Mississippi State Alumnus Spring 2006 by MSSTATE

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Mississippi State Spring 2006 | Volume 82 | Number 1 USPS 354-520

President J. Charles Lee

Vice President for External Affairs Dennis A. Prescott

features A president says farewell | page 2 Mississippi State’s 17th president, Dr. J. Charles Lee, announced in November his plans to retire this spring. He leaves us with his thoughts and observations on his time as president, as well as past progress and future expectations for the university.

Associate Vice President for External Affairs and Alumni Association Executive Director Jimmy W. Abraham (’75)

Endowment to create ‘culture of entrepreneurship’ | page 8 A new program at Mississippi State, the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship, is helping students in business start-up ventures by providing seed

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

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

Editor Allen Snow (’76)

Associate Editor

funding and business planning assistance and partnering them with faculty members who have expertise in their areas of interest.

‘More than just a job’ | page 10 In August 2005, Dr. Jimmy Abraham became executive director of the MSU Alumni Association and associate vice president for external affairs. A 30-year Mississippi State employee, Abraham spoke with Alumnus magazine and talked about everything from working with students and alumni to his devotion to his alma mater.

Dental care helps pets live longer, happier lives | page 14 Dental care is the fastest growing specialty in veterinary medicine and MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the few schools in the South providing significant hands-on experience in the field.

Masters of music | page 16 Music is the universal language that crosses cultural barriers and expands horizons, and the Department of Music Education at Mississippi State is doing its part to realize those goals.

Kay Fike Jones

Designers Becky Smith Erin Norwood (’98)

Photographers Russ Houston (’85) Megan Bean

On the cover: Mississippi State’s 17th president, Dr. J. Charles Lee, retires this spring. He and first lady Pat are retiring to Virginia. In this issue, the president gives his assessment of the university’s recent progress and his thoughts on its future. Photo by Russ Houston.

Mississippi State University Alumni Association National Officers Joe L. Bryan (’63), national president; Betty L. Black (’74), national first vice president; David W. Jones (’81), national second vice president; Steve Taylor (’77), national treasurer; Keith Winfield (’70), immediate former national president.

Photo by Russ Houston.

a president says farewell Mississippi State University’s 17th president, Dr. J. Charles Lee, announced in November his plans to retire this spring following three years of service in that role, preceded by a year as interim president. 2

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During his tenure, Lee led a renewed commitment to the ideal of “The People’s University,” emphasized outreach to the state, adopted a Campus Master Plan to guide campus development, and oversaw a boon in campus building. Major construction completed during the past three years, in progress, or about to begin includes the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Franklin Center for Furniture Manufacturing and Management, Roy Ruby Residence Hall, Palmeiro Center, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building, Cullis Wade Depot, Bryce Griffis Residence Hall, and expansions of Lee Hall, McCool Hall, and Colvard Union. In addition, he led efforts to revitalize the MSU football program, including the hiring of head coach Sylvester Croom, the first African-American head coach in Southeastern Conference history.

A PRESIDENT SAYS farewell

A North Carolina native, he previously served the university 1999-2002 as vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. He also was dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences beginning July 2000. From 1978-83, Lee was dean of the School of Forest Resources and associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. He has held administrative positions at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and at Texas A&M University, where he served for 18 months as interim executive vice president and provost. He also served as deputy vice chancellor of the Texas A&M University System and was instrumental in forming the system’s Health Science Center. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in forest management and a doctorate in forest genetics, both from North Carolina State University. He and wife Pat are retiring to Richmond, Va. Following are his thoughts and observations on his time as president, as well as past progress and future expectations for the university.

while contributing immeasurably to the university’s continued growth and progress. With each passing month in the president’s chair, I have become more keenly aware of the deep-rooted strengths of Mississippi State, not least of which is a loyal alumni body of genuinely talented and generous men and women. Together with an excellent faculty, staff, and student body and a well-established role as a key player in the educational and economic life of the state, this broad base of support assures that MSU’s long-term future will be bright, if not always easy. My successor will find a firm foundation to build on, but will not want for challenges. Legislative appropriations now represent less than 30 percent of revenues for Mississippi State, but that funding is critical to the university’s ability to carry out its primary purpose of educating the sons and daughters of our state. In FY 2000, state support for general operations, including instruction, totaled $84.9 million. For the current year, that figure is down to $78.4 million—a decrease of $6.5 million over six years.

Leaving made easier by prospects for MSU’s future As you read this column, I will be reaching the end of my tenure as president of Mississippi State University. It seems hard to believe that four years and more have flashed by since I stepped into this office at the beginning of 2002. For Pat and me, the experience has been constantly fast-paced, often exhilarating, sometimes daunting, and on the whole a remarkably rewarding capstone to a long career in higher education. At all times, we have been buoyed by the kindness and support of the Bulldog family, who have made our jobs easier

President Lee and first lady Pat were all smiles at the president's September 2003 investiture ceremony. Photo by Russ Houston.

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Above: President Lee and Dean of Students Mike White prepare to hand out tee-shirts to university volunteers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Megan Bean. Below: Steve Langston, right, chairman of the Starkville Chamber of Commerce advisory board, congratulates the Lees upon their receiving this year’s T.E. Veitch Community Service Award, given by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership. Photo by Becky Wilkes, Starkville Daily News.

During the same six-year period, state funding for the MSU Extension Service, Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, and College of Veterinary Medicine dropped from $66.9 million to $59 million. The reductions have presented many challenges, including increased difficulty in recruiting and retaining the most highly qualified faculty and staff members. From fall 2000 to fall 2005, the number of tenured or tenure-track faculty, who generally hold doctoral degrees, declined by 51. The number of instructors, who generally lack terminal degrees, increased by 35. We simply have not been able to replace many departing faculty members with comparably qualified individuals, given our present level of resources and the expectations of faculty who can make a difference at MSU. Our faculty salaries are now 13 percent below the Southeastern Conference average at the full professor level; 5 percent below at the associate professor level; and 8 percent below at the assistant professor level. In fall 2005, MSU welcomed one of its largest freshman classes ever, including 34 National Merit Scholars and six National Achievement Scholars. More than 23 percent of the new students are African-American. Almost one-third of all MSU students receive federal Pell grants, indicating a significant level of financial need. 4

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Despite the obstacles that many of them face, MSU students are succeeding at a high rate, with a six-year graduation rate of 57 percent, and they are highly competitive in the marketplace. Mississippi continues to lag significantly behind the national average in the percentage of adults who hold a bachelor’s degree and the increased earning power and quality of life that comes with it. Current and prospective college students represent the best hope for Mississippi’s future. These students need and deserve our support. But years of diminished state appropriations have shifted more of the cost of higher education to students and their parents. Tuition and required fees have increased by 43 percent since 1999-2000 for a full-time student who is a Mississippi resident. The increases have been regrettable but necessary responses to declining state funding. The latest tuition increase—a 5 percent hike which took effect last fall— was needed to offset the current year’s decline in state support, higher employer insurance premiums, higher

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Among the dozen universities I have been associated with, none has contributed more to the people of its state— certainly not with such modest resources—as this one has provided to Mississippi. utility costs, and other rising expenses. But these increases also threaten our commitment to affordable education. We appreciate the expressions of support for restored funding for higher education that came from legislators and other state policymakers as this year’s legislative session got under way. It is time to reverse the trend of shrinking state support for universities and provide MSU and other institutions with the resources necessary to meet our obligations to the future of Mississippi. And it is time for those who benefit from higher education to become more passionate advocates of equal or better opportunities for the next generation. Mississippi’s needs are great, and are matched by the responsibility of “The People’s University” to help meet them. Among the dozen universities I have been associated with, none has contributed more to the people of its state—certainly not with such modest resources—as this one has provided to Mississippi. And no state in which I have worked has as much riding on the success of a single institution. MSU’s unique mix of programs parallels the direction of our nation’s economy, and its ability to deliver beyond the campus carries the university’ s resources and expertise to every corner of the state.

Despite the financial constraints of the past few years, the university is solidly positioned for future growth and progress. As I said upon assuming the role of president, all of our missions are important, but the most sacred is learning. I hope that the past four years have served to reaffirm our commitment to both access and academic excellence. Last fall’s turnaround enrollment increase is a foretaste of the sustained growth that we foresee for the years ahead. We will also see continued improvement in the undergraduate academic experience at the university. MSU will build on initiatives such as the new learning communities and the Math Domain introduced last fall and the Center for Teaching and Learning opened this spring, and will expand and enhance opportunities for honors students. We have sought successfully to bring more focus to university research. Our state’s future clearly holds

President Lee congratulates his son, John Charles Lee Jr. of Richmond, Va., upon his MSU graduation in December 2005. Photo by Russ Houston.

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President Lee with the 2005 inaugural Presidential Endowed Scholars, Alan Boyle, Emily Hicks, and Shawn Sanders. Photo by Russ Houston.

more new industry partnerships, spin-off and start-up companies, intellectual property disclosures, and high-tech, high-wage jobs linked to MSU research. Just since January 2005, more than 120 new jobs have been created by MSU spin-off companies and industrial partners including SemiSouth, II-VI Incorporated, ABSL, and Aurora Flight Sciences. The universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research and development expertise and infrastructure plays a key role in bringing good jobs such as these to our state. And while external contracts and federal support drive the research enterprise, the foundation that must be present to leverage those resources relies heavily on state support. We have become more broadly engaged in extending the resources of the university to assist families, communities, public education, and particularly business and industry. Components of the university such as the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and the new Industrial Outreach Service are making a real difference in the competitiveness of our manufacturing sector. We have restructured key areas such as federal relations and the MSU Extension Service, and more closely aligned the efforts of the Alumni Association, the MSU Foundation, and the Bulldog Club. The physical campus is being modernized and made more welcoming through an extensive program of renovation, beautification, and construction, including a series of new residence halls that are the first to be constructed at MSU in more than 35 years. Streets and parking are being overhauled with a view toward a safer and more pedestrian-friendly campus. The university has become more efficient and more accountable to the taxpayers and policymakers of the state through performance-based budgeting, cost-cutting 6

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mergers and consolidations, and more stringent standards in areas such as cell phone and automobile use. A retirement incentive program offered in 2002 and a reduction in the number of state-funded employees have helped us cope with the financial constraints of recent years. Our athletics program is establishing a solid record for integrity, academic success, and financial stability while increasing its level of competitiveness. NCAA certification was renewed last fall. The State of the Future capital campaign has attracted commitments of about $280 million and is on track to meet its $400 million goal in 2008. A primary outcome will be better scholarship opportunities for new students of a broad range of academic abilities. I hope that in the years ahead the MSU family will continue to raise expectations for itself, to think bigger and push for higher standards, and to focus on what is best for the future of Mississippi. Pat and I returned to MSU in 1999, with no thought of a presidency in mind, because we believed in this universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission and knew that it could build on its strengths to serve the state and nation with special distinction. It has been a great honor and privilege to help realize some of that potential. And it is gratifying to know, as we leave you, that Mississippi Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horizons are unlimited. Thank you for this very special opportunity. Go Bulldogs!

BY ALLEN SNOW PHOTOS BY RUSS HOUSTON AND MEGAN BEAN

The energized atmosphere of any university community, almost by definition, is swirling with ideas waiting to take shape. Many such ideas eventually will be implemented. Many others will not—for lack of entrepreneurial skills, guidance, seed funding, or other impediments. A new program at Mississippi State, the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship, is helping students overcome those early barriers to business success. Established through the MSU Foundation as part of State of the Future: The Mississippi State Campaign, the program is assisting students in business start-up ventures by providing seed funding and business planning assistance, as well as partnering them with faculty members who have expertise in the students’ areas of interest. The program recognizes the long and distinguished service of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who has been instrumental in helping to fund numerous university-based research projects.

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A primary goal of the effort is to create a “culture of entrepreneurship” among students, said program director Gerald Nelson, who also holds the Jack Hatcher Chair in Engineering Entrepreneurship in the Bagley College of Engineering. Nelson’s involvement with the program began in early January. Already he has several projects in the early stages of implementation. “The first ones to come forward were really by wordof-mouth,” Nelson said. “In the near future, we will establish a Web site, print brochures, and I’ll give presentations before the deans, faculty, center directors, and department heads.” Award decisions are based on proposals reviewed by Nelson and a mentoring committee, which will work closely with the student entrepreneurs throughout the process. After a proposal is accepted, the student is required to submit a preliminary business plan. Awards will vary from approximately $1,000 to $20,000.

Facing page: From left, President J. Charles Lee; Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; and Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., visit the research facility named for Cochran.

“The process is about attracting students and faculty who have ideas, helping them formulate business plans, making sure their intellectual property rights are taken care of, and helping them decide whether their idea is viable,” said Nelson. “And if they receive an award, that will certainly help them in the start-up phase.” The first awardee, named in February, is a company formed by two doctoral students and a faculty member in the Department of Forest Products. “TermiSys Technologies is an interesting entity,” Nelson said. “What they’ve done is patent a termite control system that attracts termites to bait stations, rather than relying on termites to randomly forage to the bait stations, which is how the current technology works.” The principals of the company are Dr. Terry Amburgey, professor of forest products, and graduate students Shane Kitchens and Kevin Ragon. “The way this came about is intriguing,” Nelson said. “Dr. Amburgey was consulting with the Navy about submarine communication. It was in Hawaii, where they had a series of communication antennae supported by wooden poles that were used to transmit signals to the submarines, and termites were attacking the poles. It turned out that the frequencies that were being emitted by the transmitters was attracting the termites. Poles supporting non-energized antennae were not attacked. “Kevin began to do some research, found low-level electronic frequencies that attract them, discovered the appropriate intensities to use, and patented the application of using those frequencies and intensities.” Nelson said that in addition to marketing electronic

devices to attract termites to bait stations, TermiSys plans to consult with the pest control industry in the future. The technology they’ve developed will be on the market, hopefully, within one to two years. According to Nelson, “Their project has huge potential. They’re going to generate considerable revenue from their consulting business as well as the sale of the termite attracting units.” Nelson hopes to eventually partner some of the startups with established companies that have already been through the process. To that end, he plans to create and involve a network of MSU alumni entrepreneurs. “I think the great benefit that we can provide through the Cochran endowment, campus-wide, is that it’s going to provide a laboratory and a learning experience for a lot of students. Even if some of the ventures fail within a year or two, they’ve had the experience of learning what is involved in starting a business.” Administered through the President’s Office, the endowment is seeking at least $3 million in private funding for support of its programs. “We have received gift commitments of more than $2.5 million and have good prospects for more gifts in the future,” said Dennis Prescott, the university’s vice president for external affairs. “We’re very pleased at the response we’ve received to date, although not surprised, given the esteem in which Sen. Cochran is held around the country. We’re looking forward to visiting with more individuals, corporations and other entities about how their support can assist Mississippi entrepreneurs.” To date, major commitments have come from Northrop Grumman Corp., Entergy Mississippi, Mississippi Power, and General Dynamics, among others.

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Abraham has clear vision for alumni association BY KAY FIKE JONES PHOTOS BY RUSS HOUSTON

In August 2005, Dr. Jimmy Abraham became executive director of the MSU Alumni Association and associate vice president for external affairs. A 30-year Mississippi State employee, Abraham spoke with Alumnus magazine recently and talked about everything from working with students and alumni to his devotion to his alma mater. Where is your hometown and how did you end up at Mississippi State? I am from Clarksdale, one of eight children of Tommy and Sue Abraham. In January 1973, I began working at a men’s clothing store in Clarksdale and my boss, S.W. Haaga Jr., was a huge MSU fan. He kept his diploma and cowbell displayed in his office and he was a great

ambassador for his alma mater. He was one of the main reasons I decided to enroll at MSU. I’m very proud that seven of my brothers and sisters attended Mississippi State as well, and because of this, there are no bigger supporters of State than my family. You met your wife here? Yes, Patti and I met on campus in 1973, and we were married in 1974. Her hometown is Philadelphia, and her degree was in business education. We both graduated in 1975. We have three sons, Jim, Josh and Jase. Jim and Josh both attended State, and are now teaching and coaching at Pearl High School and Tupelo High School, respectively, and Jase is a freshman at Hinds Community College. He plans to be a student at State in 2007. Your bachelor’s degree is in marketing. Did you ever consider going into the business world? I did actually, for my first job was with the Mississippi Heart Association. I lived in Greenwood, traveling 30 counties helping set up high-blood pressure screenings in businesses and fund raising for the Heart Fund.

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Why did you come back to Mississippi State? I missed the college atmosphere and I wanted to work on my master’s degree, so I decided to go back to school to get an MBA degree. A few weeks before classes began, I went by to visit with Dr. Bill Foster, former assistant vice president for student affairs, whom I got to know while I was an undergraduate student. He, along with Dr. Harold Hall (former dean of students) and Dr. Roy Ruby (former vice president for student affairs), all of whom are mentors to me, encouraged me to think about the student affairs profession. I enjoyed my student experience at State so much, especially working with the Student Association, so I changed my graduate program from business administration to student personnel. I earned my master’s degree in student personnel and counselor education in 1977.

Did you work while you were in school? What did you do? I became the residence hall director of Evans Hall, an upperclass hall for 288 men, in January of 1977. I took the place of the last house mother in the residence halls on campus at that time—from that point all hall directors had a master’s degree or were working on a master’s degree in the student affairs area or a related area. I later became the hall director for Duggar Hall, a residence hall for 222 male freshmen. This was home to our oldest son, so when it was torn down last year to make room for our new residence halls, we got some bricks from the building, as well as bricks from Hightower Hall, which was the residence hall I lived in when I first came to State. These bricks are in my office now for all to see and they bring back great memories to me.

When did you take over orientation? In November 1978, I was named the coordinator of orientation, and I worked with the new student and parent orientation program until 1998. In 1985, I became the director of enrollment services (now Admissions and Scholarships), and worked not only with the orientation program, but also with many others to help recruit students to Mississippi State. I did this until August 2000, when I became the assistant vice president for student 12

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affairs. In November 2002, I was given the opportunity to serve as interim vice president for student affairs. In August 2005, I became the executive director of the MSU Alumni Association and associate vice president for external affairs. All during my tenure at Mississippi State University, I have worked with outstanding student leaders and great staffs, and I do all I can to keep up with them today. I am very proud of all of them.

Has switching from student affairs to alumni been a big adjustment? No, not really. In both jobs, the ultimate goal is to promote our university to others. In student recruiting, we are marketing a great product to prospective students— Mississippi State University. In my new role, we are continuing to market this same great product, just to a different audience—graduates or friends of State.

So far, what have you enjoyed most about leading the Alumni Association? I am really enjoying traveling and visiting with MSU alumni and friends of our university. I have attended numerous alumni gatherings over the past six months, and I plan to continue to get out as much as possible to talk with those who care so much about Mississippi State, to get their thoughts and ideas so that we can build an even stronger alumni association.

Will you be able to bring some of the methods that were so successful in student recruiting to the Alumni Association? We hope so. Both areas are about building relationships, effective communication, and a sincere desire to be of service to others. We are going to be engaged with alumni and friends of the university, our faculty and staff, and our currently enrolled students.

What are your priorities at this point? What do you want to change or improve? Our alumni association is on a solid foundation thanks to former executive directors Charlie Weatherly, Steve

Abraham meets with Alumni Association national president Joe Bryan (’63).

Grafton and John Correro and all those volunteers who have done so much for our university. And the staff here is outstanding—I am very impressed with their dedication and work ethic. Our challenge is to build on this foundation and make it better. We plan to use the technology that is available to us in the best way possible, including making our Web site more interactive and sending out electronic communications in a timely fashion. It is important that we continue to work to recruit students, for students are the life-blood of our university. And without students, we will not have alumni. We also plan to survey alumni to find out their wants and needs, we want to add more value and benefits for being an active member of the alumni association, and we want to improve on existing programs, such as promoting the official class ring. This is a great way for graduates and alumni to let others know that MSU is their institution of choice.

What would you like the Alumni Association to become? How do you see it in, say, 10 years? While we will always look to make changes that will

enhance our association, we are not going to make changes just for the sake of change. Our goal is simple— to be the best alumni association we can be. Our longrange plans will involve the input from many, including the volunteer alumni leaders who give of their time freely for their university.

Is there anything you do that doesn’t involve maroon and white? Any hobbies? I have been a runner for 19 years, and I enjoy watching my boys play baseball and now, coach this sport. We have been athletic season ticket holders for as long as I have been at State, and we go to many sporting events on and off campus. My wife, however, says my work is my hobby, and I do enjoy my job so much. I can honestly say that working at State has been a tremendous ride and honor for me. I have gained more from MSU than I will ever be able to give back to her. This is where I want to be and this is more than just a job for me. I am very blessed and thankful to have been associated with this great university for more than 30 years.

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BY BOB RATLIFF PHOTOS BY TOM THOMPSON

Brushing their dog’s teeth is something most people think is not necessary or even silly, but Susan Seal has good reason to be aware of her pet’s dental health. 14

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Left: Sadie, Susan Seal's Shetland sheep dog, enjoys having her teeth brushed with her poultry-flavored toothpaste. Right: Dr. Dianna Eubanks examines a patient's teeth at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

“When I was growing up, my grandparents had a poodle with health problems related to gum disease,” Seal said. “Taking care of his teeth could have helped him live a longer, healthier life.” Sadie, Seal’s 2-year-old Shetland sheep dog, is benefiting from those childhood memories. The Starkville resident brushes Sadie’s teeth two or three times a week. “It only takes about 5 minutes, and Sadie kind of likes it,” she said. “Her toothpaste is made just for dogs and is poultry flavored.” Dogs, cats and other pets can have the same dental problems as people, said Dr. Diana Eubanks at Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Dogs and other animals develop plaque and film that contains bacteria,” she said. “As a result, periodontal disease is the number one disease you see in pets. Any pet over about 3 years of age that has not had some significant routine oral health care will develop gum disease.” Left untreated, gum disease in dogs and other pets can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and other health problems. Some routine care, Eubanks said, can save a pet owner money in the long run and their pet unnecessary pain. “Brushing a dog’s teeth two to three times a week with a veterinary toothpaste will help promote good dental health,” she said. “Using human toothpaste can upset a dog’s stomach, and they hate the taste.” Many people consider rawhide chews and hard dog food all the dental care their dogs need. “Anything that removes plaque as they bite down will help,” Eubanks said. “Certainly diet and plaqueremoving treats are part of a dental health program, but as pets live longer and become more bonded with their owners, professional dental care becomes more important.” In fact, dental care is the fastest growing specialty in veterinary medicine and MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the few schools in the South providing significant hands-on experience in the field. “We have a small dental X-ray unit and usually do an average of three procedures a week,” Eubanks said.

“We also offer continuing education classes in veterinary dentistry for our graduates because it is becoming an important part of veterinary practices.” Dr. Bill Nalley is a graduate of MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine practicing veterinary dentistry in Long Beach. Dogs and cats, he said, are not supposed to have bad breath, which is one of a number of signs of periodontal disease. “My clinical experience has shown me that many dogs and cats suffering from advanced periodontal disease also will appear lethargic, not respond eagerly to play, seem depressed, not eat well and may have symptoms of heart, liver or kidney disease,” Nalley said. Part of the treatment for gum disease is a prophylaxis, a procedure to remove plaque and clean the teeth. “Clients often call me two weeks after a prophylaxis and are jubilant that their pet is acting like a 2-year-old again,” he said Dr. Nalley agrees that brushing their teeth is an important part of keeping a pet in top physical shape. “Dogs, cats, and ferrets benefit greatly from daily brushing of their teeth,” he said. “There are products on the market that claim their use will reduce or eliminate the need for brushing. I agree that some of these products will aid in keeping pets’ teeth free of plaque, but none of them will totally replace brushing.”

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Photo by Lana Lancaster.

A universal language expands horizons, builds relationships for Mississippi State BY MARIDITH WALKER GEUDER

Never mind that Michael Brown grew up in rural Georgia, where music revolved mostly around a few voices in his small church choir. Never mind that his family had modest means and few opportunities for luxuries. He fell in love with the trumpet, and the rest is history.

Photo by Russ Houston.

Right: Department head Michael Brown, also director of the MSU/Starkville Symphony, leads a rehearsal of Handel’s “Messiah.” Photo by Russ Houston.

The talented head of Mississippi State’s music education department directs the MSU/Starkville Symphony, as well as maintaining an active concert and ensemble schedule. In addition to his administrative duties in a department of 19 faculty members, Brown teaches regularly, including a completely online version of music appreciation. In collaboration with the university’s Lyceum Series, he has launched a Faculty Chamber Series that features MSU faculty members, and he is the force behind an annual community performance of Handel’s “Messiah” that attracts standing-room-only crowds. All of that is a professional expression of a love that goes back to childhood and a chance encounter at church camp. It started with a bugle and morning reveille—the sound that shot through him like electricity. “I thought it was the trumpet of God,” he laughs. He bolted out of bed in his pajamas and was hooked for life. The next morning he set his alarm for 5:30 so he wouldn’t miss the beautiful notes sounding the wake-up call. “I had never heard anything like it,” he recalls. He went home and begged for the instrument that had struck a deep chord in him. Trumpets were hard to come by in rural Georgia, but by chance an acquaintance of his dad’s had a neglected instrument stuck under a meat counter in his business. “He owed my dad some money, and that became payment for the debt,” Brown said. Realizing the power of music, he discovered his life work and his passion. Working in concert At Mississippi State, Brown’s passion is shared by the 19 colleagues whose talents cover a wide spectrum: piano, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, voice, and— just as important—the teaching of music. Both music majors and non-majors participate in many of the department’s ensembles, including the 280-member

Famous Maroon Band, and nearly 2,000 students annually take the department’s courses in music appreciation. “We hope many of them become lifelong consumers of good music,” Brown said. Through the education of students and through outreach activities that serve the community, MSU’s music education department fulfills its dual mission of preparing music educators and serving as a comprehensive resource for the region. Students entering the program may earn a music education degree or a bachelor’s of music degree. “We want our department to be a place where music is made and performed, and where students have an opportunity to learn about music by experiencing it,” Brown said. To that end, the MSU music education faculty offers about 200 concerts annually, developing performance schedules that meet every audience need. “We offer faculty and guest artist concerts every evening of the week, as well as Sunday afternoons,” Brown noted. Faculty artists perform both on campus and in a variety of off-campus venues, last year appearing in Golden Triangle concerts as well as appearances with the Tupelo and Tuscaloosa (Ala.) symphonies and with Syracuse University in New York, and others. Several have produced compact disc recordings, including the department’s Golden Triangle Brass Quintet, a snare drum compact disc by percussionist Jason Baker, “Saxophone and Other Voices” featuring pianist Jackie EdwardsHenry and former faculty member Gail B. Levinsky, and

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Classical guitarist Michael Patilla and Brazilian pianist Rosangela Y. Sebba. Photos by Russ Houston.

“Septiembre” by guitarist Michael Patilla. “Our faculty includes talented performing artists as well as talented teachers,” Brown said. Among recent honors are December presentations by flutist Lana Johns and composer Jason Bahr at the College Music Society in Quebec. Music as outreach Believing that music provides the language to cross cultural barriers, to inspire youngsters, and to teach in a unique and memorable way, one MSU faculty member routinely takes world music into area schools. He has been recognized for his efforts by the Starkville School District, in addition to receiving support on campus from the Holland Music for All Fund, established to include outreach efforts in the department. Dr. Robert Damm, director of music education partnerships, is a specialist in African and Latin American percussion instruments. He frequently visits schools from Gulfport to Coahoma to West Point. “I like to provide an environment for discovery,” he said. With a gallery of more than 60 percussion instruments, he has plenty of hands-on selection. From West Africa, he may choose drums, rattles, or bells. He also selects instruments from Native American and Latin American cultures. A vibraslap, for instance, is designed to imitate the sound of a donkey jawbone. A celebration of Native American music last fall at West Point’s Churchill Elementary School highlighted mask forms, traditional musical instruments, and masks. The students’ public presentation culminated a unit of study on indigenous arts and culture, and was developed in cooperation with Chris Melby-Codling, an MSU lecturer in curriculum and instruction. 18

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“Students made gourd rattles, and we used authentic Taos and pow-wow drums,” Damm said. Crossing cultures also is the goal of a Brazilian Music Festival launched in 2003 by pianist Rosangela Sebba, a native of that country and a frequent guest soloist both in Brazil and across the Southeastern U.S. “Our goal has been to introduce to broader audiences the melodies and rhythms of Brazilian music and dances, which are highly syncopated,” Sebba explained. She frequently showcases the music of her native country in her many on- and off-campus appearances. In other departmental outreach activities, the annual Piano Showcase—now in its 22nd year—brings talented high school pianists to campus to participate in intense European-style master classes with accomplished guest and faculty artists. For area audiences, the showcase offers several concerts during the week-long event. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the students, and it’s an equally exciting opportunity for audiences to experience remarkable musicianship,” said director Jackie Edwards-Henry, noting that in 2005 showcase guest artists Logan Skelton of the University of Michigan and Jennifer Hayghe of Louisiana State presented concerts. The Summer Band Directors Institute, headed by Elva Kaye Lance, director of bands, brings about 20 state band directors to campus to learn more about the latest

techniques and musical literature. A 50-year tradition, the annual Honor Band Camp brings approximately 200 youngsters to campus for clinics that culminate in public concerts. A January state band clinic draws nearly 400 high schoolers. “It’s been a nice source of recruiting students to MSU,” Brown noted, adding that participants experience campus and what it’s like to be at the university. Also part of its outreach efforts, the department’s Web site (see music.msstate.edu) is coordinated by Dr. Richard Human, assistant professor of trombone. Dr. Human also is the founder and publisher of the Online Trombone Journal, free to those interested the exchange of information about the instrument. Dynamic growth One of the fastest-growing areas of the department is its guitar program, under the direction of Dr. Michael Patilla, an Alabama native who holds a doctorate from the prestigious Eastman School of Music. “Dr. Patilla came to Mississippi State as an adjunct professor, and has built a program that now has 14 majors and has involved even more students in playing the guitar,” Brown said. “We limit classes to 15 students, and they fill within 24 hours.” A Guitar Ensemble directed by Patilla is among a number of instrumental performing opportunities available to majors and non-majors. Other chamber ensembles include those for flute, brass, piano, and trumpet, among others. Large ensembles include the Chamber Singers, University Chorus, Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, the Campus/Community Band, and the Famous Maroon Band. To accommodate rehearsal needs for a diverse department with large performing groups, the university will build a new $3.5 million band and choral facility, funded primarily through private donations. To be built at the intersections of Hardy and Blackjack roads, the new facility will house both the band and choral programs and will include several large rehearsal halls. An added feature will be a new, adjacent practice marching field for the Famous Maroon Band. Other offices and studios will remain in their current Morrill Road locations. Michael Brown praises the talent and the creativity

of MSU’s music faculty in providing outstanding teaching and cultural opportunities for campus and beyond. His early childhood passion has never waned, and he says that among his MSU colleagues he is daily reminded of a lesson he learned many years ago at church camp. “I discovered that it’s possible to influence someone’s life by being a serious musician,” Brown said. Through teaching, performance, and outreach, Mississippi State’s music programs are doing just that. Points of Pride The department’s two bachelor’s degree programs are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Dr. Jason Bahr was awarded a $10,000 commission from the Fromm Music Foundation, based at Harvard University. He was the youngest of 14 composers selected to create an original work. High brass instructor Michael Huff is listed on the 200506 Mississippi Arts Commission roster. Dr. Rosangela Sebba is included in the 60th edition of “Who’s Who in America,” profiling the country’s most accomplished men and women in all fields. She also is listed in the Mississippi Arts Commission roster. Dr. Bruce Lesley, director of choral activities, in 2005 was selected for the Ernestine Ferrell Award for Excellence in Choral Music by the Mississippi Music Educators Association. Mississippi State students took four first-place awards, as well as a second place and honorable mention, in annual competition sponsored by the Mississippi Music Teachers Association. The Magnolia Trio, a woodwind chamber ensemble that includes bassoonist Elaine Peterson, clarinetist Sheri Falcone, and flutist Lana Johns, made its debut appearance in 2005 at the University of Texas at Austin. The group’s repertoire ranges from Bach to ragtime. Dr. Elaine Peterson, woodwind instructor, initiated a Double Reed Day, providing specialized instruction in oboe and bassoon. It is in its second year and features performing ensembles and master classes.

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CAMPUS news Forensic study may help change building codes Mississippi State civil engineers are teaming with private industry to conduct a forensic study of the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast, with an eye toward strengthening state building codes as an essential part of the rebuilding effort. Utilizing $30,000 in support from the Ready-Mix Concrete Research Foundation and $25,000 from the Mississippi Concrete Industries Association, experts from the university’s civil engineering department already are evaluating the wind and water impacts of Hurricane Katrina on residential and commercial structures along the coast. The Mississippi Construction Industry Coalition also is helping draft a bill for introduction in the 2006 legislative session to establish a review board that would oversee the implementation of a proposed statewide building code. “Right now, there are no standard statewide building code requirements in Mississippi,” said Robert Varner, executive director of the Ridgeland-based concrete industries association. “It is left up to the city and county officials to determine.” One member of the MSU civil engineering group, veteran professor Dennis Truax, said the team will study coastal topography, historic land use in the area and meteorological conditions that prevailed during Katrina Aug. 29. “For example, U.S. 90 has been destroyed or reduced to a single lane in several areas,” he explained. “We will be studying how it failed and what might be done to prevent a similar failure if another event like this should occur.” He said another area of major concern will be “preventing sewers from filling with sand and debris as flood waters recede.” In addition to Truax, faculty colleagues on the team include associate professors Bill McAnally and Harry Cole, and assistant professors Chris Eamon, Li Zhang and Phil Gullett. Pat Fitzpatrick, an associate research professor at the Stennis Space Center office of MSU’s GeoResources Institute, also is working with the team, which made an initial inspection visit to the Gulf Coast in late October.

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New Miss MSU and alternates

Sophomore Kylie B. Estes of Mooreville (center) is winner of the Miss Mississippi State University Pageant. She will represent the institution in the 2006 Miss Mississippi Pageant, a lead-in to the Miss America event. Alternates also selected in November include (from left) freshman Elizabeth A. Joslin of New Albany, third; sophomore Anna E. Tadlock of Brandon, first; sophomore Bethany L. Shipp of Starkville, second; and senior Jill L. Shumaker of Corinth, fourth.

Pass Christian seeking assistance in rebuilding Mississippi State’s Carl Small Town Center is working with officials in Pass Christian to help the Gulf Coast city rebuild its historic downtown area from the August destruction of Hurricane Katrina. The center is the research and extension arm of the university’s College of Architecture, Art and Design. Its staff members have been asked to share their expertise in municipal planning and funding. Endowed by the Greenwood businessman and Viking Range Corp. founder for whom it is named, the nonprofit Carl Center specializes in community design, research and education assistance. For years, the university group has provided assistance to Mississippi towns with various aesthetic and structural challenges. Longtime Pass Christian resident Ben Puckett said the Carl Center “has an exceptional reputation for helping towns like Pass Christian utilize its community space and assets in the best interest of the people.”

CAMPUS news MSU offers replacement diplomas lost to Katrina Mississippi State graduates whose university diplomas were destroyed or swept away by Hurricane Katrina may receive a replacement at no cost. Registrar Butch Stokes said alumni should submit their requests—in writing only—to the Registrar’s Office, P.O. Box 5268, Mississippi State, MS 39762. While use of the U.S. Postal Service is strongly encouraged, Stokes said inquiries, if necessary, also may be made via e-mail to either Cynthia@registrar.msstate.edu or jvance@registrar.msstate.edu. Each correspondence should include the following information: —Name as it appeared on the original diploma; —Year and semester of graduation; —Major and college (or school) awarding the degree; —Social Security identification number; and —Return mailing address. For questions contact Sharon Nobles at (662) 325-9410.

Prof’s roof tests could help guide coast rebuilding A Mississippi State engineering professor is using giant magnets to simulate the uplift impact of hurricane-force winds on flat roofs and hopes his research findings will help guide rebuilding efforts along the storm-crushed Gulf Coast. Veteran civil engineering professor Ralph Sinno is completing a report titled “Guidelines and Performance Specifications for Reconstruction of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” “We want to provide information to building code authorities that will allow them to modify, create and design new buildings that will be stronger,” said the wind-load expert, who completed his undergraduate work at the University of Florida. “We’re looking at how buildings should be reconstructed, where shelters should be placed and how to revitalize the Gulf Coast, from Hattiesburg all the way to the seashore,” explained Sinno, who is assisted in the project by 15 of his senior students.

Aerospace engineering receives $50,000 from Northrup Grumman Mississippi State aerospace engineering students soon will benefit from $50,000 in funding received from Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems. Representatives from the Los Angeles-based aerospace design company recently presented the check to Kirk Schulz, dean of the Bagley College of Engineering, and aerospace engineering department head Tony Vizzini. The majority of the funds will be used to establish the Northrop Grumman Endowed Scholarship to assist deserving MSU students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. Preference will be given to those students from areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina. “High-technology companies across the nation, like Northrop Grumman, continue to face a critical shortage of specialized engineering personnel,” said Paul K. Meyer, sector vice president of Advanced Capabilities Development at Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Systems sector. “Through this endowment, we hope to motivate some of the brightest and best students to seek careers in aerospace engineering.” MSU officials said a portion of the funds will be designated to the aerospace engineering department’s advancement fund to help provide support for student design teams participating in competitions such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ Design/ Build/Fly international competition.

White leads chemical engineering school Former longtime Georgia Tech professor and research administrator Mark G. White is the new director of Mississippi State’s Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering. White’s appointment as the Earnest W. Deavenport Jr. Chair and school director became effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Clifford George, who served as interim director of the chemical engineering school during 2005. White joins MSU after 28 years at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, where he served both as a professor and White director of the Focused Research Program in Surface Science and Catalysis. A Spring 2006

CAMPUS news Planned cyber crime center gets $2.5m boost Mississippi State will move forward with plans to establish a Jackson-based training center for cyber crime investigators, thanks to an anticipated new $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Justice Department. The university’s Center for Computer Security Research received an initial DOJ grant of nearly $1 million last summer to plan creation of the Joint Cyber Crime Fusion Center. It will be located downtown at the Sillers State Office Building. CCSR director Ray Vaughn said the latest grant will allow expansion of the scope and capabilities of the Jackson center, which will open this year as a centralized operational and training facility devoted to fighting computer-related crimes. The state Attorney General’s Office, FBI, Jackson State University, and the University of Mississippi School of Justice and Law are other partners in the project. “Right now, the training is taking place here at MSU,” said Vaughn, the university’s Billie J. Ball Professor of Computer Science and Engineering. “We have courses scheduled for the future and have taught some already. They are being taught by David Dampier, who heads the Computer Forensics Training Center within CCSR. “We are developing a training program for state and local law enforcement officers in the Southeast that will focus on computer forensics investigation, and the specific process and procedures that must be followed,” added Vaughn, a retired U.S. Army colonel. “JSU will be developing a forensics training capability to help us train.”

MSU helps Jackson County shipyard streamline post-storm production Mississippi State is using advanced engineering technologies to help Northrop Grumman Ship Systems streamline the production flow of its hurricane-battered shipyard in Pascagoula. Already providing NGSS with emerging computer simulation and modeling expertise since 2003, university researchers are refocusing their post-Hurricane Katrina effort to help the U.S. shipbuilder redesign and regenerate its facilities and operations. Using part of $1 million in funding from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, researchers from MSU’s industrial engineering department and Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems are building and analyzing 3-D simulation models of shipyard operations. The models will be used to visualize product flow and evaluate investment alternatives. “Our models can simulate a month’s worth of production in seconds on standard desktop or laptop computers,” said industrial engineering professor Allen Greenwood. The project’s co-principal investigator, Greenwood said the stepped-up effort for NGSS will utilize artificial intelligence and other state-of-the-art, problem-solving technologies. They are the same tools applied earlier to help Nissan’s $1.4 billion automobile manufacturing plant in Canton identify and analyze potential production bottlenecks, he added.

Californian to donate land for research development A retired California architect plans to donate 15 acres of land to Mississippi State for a research facility that could serve as the centerpiece for broader commercial development at the site near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Wayne Fishback of Simi Valley, Calif., a facility planning and design specialist throughout his 40-year career, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the university. It confirms his intention to give MSU land north of the airport and on the western side of Airport Road near the Highway 82 interchange. 22

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Fishback owns an adjacent 285 acres that he hopes to develop for light industry, professional buildings, restaurants, services stations, retail shops, and other commercial uses in the area about midway between Starkville and Columbus. “I believe Mississippi State represents the kind of quality that will act as a catalyst for more development,” Fishback said during a recent visit to the state. “I would like to emulate the symbiotic relationship here that exists between Stanford University and the Silicon Valley in California. It will be good for MSU and a big attraction for business.”

CAMPUS news Cheese store stocked and ready for business

Kim Matta, cheese store assistant manager, spends part of her week double-checking inventory at the Herzer Hall operation. Following a busy 2005 holiday season that included the sale of more than 100,000 of its world-famous cheeses and related products, the Stone Boulevard shop fully restocked all popular selections. For more information, telephone (662) 325-2338.

Aging expert is delegate The emeritus head of Mississippi State’s counselor education and educational psychology department was among nine Mississippi delegates to a December White House Conference on Aging. Warren Housley, a recognized authority in the field of gerontological counseling, recently was appointed by Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., to help represent the state at the national program held every decade. Housley, who joined the MSU faculty in 1971, currently serves as an adjunct professor in what now is the department of counseling, school psychology and special education.

Brazilian scholars expand fisheries knowledge at MSU Far from their home 4,600 miles to the south, two husband/wife Brazilian research teams are studying fisheries and aquatic ecosystems in Mississippi. During the 2005 fall semester, aquatic ecologists Sidinei Thomaz and Rosemara Fugi of Maringa State University were guests of Mississippi State wildlife and fisheries associate professor Eric Dibble. Maristela Cavicchioli Makrakis and Sergio Makrakis are just beginning a 12-month stay at MSU. The fish engineering professors at the State University of Western Paraná are the guests of professor Steve Miranda, Dibble’s departmental colleague. Thomaz is an aquatic botanist working on aquatic ecosystems and plant ecology. He and Dibble have been

evaluating how aquatic plants provide structural habitat and mediate species diversity in aquatic communities. Fugi is a fish biologist specializing in diets. “Rosemara (Fugi) has been working in the laboratories with undergraduate and graduate students,” Dibble said. “She has taught my students many new techniques in analyzing fish diets.” Dibble said the exchange program is part of a decade-long memorandum of agreement between MSU and Maringa State. “We currently have several graduate students studying aquatic ecosystems in Brazil,” he added. Both couples said they chose Mississippi State for the recognized quality of its research and the international reputation of Miranda and Dibble.

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A specialist in community counseling is being honored by the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Carl J. Sheperis received the professional organization’s 2005 Outstanding Counselor Educator/ PreTenure Award for excellence in scholarship, teaching and service. A member of the university faculty since 2000, he is an assistant professor in the department of counseling, educational psychology and special education.

The head of the department of marketing, quantitative analysis and business law is the new president of the Society for Marketing Advances. Associate professor Brian Engelland, a member of the university faculty since 1997, was installed as the 43rd president of the international society of marketing scholars during the organization’s annual business meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

A junior member of Mississippi State’s music education faculty is receiving national recognition from a prestigious Massachusetts music foundation. Jason Bahr, an assistant professor of music theory at the university for the past two years, is among 14 commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation to develop new compositions of their choice. In addition to the honor of being among an elite group of professionals, Bahr is receiving $10,000 to support his creative efforts over a three-year period. When completed, his and the other compositions will be debuted at a foundation-sponsored concert.

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“The Fromm Prize is considered one of the most significant peer-reviewed composition competitions in the world,” said Michael Brown, head of MSU’s music education department, in congratulating his colleague.

The 2004-05 Factbook of Mississippi State University is being recognized as the best of its kind in the Southeast and beyond. The 83-page, spiral-bound compendium of current information about MSU received the first-place award at the annual meeting of the Southern Association for Institutional Research. The notebook is produced by MSU’s Office of Institutional Research. The award represents two in a row for director Gary Pike and others in the Allen Hall-based office. Last year, their online version—www.msstate.edu/dept/ oir—received SAIR’s Best Electronic Factbook Award.

The director of Mississippi State’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems is the recipient of a prestigious international research award from a society in Japan. Rand German received the Award for Distinguished Achievement in Research from the Japan Society for Powder and Powder Metallurgy during a formal ceremony in the East China Sea coastal city of Hamamatsu. He also lectured at the society’s invitation-only seminar on the topic, “Establishment of the Scientific Underpinnings in Powder Injection Molding and Liquid Phase Sintering.”

“Stories of Independence: Identity, Ideology and History in EighteenthCentury America” is the title of a book by a Mississippi State historian. Assistant professor Peter C. Messer traces the emergence of distinctively American attitudes about society, politics and government. A member of the university’s history department faculty since 2002, he is a specialist in early American and early modern European societies. “Stories of Independence” is published by Northern Illinois University Press. Within its 268 pages, Messer describes how the ways that early Americans recorded their history from colonial times through the immediate post-independence decades helped shape the young nation’s future. A doctoral graduate of Rutgers University, he previously published “Writing Women in History: Defining Gender and Citizenship in PostRevolutionary America” in the journal Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture.

Two December engineering graduates are the latest to receive Jack Hatcher Entrepreneurship Certificates through a university program that promotes careers combining technical and business skills. Norman O. Cruse of Okolona and Christina L. Smith of Greenwood successfully completed the certification process during the 2005 fall semester in MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering. Cruse, an electrical engineering major, is a 2000 graduate of Okolona High School. Smith, an industrial engineering major, is a 2000 Greenwood High School graduate.

S T A T E An environmental stewardship study of six Florida golf courses is earning a Mississippi State graduate recognition from a national professional association. Robert G. “Rob” Collins of Naples, Fla., is one of only three university students whose research projects were selected for top 2005 student awards of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Other honorees attended Cornell University and the California Institute of Technology. Collins, formerly of Signal Mountain, Tenn., received a master’s degree in landscape architecture in May 2005. As an independent contractor for a golf course architect, he now is overseeing construction of an 18-hole golf course. MSU assistant professor Susan Mulley, Collins’ former faculty adviser, termed the award a “remarkable recognition” that resulted from a research process that was “extremely thorough in establishing criteria and collecting data.” Titled “Fool’s Gold: Audubon International Certification as a Predictor of Foraging Habitat Suitability for Wading Birds,” his investigation took a year to complete. In the conclusion, Collins advances some objective measures for evaluating the relative environmental stewardship of golf courses certified as “gold signature sanctuary programs” by Audubon International of Albany, N.Y.

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A College of Forest Resources doctoral student is among four honored recently by professionals attending the 2005 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in Michigan. Daniel M. “Dan” O’Keefe of Shepherd, Mich., who is completing a terminal degree in wildlife and fisheries, received the first Janice Fenske Memorial Award for Outstanding Students. His MSU research focuses on restoring paddlefish in Mississippi streams, especially those draining into the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The MFWC award is a tribute to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ fisheries biologist who died in 2005. The paddlefish, also known as the spoonbill catfish, is a large, primitive species native to rivers throughout the state and region. Channelization, gravel mining and associated activities have taken a toll on the once viable populations, however.

A longtime adjunct faculty member and a graduate student in the department of entomology and plant pathology are selections for special recognition by a national professional organization. Frank Davis, an adjunct university professor who also was a federal agricultural scientist for four decades, is among nine new Fellows of the Entomological Society of America. Since retiring from the U.S. Department of Agriculture several years ago, he has served as vice mayor and alderman for the City of Starkville. The entomological society has recognized only 191 people as fellows—its most prestigious award— since initiating the honor 71 years ago. Davis and MSU doctoral student Sandra Woolfolk were honored during the organization’s annual meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

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Woolfolk, who earlier received a master’s degree in entomology from the MSU department, was recognized as a runner-up for the ESA President’s Prize for Display Presentation in the Biological Control category.

George M. Hopper has been voted president-elect of the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs. Hopper, the dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, will serve as president of the association for a two-year term beginning January 2007.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision received a $50,000 gift from a national foundation. The monies from the George B. Storer Foundation of Saratoga, Wyo., will be used to upgrade the center’s assistive technology laboratory. “New purchases will include updated synthetic speech and screen magnification software, as well as refreshable Braille hardware and other assistive technology to allow students who are blind or have low vision to use the center’s computers,” said J. Elton Moore, center director. The Storer Foundation gift also will expand the center’s ability to offer distance education training opportunities to persons who are blind or have low vision. The center is funded primarily by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Rehabilitation Services Administration. RRTC was founded at MSU in 1981 and is the only one of its kind in the United States.

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CAMPUS news Faculty lecturers showcased Mississippi State’s Bettersworth Leadership Lectures offer public presentations from our most stimulating faculty members, discussing the subjects in which they have expertise. The series was created in memory of John K. Bettersworth, university vice president for academic affairs from 1961-1977, who wrote The People’s University: A Centennial History of Mississippi State. Lecturers will make presentations at high school and community college classes and assemblies free of charge. Topics range from “Being Blind and Working” to “Plant Biotechnology Tastes Good” to “Southern Women and the Struggle Against Child Labor.” To schedule one of these lecturers at your school, telephone 662-325-2224, fax 662-325-1MSU or email obh2@msstate.edu. Contact the Office of Admissions and Scholarships at least three weeks in advance with preferred topics, at least three possible dates, and details about audience size.

MSU-founded company fills gaps in spatial information technology A new company based at Mississippi State is filling some “critical gaps” in remote sensing and spatial information technology—increasingly used by policymakers and resource managers as a major tool of economic development. Spatial Information Solutions Inc., founded and led by researcher Chuck O’Hara of the university’s GeoResources Institute, has developed a portfolio of software products that will be marketed to government agencies, private companies and individual clients. “These products eventually may generate an economic impact totaling in the millions of dollars annually, with significant upside potential from there,” said O’Hara. Located near campus in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, SIS utilizes software and technologies developed and tested in the high-performance computer environment of MSU’s ERC (Engineering Research Center). “SIS has developed a series of highly specialized software tools that fill critical gaps in spatial information technologies and solutions,” said O’Hara, who serves as company president and chief technical officer. Provisional patents have been filed on eight SIS software products developed by O’Hara in collaboration with several other MSU scientists. SIS has exclusive rights to the technology and the university will share in the royalties.

Restoring the grandeur

Renovation of the historic Lee Hall auditorium was well under way as the spring semester began. The 1,000-seat facility is being refurbished and enhanced, providing an improved performing arts venue for Mississippi State.

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SPORTS talk MSU places 34 on SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll Mississippi State placed 34 student-athletes on the Southeastern Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, a figure that ranks seventh among all conference schools. The Bulldog football team produced 20 of the 34 honorees for the school. Graduate students Jeremy Jack and Will Prosser topped the MSU pigskin list. Seniors Derek Ambrose, Keith Andrews, Russell Cook, Britt Cross, Marcus Evans, Chris McNeil, Brett Morgan, Casey Rogers, and Leron Yarbrough accounted for MSU’s largest class on the honor roll. Juniors Brian Anderson, Jonathan Hill, Brad Horton, Lance Long, Carlton Rice, and Dezmond Sherrod also made the list. Sophomores Michael Henig, Dio Herrera and Anthony Strauder earned all-academic honors for the first time. Mississippi State’s 20 football selections were sixth best in the league. The women’s soccer team placed nine members on the team: Stephanie Dallas, Treena Ferguson, Emily Meyers, Sara Moore, Meghan Odom, Heidi Ondra, Brandi Parker, Kevyn Shelledy, and Jennifer Turpin. Rachel Cooper, Jamie Joyner, Orsolya Kriegel, Andrea Mead, and Erin Seago were volleyball student-athletes earning SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recognition. Kentucky placed 52 student-athletes on the chart, 41 in sports played by Mississippi State, to lead the league. The 2005 honor roll was based on grades from the 2005 spring, summer and fall terms.

Alumnus joins women’s tennis staff A new face, but familiar name within the MSU tennis circles joined the Lady Bulldog tennis program in January. Max Fomine, a former men’s tennis player for Mississippi State, returned to his alma mater in an assistant coaching capacity with head coach Tracy Lane. Fomine is a former four-year letterwinner under MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard and former coach Andy Jackson from 2001-04. He comes to Starkville after serving as a tennis instructor at the Smith & Stearn Tennis Academy at Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, S.C. At the tennis academy, he taught private lessons, developed a fitness regimen for players and was in charge of running daily tennis camps. His other coaching credentials include being a tennis instructor at the Ontario Racquet Club in Ontario, Canada. During his stay at Fomine the club, Fomine developed junior tennis programs. During his playing time with the Maroon and White, Fomine posted a 69-66 record in singles competition. He garnered his highest career national ranking in the September 2003 Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, coming in at No. 84 in singles. His best season as a Bulldog came during his junior campaign, registering a team-high 22 wins in singles and a 13-12 doubles record. Fomine experienced NCAA post-season play all four years of his stint as a Bulldog netter. He was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2003 and 2004 en route to earning a general business degree in May 2004. Fomine is a native of Teraspol, Moldova.

University extends Croom’s contract The Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning approved a contract extension request for Bulldog head football coach Sylvester Croom. The extension carries Croom through the 2009 football season. “This contract extension acknowledges the progress the Mississippi State football program Croom has made under the leadership of head football coach Sylvester Croom,” said Larry Templeton, athletics director. “It also demonstrates the confidence we have that Coach Croom will continue to build this program into the future. “The Bulldog family recognizes the foundation coach Croom and his staff have built,” Templeton continued. “We know where we are, we know where we’re headed and we feel very good about the future of Bulldog football. This extension assures this recruiting class that Sylvester Croom will be their head coach through their four years on our campus.”

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SPORTS talk Athletics completes “MSU Warms the Coast” drive Sixteen Mississippi State studentathletes representing six varsity sports delivered more than 1,000 jackets and coats to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in January. The donation marked the athletic program’s final contribution in its “MSU Warms the Coast” drive to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. MSU employees and students delivered more than 6,000 warm weather items to the coast during the nearly two-month long drive. “On behalf of the entire Mississippi State family, I want to thank those involved for their outstanding support in helping MSU make this drive special,” MSU Director of Athletics Larry Templeton said. “I also want to thank our sister institutions around the country for their donations. I’m not sure that the gesture made didn’t bring more warmth than the coats themselves.” The delegation of Bulldog studentathletes, coaches and administrators

Sixteen MSU student-athletes and a handful of Bulldog athletic staff members assisted in delivery of coats to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in January.

made stops at Pass Christian High School, Biloxi High School, the Gulf Coast Boys and Girls Club, and two regional distribution centers. At each

WAM seeking female members The MSU Bulldog Club is seeking to involve more women in Mississippi State athletics through its new Women About Maroon, or WAM, organization. WAM also allows its members to meet coaches and their spouses, attend sports clinics, social gatherings, and more. It is open to any female 18 years and older. Interested women may join WAM at any time for an annual $25 fee. Members will have the chance to renew their membership each year. In addition to meeting Bulldog coaches and networking with other women interested in MSU athletics, members receive a WAM shirt, 2006 Scholarship Donor decal, unique lapel pin, invitations to sports clinics, a charm highlighting a different sport annually, and a chance to participate in special events centered around MSU sports. For more information, contact the Bulldog Club at 662-325-3074; Bulldogclub@athletics.msstate.edu.

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stop, the MSU Freshman volleyball player group met with Nicole Palazzo assists a coastal resident with the displaced selection of a donated coat. hurricane victims and distributed coats and jackets. MSU acquired the charitable donations from a variety of sources, including a public coat drive at its final two home football games and a solicitation to NCAA Division I athletic programs around the country. The initial donations from the football games were shipped to the coast in time for Christmas, while the jackets acquired through the contributions of approximately 80 other colleges and universities were taken to the coast just after the holidays.

WITH CURRENT RATES UP TO 11.3%*, MSU Gift Annuities are a great way to support the University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and your portfolio. Your investment in MSU produces a tax deduction. But you also receive a guaranteed competitive return as long as you live. Then, MSU uses the remaining assets to improve the quality of education. Which, believe it or not, could be even greater. Call 877-677-8283 or visit www.msufoundation.com for more information. 29 *Rates are based upon age and are subject to change.

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MSUGIFT U S ANNUITY

ALUMNI news Holmes honored as National Alumnus of the Year MSU’s National Alumnus of the Year for 2006 has devoted his life to helping others. Dr. Richard E. Holmes of Columbus received the honor at the annual Alumni Association awards banquet in February. A native of Chicago, Holmes came to Starkville at the age of 18 months and was reared by his grandmother. As a child, he contracted tetanus and was treated by his grandmother’s physician, Dr. Douglas Conner, and he says that from that day on, he knew he wanted to be a doctor. At age 11, Holmes took a job cleaning the office of Dr. Conner, Starkville’s only African-American physician at the time. Following his grandmother’s death, he moved in with Dr. and Mrs. Conner, where he remained until finishing college. Following two years of undergraduate study at Wiley College in Texas, he enrolled at Mississippi State in July 1965, becoming the university’s first African-American student. On the day Holmes was admitted to MSU, he wrote a letter to university administrators in which he said, “As a lifelong Mississippian, I am here to study and learn at a highly rated university which happens to be in my hometown. I seek no special favors and I hope that there will be no impediments from any source during my stay here at State.” And, indeed, the historical event transpired peacefully, almost quietly, unlike similar milestones at other universities. Following graduation in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Holmes spent two years in the Army, then returned to MSU and earned a master’s degree in microbiology and nutrition in 1973. Entering medical school at Michigan State University, he subsequently 30

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2006 National Alumnus of the Year Dr. Richard Holmes of Columbus, center, is congratulated by alumni association president Joe Bryan, left, and President Charles Lee.

fulfilled his dream of becoming a physician. He then began a 23-year career as an emergency room physician at hospitals in Birmingham, Ala. In 1991, MSU honored Holmes’ landmark enrollment at the university as well as his medical career by naming the university’s cultural diversity center for

him. He and his wife Judie later established a minority scholarship fund that also carries his name. The family returned to MSU in 2003, where Holmes now is a staff physician at the John C. Longest Student Health Center.

Outstanding alumni, chapters honored The Alumni Association named outstanding chapters for 2005 at the annual alumni banquet in February. The recipients were selected from among chapters throughout the state and nation. In-state chapters recognized for excellence in giving, chapter membership and activities, and leadership were: Category I, selected from chapters with membership potential of under 325— 1. George-Greene County; and 2. Covington County. Category II, selected from chapters with membership potential of 325 to 749.—1. Lincoln County; 2. Tippah County; and 3. Prentiss County. Category III, selected from counties with membership potential of 750 or more—1. Central Mississippi; 2. Oktibbeha County; and 3. DeSoto County. Outstanding out-of-state chapters for 2005 were—1. Atlanta, Ga.; 2. Memphis, Tenn.; and 3. Houston, Texas. Honor chapters for 2005 were the Lee, Leflore-Carroll, Southeast Mississippi, Warren, and Washington chapters within the state, and Baton Rouge, La., Birmingham, Ala., Huntsville, Ala., Mobile, Ala., Nashville, Tenn., Northeast Florida, and West Tennessee chapters out of state.

ALUMNI news Frederiksen

College Alumni of the Year honored

College Alumni of the Year for 2006 were announced at the February alumni awards banquet. The group includes, front row from left, Virginia L. Carron of Atlanta, Ga., partner with Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett, & Dunner LLP, Bagley College of Engineering; Susan Kay Brown-Skrobot of Jacksonville, Fla., senior project manager for Vistakon, College of Arts and Sciences; and Timothy G. Rials of Maryville, Tenn., director of the Tennessee Forest Products Center, University of Tennessee, College of Forest Resources. Back row from left are Charles C. Barlow Jr. of Jackson, partner and CEO of Barlow, Eddy, Jenkins PA, College of Architecture, Art and Design; Scott L. Branton of Starkville, research leader and veterinary medical officer for USDA-ARS South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine; Tyrone P. Keys of Tampa, Fla., founder and executive director of All Sports Community Service, College of Education; John Nutie Dowdle of Columbus, retired chairman and CEO of Dowdle Gas Inc., College of Business and Industry; and David G. Morrison of Baton Rouge, La., associate vice chancellor of Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and associate director of Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Want to make your newest addition an official

BULLDOG?

You can receive a “Future Bulldog” certificate for your son or daughter by simply calling the Office of Admissions and Scholarships at 662-325-2224, by e-mailing admit@msstate.edu, or visiting http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/friends/ futurebulldog.html. You must include the child’s full name, your address, and the year he or she will be a freshman at Mississippi State. Start your Bulldog traditions now.

Outstanding Young Alumnus named Matthew Frederiksen of Moody, Ala., a 2000 graduate of MSU, is the 2006 Outstanding Young Alumnus. Following his graduation from Mississippi State, he moved to Augusta, Ga., where he found there was no alumni chapter for his alma mater. Undeterred, Frederiksen became involved in the Atlanta chapter of the MSU Alumni Association, a distance of about 150 miles. After he moved to Moody, he tried to join the nearby Birmingham chapter, but was unable to contact any of the officers listed on the alumni Web site. Again, Frederiksen persevered, this time by arranging his own athletic viewing parties with other local Bulldog fans through the Internet and other contacts. When the Birmingham chapter reorganized in 2004, he immediately joined and was appointed membership chairman. He now maintains the chapter Web site. Frederiksen, a native of Birmingham, earned his degree at Mississippi State in business administration-management. Currently, he is working on an MBA at Indiana University. When he is not studying for his master’s degree or dealing with all things maroon, he is a geographic information systems analyst for Metsys Solutions Inc. in Trussville, Ala. A Spring 2006

ALUMNI news Distinguished Service Awards presented Brent S. Broadway (’89) of Houston, Texas, Robert L. Fleming III (’86, M.S. ’93) of Vicksburg, and Faye Andrews McNeill of Lucedale have received Distinguished Service Awards for their years of service and dedication to the MSU Alumni Association. They received the honors at the annual alumni awards banquet in February. Broadway is manager of Superior Water Management in Houston. Fleming is an environmental consultant and plant manager of Southern Bio Fuels. McNeill is a homemaker and has funded a scholarship in memory of her late husband, alumnus George McNeill. Broadway

Fleming

McNeill

We’re looking for a few good Bulldogs Do you know a potential Mississippi State student who may not be aware of the opportunities our great university has to offer? If so, please complete as much of this form as possible and mail to Office of Admissions and Scholarships, P.O. Box 6334, Mississippi State, MS 39762, or fax to 662-3251MSU. You can make a positive difference for a high school or community college student by introducing them to your alma mater.

Student’s name

SS#

Address City, State, ZIP Phone

E-mail

High school or community college GPA

Graduation date ACT/SAT

Gender

Academic interest Your name

MSU class year

Relation to prospective student Your phone

Your e-mail

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ALUMNI news Cruise the Majestic Passage on the Mosel, Rhine and Neckar Rivers September 18-26, 2006 The fare is approximately $2,095 per person, plus air, based on double occupancy. Value added tax is an additional $125 per person, subject to change. Winding their way through valleys blanketed with vineyards and hills crowned with castles, the Mosel, Rhine and Neckar rivers flow through some of the most idyllic countryside in Europe. Experience these legendary waterways during the grape harvest season and sample local vintages at an exclusive wine tasting. Embark the deluxe MS Switzerland in medieval Cochem, Germany. From ancient Koblenz, sail past charming villages filled with half-timbered houses on cobblestoned streets. Marvel at the display of historic treasures in Mainzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gutenberg Museum and voyage through the scenic splendor of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Martin Lutherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spired city of Worms. Set out to explore romantic Heidelberg and the spa town of Bad Wimpfen before concluding in baroque Ludwigsburg. For more information, contact Libba Andrews at 662-325-3479 or landrews@alumni.msstate.edu .

2006 TRAVEL PROGRAM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 2 7-15

Class Ring Ceremony, 4 p.m., Hunter Henry Center Travel program: Chianti in a Tuscan Villa

JUNE

9-19

Travel program: Danube River and Habsburg Empire

JULY

Central Mississippi Chapter: Summer Extravaganza at the Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson. Details TBA Please check our Web site at www.alumni.msstate.edu as our calendar of events is updated frequently.

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University seeks funds for beautification endowment Mississippi State has recently undertaken key projects on its Starkville campus, from landscaping an outdoor café addition for the State Fountain Bakery to disassembling Five Points intersection. All were done in an effort to transform itself into one of the most striking campuses in the Southeast.

MSU’s Department of Campus Landscape has developed a master plan for campus, one that will make the campus more pedestrian-friendly and appealing to returning alumni, visitors and prospective students. A proposed first phase, currently under way, will cost an estimated $1.5 million, and because of its magnitude will require funds from private sources. Tim Lacy, MSU’s new director of campus landscape, is busy working to return the campus to its former glory, but he knows that private support is needed to move plans forward. “To put our plans into perspective, it will require at least $40,000 to totally re-landscape one building on campus, and we have much work that needs to be done,” Lacy said. “With a total of 32 full-time employees–and a seasonal crew of temporary workers–we are maintaining twice the area with half the people and

In the wake of recent storms, the campus landscape department is hard at work restoring some of the features lost. Replacement of trees in the heart of campus remains a priority, and the department is looking for private donors to assist with the project. “Although it will take hundreds of years for newly planted trees to become statuesque, we are encouraging alumni and friends to donate a tree or make a contribution

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less than half the funding of the average Southern university,” he explained. The master plan calls for a brick sidewalk that will stretch from Lee Hall to the new Cullis Wade Depot and extend to the bridge just past the Hunter Henry Center. A brick patio will be added to the front of the Seal M-Club that may one day feature an interactive computer controlled fountain to provide a unique pre-game walk through experience. Landscaping of this area, where Creelman Street has been blocked, will entail planting several large oaks to provide shade for tailgating activities. Additional plans call for updating the walkways on the Drill Field, and giving Stephen D. Lee’s bust a much needed facelift to tie in with a new flagpole area. The MSU Foundation is seeking $10 million from private sources to build an

endowment to be used for the beautification of Mississippi State’s main campus. When fully funded, the endowment will generate $400,000 annually for landscaping and other needs. Alumni and friends may name benches, fountains, outdoor plantings, and other outdoor structures or areas with a $5,000 gift to the Campus Beautification Endowment plus the cost of the project. Projects with significant ongoing costs may require an endowment sufficient to cover these additional costs.

For more information or to contribute to the Campus Beautification Endowment, please contact John Rush at 662-325-7000.

Campus suffered from storms to begin the growing process today,” explained Tim Lacy, director of campus landscape. “More than 100 trees were downed in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina and the tornado resulting from Hurricane Rita,” according to Lacy. “In fact, Rita actually hurt us on the main campus worse than Katrina,” he added. Mississippi State suffered the majority of lost trees on streets and in parking lots along Stone Boulevard, Dorman Hall, Perry

Cafeteria, Bell Island, Montgomery Hall, the Chapel of Memories, Allen Hall and Harned Hall, as well as the Wise Center and the South Farm, Lacy noted. Gifts of any size are needed for the project. Individuals or groups wishing to make a gift of at least $750 through the MSU Foundation may furnish a tree for planting. However, those desiring recognition for themselves or a loved one should consider making an additional $5,000 gift designated to the

campus beautification endowment to provide a perpetual care program. Campus landscape has begun replanting some trees through previously funded projects around campus in the area extending beyond Ruby Hall to Coliseum Boulevard and Dudy Noble Field. There currently is no provision for the replacement of trees in the areas of the Seal M-Club, Bell Island, and Montgomery and Allen halls or the cafeteria.

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The following individuals, corporations and foundations have made commitments of more than $50,000 from October 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, for State of the Future: The Mississippi State Campaign. Dr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Alewine; Mr. and Mrs. William T. Austin; Mr. and Mrs. James Wor th Bagley; John Bentinck-Smith Trust; Mr. Peter E. Blum; Mr. Steve Brandon and Ms. Patsy L. Fowlkes; Briarwood Enterprises; Dr. and Mrs. Will D. Carpenter ; ChevronTexaco Corp.; Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic P.A.; Lamar A. and Tracy Conerly Jr.; CREATE Foundation; The Day Foundation; Design Integrations Inc.; Mr. and Mrs.

Jacky G. Dorsey; Mr. and Mrs. John N. Dowdle; Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Dunlap; EADS Airbus North America Engineering; Ford Motor Co.; Mr. and Mrs. Jan L. Gwin; Mrs. Winifred B. Hartwig; Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Hatcher Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. John W. Head; Rober t M. Hearin Support Foundation; Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Henry Jr.; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Mr. Thomas McCloud; Hon. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery;

Northrop Grumman; Mr. and Mrs. Benny C. Otis; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parker Burke; Raytheon Co.; SAP America; Mr. and Mrs. Leo W. Seal Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Shackouls; Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Smith; The George B. Storer Foundation; Floyd D. Wade Sr. Trust; Mr. Charles Cullis Wade; Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy L. Walden and J.C. and Mary Yates Whitehead Estate.

CAMPAIGN TOTAL CLIMBS HIGHER Mississippi State’s on-going capital campaign is nearing $277 million in gifts and pledges, staying on track toward its $400 million goal. “Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, the MSU Foundation already has raised more in private support for our university through State of the Future than any such effort in Mississippi State’s history,” said John Rush, director of major gifts. “What we have seen and heard from prospects thus far gives us confidence that we will reach the next milestone in campaign counting in the near future,” he added. Major commitments in the form of fiveyear pledges or planned gifts are needed to fulfill many of the campaign goals in the key areas of endowed scholarships and fellowships; endowed chairs and professorships; new and renovated facilities, and educational and program enhancements. Annual support

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designated for a specific college, school or area through the Fund for Excellence annual giving program and support designated for athletics is also needed. Gifts to the campaign may take a number of forms including outright contributions of cash or real property; pledges (which may be paid over a five-year period), securities, gifts-in-kind, and deferred gifts of various types. All

contributions to the university through Dec. 31, 2008, will be considered a commitment to State of the Future. If you have questions about giving to State of the Future, or if you need additional information, please contact the MSU Foundation and speak with one of our development professionals at 877MSSTATE, toll-free. To make a gift, visit www.msufoundation.com.

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FOUNDATION news Roberts creates bequest supporting MSU A scholarship allowed Dr. Diane Roberts to attend Mississippi State University—the school of her choice. Roberts grew up about 15 minutes north of the Tennessee-Mississippi state line, and a scholarship “made up the difference in out-of-state tuition.” She was sold on the university when her father, an MSU alumnus, took her for a visit. “We met President Ben Hilbun and administrative assistant T.K. Martin. I was so impressed that those important men had given me some of their time that I decided to attend,” she said. Now, through a $1.2 million bequest of future support, Roberts will provide scholarships at Mississippi State for women majoring in medical technology or biological sciences with a concentration in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or health records administration. “I want to give back to the place that helped me get my start,” said Roberts. While at Mississippi State, Roberts majored in botany, receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1963 and a master’s degree in 1964. Her doctorate in public health came from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Roberts’ experience working with a capital campaign while serving as dean of the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University in Kansas helped her understand the importance of long-term gift planning and stirred her to make the bequest to Mississippi State. Roberts retired as vice chancellor of academic affairs for Indiana University East. She lives in Kentucky with her dog Ginger and teaches management

Diane Roberts is pictured to the immediate left of MSU Basketball Coach Sharon Fanning prior to a recent game where she assisted as a guest coach for the Lady Bulldogs.

courses online. Many activities keep her busy, including a recent stint as guest coach of the Lady Bulldog

basketball team. And as a former high school basketball player, Roberts said she always will treasure the experience.

The Old Main Society recognizes donors who: • Include the MSU Foundation as a beneficiary in a will (and provide a copy of the will or that portion of the will pertaining to MSU). • Make a deferred gift to the MSU Foundation (i.e., charitable remainder trust, charitable gift annuity, or life estate). • Make the MSU Foundation a beneficiary in a life insurance policy, IRA, qualified retirement plan (pension plan), or revocable trust and provide a copy of the form or document to the foundation.

Benefits of Old Main Society membership include: • Equal status with other donor recognition clubs, including invitations to special donor events on campus. • A special edition copy of the book Old Main: Images of a Legend.

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FOUNDATION news University benefits from Hearin support Major new support from the Robert M. Hearin Foundation is enhancing nationally recognized programs at Mississippi State. The Jackson philanthropy recently committed a total of $4.4 million over three years. Of that amount, more than $3.8 million will go to the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering and $600,000 to the College of Architecture, Art and Design. The engineering college will apply the latest grant to several key areas ranging from support for economic development to partial funding for the Center for Engineering Student Excellence. The contribution also will provide much needed seed money for cutting-edge research infrastructure, and fund the Hearin Eminent Scholars program to assist us in recognizing faculty excellence. The $600,000 grant earmarked for the College of Architecture, Art and Design will be used to enhance housing research in the Carl Small Town Center and the Design Research Informatics Laboratory. The money also will aid the college’s graduate program, which has broadened in keeping with its expansion to include art, interior design and technology.

SEC giving challenge heats up Mississippi State needs your help as a loyal alumnus as it competes in an intense giving challenge with other SEC schools. The university with the highest percentage of recent graduates who make a contribution to their alma mater wins “bragging rights” for an entire year. Launched in July 2005, the SEC Challenge for annual gifts will continue through June 30, 2006. Any alumnus who holds an undergraduate degree from the classes of 1996 through 2005 is eligible to participate. For more information on the SEC Challenge and how to participate, contact the MSU Fund for Excellence at 662-325-7000. Visit the challenge Web site at www.secchallenge.com to see how MSU is stacking up against the competition.

Foundation names board members The Mississippi State University Foundation has selected six new members for its board of directors. Members, whose terms began Jan. 1, include: D. Hines Brannan Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.; Joel C. Clements of Waynesboro; Lamar A. Conerly Jr. of Destin, Fla.; Rusty Linton of Columbus; and William R. Sanderson of Laurel. J.T. White of Dallas will fill the remaining term of the deceased John McPherson. Former members rejoining the board include: Earnest W. Deavenport Jr. of Banner Elk, N.C.; E.M. “Hoot” Gipson of Meridian; Karen D. Hulett of Jackson; Bobby S. Shackouls of Houston, Texas; and Dave C. Swalm of New Ulm, Texas.

Private giving to MSU takes a big jump Mississippi State continues to move up through the ranks of the nation’s top 400 beneficiaries of private giving in the United States. The university now is 262nd on the latest list compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Reporting more than $56 million in gifts received during the 2004-05 fiscal year, MSU took a 124-place jump in the rankings, making it the top Mississippi charity. The new ranking positions MSU above several other larger land-grant institutions on the list. They include Iowa State, 272nd; Colorado State, 312th; Oklahoma State, 353rd; and Clemson, 390th. MSU also now outranks three fellow Southeastern Conference members: Auburn, 273rd; Mississippi, 300th; and Alabama, 347th.

Montgomery makes $100,000 gift Former Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, a 1943 graduate of Mississippi State, recently presented his latest gift to the university–$100,000 for scholarships and library services. Three-fourths of the contribution is specifically for the MSU-Meridian Campus as a $75,000 addition to the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Endowed Scholarship, established by Montgomery in 2001. The remaining $25,000 is designated as an unrestricted gift to MSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library, where Montgomery’s official papers from his 15-term congressional career are contained for display and educational use.

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ED HESTER of Benoit, a Bolivar County farmer for five decades, has received the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s first Excellence in Leadership Award. Hester has been a member of the board of directors of the Bolivar County Farm Bureau for more than 30 years, and recently was selected as the Mississippi Row Crop Farmer of the Year.

PAT ROBERTSON of Madison has been appointed executive director of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi. She previously was deputy director for administrative services.

BARBARA ALEXANDER of Brandon, an assistant professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has received the New Investigator Award in Regulatory and Integrative Physiology from the Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section of the American Physiological Society. The award recognizes her research on the link between low birth weight and hypertension. ADRIAN BLOCKER (M.B.A. ’80) of Memphis, Tenn., has been named general manager of International Paper Co.’s Wood Products business. He is responsible for the company’s manufacturing, marketing, sales, and distribution. In 2003, he was named Alumnus of the Year for the College of Forest Resources at MSU. R. CRAIG PARKS of Austin, Texas, has been named vice president and chief marketing officer for Biophysical Corp.

'65 ALBERT C. CLARK of Starkville, president and CEO of C.C. Clark Inc., has been awarded the Significant Sig Award by Sigma Chi Fraternity, for professional achievements that bring honor and prestige to the fraternity. Clark is a member and past president of the MSU Foundation Board of Directors.

'69 JOHNNY GOODE of Birmingham, Ala., has received a doctorate in computer engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

MONTE LADNER, director of vocational-technical education for Leake County Schools, was recently elected president-elect of the national Future Farmers of America Alumni Association. He also will represent the association as a consultant on the FFA board of directors for three years. ROBERT C. MAXSON of Long Beach, Calif., retired in January as president of California State University, Long Beach, after 11 years of service in that capacity. Previously, he was president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

director and chief engineer for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, has been named Engineer of the Year by the Mississippi Engineering Society. DAVID O’BRIEN is national accounts sales representative for Excel Polymers and also is Rubber Division chair for the American Chemical Society.

'77 LEE JAMES of Weir, an agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America adviser at Choctaw County Vo-Tech Center in Ackerman, has been elected president-elect of the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

'78 PEGGY LONG of Owens Cross

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Roads, Ala., a special education teacher for Huntsville City Schools, has received the 2005 Alabama Elementary Conservation Teacher of the Year Award.

'82 ROBERT A. GREEN (M.S. ’84) of Starkville has received a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and has been selected to command the Naval Sea Systems Command Unit 136 in St. Louis, Mo. BETTY HILL STEWART, professor of chemistry and chair of the chemistry department at Austin College (Texas), has been named 2005 Woman of Achievement by the Texoma Chapter of the American Association of University Women.

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MELISSA GARRETSON has been named Parent of the Year for George County.

HAYLEY CARRAWAY (M.S. ’05) of Helena, Mont., has joined the Montana Beef Council as program director. JOHN RUSH (M.P.P.A. ’02) of Starkville, director of major gifts for the Mississippi State University Foundation, has been selected for the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2005 “Top 40 Under 40” program. The program, now in its 13th year, recognizes young leaders within the state for achievement in both the business world and their communities. WENDIE WOODS (M.S. ’95), a mental health counselor, has opened Main St. Counseling and Consulting in Starkville.

KEVIN BREWER of Starkville, assistant vice president and commercial banker for National Bank of Commerce in Starkville, has been appointed to the Executive Council of the Mississippi Young Bankers, a section of the Mississippi Bankers Association. KRISTY ELLIS has been named a National Board Certified Teacher by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. HARRY GOLEMON of Findlay, Ohio, has joined the cure and bladder service development group with Cooper Tire and Rubber Co.

'87 JOHN M. HAIRSTON of Gulfport, executive vice president and chief operations officer of Hancock Bank, has been appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour to the three-member Mississippi Gaming Commission.

'90 MARIE GREEN of Lucedale, a teacher at George County Middle School, took part in the BellSouth Mississippi Master Teacher in Economics program. RAY NASH of Booneville, an agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America adviser at Biggersville, has been elected vice president of Region 5 of the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

'92 LANE REED of Meadville, an attorney with McGehee, McGehee & Torrey, has been named general counsel for the Southern Gospel Music Promoters Association.

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ED EVANS, a major in the Mississippi Air National Guard, piloted the last scheduled military mission out of Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, when the base closed in September 2005.

'97 JOHN SHAPPLEY of Hattiesburg has been promoted to executive vice president for The First, a national banking association headquartered in Hattiesburg. Shappley is a member of the MSU Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors. ALEX N. SHEFFIELD of New Orleans, La., has been named director of corporate sales for the New Orleans Zephyrs, the AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals Major League baseball team.

'98 LISA ABBAY of Germantown, Tenn.,

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KEITH J. GIBSON has been named chief meteorologist for KEVN-TV in Rapid City, S.D. He recently was named one of the first 100 Certified Broadcast Meteorologists by the American Meteorological Society. TIMOTHY C. KNIGHT (M.S. ’03) of Raymond, a forester with the USDA Forest Service, has been named district silviculturist for the Conecuh National Forest in Alabama.

'01 RENE OAKES GARNER has joined the Cirlot Agency in Jackson as an account executive in the company’s public relations division.

a registered dietitian, has been named Tennessee Emerging Dietetic Leader and Memphis Emerging Dietetic Leader for 2005. She recently opened Abson Health, where she provides nutrition consulting and dispenses diabetic supplies.

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GREG BUFKIN has been named business manager for Advanced Pet Care in Hattiesburg. STEPHEN T. MASLEY, an attorney, has joined the law firm of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams in the company’s Jackson office. DESMOND PURNELL has joined CBS19-TV in Austin, Texas, as weekend sports anchor/reporter. CHAD WALLACE has been named to an internal communications post with Gaylord Entertainment Co., based in Nashville, Tenn.

LAUREN DONALD CHAPPELL has joined The Cirlot Agency in Jackson as a graphic designer.

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MISTY PORTER BYRD has joined The Cirlot Agency in Jackson as a graphic designer. ANNA LAUREN CHEEK has joined the firm of TBG Partners as a landscape designer in its Dallas, Texas, office.

KOURTNEY HOLLINGSWORTH of Laurel has established D.O.L.L.S. (Delivering Opportunities exemplifying Leadership, Love and Service) to rebuild the spirit of youth in the Laurel area. The organization adopted 50 children and 20 Katrina evacuee families for Christmas 2005. MEG WALLEY of Starkville has joined The CPI Group as sales and marketing representative for the Golden Triangle area.

BIRTH announcements Alexis Brooklyn Cowart, Oct. 21, 2005, to JOE COWART (’00) and wife Alicia of Sturgis. Bailey Jane Eaves, Aug. 25, 2005, to SCOTT EAVES (’96) and HEIDI EAVES (’97) of Madison. Jason Creed Fulton, March 15, 2005, to JASON “SPORT” FULTON (’95) and ANGELA DICKINSON FULTON (’95) of Philadelphia. Seth Cullen Gammill, May 17, 2005, to RANDY GAMMILL (’97) and SUSANNE WILLIAMS GAMMILL (’96) of Cordova, Tenn.

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Hayes Dougan Graham, June 20, 2005, to TROY R. GRAHAM (’90) and wife Cynthia of Memphis, Tenn. Evelyn Kathryn Griffin, Feb. 22, 2005, to SPENCE GRIFFIN (’01) and wife Laura of Cleveland. Andrew James Hardin, Aug. 7, 2005, to TOMMY HARDIN (’96) and TRICIA GROSINSKE HARDIN (’97). Anna Carlisle Jones, Aug. 25, 2005, to PAIGE CRAIG JONES (’96) of Jackson and ED JONES (’98) of Morton. Brady Rodgers Lee and Madison Elizabeth Lee, Sept. 8, 2004, to BRUCE LEE (’96) and JENNI RODGERS LEE (’94, M.S. ’98) of Louisville.

Austin James Norwood, Dec. 31, 2005, to GREG NORWOOD (’98, ’04) and ERIN ROY NORWOOD (’98) of Hernando. Mara Grace Norwood, Sept. 11, 2005, to BRIAN NORWOOD (’00) and wife Babs of Brandon. Sydney Evelyn Wade, May 26, 2005, to LISA RUSHING WADE (’91) and husband Bryan of Springfield, Mo. Deborah Hope Welford, Jan. 20, 2005, to DEBORAH LEWIS WELFORD (’92) and husband Frankie of Lucedale.

IN memoriam FRANK E. CALLAHAN JR. (’36)— 92, Jackson, Tenn.; professional engineer, retired supervisor of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Electrical Branch in Jackson, Tenn., and World War II veteran, Dec. 5, 2005. JAMES CARROLL MILTON SR. (’36)—93, Tupelo; retired manager of Gibson Electric Membership Cooperative in Trenton, Tenn., and World War II veteran, Nov. 21, 2005. WILLIAM SANDERS MURPHY (’36)—94, Lucedale; attorney and Lucedale city attorney for more than 50 years, July 4, 2005. BURTON B. HOSCH SR. (’39)—92, Ridgeland; advertising and public relations executive, retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and World War II veteran, Nov. 27, 2005. PAUL E. PEALE (’39)—88, Arlington Heights, Ill.; retired sales representative for General Mills and World War II veteran, Sept. 18, 2005. LACEY CLARK BROOKS (’41)—83, Rochester, Ill.; retired hotel manager, former board member of the MSU Alumni Association, and World War II veteran, Oct. 24, 2005. LUKE DAVIS (’41)—Rochester, Minn.; retired vice president for Kraft Foods and World War II veteran, June 30, 2005. WILLIAM C. LEONARD (’41)—86, Kosciusko; retired owner of Leonard’s Department Store and World War II veteran, Nov. 15, 2005. DWIGHT M. WATTS SR. (’41)—90, Columbus; retired school teacher, real estate agent, and World War II veteran, Sept. 1, 2005. JOHN SMITH HARPER (’42)—85, Evanston, Ill.; retired president of Woodland Services Corp. and World War II veteran, Aug. 1, 2005. CLYDE KENDALL BROOKS (’43)— 82, Meridian; retired tree farmer and sales representative for Forest Lumber Co. and World War II veteran, Aug. 11, 2005. 43

JAMES MACK JONES (’43)—83, Ridgeland; retired John Deere farm equipment dealer and World War II veteran, Nov. 23, 2005. BURNEY THREADGILL JR. (’43)— Carmel, Calif.; career Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and retired banker, July 28, 2005. R. LLOYD GRAY (’46)—84, Southaven; retired Southland Corp. employee and World War II veteran, Sept. 20, 2005. MILLARD WAKEFIELD CHENAULT (’48)—84, North Little Rock, Ark.; retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and World War II veteran, Oct. 8, 2005. SMILEY EUGENE ARRINGTON (’49, M.A. ’55)—78, Coffeeville; retired department store owner and World War II veteran, July 17, 2005. BRUCE F. GANNAWAY (’49)—79; retired Presbyterian minister and missionary, Oct. 12, 2005. WILFORD L. HARBOUR (’49)— Coffeeville; retired from the U.S. Department of the Air Force, April 8, 2005. JOHN W. MCPHERSON SR. (’49)— 77, Indianola; community leader, retired owner of Double Quick Convenience Stores, and member of the board of directors of the MSU Foundation, Sept. 12, 2005. MALCOLM A. PEEVEY JR. (’49)— 79, Clinton; retired geophysicist and World War II veteran, Aug. 11, 2005. JAMES D. COLEMAN SR. (’50)—83, Smithville; retired agriculture teacher, farmer, cattleman, and World War II veteran, Sept. 11, 2005. HAROLD GLENN MCMULLEN (’50)—79, Memphis, Tenn.; engineer for Memphis Light, Gas & Water and World War II veteran, Sept. 23, 2005. ROBERT DUANE NOEL (’50)—79, Clinton; retired chief of rural housing for the Farmers Home Administration and World War II veteran, Nov. 26, 2005.

CECIL D. BAILEY (’51)—83, Columbus, Ohio; professor emeritus of the Ohio State University Department of Aerospace Engineering and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Aug. 26, 2005. OTTIS KENDALL BRELAND (’52)—81, McLain; retired agriculture teacher and World War II veteran, March 4, 2005. JAMES NORTON HAAS JR. (’53)— Abita Springs, La.; civil engineer and retired co-owner of Buitex Inc. General Contractors, Nov. 21, 2005. CHARLES REED ROBISON SR. (’54)—72, Tupelo; personnel manager for Purnell’s Pride Olympic Products Co., Aug. 18, 2005. RUBY IRENE SCARBROUGH (’54)—102, Mathiston; retired school teacher at Cumberland, Sept. 22, 2005. ROBERT CLAYTON BAILEY (’57)—73, Jackson; retired from Stone Containers and Korean War veteran, Aug. 276, 2005. CARROLL COWARD (’58)—67, Columbus; accountant and process manager for Weyerhaeuser Co. in Columbus, July 31, 2005. WARREN T. BURNS SR. (’59)—68, Jackson; branch systems manager for the AT&T Foundation, Nov. 28, 2005. ALBERT L. WEIMORTS JR. (’61, M.S. ’71)—67, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; retired chief engineer for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, who conceived and designed the Bunker Buster and MOAB bombs, Dec. 21, 2005. ALICE FAYE HINTON FLYNN (’63)—64, Mobile, Ala.; retired elementary school teacher, Oct. 29, 2005. JULIA HERRING BARNES (’64, PH.D. ’76)—86, Madison; retired Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service home economist, Nov. 24, 2005.

S Fall 2005

Spring 2006

IN memoriam GERALD DANNA MICHELL (’64)— 62, Mobile, Ala.; retired claims adjuster for GAB Robins, retired staff sergeant with the Alabama Army National Guard, and past president of the Mobile Chapter of the MSU Alumni Association, Dec. 1, 2005. THOMAS GRADY WALLACE (’65)—62, Columbus; city attorney for Columbus and Vietnam War veteran, Oct. 26, 2005. JOHN EVAN DAVIS (’67, M.A. ’68, PH.D. ’70)—Radford, Va.; history professor at Radford University for 35 years and history department chairman for three years, May 27, 2005. HARRY W. CUTLER (’70)—58, Birmingham, Ala.; retired regional officer for the Social Security Administration, Aug. 13, 2005. DON L. HINTON (’71)—57, Stamps, Ark.; district forester for the Arkansas Forestry Commission, Nov. 22, 2005. ROBERT B. HEAD (’72)—73, Starkville; retired state cotton entomologist for the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service and former head of the Science Department at Gadsden State Junior College, Dec. 5, 2005. WALTER C. STRONG JR. (’74)—60, Vicksburg; retired teacher and school administrator for the Laurel School District, Oct. 7, 2005. WILLIE TRIPLETT (’74)—Macon; retired American government and economics teacher and head basketball coach at Noxubee High School, Nov. 12, 2005. ELIZABETH HAMER LONG MOORE (’78)—50, Florence, S.C.; employee of Physicians Practice Solutions, Oct. 24, 2005. THOMAS R. LINDSAY (’80)—47, Starkville; certified public accountant and director of ITS Telecommunications at Mississippi State, Oct. 3, 2005. PHYLLIS ANNE JENKINS (’81)—57, Weir; retired nurse, Nov. 16, 2005.

S Spring 2006

ROBERT LEE FORD III (’84)—45, Ridgeland; co-owner of Sleep World Mattress Centers, Nov. 7, 2005. BRADFORD P. SIMPSON (’85)—42, Gilbert, S.C.; attorney with the Mike Kelly Law Group, Sept. 22, 2005. ROGER KEVIN SKELTON (’91)—36, Corinth; claims representative for the Social Security Administration, Oct. 20, 2005.

VALARIE SIMMONS WOOD (’98)— 29, Meridian; staff accountant at PharmaPac in DeKalb, Oct. 28, 2005. MARK JOHNSON PEARSON (’00)— 28, Memphis, Tenn.; attorney, Oct. 3, 2005. JOEL HENDERSON (’03)—Las Vegas, Nev.; assistant golf professional at Angel Park Golf Club.

Dennis F. Hudson (attended)—62, Columbus; radio and television personality and former nightly news anchor for WCBI-TV in Columbus, Nov. 6, 2005. Horace Adams (former employee)—Starkville; first director of personnel at Mississippi State, a position in which he served 1966-89, July 21, 2005. Mary Eleanor Cooley Anderson (former employee)—75, Starkville; instructor emeritus in the Department of Communication at Mississippi State, Dec. 6, 2005. Lyell C. Behr (former employee)—Starkville; former professor of chemistry and dean emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State, Sept. 3, 2005. Walter Joseph Drapala (former employee)—83, Starkville; retired head of the Department of Agricultural and Experimental Statistics and recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Teaching and Research Award, Dec. 22, 2005. Lorraine Marling Payne (former employee)—75, Columbus; retired executive secretary in the Office of University Relations at Mississippi State, Sept. 20, 2005. Joe E. Bryan (friend)—98, West Point; retired production manager for Babcock and Wilcox, Dec. 5, 2005.

TAG—

we’re it!

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