and stepping up to support this effort to assist our

talented students and dedicated faculty.”

Over the past four years, StatePride’s success

has been evident in the significant growth in

university scholarships, faculty development

opportunities and endowed positions.

The StatePride initiative will draw to a close at

the end of December, but specialized fundraising

efforts at Mississippi State will continue as the

MSU Foundation works to cultivate additional

sources for private gifts.

“We will continue to seek the support of our

alumni and friends in fulfilling many of the

unmet needs of our university,” said John P. Rush,

vice president for development and alumni. “Our

efforts will focus on securing gifts for specific

scholarships and endowed positions in crucial

areas as we move forward.”

Scholarships continue as one of the key goals

for StatePride. While many areas of the university

have received generous support for annual and

endowed scholarships, gifts for scholarships are

still needed university-wide, especially those

designated for general university.

Gifts for endowed positions in the form of

chairs and professorships through StatePride

can help MSU better serve its students. It takes

esteemed faculty in every area of the university

to challenge the best and brightest students to

excel in all learning environments. Additional

endowed positions will allow Mississippi State to

lure top educators to the academic community,

who in turn attract significant research support,

outstanding graduate students and other

distinguished faculty.

Gifts for StatePride may be made in honor

or in memory of a family member, classmate or

mentor. Donors may earmark gifts for the college,

school or priority of their choosing. Individuals

can visit www.msufoundation.com and make

their gift today for StatePride, or contact an

MSU Foundation fundraiser to discuss specific

opportunities at 662-325-7000. •

MSU fundraising initiative exceeds $100 million goal

12ClassNEWS

WINTER

ALUMNUS

50 WINTER 2012

’42 JIMMYE S. HILLMAN, professor emeritus of agricultural economics at the University of Arizona, has written Hogs, Mules, and Yellow Dogs, a memoir of growing up in Depression-era Mississippi. The book is available through the University of Arizona Press.

’49 JACK HATCHER, retired president, chairman and CEO of Robertson-Ceco Corp., has been honored by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association with a formal proclamation citing his many contributions to the metal building industry.

’58 BILL JAMES has been elected to another three-year term on the Board of Trustees for SECO, the fifth-largest electric cooperative in the U.S. James spent his entire career in the electric utility industry, retiring as a president and CEO.

’73 RICHARD CUICCHI of New Orleans, La., a retired information technology professional for Entergy Corp., had his book, Family Ties: A Comprehensive Collection of Facts and Figures About Baseball’s Relatives, published in September.

WILLIAM H. HOWARD III, a shareholder with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz law firm, has been elected to a one-year term as Southwest region vice president of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel.

’74 JIM KOERBER of Hattiesburg, a shareholder in the Koerber Company, has been named Outstanding Member for the Fourth Quarter 2012 by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts.

’76 BRENDA RAGAN NALEPA has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Conn., as part of the first women’s professional basketball team in the U.S., the All American Red Heads.

’78 CHRIS GRICE, senior vice president of Amegy Bank of Texas, has been elected board chair of The Woodlands, Texas Area Economic Development Partnership for 2012-13.

’79 JEFF MCCOY of Meridian has joined Great Southern National Bank as president and chief operating officer.

’82 DURR BOYLES of Jackson, commander of the 184th Sustainment Command with Mississippi Army National Guard, has been promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

’84 RICHARD J. GILBRECH has been named center director of NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center at Bay St. Louis. He previously was the center’s deputy director.

’85 JIM RICHMOND of Madison has been named vice president of corporate communications for C Spire Wireless. He previously was the company’s director of corporate communications.

’86 LESLIE R. DEAN of Jacksonville, Fla., an attorney with GrayRobinson Attorneys at Law, has been promoted to associate of counsel.

’93 ANDREW BISSONNETTE of Nashville, Tenn., a partner with the accounting firm Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, has been named to the Nashville Health Care Council’s 2012-13 board of directors.

’98 CHRISTOPHER WADE, a NASA engineer, has received NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal for helping lead the effort to ensure visiting space craft make it safely to the International Space Station.

’02 LESLIE PENN PETRO of Madison has written and published Cowbell Tales, a book of personal stories of the cowbell’s tradition at Mississippi State. Cowbell Tales became available in bookstores in November.

’07JOEY BROWN of Atlanta, Ga., has been promoted to vice president of sales and recruitment with The Campus Special, a national marketing and advertising firm that reaches students at 350 universities through print, mobile and online mediums.

BRITTANY WALKER has been promoted to audit senior with Deloitte & Touche.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTSJames Harris Martin, Oct. 2, 2012, to Scott Martin

(’99) and wife Jamie of

Hattiesburg.

Matthew Avery Shivers, March 20, 2012, to Melanie

Foster Shivers (’02)

and husband Ryan.

Porter Rookh Swann, Aug. 20, 2012, to Richard

Swann (’89) and Tamra Swann

(’94) of Starkville.


Boyce Ervin Harris (’49)—84, Tupelo; retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general and Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, Sept. 21, 2012.

Ras Lavaughn Caves (’51)—85, Laurel; retired agriculture instructor at Jones County Junior College, Oct. 7, 2012.

Paul Lockhart Jr. (’54)—80, Tyler, Texas; retired Texas Department of Transportation employee, Aug. 4, 2012.

Thomas Wayne Thornton (’75)—65, Carthage; owner of Thornton’s Tax Service and former owner of Pine Tree General Store, May 21, 2011.

William H. Ward (’76)—54, Worthington, Ohio; Department of Insurance employee for the State of Ohio, Feb. 19, 2009.

Guy Salvador Todaro Jr. (’81)—55, Draper, Utah; longtime Chevron employee, Aug. 29, 2012.

Sue Schmitt (’84)—Seattle, Wash.; retired dean of the College of Education at Seattle University, Sept. 29, 2012.

Hayes Daniel (attended)—63, Starkville; Sept. 2, 2012.

Jack Darrel Warrington (attended)—85, Leland; Dixie Gas Co. employee and Korean War veteran, Oct. 12, 2012.

Troy Kight (former employee)—84, Bainbridge, Ga.; former editor of MAFES research magazine at Mississippi State, Sept. 30, 2012.

Marvis Sisson (friend)—80, Philadelphia; retired South Central Bell Telephone Co. employee, Oct. 10, 2012.

12InMEMORIAM

winter

ALUMNUS


Boyce Ervin Harris (’49)—84, Tupelo; retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general and Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, Sept. 21, 2012.

Ras Lavaughn Caves (’51)—85, Laurel; retired agriculture instructor at Jones County Junior College, Oct. 7, 2012.

Paul Lockhart Jr. (’54)—80, Tyler, Texas; retired Texas Department of Transportation employee, Aug. 4, 2012.

Thomas Wayne Thornton (’75)—65, Carthage; owner of Thornton’s Tax Service and former owner of Pine Tree General Store, May 21, 2011.

William H. Ward (’76)—54, Worthington, Ohio; Department of Insurance employee for the State of Ohio, Feb. 19, 2009.

Guy Salvador Todaro Jr. (’81)—55, Draper, Utah; longtime Chevron employee, Aug. 29, 2012.

Sue Schmitt (’84)—Seattle, Wash.; retired dean of the College of Education at Seattle University, Sept. 29, 2012.

Hayes Daniel (attended)—63, Starkville; Sept. 2, 2012.

Jack Darrel Warrington (attended)—85, Leland; Dixie Gas Co. employee and Korean War veteran, Oct. 12, 2012.

Troy Kight (former employee)—84, Bainbridge, Ga.; former editor of MAFES research magazine at Mississippi State, Sept. 30, 2012.

Marvis Sisson (friend)—80, Philadelphia; retired South Central Bell Telephone Co. employee, Oct. 10, 2012.

12InMEMORIAM

winter

ALUMNUS

52 WINTER 2012

Bell Island’s Fall Colors

Situated on the gently sloping lawn between Lee Blvd. and Walker Road is an area well known to older MSU alumni as Bell Island. The bell was a senior class memorial erected by the Class of 1939 and destroyed by a falling tree in the early 1960s.

The spot, just west of the old YMCA, sat vacant until 1995 when a new bell was given by late MSU alumnus Jim Buck Ross, longtime Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

photo by Megan Bean

Then plan to be a part of the 3rd annual

Want to join other Mississippi State fans for a Mardi Gras-style celebration in the heart of Bulldog Country?

Tentatively set for Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at the Starkville Country Club.

Tickets cost $50 per person and will go on sale in early December once details for the event are finalized. Proceeds from the Bully Gras

Ball benefit the emergency/disaster preparedness, education, and response programs of Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response

Volunteer Services (OSERVS), a non-profit, charitable organization.

For information about purchasing tickets, contact the OSERVS office at (662) 384-2200 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

n over 900 hotel/B&B rooms

n childhood home of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams

n fabulous restaurants

n beautiful antebellum and Victorian homes

n specialty shopping

n recreational activities

Learn more about what you can do during your stay. Visit us online at www.columbus-ms.org.

While you’re in the area cheering on your Dawgs ... visit Columbus for even more excitement! We’re just around the corner.

www.columbus-ms.org662-329-1191800-327-2686

100 msu ad.indd 1 5/1/12 1:33:17 PM

Then plan to be a part of the 3rd annual

Want to join other Mississippi State fans for a Mardi Gras-style celebration in the heart of Bulldog Country?

Tentatively set for Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at the Starkville Country Club.

Tickets cost $50 per person and will go on sale in early December once details for the event are finalized. Proceeds from the Bully Gras

Ball benefit the emergency/disaster preparedness, education, and response programs of Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response

Volunteer Services (OSERVS), a non-profit, charitable organization.

For information about purchasing tickets, contact the OSERVS office at (662) 384-2200 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

n over 900 hotel/B&B rooms

n childhood home of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams

n fabulous restaurants

n beautiful antebellum and Victorian homes

n specialty shopping

n recreational activities

Learn more about what you can do during your stay. Visit us online at www.columbus-ms.org.

While you’re in the area cheering on your Dawgs ... visit Columbus for even more excitement! We’re just around the corner.

www.columbus-ms.org662-329-1191800-327-2686

100 msu ad.indd 1 5/1/12 1:33:17 PM

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBIRMINGHAM, ALPERMIT NO. 159

Post Office Box AAOne Hunter Henry BoulevardMississippi State, MS 39762-5526www.alumni.msstate.edu

ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

Made with recycled paper.

Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status is a violation of federal and state law and MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Discrimination based upon sexual orientation or group affiliation is a violation of MSU policy and will not be tolerated.

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.”

Don’t stand on the sidelines…get in the game!

MSU is an AA/EEO university.

Documents

Mississippi State University Alumnus Winter 2012