ALUMNUS Fall 2017 - Mississippi State University

BULLY TELLS ALL The stories behind MSU’s living legend p. 14

I N S I D E Fall 2017

RAISING THE BAR

Historic season sets new basketball standard p. 18

Battling the ‘Bug Blues’ p. 5 | A passion for poultry p. 23 | Building a dream p. 30 | Brains and brawn p. 35

Table of CONTENTS

FSC logos_new_no-Recycle or TM

FSC0OZEYv.cmyk.eps

FSCitUtvc.cmyk.eps

FSCuNiPcr.cmyk.eps

FSCG

33 FEATURES

14 Bully Tells All

The hidden faces of Mississippi State’s most visible persona

18 Record Breakers, History Makers

ABOVE:

L-R: Stephen Shikle (‘96), Rochelle Brahalla and Michael Hatcher (‘82) inspect lettuce growing in the Learning Garden of Memphis Catholic Middle and High School. Shikle, senior landscape architect at Hatcher and Associates, and Hatcher, owner, graduated from the landscape architecture and landscape contracting and management programs in MSU’s College of FSCMTE6Xx.cmyk.eps Agriculture andFSCBz6toI.cmyk.eps Life Sciences, respectively. Brahalla is a project manager for The Kitchen Community, the national nonprofit that operates the Learning Garden program. Photo by Russ Houston.

Bulldog’s historic season starts new chapter for NCAA women’s basketball

23 A Passion for Poultry

Mississippi State poultry department paves way for students and industry alike FSCyzKIWG.cmyk.eps

FSCDNvdjx

FALL 2017 | VOL. 94 | NO. 2

PRESIDENT

Mark E. Keenum, ’83, ’84, ’88

VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI John P. Rush, ’94, ’02

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Davis

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Sid Salter, ’88

23 18

EDITORS

Harriet Laird Susan Lassetter, ’07

WRITERS

Vanessa Beeson Amy Cagle Bob Carskadon ’11 James Carskadon ’12 Susan Lassetter ’07 Keri Lewis Amanda Meeler ’15 Sasha Steinberg ’14

DESIGNER

09

Heather Rowe

PHOTOGRAPHERS Megan Bean Russ Houston ’85 Kevin Hudson Kelly Price Beth Wynn

EDITORIAL OFFICE

P.O. Box 5325 Mississippi State, MS 39762 662.325.0630 slassetter@opa.msstate.edu

ADVERTISING

30 DEPARTMENTS 02 Campus News 12 State Snapshot 30 Our People 48 Infinite Impact 54 Statements 68 Forever Maroon 72 Back Story

Jeff Davis 662.325.3444 jdavis@alumni.msstate.edu

COVER For decades, Bully’s been the most visible persona from Mississippi State University, but the real story comes from the faces behind the “fur” that bring the oversized dog to life. Photo by Beth Wynn

CONNECT TWITTER.COM/MSSTATE FACEBOOK.COM/MSSTATE INSTAGRAM.COM/MSSTATE

Mississippi State University’s ALUMNUS magazine is published three times a year by the Office of Public Affairs and the Mississippi State University Alumni Association. Send address changes to Alumni Director, P.O. Box AA, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526. Call 662.325.7000, or email cstockton@advservices.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law is prohibited.

Campus NEWS

DAWG

DAYS OF SUMMER BRING YOUTH TO MISSISSIPPI STATE CAMPS

By Amanda Meeler | Photos by Beth Wynn

As temperatures rise and days grow longer, many college students head off to new adventures sending Starkville into a sleepy summertime calm. But the cowbell-loving Mississippi State campus remains lively during the academic off-season as a crew of bright young faces gets its first taste of Bulldog life through a variety of summer camps.

2

FALL 2017

“We really get to show the kids how fun engineering can be, in hopes that it leads to a greater interest in engineering later in life.” ~ Vemitra White

TOP LEFT and MIDDLE: While attending Bug and Plant Camp, kids get up close and personal with a variety of insects, through the process of collecting and pinning insects and unique demonstrations, including beekeeping tactics and honey tastings. TOP RIGHT: A camper checks out his completed double helix during Bully Anatomy Camp, which introduces elementary-aged kids to the concepts of engineering. BOTTOM LEFT: MSU professor Jeffrey Haupt explains correct technique while drawing a still-life subject during a session of the INVision Summer Art program. BOTTOM RIGHT: Surrounded by a plethora of handmade ceramics, MSU archaeological illustrator Dylan Karges imparts his knowledge of the craft onto high school-aged campers.

In response to a national push to expose children to additional science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at younger ages, the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering offers more than 10 overnight and day camps each year.

Its Bully Anatomy camp is open to students in kindergarten to fifth grade. This year, attendees worked with focused eyes, busy hands and a little assistance from their counselors, to build hydraulic-powered robotic arms controlled by water-filled syringes. The looks of amazement on the students’ faces as they actually picked up items with their new creations were not easy to ignore.

Bully Anatomy, led by Bagley’s K-12 outreach director Vemitra White, focuses on

biomedical engineering and introduces kids to topics like DNA and hydraulics through hands-on projects and puzzles rather than a formal lesson from a textbook.

“We really get to show the kids how fun engineering can be, in hopes that it leads to a greater interest in engineering later in life,” White said.

With engineering joining topics like sports, theater, insects and art, Mississippi State offers a broad array of camps that provide personal enrichment and educational experiences—and might even uncover hidden talents in students.

During a mid-morning session of the INvision Summer Art program, the chatter of high school students gave way to the steady

whirring of a potter’s wheel as the crowd’s eyes were drawn to the repetitive motion demonstrated by Robert Long. Their interest piqued, the students posed question after question to the professor from the College of Architecture, Art and Design as he carefully molded his creation.

This curiosity about artistic expression continued to grow in the campers as they were introduced to various art forms through hands-on lessons in bookbinding, sculpture, photography and ceramics. Associate professor Critz Campbell, who led a workshop on sculpture, said this exposure is essential for a young person’s development.

“It’s a pleasure to introduce students to things that they have not yet seen,” Campbell ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

3

“We see new faces every year, and a lot of campers chose to return after their experience here.” ~ John Guyton

TOP LEFT and BOTTOM RIGHT: Bully Anatomy campers and staff come face-to-face with the components of DNA, while working through a kit that explores the role played by nucleotides in the human body. TOP MIDDLE: The weeklong INVision Summer Art program includes intensive workshops covering a variety of topics like drawing, book-binding, photography and graphic design.

TOP RIGHT: A student from Bug and Plant Camp exhibits careful concentration while extracting honey from its comb, yielding a tasty sample of the sweet treat. BOTTOM LEFT: Each morning session of Bug and Plant Camp includes time to identify and pin a collection of insect treasures gathered during the previous night’s hunt.

said. “Not only does this opportunity give them a taste of living and learning as residents of MSU, it also exposes them to the many broad career paths and possibilities that the arts and Mississippi State make available.”

That exposure to new interests is what John Guyton says keeps attracting adventurous kids to his entomology-focused camp.

“We see new faces every year, and a lot of campers chose to return after their experience here,” explained Guyton, an associate professor with the Extension Service.

During his annual, weeklong Bug and Plant Camp, students spend time both in nature and in the classroom, learning about

4

FALL 2017

the creepy crawlies found in their own backyards. Guyton said he enjoys seeing fearlessness and confidence grow in each individual, especially during activities like beekeeping and “driving” a roach with a Wi-Fi-enabled device.

“It really is something to see the demeanor of these kids change when they get the opportunity to share their newfound knowledge of insects with someone else,” Guyton said.

In one of this summer’s early-morning sessions, campers of all ages gathered around pieces of Styrofoam, carefully pinning the treasures found on a bug hunt the previous

night. One camper ecstatically announced that she caught 42 horseflies. Guyton said he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at her resolve.

“Horseflies can be a problem for us,” Guyton said. “During the bug hunt, she picked up on the fact that their movements can repel other insects, so she started trapping them separately.”

While camp offerings are broad and appeal to a variety of interests, one thing holds constant for all attendees regardless of the session: the memories. Mississippi State summer camps leave a unique mark on campers long after the “dawg days” of summer come to a close. n

The Southern scourge known as the fire ant was accidentally introduced to America in the 1930s through the Port of Mobile.

They come in shipping crates and potted plants, as stowaways in automobiles and souvenirs. And though they’re small, invasive insects from around the world can create a big problem for Mississippi.

“Exotic, invasive species come from other regions and can cause major physical, ecological and economic damage,” explained JoVonn Hill, a Mississippi State assistant research professor of entomology.

“We want to educate the public about what they can do to help prevent their spread.”

Hill serves as education and outreach coordinator for Mississippi Bug Blues, a statewide education program designed to bring awareness to invasive insect species, conservation and biodiversity.

Last year, the program reached more than 12,000 people through K-12 classroom instruction and public events across the state. It is based at the Mississippi Entomological Museum, which is housed at Mississippi State University. Project coordinator Jennifer Seltzer and research technician Jason Sanders make up the rest of the threeperson team behind the program.

“Everyone has insect questions, but no one was talking about how we’re getting the invasive species, how they’re affecting the state, and what people can do to help,” explained Seltzer, an invasive species expert in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Invasive species can cost millions of dollars in crop loss and property damage.

The United States Department of Agriculture, which is one of the sponsors of Bug Blues, predicts that by 2019 one such species, the emerald ash borer, could exceed $10 billion in management costs across 26 states where it has decimated ash tree populations, wiping out up to 99 percent of some stands.

Other species act as nuisance pests.

For instance, tawny crazy ants, which have spread from Florida across the Gulf Coast, are a problem based on their sheer number.

With millions of individuals, multiple queens and no centralized home, these ants—which are attracted to and known to short-out electronics—can overwhelm

an area and are nearly impossible to control once they establish a foothold.

Seltzer explained that while it’s too late to prevent the spread of some invasive species, like the imported fire ant, others can be contained or at least have their progress slowed if people are aware of the danger. There’s no one fool-proof method to avoid spreading invasive species, but she said there are several things people can do to ensure they don’t introduce unwanted creatures into their environment.

ONLY USE LOCAL FIREWOOD. Bringing in your own wood or taking home unused logs can introduce unwanted species of insects.

INSPECT PLANTS BEFORE PURCHASE. Most plants sold at garden centers are shipped in from hothouses and nurseries across the country. Make sure they aren’t harboring ants or other insects before bringing them home.

BE WARY OF ANTIQUES, CRAFTS OR SOUVENIRS MADE FROM NATURAL MATERIALS. While most people would never bring home a decoration that obviously had insects on it, insect larvae and eggs might be hidden inside, unseen from the surface until they emerge after hatching.

Though one hitchhiking insect might not start an invasion, Seltzer said it is important to be vigilant and do your part in prevention. She recommends that those who suspect they’ve found an invasive species try to have it identified by a trained entomologist. The staff at the Mississippi Entomology Museum, experts in MSU’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology and county-based agents for the Mississippi State Extension Service all have expertise in differentiating native species from non-native.

“We’re prepared and have plans of action for controlling invasive species once they’re found,” Seltzer explained. “But we need the public’s help to stop them before they get out of control.” n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

5

Campus NEWS

MSU RESEARCHER USES LOCAL CREATURES TO GAIN NEW INSIGHT INTO MALARIA PARASITES

By James Carskadon | Photos by Megan Bean

6

FALL 2017

W

hen most people remember they left a bird in the freezer at home, they’re referring to poultry slated for that night’s dinner. When that thought occurred to Diana Outlaw as she sat in Harned Hall, she was remembering birds found dead and donated by area residents to help with her research.

Down the hall from the Mississippi State associate professor’s office, third-year biological sciences graduate student Jessica Aycock has her own collection in a different freezer.

“We’re going out and catching mosquitoes every two weeks,” the Long Beach native said.

“Our freezer is pretty full of insects.”

Although birds and mosquitoes are strange things to store in a freezer, Outlaw and her students are using the creatures to gain new insights into malaria parasites and their emergence in new species. The research is funded by an $161,147 grant from the National Institutes of Health’s Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

In addition to the frozen specimens, Outlaw and her students regularly catch birds in mist nets, draw blood samples and then release the birds, unharmed, back into the wild. If they do this for many years, the

team can study the blood samples to see which malaria parasites become more or less prominent in local birds over time.

The researchers have found local birds commonly carry malaria parasites, but not the kind that are transmittable to humans. The parasites’ genome sequencing could help the researchers identify genes that are adaptive in host switching, which could have implications for humans and other animals.

“There’s so much we don’t know about what enables these parasites to get into different hosts,” Outlaw said. “We’re hoping that we can put together a better understanding of how these malaria parasites switch hosts and what malaria parasites we need to be on the lookout for.”

Haley Bodden, a second-year master’s student from Moss Point, assists Outlaw in screening birds for malaria parasites. In addition to the birds they catch on campus and those found by area residents, the researchers are also able to obtain tissue samples from birds all over America. Because Outlaw has a salvage permit, she can preserve and screen recently deceased birds, maintaining the birds’ “priceless” information.

“It’s been great to do something and see the outcomes as soon as you do it,” Bodden

Birds’ body temperatures are usually about 10 degrees higher than humans, providing enhanced bodily functions and senses.

Diana Outlaw (far left), an associate professor of biological sciences, works with biological sciences graduate students (top left) Haley Bodden and Jessica Aycock to catch birds in mist nets.

The researchers draw blood samples and then release the birds, unharmed, back into the wild. By cataloging the blood samples, they can track the presence of malaria parasites in local birds over the years. The blood samples contain more malaria parasites than most people would expect, Outlaw said, but the birds are not carrying malaria parasites that are transmittable to humans. In addition to studying birds, the research team examines mosquitoes to gain further insight into the spread of malaria parasites.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

7

Campus NEWS said. “We see these birds fly into the net and then we get to analyze them and see what we have. As it turns out, there are a lot of birds in the sky with malaria–lots more than you would think.”

Outlaw was originally trained as an ornithologist, but a postdoctoral appointment working with a pioneering scientist in the field of avian malaria parasite research set her on her current path. Also a molecular systematist, Outlaw quickly realized there are still many unanswered questions about the relationship between the agents transmitting the parasites and their hosts.

As one of the primary transmitters of malaria parasites, mosquitoes provide additional insight into their spread. Including Aycock’s frozen bugs, the research team has collected well over 40,000 mosquitoes using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light traps with carbon dioxide. Once she has the mosquitoes and other insects in the lab, she pools them into bins—roughly 10 at a time—to gather enough DNA to see which malaria parasites they are transmitting. She will present her research on blood meals at the Entomological Society of America’s conference in November.

“We see these birds fly into the net and then we get to analyze them and see what we have. As it turns out, there are a lot of birds in the sky with malaria–lots more than you would think.” ~ Diana Outlaw “I like identifying the insects,” Aycock said. “I came into this focused on diseases, but I ended up really liking the entomology side.

My research will actually become the base of a much bigger project on transmission cycles, so it’s cool to see what will become of the data I obtain.”

Among the most interesting discoveries, Outlaw said, is evidence of adaptive gene evolution in major host switches in malaria parasites.

She said her team also regularly discovers interesting items in both vertebrates and mosquitoes, showcasing the ever growing diversity of malaria parasites.

In addition to collaborating with Mississippi State researchers in other fields, Outlaw works with Susan Perkins of the American Museum of Natural History to conduct genomic research. Colleagues in Sweden are assisting with the malaria parasite genome sequencing.

Moving forward, Outlaw said she hopes to expand upon the current project, which is primarily a taxonomic endeavor, to explore which genes are involved in host switching and how bird immune systems respond to parasites.

“It’s so much fun to do my research and interact with graduate and undergraduate students. I get to help make them passionate about science,” Outlaw said. “First, the students get excited about catching birds. That’s the draw, that’s how you lure them in. Then, I’ve had a few that realize just how interesting the mosquitoes are.” n

8

FALL 2017

FOR THE BIRDS With nearly 1,000 species that call North America home, birds rate as one of the most common types of wildlife encountered in the United States. Unfortunately for the feathered population, those encounters don’t always end well.

Pets, cars, buildings and other human interference can disrupt the wild animals’ lives leading to injury, loss of habitat or even death. While much of this is as unintentional as it is unavoidable, Dr. Mandy Kohler, a clinical instructor with the Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine, says there are things people can do to help their neighborhood flyers.

A volunteer wildlife veterinarian and rehabilitator, Kohler frequently receives calls about young birds found on the ground.

“Most of the calls I get are for fledglings or nestlings that have fallen out of the nest,” Kohler said. “People see them on the ground and think they’re helpless, and to an extent they are, but they’re also usually fine.”

Kohler explained that if the bird is uninjured, the best solution is to return it to the nest—if it is intact and not in immediate danger from cats or other predators. If the nest is damaged, in an unknown location or in danger, she says it’s best to: •

Get a basket or box with small holes in the bottom and line it with soft materials like leaf litter

•

Gently place the young bird in the box and place it in a shrub or other elevated location near where the bird was found

“Birds are tenacious parents,” Kohler explained. “If they’re still around, they will hear the baby and continue to care for it.

And birds mature fast. Within a few days, maybe a week, it will probably be ready to leave the nest.”

As for the old wives’ tale that touching a bird leaves behind a human smell that turns other birds away—there’s no truth to it.

“Except for vultures and other scavengers, birds have a terrible sense of smell,” Kohler explained. “But you don’t want to handle them a lot, just because you don’t want them to become habituated to humans.”

After securing the young bird, Kohler suggests watching the area to make sure the parents do return. If they don’t, or if the nest—either original or makeshift—appears to still be in danger, she recommends calling a wildlife rehabilitator who can collect the bird and hand raise it until it can be safely released into the wild. n

Campus NEWS

MSU Extension Service strengthens commitment to health education

STEPPING TOWARDS A HEALTHIER LIFE With so much conflicting health information available, it can be challenging to know where to start.

By Keri Collins Lewis | Photos by Kevin Hudson

Buys recommends picking one change and sticking with it. After all, the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, so just take it one step at a time.

Through a series of programs aimed at healthier living, the Mississippi State University Extension Service wants to help Mississippi shed its deep-fried reputation as “first in the worst.”

“Mississippi’s rates of obesity, chronic diseases and cancers are among the worst in the nation,” said David Buys, Extension health specialist and researcher. “That is why we’re placing an increased emphasis on outreach programs that address health.”

From its founding in 1914, Extension has worked to educate families in a variety of areas including home economics. Though the discipline now has a new name— family and consumer sciences—and is delivered in a more personal manner, its topics of nutrition, food safety, housing, gardening and financial management address pressing needs for Mississippi’s rural residents.

“We are at our Extension offices, in community and senior centers, churches, schools and libraries—anywhere clients would like to host us,” Buys explained. “Increasingly, we’re working to get our programs online and empower people

Some simple changes that could be a big step toward a healthy lifestyle include: • Start the day with a glass of water before other beverages.

• Swap dessert for a piece of fruit.

• Bake, broil or grill meat and vegetables.

• Walk around while talking on the phone.

TOP LEFT: David Buys, Extension health specialist TOP RIGHT: Natasha Haynes, Extension agent and host of “The Food Factor” MIDDLE: Taylor Harris, Quindarrius Whitley and Arlencia Barnes, Junior Master Wellness Volunteers at Gentry High School in Indianola BOTTOM: Angie Crawford, Extension program assistant, Office of Nutrition Education in Quitman County.

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

• Choose whole grain breads and pastas.

• Exercise with a friend or family member.

• Snack on healthier foods, such as hummus and carrot sticks.

• Get plenty of sleep.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

9

United Health Foundation rates Mississippi last in overall health.

Campus NEWS

LEFT: Regina Boykins, Extension agent in Humphreys County, makes a gentle, all-purpose cleaner with Sarah Reed Taylor, Melissa Warren and Martha Shields. RIGHT: Sha Boyd, an early childhood teacher at Barbara Henson’s Nursery and Pre-K in Meridian, applies lessons learned in the Creating Healthy Indoor Childcare Environments training. to make changes through educational opportunities in a variety of formats.”

He explained that this communitybased approach is necessary to address such a broad and complex challenge as health.

“It’s not as simple as individuals making better choices,” he observed.

“We’ve got work to do at many levels: in our families; in our communities and social circles; in our counties, towns and cities; and at the state and national levels.

We need to do more to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”

Extension is uniquely positioned to partner with organizations of all kinds to deliver health-related programs. With a county-level network across the state and agents trained to deliver science-based information, the potential for impact is significant.

“We are working across the spectrum to address health from a variety of needs,” Buys said.

For personal health, Extension offers Walk-a-Weigh, a program designed to improve nutrition and daily physical activity, as well as a year-long diabetes prevention program. It is also launching a new program called Dining with Diabetes and has a short weekly video news program called “The Food Factor” to show viewers how healthy choices can be fun.

Buys said Extension is part of a national effort to increase awareness about home environments. The Healthy Homes Initiative covers a wide range of topics that impact family health, including asthma and allergies.

10

FALL 2017

“From this foundation, our work has expanded to include a special series focused on child care environments,” he explained. “We’ve partnered with the Mississippi Department of Health’s Office of Child Care Licensure to offer the Creating Healthy Indoor Childcare Environments program and address the specific needs of this audience.”

On the community level, Extension is engaging young people to become health ambassadors and possibly medical professionals.

The Junior Master Wellness Volunteers program is a partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center and its Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities.

Students in disciplines such as allied health, family and consumer science, and 4-H clubs receive training so they can deliver health messages to the community.

The Rural Medical Scholars program provides an on-campus experience to allow aspiring doctors, while still in high school, to learn the rigors of college courses and the variety of medical careers available.

“Our young people are capable of building a brighter future for our state,” Buys said. “Extension is determined to give them the experiences and training they need to succeed.”

Extension’s success depends on trained agents aligning their local clients’ needs with the science-based programs available.

Regina Boykins, an Extension agent in Humphreys County for 17 years, knows well the obstacles her clients face.

“From a young age, I felt the need to help people in my community make better decisions about their lives,” Boykins said.

“As I got older, my interest in health and wellness became more personal as I faced my own challenges with weight and stress management skills.”

Boykins said she works to maintain the integrity of every program’s goals and objectives while delivering the information in a way clients can understand.

“I want them to be motivated to make the changes needed to live healthier lives,” she said.

Participants want information that is sound and practical but they also enjoy the social aspects of the programs, she said. For 10 years, Boykins has written a monthly “Health Achiever” column for the local newspaper, The Belzoni Banner, to highlight the clients’ progress and shine a spotlight on making positive choices.

“I see myself as a resource and someone in the process of learning along the way,” she observed.

Gary Jackson, Mississippi State University Extension director, said he sees tremendous opportunity for more crosssector collaboration and is eager to reach people in new and innovative ways.

“We want to strengthen our health and nutrition programming since it is primarily driven by the food we consume,” Jackson explained. “Since Extension has dramatically affected the increase of America’s food production over the past 100 years, we want to do the same for America’s health in the next 100.” n

Share your Bulldog spirit this holiday season.

Enjoy beautiful pictures of familiar campus scenes that bring back special memories of your time at Mississippi State.

The official State calendar has become a Bulldog tradition. With pictures by MSU’s own awardwinning photographers, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind treasure. Order online today at msufoundation.com or call 662-325-7000.

Send friends and family exclusive MSU holiday cards featuring original illustrations by MSU alumni. Purchase yours online at msufoundation.com.

MSU is an AA/EEO university.

Calendar-2018_AD_Half_Alumnus.indd 1

8/25/17 2:08 PM

MISSISSIPPI STATE CLASS RING

TRUE MAROON

B part of th tradition!

ALUMNI.MSSTATE.EDU

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

11

State SNAPSHOT

CLASS AND STYLE: The newest addition to Mississippi State University’s campus welcomed more than 11,000 of the university’s 21,884 students to its gleaming new halls as the fall semester began in August. Built in the style of the legendary Old Main dormitory, the Old Main Academic Center boasts 90,000 square feet of classroom space and a 60,000-square-foot parking garage. The $41.1 million facility, which lies at the corner of George Perry Street and Barr Avenue, was built using sustainable materials and systems. Its classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, making it a showcase of modern education practices that will equip students with the best tools to ensure their success.

Photography by Russ Houston 12

FALL 2017

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

13

1960s

THE HIDDEN FACES OF MISSISSIPPI STATE’S MOST VISIBLE PERSONA

BY JAMES CARSKADON PHOTOS BY BETH WYNN AND THE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVE

BAILEY PULLIAM AS BULLY, 2017

14

FALL 2017

TOM LILLY

MICKEY BREAZEALE

1970s

I

n the fall of 1964, an article in The Reflector had the scoop on “Mississippi State University’s newest rage,” which had been spotted at recent football games.

“Human bulldog is really Tom Lilly,” the headline on an inside page read, revealing the true identity of one of the university’s mascot pioneers.

The satirical article said a recent lab analysis revealed the head to be a football helmet covered with chicken wire and papermache, molded into something resembling a bulldog. Add white pants and an MSU sweater, and the bipedal Bulldog was born.

“I’m a lot easier to take care of than a real bulldog,” Lilly said at the end of the article.

Since Lilly’s iteration of the bulldog, Mississippi State’s “Bully” mascot has made gradual changes and morphed into a mascot that is now one of the most recognizable faces associated with the university.

By the time former football player Mickey “Mick” Breazeale was roaming the sidelines as the human bulldog in 1966, a suit was created that made him look more like his canine counterpart.

“If I can’t help the Bulldogs

JOHN C. STENNIS WITH BULLY

right on the field, I’ll do my best to help them on the sidelines,” Breazeale told the student newspaper, echoing a mindset of Bully that has carried on for generations.

In those days, becoming Bully was a political endeavor.

Cheerleaders were elected every year and the mascot was an extension of the squad. That’s how Jim Pepper got his start on the sideline. His neighbor in Duggar Hall told him that with a name like Pepper, he really should run for something. So he went for cheerleader and was elected to the squad, spending two years cheering before taking on the mascot role as a senior in the 1968-69 school year.

“We made our own uniforms back then,” Pepper said. “The one Mick and I inherited was torn up, so a seamstress in Jackson made a suit for me. It was made out of faux fur and mighty hot.”

In 1971, Bully could be found in an upgraded suit, posing with U.S. Senator John C. Stennis. It featured a dark spot around an eye on the headpiece to better reflect the fawn and white coloring of his four-legged namesake.

Later in the 1970s, Bully’s suit became darker and his

facial expression took on more character, which is shown in multiple photos of him interacting with Alabama football coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant. In 1980, Bully regularly wore a “Bully for Bellard” shirt in honor of then Mississippi State head football coach Emory Bellard.

Over the next two decades, Bully gradually began to look like a larger-than-life version of the players he cheered on. In 1985, he wore gym shorts. By 1990, he added a tank top, which made him appear ready for a workout, if not a pregame warm-up. Within a few years, Bully began sporting a uniform like those of the Bulldogs about to take the field.

“The Bully you know now was introduced in 1999. Each suit costs just under $3,500,” said current MSU Spirit Groups coordinator Melissa Nichols, adding that the group’s travel and equipment costs are largely supported by donations.

Although Bully has undergone many changes over the decades since he was first introduced, there are some aspects of the job that have remained constant.

Almost all former mascots recall how much weight they

lost in the suit, most of it due to sweat. The fur-laden uniform stays hot, especially during those sunny September afternoons at Davis Wade Stadium, which is why the humans inside the Bully suit now take shifts during football games.

“It’s a different type of being in shape,” said Cooper Leggett, MSU mascot from 2000-2004.

“I was tall and skinny, but others at the time were shorter and heavier. We may not have been considered athletic by Division I standards, but we did have a tremendous heat tolerance. Once you can take on the Rambo mentality and ignore the heat, you can go for a long time.”

Leggett learned early in his mascot tenure just how demanding the job can be. As a freshman, his first home football game in the suit saw the Bulldogs dominate No. 3 Florida to upset the Steve Spurrier-led Gators.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around and it was time for Leggett’s turn in the suit, the stadium was rocking. As part of the celebration, Bully was doing pushups with MSU’s ROTC cadets after every Bulldog score— and they had plenty of scoring left to do that warm afternoon.

BULLY WITH BEAR BRYANT

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

15

1980s

BOB LEMMONS

1990s BULLY DOING LAUNDRY

SPORTING TANK TOP AND SHORTS, READY TO WORKOUT

Mississippi State tallied 23 points in those final 15 minutes, which meant Leggett had to perform 156 pushups in a 35-pound suit, in addition to the mascot duties of greeting fans and encouraging excitement from the crowd.

“Thankfully I had the adrenaline pumping and was able to do all of those pushups,” Leggett recalled. “Bully can’t fall while he’s doing those. That was a gut check moment for me.”

Following the gut check moments inside the suit, the mascots are left with another gut-churning challenge: dealing with a suit that has soaked in sweat for hours.

“My roommate could not stand the smell of the suit,” said Daniel Roberson, who served as Bully from 1996-97 and 199899. “He kept wanting me to take the suit to my car, but I didn’t want the smell in my car.

I should have bought stock in Febreze.”

16

FALL 2017

Roberson was relieved of the smelly suit’s burden on the Monday following every football game when Bully’s “fur” was dropped off for much-needed grooming at the MSU Laundry.

For Bully, not every interaction is as adrenaline-packed as riding onto Scott Field on top of a doghouse while tens of thousands of cowbells ring and “Bad to the Bone” blares from the speakers.

For all the moments witnessed by thousands, there are thousands of moments witnessed by an only few that are equally important.

In addition to football, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball games, the university’s mascot is regularly booked for appearances at weddings, local schools and campus events, among other gatherings.

“Whether there are 3,000 fans in line or three fans, you’re taking the picture,” said Trevon Allen, a current biological engineering major and mascot.

“You never know who’s watching.

If someone sees that Bully is late, they don’t think about the fact that you had a class and might be late getting there. They think, ‘this university can’t manage time well. The mascot can’t get here on time.’ You don’t want to ever make the university look bad. It means something because you are the face of the university.”

A handler now follows Bully at every game to help the mascot successfully navigate the crowds, which can be overwhelming at times.

Allen and Mississippi State’s seven other current mascots earn $1,000 a semester for their many hours of work. They are selected during annual auditions, with some finalists getting the chance to perform at the spring football game. But no matter how many fill out their ranks, there’s only one Bully.

“Bully is just one person,” Nichols said. “We only let one go out at a time.”

Because of the effort required

to travel and get in costume, even a 15 to 20-minute outing as Bully can take an hour and a half to complete.

Despite the long hours, most Bullies can remember a time when they used some high jinks to liven things up. Roberson convinced former head coach Jackie Sherrill to let him ride a motorcycle onto the field for Bully’s entrance before the Arkansas game in 1998. Some days, he dressed up as Bully and went to class.

At the 2001 Egg Bowl, one Bully wanted to make his mark before graduating the next spring.

“They had both the Ole Miss and MSU bands on the field,” Leggett said. “My friend decided to just bust through the Ole Miss band and run through it.

He was bumping into people, running them over. The student section loved it, but MSU’s event personnel and others were about to lose their minds. My friend wasn’t Bully after that.”

1998 MASCOT WAS THE LAST MODEL PRIOR TO THE CURRENT LOOK INTRODUCED IN 1999

BULLY WITH JACKIE SHERRILL

2000s

Each Bully puts his own spin on the performance. Some are known for their dance moves, others for the quirks they use to get a crowd excited. Allen said he enters into a different mindset each time he puts on the mascot uniform.

“Bully is at the game, but he doesn’t realize he’s a superstar,” Allen said. “He sees himself as everyone’s friend. There’s a very serious game going on, but the whole time, all Bully wants to do is have fun with the fans, take pictures. He’s still trying to earn his spot on the team. He’s wearing a jersey because he wants to be on the team so bad.”

Regardless of how each individual carries out the job of mascot, each Bully over the decades has had an overwhelming amount of passion for the university, Roberson said.

“It was the best experience I ever had,” Roberson said. “The second you put on that suit, you realize you bleed Maroon at that point.” n

Witnessing history through Bully’s eyes Not every person who suits-up as Bully is lucky enough to witness historic moments in Mississippi State athletic history, like winning the SEC West in football in 1998, rising to No. 1 in 2014 or the women’s basketball team ending UConn’s 111-game win streak at the Final Four.

“The three years I cheered, we only won three football games,” said Jim Pepper, a cheerleader and mascot in the late 1960s. “But we still got the crowd going.”

Howard Summers served as Bully during the 2013-14 academic year, falling into the gap between MSU’s 2013 College World Series run and the ascent to the top of college football.

“I may have just missed it all, but I think it was my performance as Bully that prepared us to go to No. 1,” Summers joked.

However, few have seen bigger moments from the Bully suit than Trevon Allen. The current MSU student was in the suit when the Bulldogs beat Auburn at Davis Wade Stadium in 2014. The Hoover native was also in uniform when fellow Birmingham-area Bulldog Morgan William hit the buzzer-beating shot to beat UConn at the Final Four.

“You’re just as much of a fan when you’re in the suit as when you’re not in the suit, but it’s more intense,” Allen said. “ There’s a fear and that’s a natural experience if you’re playing a team like UConn.

“They’ve won 111 games, but Bully doesn’t know stats. To him, everybody is a rival because they’re going against his favorite team,” he continued.

TREVON ALLEN AT UCONN GAME

After MSU beat Baylor to win the Oklahoma City Regional and advance to the Final Four, Allen jumped at the chance to go to Dallas.

“I knew without a doubt that we were going to beat UConn,” Allen said. “Everyone was like, ‘Trey, that’s gonna be a short trip for you. They beat us by 60 last year.’ And I was like, ‘That was last year. Last year, I was really bad at chemistry. This year, I’m a lot better. Things happen.’”

The trip to Dallas was much more than the two games for Allen. In total, he spent 17 hours in the suit, shooting promos for ESPN, attending pep rallies and greeting fans wherever Bully was needed. If he was tired, he made sure he did not show it until he was out of the Bully suit and in his hotel room.

“Bully had the time of his life,” Allen said. “Bully is larger than life, but there he was somewhere where everything is larger than life. Everything is bigger in Texas.

“Bully understood that people did not expect us to make it to the Final Four. So Bully was like, ‘you think this is our peak? Wait until you see what’s next.’” n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

17

18

FALL 2017

RECORD BREAKERS, HISTORY MAKERS

Bulldog’s historic season starts new chapter for NCAA women’s basketball

By Bob Carskadon | Photos by Kelly Price

W

hen Mississippi State’s bus shifted into park at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, the team managers quickly hopped off first, as is their custom. The rest of the staff waited while the players began to follow from the back. But then Vic Schaefer stood up and held out a staying hand as he walked halfway down the aisle to where

his players were preparing to leave.

“Hey, headphones off, y’all,” he said as he got the attention of his full roster.

“Everybody hear me? Listen up. Do not get off this bus unless you believe that we are going to beat Baylor and go to the Final Four.”

Here, Schaefer paused and looked over his team, making sure the message was sinking in and giving his players a

short second to reflect on their deepest thoughts and true feelings.

“You’ve got to believe it,” he continued.

“You’ve got to know it. So, don’t get off this bus unless you believe it.”

Schaefer gave them one more meaningful look before turning to walk off the bus. For a brief moment, no one moved. Then, in unison, the Bulldogs rose to file down the aisle and off the bus.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

19

THEY ALL BELIEVED.

When Mississippi State’s women’s basketball team came home from the SEC Tournament in March, it limped back into its locker room. For the nearly two weeks between the loss to South Carolina in the championship game and the start of NCAA Tournament play in Starkville, all the team had to think about was how the wheels seemed to fall off over the last stretch of the season.

From early November to late February, the Bulldogs only lost one game. They beat highly ranked, bigname teams and fought off the desperate attempts of scrappy unknowns.

Schaefer’s team was dominant for nearly four-straight months of basketball, setting records left and right as his team cruised through one of the toughest schedules in the country and navigated the harsh waters of the Southeastern Conference.

The Bulldogs rose as high as No. 2 in the country, with the mighty Connecticut Huskies as the only team between State and the top of the basketball world. Then, for whatever reason, their marathon stretch of incredible performances hit one snag, then another. Going into the final week of the season, Mississippi State had to win just one of its final two games to take home the SEC’s regular season championship.

Instead, the Bulldogs lost both games, ending what had seemed like a historic regular season with a 19-point home loss at the hands of an unranked Tennessee team. Mississippi State stumbled through the SEC Tournament, winning its first two games by double-digits and advancing to the tournament title game for the second straight year but not doing much to inspire hope for a grand postseason run.

When Mississippi State lost by 10 to South Carolina in the tournament’s title game, things were clearly not the same for the once-mighty Bulldogs. They were beaten. They were hurt. And in the minds of most, they had peaked too

20

FALL 2017

early, performing their greatest feats with nothing of substance truly on the line.

Lost championships. Lost opportunities.

Bruised egos and bodies alike given time to either fester or heal as the team waited to see what its national, postseason fate would hold.

When the NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed, Mississippi State seemed to have drawn the toughest possible road to a championship, despite being chosen to host the first two rounds at Humphrey Coliseum.

Forgetting the well-known foes waiting in the Sweet Sixteen and beyond, the Bulldogs had a pair of difficult opponents to beat in Starkville before they could even get out of Mississippi.

MSU had easily disposed of similar

performances. Mississippi State crushed what was supposed to be a difficult opponent, defeating the Troy Trojans 110-69, a score almost unheard of in the postseason. Two days later, the same lineup similarly destroyed a talented DePaul team by a score of 9271 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen in Oklahoma City.

“I talked to my kids today in pregame about who we are and what we’re known for. I talked about toughness and competitive spirit,” Schaefer told reporters after beating DePaul and securing the school’s second-straight Sweet Sixteen appearance. “Hopefully we’re getting hot at the right time of year. That’s what this tournament is all about.”

“YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE IT. YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW IT. SO, DON’T GET OFF THIS BUS UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IT.” ~ VIC SCHAEFER scrappy underdogs during their great stretch in the regular season but they didn’t appear to be the same Bulldogs anymore. That’s why they weren’t supposed to make any great waves in the postseason. It’s also the reason they went on to do exactly that.

When MSU’s starting five stepped onto the court against Troy in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on their home court in Starkville, it was clear that Schaefer was either desperate or crazy—or perhaps both. The fifthyear head coach pulled the majority of his usual starting lineup, including the team’s leading scorer. In their stead, he gave little-used role players the starting nod on the big stage.

As it turned out, Schaefer was neither desperate nor crazy—brilliant might be the more apt term. The role players turned in career-high

Whatever message Schaefer was trying to send his stars, whatever motivational directives he employed, the move clearly worked. But going forward, there were no more scrappy underdogs. The path from Starkville to the Final Four in Dallas was littered with blue bloods.

First up, Mississippi State faced Washington, a roster home to the country’s leading rebounder and NCAA all-time leading scorer. In a matchup against a pair of superstars, the Bulldogs’ super team came out victorious, taking down their first set of Huskies 75-64 and advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

But if making it that far was unlikely for State, it was in the round of eight that the run was supposed to finally end. The one-seed Baylor Bears were

the biggest team in the country and the favorite in college basketball circles to finally dethrone UConn. That they might fall to the Bulldogs was hardly even considered outside of Mississippi State’s locker room.

When the Bulldogs filed off the bus that Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma, they didn’t care what everyone else expected. They knew they were going to win, and that’s exactly what they did in an overtime victory of 94-85 that earned a Final Four matchup in Texas against head coach Geno Auriemma and his great Huskies of Connecticut.

The Bulldogs had been setting records all season, but it was in Dallas that they would face the full force of NCAA history—going up against the best coach in the game, the longest streak NCAA basketball had ever seen, and a roster full of the best

players the country had to offer the last four years running.

UConn came into the game having won 111-straight games and were cruising to what would be its fifth national championship in a row. Playing the games was a mere formality. Just oneyear prior, the Huskies handed MSU one of the worst losses in NCAA Tournament history when they destroyed the Bulldogs in the Sweet Sixteen. How much had really changed since then?

When the game began–the biggest game in MSU history, to that point– State did well. The Bulldogs didn’t just keep up with the Huskies; they led for most of the game–up by as many as 16 points in the second quarter–and forced the No. 1 team in the country to play at their pace. But when the fourth quarter came, UConn started its push. The game was tied at the end of regulation,

and in overtime, UConn continued to assert its will. Like Olympic sprinters saving their breath for the final lap, Auriemma’s Huskies took control of the game when it mattered most.

With 26.6 seconds left in overtime, Mississippi State’s senior guard Dominique Dillingham was called for a flagrant foul, giving UConn both the ball and a pair of free throws. Incensed at what he thought to be a bogus call, Schaefer’s temper flared red-hot as he yelled at the referees and required a pull from members of his staff to be brought back to the bench. In the moment, it seemed that call would be the final move in UConn’s game–the backbreaking moment for the Bulldogs and the legacy-holder for the Huskies.

Seconds later, Schaefer turned to his bench and gave each player a single, loud message.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

21

“You were built for this!”

He said it to every starter, looking them in the eyes and reminding them that they were supposed to be there.

They were supposed to find a way to do the impossible.

Moments later, with only seconds left on the clock, Dillingham brought the ball up the court with the game tied at 64. If she could find and hit a shot, she could avoid a second overtime and atone for the foul called just before.

But as she dribbled, she found no open space, no window for a shot.

With barely two seconds remaining, she passed the ball to the smallest player on the court, and after a quick step toward the basket, 5-foot5-inch guard Morgan William pulled up and hit the biggest shot in Bulldog history. The buzzer sounded with the ball still in the air and by the time it fell quiet the ball was through the net. The Bulldogs had won. They had beaten the greatest team of all time.

Mississippi State had made history.

As players piled on the court, Bulldog fans throughout the arena, across the country and all over the globe celebrated in shock. The world of sports was buzzing with one thing and one thing only: Mississippi State University.

From there, perhaps it was too much to ask a team to play for a national championship a mere 30 hours after returning to the hotel from its monumental win. It was poetic tragedy that Mississippi State had to face South Carolina for the chance at yet another title, and that it was again the Gamecocks who took down Mississippi State–thrice robbing the Bulldogs of what they sought so badly.

Regardless of who hit the last shot of the season, the story remains about who hit the biggest shot of the year– the biggest shot the game had ever seen. When William’s high-arcing ball fell into the net, it secured the greatest upset in basketball history, wrote a new chapter in the storied

22

FALL 2017

sport, added a new hero to the pantheon of greats, and established a legend to be shared and remembered in college basketball lore.

Mississippi State was never supposed to do it. They were never supposed to make it that far. But those making the predictions, the talking heads who tried to write the story before it happened, had missed out on something the Bulldogs knew the whole time: they were built for this. They believed it. They knew it.

And they did it. n

William scoring the final shot of the game.

“YOU WERE BUILT FOR THIS!” SCHAEFER SAID TO EVERY STARTER, LOOKING THEM IN THE EYES AND REMINDING THEM THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FIND A WAY TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.

A DEFINING PHRASE No matter the reason for the speaking engagement, no matter the context of the interview, no matter the location of the press conference, Vic Schaefer always ends his remarks with the same sentence:

PRAISE THE LORD AND GO DAWGS. Schaefer is the head coach of Mississippi State’s women’s basketball team, but that’s just what he is. Who he is shows in the statement that has become the catchphrase of the popular Bulldog coach.

As important as basketball may be to him, Schaefer says faith will always come first in his family, and he never has to look far for a reminder of just why it matters so much. His son Logan, now a

healthy and happy marketing major at Mississippi State, nearly died after receiving a traumatic brain injury in a freak wakeboarding accident years ago.

Schaefer says the sight of his son, as well those of his daughter Blair—a senior on his Bulldog team—and his wife Holly, are enough to remind him of the blessings he’s received.

And now, as the head coach at Mississippi State, he has found a second family in the Bulldogs and yet another reason to live and work with happiness and humility.

“Praise the Lord and go Dawgs,” quoted Breanna Richardson, who played four seasons for Schaefer and is part of the winningest class in school history. “It’s all of him in one sentence.” n

A PASSION FOR POULTRY

Mississippi State poultry department paves way for students and industry

By Vanessa Beeson, Photos by Russ Houston When it comes to the multibillion-dollar poultry industry, Mississippi State University has something to crow about.

Poultry experts from the land-grant institution use its three pillars—learning, research and service—to ensure the betterment of students, businesses, and producers alike for an industry that provides more than 72,000 jobs in the Magnolia State.

One of only six degree-granting poultry programs in the United States, the Department of Poultry Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences gives students

the knowledge and skills to succeed. Scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station conduct research to increase productivity and profitability. The Mississippi State Extension Service partners with commercial integrators and growers to troubleshoot issues, implement new technologies and boost best-management practices.

It’s a three-pronged approach to ensure the success of a vital industry and enhance animal welfare that makes Mississippi State and its alumni leaders in poultry.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

23

BULLDOGS IN THE BIRD BUSINESS

S

herman Miller’s work ethic dates back to his days growing up in Ethel, where he helped raise cattle on his family’s farm. The tenacity served him well during his collegiate years, first at Holmes Community College, then at Mississippi State where he graduated summa cum laude in 1997.

A Cal-Maine Foods internship his junior year was all it took for Miller to find his place.

“I recognized that Cal-Maine was an innovative company with high expansion potential,” said Miller, who began his career as processing plant supervisor for the company’s facility in Edwards.

Now chief operations officer for Cal-Maine Foods Inc.—the country’s largest producer of table eggs—Miller’s journey in the poultry industry has spanned more than two decades.

Within two years of moving up to processing plant manager, he was dispatched to a new facility in Delta, Utah. When that was operational two years later, he became the general manager for the company’s Kansas facility. Miller spent the next 10 years in the Sunflower State, and during that time he was promoted to vice president of operations for Kansas, Ohio and Utah.

In 2011, Miller was asked to return to Mississippi to serve as chief operations officer at the company’s Jackson-based headquarters. He is now part of an executive team that oversees operations that include 38 million laying hens across 14 states. The company has 46 layer operations, two hatcheries, 43 processing facilities and 22 feed mills.

Miller said he is proud to help produce a product that helps feed the world.

“I believe that eggs are an extremely valuable food item that will nourish people for generations to come,” Miller said. “Many people in the world rarely

24

FALL 2017

have access to high-quality protein.

I think egg production will continue to expand as an efficient means of filling this void.” _________________________

A

s senior director of quality assurance for Koch Food, Ginger Ford ensures quality standards are met in 15 facilities within complexes across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

“My job is to make sure quality assurance site and complex managers have the knowledge, equipment and resources they need,” said Ford, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the MSU department in 1988 and 1990, respectively.

Ford credits her work as a graduate research assistant in the Mississippi State poultry science department for part of her career success. Now, as a mentor for the department, she is working with doctoral student Tomi Obe to teach a poultry processing class in the fall.

“We are trying to model the processing class to be able to mimic the processing plant and the programs that are required,” Ford said.

Ford grew up in Jackson and spent time at her grandparents’ cattle farm. Initially, when she transferred to Mississippi State from Hinds Community College, she planned to begin the pre-vet concentration in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. But seeing a classmate from Hinds pursue poultry science and have a job waiting upon graduation changed her plans.

“The job security is what initially attracted me to poultry science, but then I got addicted to the industry and never looked back,” Ford said. “Poultry is what I love.”

Sherman Miller

L-R: Ginger Ford and Tomi Obe

Ford has spent much of her career in quality assurance and has been in her current position since 2003. Prior to that, she worked for Choctaw Maid and Marshall Durbin. She was also a commercial grower for 10 years—an experience she said gave her practical experience and insight.

She said innovation is what excites her most about the industry right now.

“The constant innovations are just amazing,” Ford said. “We process birds twice as fast as we used to.” ________________________________

G

ena Blakeney always knew she had an interest in agriculture. Like Ford, she initially headed to Mississippi State to pursue a pre-vet degree, but the booming poultry industry caught her attention.

After earning a poultry science bachelor’s in 1992, Blakeney sought a job close to home. She completed a McCarty Farms summer internship and was hired as a pullet service technician at the company’s Magee facility, 20 minutes

from where she grew up.

“I was one of the first females to go into the production side,” Blakeney said.

“I think interning that summer helped me get the job.”

Today, Blakeney’s at the same facility, which is now part of Tyson Foods, in the role of broiler service supervisor on the live-production side. She works alongside commercial growers across 13 farms— she’s there when the chicks arrive, checks in as they grow and watches as the broilers are loaded onto a truck bound for the processing plant.

“Our main job is animal welfare,” Blakeney explained. “We supervise the producer’s management and make sure feed, water and ventilation are perfect. It’s a day-to-day process of communication between the growers and us. It’s a good working relationship.”

Blakeney said opportunities abound for recent graduates entering the workforce.

“Students can find well-paying jobs whether they want to stay close to home

or travel the country,” she said. “The opportunity is theirs for the picking.”

For Blakeney, that opportunity has been realized on the live-production side, working closely with producers, and realizing the dream of living close to home.

“I bought my grandmother’s homestead,” Blakeney said. “I built a house and I couldn’t be happier. It’s on a farm near where I grew up. I have 21 acres and my cousin raises cattle on the land.” ________________________________

T

wain Womack saw the advantages of Mississippi State’s “2+2” collaboration with Jones County Junior College that speeds students along the path to a bachelor’s in poultry science. Now a recent graduate of that program, he’s added his own “+2” to the equation as part of Sanderson Farms’ trainee program in College Station, Texas.

A spring 2017 graduate, Womack is approaching his first anniversary in Sanderson’s intensive program that has college graduates shadow every department ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

25

within the organization over the course of two years. The experience is designed to help trainees develop the skill set to serve in supervisory positions anywhere within the production cycle.

Womack said he chose poultry science because of opportunities like that.

“Initially, I was an education major,” Womack recalled. “Tim Ishee, a Jones County Junior College instructor, talked to me about all the poultry industry offered. When I started learning about all that it takes to grow chickens, it was fascinating.”

As a Mississippi State undergraduate, Womack was a research assistant, as well as historian for the Poultry Science Club and member of the Poultry Judging Team. He said that a wellrounded college experience prepared him for his current role.

“All the aspects of my college career have contributed to my success,” Womack said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with different professors and learn all the different aspects that prepared me for the poultry industry.

“By doing this training, I will be able to work anywhere there is a need,” he added.

Womack advises current students to jump in but be prepared to put in hard work during long hours.

“Some students leave college and think that the hard work is complete,” Womack said. “I would say that your A-game doesn’t end with college, it begins. You have to continue to go the extra mile.”

TRAINING TOMORROW’S POULTRY PIONEERS

Celebrating its 70th anniversary next year, the Mississippi State University Department of Poultry Science has for decades boasted 100 percent job placement for graduates.

26

FALL 2017

This success showcases not only the quality of its alumni, but also how well the department serves its students.

Undergraduates can choose concentrations in applied poultry management or science and preveterinary science. Non-majors can elect poultry science as a minor.

Additionally, the 2+2 agreement with Jones County Junior College provides participating students a smoother transition to the four-year poultry science program at Mississippi State. The department’s graduate studies include a Master of Science in Agriculture and a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Sciences, both with poultry science concentrations.

Mississippi State University’s poultry science department prides itself on its academic caliber and handson learning that prove relevant when students enter the workforce.

“We have a hands-on curriculum, rigorous courses and passionate teachers within a family atmosphere where every student has total access to professors who really care about them as learners and as people,” said Mary Beck, department head and professor.

Aaron Kiess, an associate professor, described some of the course work.

“With the help of multiple donors, we have built a minibroiler barn where students get to raise chickens in our broiler production course,” Kiess said.

“The students are required to use and understand all of the equipment they will come face-toface with when they go to work for a poultry integrator.”

Kiess also pointed out that in a revised poultry processing course, students write standard operating procedures, hazard

analysis and critical control point plans, which lead to HACCP certification for each student.

Professor Chris McDaniel added that a graduate seminar helps students further develop inquiry, critical thinking and communication skills.

“Our students are researchminded, discovery-driven individuals,” McDaniel said. “They routinely publish in peer-reviewed journals and present their research at national and international meetings. The seminar has brought their level of engagement to a new level.”

INDUSTRY-CENTRIC APPLIED RESEARCH

In his role as a researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, McDaniel is focused on improving breeder performance by building better genetics. He studies the phenomenon of parthenogenesis, which is the spontaneous development of an unfertilized egg.

“In broiler breeder stocks, fertility is an issue,” McDaniel explained.

“I believe a background level of parthenogenesis contributes to this issue.

If we can isolate the parthenogenesis genetic traits and determine their prevalence in the poultry industry, and then breed against them, our research has the potential to improve fertility and hatchability dramatically.”

Fellow MAFES researcher David Peebles is focused on raising healthier chicks through the use of “in ovo,” or in egg, vaccination against a bacterium that affects egg-laying production and costs the global poultry industry an estimated $780 million a year.

Peebles is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture South

Gena Blakeney

Central Poultry Research Laboratory on this research.

“Currently the industry spray vaccinates against the pathogen when the chicks are young. The process is labor intensive and costly,” Peebles explained. “In our research, we inject the vaccine in the egg, so we cut down on labor and waste, and are able to provide protection earlier.”

Kiess also conducts in ovo research through MAFES. He is investigating whether pre- and probiotics introduced into eggs are an effective alternative to the use of antibiotics. As non-digestible carbohydrates, prebiotics provide attachment sites for pathogenic bacteria other than the gut wall. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that out-compete pathogenic bacteria in colonizing the gut. His team has studied the effects of four probiotics and one prebiotic on

reducing pathogenic bacteria in the gut of broiler chicks after hatch.

“We hope to continue to provide concrete evidence that in ovo injection of pre- and probiotics do not impact performance characteristics but help reduce pathogens and prevent disease within a flock,” Kiess said.

Other work within MAFES focuses on improving the efficiency of poultry feed, which can account for as much as 70 percent of the cost of meat production. Kelley Wamsley is studying how feed quality and nutrition affects broiler performance, while Wei Zhai focuses on alternatives to the use of antibiotics in feed.

On the housing side, Daniel Chesser from the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering is studying thermal insulation while John Linhoss, an Extension associate, evaluates

heating and lighting in poultry. This research could lead to more efficient poultry house design.

All of this research has end results that could affect the consumer, either through lower costs passed on from more efficient production practices, or safer products that result from raising healthier birds. However, the poultry department also works to help consumers in more direct ways.

By partnering with the food science, nutrition and health promotion department, poultry science has invested in food safety programs focused on reducing foodborne pathogens in poultry meat.

The poultry science department is also upgrading an existing building into a biosecurity level 2 facility where scientists can study pathogens in a preharvest setting.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

27

MEASU R

in the

ltry Pou ess usin

’S PPI

MISSISSI ING B

N

W IN GSPA

Mississippi State University has one of only six poultry science programs in the United States and boasts 100 percent job placement for graduates.

Production Twain Womack

Broilers ranked Mississippi’s top commodity in 2016 732,600,000 broilers produced 1,430 farms

EXTENDING KNOWLEDGE TO COMMERCIAL AND BACKYARD GROWERS

Tom Tabler, a professor with the MSU Extension Service, is in high demand by commercial growers and integrators in Mississippi. Depending on the week, he may see as many as three or four hundred growers. Having worked with growers for over 30 years, he troubleshoots issues these producers face including water quality, composting and disease prevention.

Tabler also works with the Mississippi Poultry Association and the Mississippi Board of Animal Health to offer annual training opportunities for growers and integrators. He works with backyard growers as well.

28

FALL 2017

Jessica Wells, Extension instructor and co-adviser to the Poultry Science Club, serves as undergraduate coordinator.

Like Tabler, she helps troubleshoot and diagnose disease and management issues for backyard growers. She also manages the poultry outreach programs for youth.

For K-12, Wells has the Extension Hatch-out program, where up to 15 incubators are delivered around the state for a weeklong hatching project. She reached more than 2,000 students in spring 2017.

“We deliver the eggs on a Monday and return on Friday to talk about the biology of the hatching process,” Wells said. “We use the event to plant a seed for recruitment and to discuss myths and facts prevalent in the public’s perception of poultry.”

The Mississippi State poultry science program’s mix of hands-on learning, industry-relevant research and extension initiatives for commercial and backyard growers alike helps Bulldogs rule the roost for this industry and will continue to do so for years to come. n

$2.82 billion value of production 1.39 billion eggs produced 276 farms with 100+ layers $104 million value of production in 2016

Economic Impact More than 72,000 total jobs $18.36 billion in total economic activity Tax revenue: $912 million/federal and $481 million/state and local

State Industry and Integrators Commercial Egg Company Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

Commercial Broiler Companies Koch Foods Mar-Jac Poultry, Inc. Peco Farms, Inc. Sanderson Farms, Inc. Tyson Foods Wayne Farms, LLC

Giving + Getting the most from your assets When most people think about making a charitable gift, they think of giving cash. While we welcome gifts of any kind to help support Mississippi State University, there are many ways you can benefit through making a gift of other assets to us.

• • • • •

You can avoid paying capital gains tax if you give appreciated assets.

You will receive a charitable deduction for your gift which can lower your tax bill.

You can make a gift today while preserving your cash for immediate or future needs.

You and your family can receive benefits such as lifetime income.

You may be able to make greater gifts than you ever thought possible.

For more information on how you can give and get the most from your assets, contact the MSU Foundation Office of Planned Giving.

MSU is an AA/EEO university.

Wes Gordon, Director of Planned Giving (662) 325-3707 | wgordon@foundation.msstate.edu

PG-Ad_AppreciatedAssets_HalfAd_505.indd 1

9/21/17 12:01 PM

Bring them up Maroon & White!

The Mississippi State University Alumni Association’s Legacy Program allows alumni the chance to foster the MSU spirit in their children and grandchildren. From an early age, children who are a part of the Legacy Program learn what makes MSU special, just as their parents or grandparents did before them. For more information about the Legacy Program, or to register a participant, ages 16 and under, please visit our website at alumni.msstate.edu/legacyprogram.

Post Office Box AA | Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526 (662) 325-7000 | www.alumni.msstate.edu ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

29

Our PEOPLE

ALUMNI BUILD THEIR DREAM

PIECE BY PIECE

By Sasha Steinberg | Photos by Beth Wynn

F

our years ago, aspiring entrepreneurs Sarah Hanna Qarqish and Morgan Berry Welch found themselves refinishing dining tables and fixing broken chair legs in an old coffin factory in south Jackson. On the surface, it was a less than ideal situation. But these Mississippi State alumni said the lessons from this eye-opening experience ultimately set them on the path to starting the design studio of their dreams.

“There were seven craftsmen guild members, and they invited us to move our shop into the factory,” recalled Welch, who graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in sculpture. “We spent time learning from these men, getting their different perspectives on how to run a business making custom things.”

Qarqish, Welch’s wife and fellow art graduate, added, “These seven incredible craftsmen in their 50s to early 80s were doing this for a living, which was very rare. They were surrounding us, critiquing us, helping us and giving us advice.

They gave us a backbone and taught us how to focus on what we truly wanted for our shop. It made us work hard and so appreciative with very little. Because of that, we knew exactly what kinds of jobs we wanted to target.”

30

FALL 2017

Today, Qarqish and Welch are the dynamic duo behind The HannaBerry Workshop. Known for its art, custom furniture and interior design work, the shop, which the couple also calls home, is located about seven miles from downtown Ocean Springs in the city of Gautier.

“We don’t really specialize in any specific thing,” Welch said. “Our business model is to be a generalist shop, so we can take on any type of work. I always tell Sarah, I don’t care what it is that we’re making; as long as we’re making things for people, I’m happy.”

Qarqish added, “Whether someone wants us to redo an entire kitchen, design logos or signage for their business, or build a really special mantel, sculpture, table or doors, we want to be able to serve them.”

“When we wake up, we walk right into the art studio. If we go through another door, we’re in the woodshop.

We’ve set ourselves up, so we can’t escape what we do. For us, that’s the best part of it.” ~ Morgan Berry Welch

FAR LEFT: In their living room/studio, Welch and Qarqish sit on wooden sculptures they created. MIDDLE: With a wood shop connected to their main living space, the couple can easily work on clients’ large projects, like this custom table. RIGHT: Qarqish captures new illustrative ideas on paper.

In addition to working with residential clients, the couple has crafted custom pieces for the Mississippi Museum of Art, Mississippi Children’s Museum and C Spire, to name a few.

Outside of custom creations, they also provide private lessons and host workshops on drawing, painting, mixed media, 3-D design and woodworking.

“One of the great things that makes the business work is that Sarah and I have specialized skill sets,” Welch said.

“Sarah has all of these skills she developed as a student in Mississippi State’s graphic design program, and as a senior, I was working almost independently from the sculpture shop at Mississippi State. When we bring our skill sets together, we are able to do things that neither of us could do alone. It’s a really wonderful thing.”

Along with learning from one another, Qarqish and Welch both said they enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience with the clients they serve, as well as their fellow artisans on the coast.

“Some of our clients are really into craftsmanship but there are clients who may have no knowledge of how something goes together, how much time it takes, how much money it costs or how to maintain it, so we take time to educate them about the process,” Qarqish said. “We also make them a little instruction manual they can keep and they can always call us if they need our help.”

Qarqish and Welch also have made a big push to establish a formal community of craftspeople within a 100-mile radius of their shop. Together, they have created Local Creatives, a ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

31

Our PEOPLE

LEFT: Qarqish airbrushes a mixed-media piece to build layers of color. RIGHT: Welch using a planer to smooth out a custom-built tabletop.

Web-based directory with contact information, biographies and images of work by local artists of various disciplines.

“In the art world, we trade so much to accomplish some of the pieces that we’re wanting to do,” Qarqish said. “If we don’t have certain equipment, we have friends who do and vice versa. One of the most fun parts of our job is working with this community of people who like to help and critique each other. It’s nice to embrace and use the talents of people who are mastering special skills.”

Together, Welch said he and Qarqish are working to become a young voice for craftsmanship in the state of Mississippi.

Providing the public with glimpses of their projects on social media is one of the ways they are accomplishing this goal.

“Nowadays, people tend to just go online and pick out a piece of furniture from a store. We’re able to compete with the prices of comparable furniture, and we want to show people that having something custom made or commissioned is a great option, especially when it comes to quality,” Welch explained. “With the construction methods that we use at HannaBerry, we’re never going to put something out of our shop that isn’t going to last.”

That devotion to quality and customer service feeds

ART DEPARTMENT TO CELEBRATE

50 YEARS

WITH ALUMNI EXHIBITION

32

FALL 2017

HannaBerry’s mission to develop long-lasting relationships with its clients. The best promotion, Qarqish said, comes by way of networking.

“Morgan and I always try to stay fair to our clients and understand them from the very beginning,” Qarqish said.

“Clients know when they come to us, we’re going to give them unique, quality work made with quality material. It’s a lot to take on but it’s worth it to put in that extra effort.”

Moving forward, Qarqish and Welch plan to branch into hand-painted murals. With additional equipment, they also are looking to incorporate colors, textures and patterns into glass creations.

“There are all of these different facets to what we do and we’re constantly challenging ourselves, so it’s never boring,” Qarqish said. “It’s hard work but this is life. This is a dream that we’re making come true.”

Welch added, “I can’t tell you how many times one of us wakes up at 5 a.m. with an idea. Our passion for art is all consuming. When we wake up, we walk right into the art studio. If we go through another door, we’re in the woodshop.

We’ve set ourselves up, so we can’t escape what we do. For us, that’s the best part of it.” n

To celebrate its golden year, the Mississippi State University Department of Art will present a 50th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition.

Invited juror Wesley Stuckey, a 2008 Mississippi State art graduate with a double concentration in graphic design and print making, will review and select the works, including one best in show artist who will be invited

for a solo exhibition at one of the MSU Department of Art galleries.

The Anniversary Alumni Exhibition will open in late January in the Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery at the MSU Welcome Center. The department is also planning an anniversary reception for the week of Super Bulldog Weekend, the details of which will be announced later.

Visit WWW.ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU for more details.

ALUMNUS HELPS COMMUNITIES ‘GROW’ TOP RIGHT: Michael Hatcher stands in the plant staging area at Hatcher and Associate’s Olive Branch headquarters, a 22,000-acre facility called the Landscape Center. LEFT: Fresh lettuce and kale flourishes in the Kitchen Community Learning Garden at Memphis Catholic Middle and High School.

I

By Vanessa Beeson | Photos by Russ Houston

n Shelby County, Tennessee, more than 20 percent of the population doesn’t know where its next meal will come from. Called food insecurity, this means people either can’t afford or can’t access enough nutrition to live active, healthy lifestyles, and it’s a growing problem in America.

As a 1982 landscape contracting and management graduate of Mississippi State University, Michael Hatcher has the tools to help ease this issue in his community and he’s partnering with national and regional organizations to make a difference.

In collaboration with The Kitchen Community, a nationwide nonprofit organization, Hatcher is building Learning Gardens in schools across the Memphis metro area. By focusing on edible plants, these gardens in underserved schools in urban areas teach children about healthy foods and eating habits through a structured curriculum in these outdoor classrooms.

“Gardening gives young people a sense of accomplishment. It also helps them see and understand where food comes from,” explained Hatcher, who owns Hatcher and Associates Inc., a full-service landscaping firm in Olive Branch.

In its first year with The Kitchen Community, Hatcher and his team have built more than 80 Learning Gardens at area schools, including Whitehaven High near Graceland, where the students punctuated the garden’s design by painting planters, murals and handmade signs.

Memphis Catholic Middle and High School’s Learning Garden, located in the Midtown neighborhood, got its own spin as part of a recent Come Alive Outside Design Challenge, sponsored

by Hatcher’s firm. As part of another national nonprofit, Come Alive Outside creates opportunities for students at the college, secondary and elementary levels to collaborate with landscape professionals to design and build their own unique outdoor learning space.

“Four college teams participated in the design challenge, which had to include the creation of a certified wildlife habitat. They also had to address rainwater use and management,” Hatcher explained. “Learning Garden elements like modular raised beds, seating, shade areas and boulders for children to climb had to be incorporated as well.”

Teams from Mississippi State, Auburn University, Louisiana State ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

33

Our PEOPLE University and Hinds Community College engaged in a two-day design charrette with the high school and middle school students and teachers.

From there, the teams developed concepts, drew designs and submitted them to a panel of judges. The MSU team won with a concept called “The Cellular Learning Garden,” which integrates educational, physical and spiritual components based on the cell as the basic building block of life.

While urban gardens serve to educate youth, Hatcher also sees the concept as a catalyst to connect generations.

“Growing up in Mississippi during the 1960s and 70s, farming was sort of in my DNA,” said Hatcher, who began picking produce as a summer job at the age of 14. “While I grew up in this environment, there are entire generations that skipped the experience of growing their own food.

“For the younger generations, gardening familiarizes them with a basic, essential skill. For the older generation, however, it’s a glimpse back into childhood,” he continued.

“Many older folks in our part of the country have memories of parents or grandparents that had truck patches or gardens themselves. Urban gardening gives them a chance to reconnect with the past.”

Hatcher said building gardens is part of a personal dream that was more than 40 years in the making. It began with that first summer job in Brookhaven.

“Soon after I began picking produce for Mr. Frank Burns and his son Ted at the Brookhaven Nursery, the Lincoln County Garden Club selected me to attend a weeklong Mississippi Garden Clubs’ Horticulture Seminar at Mississippi State University,” Hatcher recalled.

“That was my first trip to Mississippi State and I came home knowing that was where I would attend college and what I wanted to do with my life.”

After college, Hatcher set up shop as a landscape contractor. In 1990, his wife Mary, then his fiancee, came on as partner. She is now vice president of the company. In all, three generations of the Hatcher family have worked for the company, including the couple’s three children and Hatcher’s father.

The company employs more than 100 people across two divisions: landscape construction and landscape maintenance. The company celebrated 30 years in 2016, the same year the organization was selected as a Memphis Small Business Awards Finalist. It was also around the time that Hatcher’s ultimate vision began to take shape. The company relocated from its old, cramped headquarters to a 10,000-square-foot facility on 22 acres.

Hatcher said the idea of urban gardening is an integral part of his business plan at the new location.

Design and construction of an urban display garden at the facility is in the works. The plans include a walking path, shade and sitting areas, vegetable container gardening, a cutting garden, and an orchard.

Hatcher said he sees the garden as an opportunity for employees to engage with the community and he hopes the space will serve as a showpiece of current industry trends.

He also plans to host educational programming designed to meet the needs of young children, senior citizens and all ages in between.

“This industry isn’t just about landscaping,” Hatcher said. “While expertise in design and construction is vital, this business is largely about people: employees, customers and the community.” n

TOP: Hatcher and Rochelle Brahalla, project manager for The Kitchen Community, check out Whitehaven High’s Learning Garden, where students painted planters and hung murals. MIDDLE: Stephen Shikle (‘96), Brahalla and Michael Hatcher (‘82) assess the harvest of The Kitchen Community Learning Garden of Memphis Catholic Middle and High School. BOTTOM: Four members of the Hatcher family currently work at the Landscape Center: Mary and Michael Hatcher (center) with their sons Shawn Hatcher (left) and Steve Strickland (right). Mary serves as vice president, Steve manages fleet maintenance, and Shawn, a mechanical engineering major at MSU, works at the center during the summer.

34

FALL 2017

“Gardening gives young people a sense of accomplishment. It also helps them see and understand where food comes from.” ~ Michael Hatcher

BRAINS & BRAWN

BULLDOG TO LEAD NFL MEDICINE

By Susan Lassetter | Photos by Russ Houston

On a shelf in his Nashville, Tennessee, office, Dr. Allen Sills has a small framed photo depicting a defining moment in his life.

Slightly faded with age, the image shows him as a 21-year-old, biological engineering major at Mississippi State University wearing a sterile gown, gloves, mask and cap. He stands hunched over a surgical table working intently on an incision in his patient as a harsh spotlight illuminates the area.

“Being in the operating room was a thrilling experience to me and I loved every aspect of the surgery,” Sills recalled. “It was the first operation I ever did and I still have that photo on my shelf because I like to think of it as the day my career as a surgeon was born.”

That first surgery was part of Sills’ senior design project, for which he developed a sensor that could gather physiological data about livestock. Working with a surgeon from the College of Veterinary Medicine, he implanted the prototype into his first patient—a sheep. Now, 31 years later, his patients include Seahawks, Dolphins and Lions as he serves as the first chief medical officer of the NFL. League commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement in March after a seven month, international search to fill the newly created post.

“We sought a highly credentialed physician and leader with experience as a clinician and researcher, and Dr. Sills’ extensive experience caring for athletes makes him the right choice for this important position,” Goodell said in a press statement.

In this role, Sills will oversee every aspect of the health and safety of the more than 2,000 active NFL athletes. This includes treatment protocols, safety equipment, training techniques and even nutritional supplements. He will also oversee the league’s medical research program.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

35

Our PEOPLE

“For every player who takes the field on Sunday, there are thousands of youth out there participating in organized sports, and we want to help make those sports as safe as possible so kids will choose to remain active.” ~ Dr. Allen Sills “They wanted someone who was a researcher but also someone who had experience taking care of teams,” Sills explained. “I’ve actually been on the sidelines taking care of athletes during games and providing service to teams as they moved through their seasons.”

A neurosurgeon with a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University, Sills didn’t initially specialize in sports-related brain and spinal injuries. However, while on staff at the University of Tennessee, Memphis’ medical center, he developed a relationship with the University of Memphis athletic training staff while treating a Tiger football player for a brain tumor. He soon became their go-to neurosurgery consultant.

“I mentioned that I would be happy to help if they ever had any neurosurgical issues. Then a few months later one of their players actually broke his neck in the game and I ended up taking care of him,” Sills recalled. “That story has a happy ending. He not only resumed a normal life, but went on to play professionally, and after treating him, I was much more closely involved with college athletics in the Memphis area and later with professional basketball when the Grizzlies moved to town.”

Sills made the same offer to his alma mater and has been the consulting team

36

FALL 2017

Sills’ first experience in an operating room came in the spring of 1986 when, as a senior biological engineering major, he implanted a sensor into a sheep with the help of a surgeon from the College of Veterinary Medicine. He developed the sensor as part of a senior design class.

neurosurgeon for all Mississippi State athletics for the past 18 years.

“It’s great to have someone in that role who is not only experienced but also very invested in Mississippi State with a genuine interest in our student athletes, the university and our sports programs,” explained Mary McLendon, senior associate athletic director for sports medicine and performance. “A lot of schools have access to someone like him, but not everyone has the relationship we have with him where he’s just a phone call or text away.”

After developing a practice treating college athletes, Sills branched into professional hockey and football, as well as Olympic equestrian sports, eventually becoming involved with the International Equestrian Federation. He continued to build these relationships when he moved to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he is now a professor and co-founder of the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center.

The concussion center provides care for all high school teams in the Nashville metro area.

Between those and other high school, college and professional athletes in the Midsouth, the concussion center has approximately 10,000 athletes in its care any given year.

“It has allowed us to not only be very busy

clinically but also very active in research,” Sills said. “We’ve really focused our research on finding new ways to identify concussions and develop new treatment methods.”

Sills said that before accepting his new position with the NFL, he met with league officials to reassure himself that they valued the same goals he’d been working towards with his practice and research. And he wasn’t disappointed.

“From the commissioner to the executives and team owners, everyone I met with said health and safety is their No. 1 priority,” Sills explained. “We want to make sure the health care we offer our players is unequaled in terms of quality and scope.”

Since accepting the chief medical officer position, Sills has been visiting the 32 league teams to meet with the owners, coaches, sports medicine staff and equipment managers. He said this has allowed him to not only learn from their experience but also to understand their needs and concerns.

Sills has also been busy meeting with league medical officials to update and train personnel in new health and safety protocols, including the use of sideline medical tents—an initiative he started pushing for when he took the job.

“I’ve seen the sidelines tents used most

Common Sense Advice on Concussions The science of detecting and treating concussions continually evolves as researchers learn more and more about the brain and how these traumatic brain injuries affect the tissue.

Caused by forceful impacts or jarring to the head, a concussion occurs when the brain crashes into the skull. Though usually self-correcting over time, repeated concussion—if not detected and treated properly—can lead to permanent damage.

Dr. Allen Sills said there are four main tools for the prevention of concussive injuries in sports: • Equipment – Make sure all safety gear is properly fitted and worn at all times.

• Environment – Ensure playing surfaces and the surrounding environment are properly maintained.

• Rules – Know the rules and universally apply them.

Sills (center) stands with Dr. Reid Thompson (left), an endowed professor and chairman of neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Dr. Gary Solomon (right), a professor and neuropsychologist at Vanderbilt who holds a master’s degree from Mississippi State.

prominently at Mississippi State, and I’ve seen what I believe is a significant advantage they offer in patient privacy and allowing the physicians to do better and more focused exams because they’ve eliminated a lot of distractions,” Sills said.

“Basically, the tent allows you to create a medical exam room on the sideline in the midst of chaos.”

Sills said that on game days he will either be at a stadium or the league command center at its headquarters in New York City. He will essentially be oncall to assist the teams with any medical issues that might arise. He said he also plans to continue his relationships with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Mississippi State athletics.

“The NFL recognizes that it will make me more effective in my role as a medical officer if I am able to remain a practicing physician,” Sills said. “They’ve been supportive of me continuing my work with Mississippi State and continuing to see clinical patients and perform surgery.

It will just be on a more part-time basis.”

Sills said it is also important to him to continue improving the health and safety of athletes at all levels of play. Through

his work with the Vanderbilt concussion center, he has been active in educating parents and youth coaches and leaders in the latest methods of concussion recognition and treatment. And through his new role with the NFL, he wants to help translate the league’s discoveries not only to other levels of football but to other sports as well.

“For every player who takes the field on Sunday, there are thousands of youth out there participating in organized sports, and we want to help make those sports as safe as possible so kids will choose to remain active,” Sills said.

He continued, “We are actively involved in creating new knowledge and want to make sure we use that knowledge not only to benefit our players in the NFL but for all athletes, because the injuries we deal with aren’t just football injuries— they’re athletic injuries.”

Sills said the ever-evolving body of knowledge in medicine is part of what keeps the work engaging. In fact, the complexities of the human brain are part of what inspired him to pursue the field of neurosurgery.

“I really fell in love with the brain

• Technique – Teach athletes safe ways of play, like proper hitting and blocking in football.

While prevention is the first line of defense, Sills said injury can’t always be avoided—not only in sports but in everyday accidents such as falls and collisions.

He explained not all people exhibit the same symptoms of a concussion, but knowing the general warning signs is important: • Loss of consciousness • Headache • Nausea or vomiting • Confusion or fogginess • Dizziness or unsteadiness • Sensitivity to light or sound • Extreme or unusual emotional responses Mary McLendon, Mississippi State’s senior associate athletic director for sports medicine and performance, said it is important to protect those who exhibit any of these symptoms from further injury. For athletes that means sitting out.

She said though some athletes might be tempted to downplay symptoms to return to play more quickly, it’s important for them to understand that in the long run, they’ll have less downtime if the injury is addressed quickly and before further play has potentially made it worse.

Sills said concussions typically resolve themselves with rest and time, and that athletic personnel on site should be able to determine if further tests or treatment are needed. For people at home, he advises a trip to their local healthcare provider if the symptoms persist or are severe. n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

37

MEETING OF THE MINDS

Our PEOPLE

Sills meets with a patient at his clinic in Nashville.

“I really fell in love with the brain in medical school. I thought it was something I could study and learn about for the rest of my life and never get bored. Neurosurgery was the natural combination of my passions for surgery and the brain.” ~ Dr. Allen Sills in medical school,” Sills recalled. “I thought it was something I could study and learn about for the rest of my life and never get bored. Neurosurgery was the natural combination of my passions for surgery and the brain.”

Though he admits to growing up with little knowledge of medicine beyond his experiences with his family’s physician Dr. John Longest—namesake of Mississippi State’s student health center—Sills said his engineering degree prepared him for the rigors of medical school and everything his career has thrown at him.

“It can’t be said strongly enough that I feel my time at MSU prepared me for all of these challenges and unexpected turns in my career,” Sills said. “I certainly had no idea when I was a student there that I would have a full-time job with

38

FALL 2017

the NFL someday. But I think even my basic engineering training and the encouragement of the faculty pushed me to pursue my dreams.”

A native of Starkville, Sills is the son of Nora and the late Kent Sills, longtime director of the Famous Maroon Band. He said his experiences growing up in the university community and then serving that community as a Roadrunner and president of the Student Association, provided valuable experiences and a firm foundation that continues to serve him well.

“Mississippi State is my home and always will be home,” he said. “I hope that through this new role I will continue to bring credit to my degree and the institution because my family and I will always be Bulldogs at heart.” n

No longer content as “the best-kept secret in the South,” Mississippi State University and its researchers aren’t just conducting groundbreaking research. They’re making sure people see it.

That was the impetus for a spring meeting between Mississippi State’s Mark F. Horstemeyer, a professor and endowed chair of mechanical engineering, and the University of Virginia’s Jeff Crandall, who heads the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Engineering Subcommittee.

“He was shocked at what was going on here, to be quite frank,” Horstemeyer explained. “But our work and the results we’ve been showing are something they are very interested in.”

Horstemeyer leads a team of researchers from the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering who are using high-performance computing to apply the principles of multi-scale modeling, a process that typically shows how man-made materials behave under stress, to the human body.

The researchers are specifically looking at how the soft tissue of the brain interacts with the hard, interior structures of the skull in the event of a traumatic brain injury like a concussion. This work stems from the doctoral work of Mississippi State alumnus Raj Prabhu, who is now an assistant professor of biomedical engineering.

“We presented our findings to the NFL group and caused them to rethink how brain injuries occur,” Horstemeyer said.

He explained that the capabilities of Mississippi State’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory are what enable the Bagley group to create such intricate models of the human brain. That computing power is not widely available to the biomedical engineering community, making MSU a unique research partner for the NFL group.

“They didn’t understand the computing capabilities available at Mississippi State,” Horstemeyer said.

“Our research and access to powerful computing tools have opened the door for future collaboration with Jeff and the NFL.” Horstemeyer explained that by first understanding the mechanics of concussions, his group can generate “bio-inspired designs” for helmets and facemasks that better protect athletes from longterm brain damage. n

Dawgs in

With nearly 139,000 living alumni, the Bulldog family has roots around the world. In Denver, Colorado, almost 900 Mississippi State alumni are leaving a Maroon and White mark on the Mile High City.

Catching a dream In the worst-case scenario, Paul Boals thought his new venture would help float his fishing habit. Then, he and his business partner sold more than 150 hand-built fly rods in two years.

That’ll buy a lot of flies and line for the founders of Yampa Rod Company.

“We build the rods in our basements,” Boals explained. “They perform like the more expensive ones on the market, but we keep our price low because our overhead is low and we don’t go through rod shops to sell them.”

A landscape architecture graduate, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 2004 and 2007, respectively, Boals moved to Denver on a whim with

his wife Lisa, who earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 2008. To her, the move meant living closer to her sister.

For him, it indulged a well-established love for fly fishing.

“We moved out here and our lives are basically play and work,” explained Boals, who is in his third year as president of the MSU alumni chapter in Denver. “We try to take advantage of the mountains and things up here, and I’ve continued to learn about the sport since we moved.”

Now a certified casting instructor, Boals said building his own rod became the next logical step, so he and a friend embarked on the project just to see what

Paul Boals

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

39

Our PEOPLE

F lavors from home

In progress MSU themed rods

they could do. But after showing their handmade fly rods to other members during a local Fly Fishers International meeting, the overwhelming interest led them to form a company.

Today, Yampa Rod Company sells three rod styles that are built to order.

They also take custom orders, like Boals’ current project—a Mississippi State themed rod for a fellow alumnus.

“Even our so-called production-line rods have a custom feel,” Boals said, explaining how their fly rods differ from others on the market. “We also provide a lifetime warranty and offer a two to three week turn on repair work.”

When not fishing, planning to fish or thinking about fish, Boals said he works as an admissions adviser for a career college in the Denver area. While not directly related to his degrees, he said he finds a similar satisfaction in the work.

“After college, I did some work helping to recruit for my fraternity and I realized I enjoy helping people make that decision about coming to school,” Boals explained. “So, where as a landscape architect I was helping people make decisions about what to do with their courtyards or plazas, now I’m helping people decide what they’ll do in life and that’s a good feeling.”

40

FALL 2017

The original Yazoo BBQ location now occupies an entire block in downtown Denver. Area alumni and friends of Mississippi State University gather at its upstairs bar to watch Bulldog sports in an atmosphere decked out in Maroon and White memorabilia.

A 1976 business graduate, Don Hines set out for Denver to work for a $3 billion construction firm. Later, when a layoff claimed that job, he shocked human resources by entering his exit interview with a smile.

“They asked why I was so happy,” Hines recalled. “I told them ‘First, I don’t have to commute anymore. And second, I’m going to open a barbecue place.’”

A native of Jackson, Hines fell in love with smoked meats while living in Memphis, Tennessee, after college. And with that taste forged in the barbecue capital of the South, he found the offerings west of the Rockies lacking.

“The barbecue in Denver is very wet,” Hines explained. “When I ordered I would always ask them to let me sauce it myself because there’s nothing worse than ordering a barbecue sandwich and getting something that’s more like a sloppy Joe.” Despite his excitement for the venture, Hines found it difficult to get banks on

board since he had never worked in—much less run—a restaurant, so he took a 10 percent penalty and cashed out his 401(k) to make his dream come true.

It was enough to let him rent and set-up a 700-square foot space in downtown to open Yazoo BBQ. Setting itself apart with its dry rubs and smoky flavors, Hines’ joint, which opened in 2001, has earned numerous “best of ” awards including consecutive “Best of Denver” honors for pulled pork.

Today he owns the building, which he has expanded to take up an entire downtown Denver block. His operation is now 5,000-square feet, including an upstairs bar that hosts athletic watch parties for the local chapter of Mississippi State’s Alumni Association. He also opened a second location in south Denver.

“It was one of those things,” Hines said.

“I saw something and thought I could do it better and make a living at it, so I rolled the dice. And thank goodness I did.”

UP NEXT: Dawgs On the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Send suggestions to alumnus@msstate.edu.

Civil discourse

Chasing a thrill The first time he saw a rotating supercell roll across the Kansas plains, Cory Reppenhagen says he was hooked. Still, it took an intervening news director to turn this amateur storm chaser into a professional meteorologist.

“It didn’t take me long to realize that good forecasting makes for easier chasing,” said Reppenhagen, who was working at a TV station in Kansas when he first discovered storm chasing.

“It wasn’t until I moved to Orlando, working for WFTV that I completed my degree at Mississippi State,” he continued. “Our news director there is fully responsible for creating the photographer/ reporter/meteorologist monster that I am today.”

Reppenhagen took advantage of Mississippi State University’s online degree options and completed a bachelor’s in geoscience in 2010, which accompanies the communication degree from Mesa State he earned in the late ’90s.

He returned to his native Colorado in 2013 to join KMGH in Denver before transferring across the street to KUSA in July. There he said he’ll be able to take a proactive approach to covering weather in the field.

“I’m like the utility infielder of the weather business,” Reppenhagen explained. “I shoot the

Faux-Smoked Ribs

Though Hines stresses that this is not how things are done at Yazoo BBQ, he offers the following tips to help Bulldogs “cheat a little” to achieve that smoky barbecue flavor at home.

TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS • Large aluminum pan • Dry rib rub—but don’t ask for Hines’ secret recipe • Ribs, baby back or St. Louis cuts are recommended • Liquid for steaming • Fruit or nut tree wood chips—Hines prefers pecan • Saran wrap • Aluminum foil • Wire rack that sits at an inch off the bottom of the pan Pour a shallow layer of the liquid in the aluminum pan, careful that it won’t touch the meat. Season the ribs with the rub and place them on the wire rack in the aluminum pan.

Cory Reppenhagen

weather. I report on breaking weather from the field. And I can even do the studio forecast on a fill-in basis. In this new job, I’ll never miss a storm in Colorado. That is the perfect situation for me.”

A regional Emmy winner for his coverage of 2011’s tornado outbreak in Mississippi and Alabama, Reppenhagen is an advocate for providing thorough local weather coverage, not only because it can save lives in cases of severe storms but also because, even in good times, it can bring people together.

“We all live in the community together, and the weather is one of the few things that we all have in common,” Reppenhagen said. “We are all impacted by the weather, so let’s share our experiences with each other. That’s how I roll.”

It’s OK to stack the ribs. Cover the pan with saran wrap, then aluminum foil. This, he says, acts like a pressure cooker and will not melt the plastic. Place the covered pan in a 225-degree oven for 4-5 hours, until the ribs reach the desired tenderness.

Once the ribs are steamed, they can be refrigerated to be finished later, or taken straight to the grill.

To achieve the smoky flavor, place moist wood chips in a grill on low heat. Hines recommends placing the chips in a heavyduty aluminum foil “cocoon” so they will smolder, not ignite. Add the steamed ribs, bone-side down and cook on low for an hour.

If applying sauce, do so at the end of the grilling process.

Hines says with a longer time, this process also works for brisket.

As a history major at Mississippi State, Andrew Newcomb had aspirations of one day becoming a professor. But as he studied American government and the intricacies of its legal system he found another path.

Today, Newcomb is a partner with the Denver-based Speights and Worrich law firm he joined in January. He previously had his own successful civil litigation practice. He said for him, it’s about finding a balance between work and family, and all of the opportunities a city like Denver has to offer.

“There’s a saying in law that when you run your own firm you get to pick whichever 100 hours a week you want to work,” Newcomb said. “I was ready to just practice law, and to have more time to spend with my family enjoying the unique Colorado lifestyle.”

Newcomb said the move from the Gulf Coast, where he first practiced law, to the Rocky Mountains was an “exhilarating change.”

“Snowboarding, hiking and an amazing city to explore. No more humidity and mosquitoes. My vegetables don’t get eaten by a ton of bugs. It’s daylight until 9 p.m. in the summer,” he explained, echoing other Denver Dawgs’ statements about how the city has great opportunities for both work and play.

“As far as the social adjustment,” he continued, “Denver is a big melting pot of young people looking to make a name.

And now, with the Mississippi State alumni chapter growing, it’s great to get together to cheer on the Bulldogs even when we can’t be in Starkville.”

Andrew Newcomb ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

41

Our PEOPLE

SENIOR Celebration April 25, 2017

Each year, Mississippi State University honors graduating seniors with a special campus celebration. The MSU Alumni Association and its Alumni Delegates jointly host the annual Senior Celebration to honor soon-to-be graduates as they prepare for spring commencement.

The latest event was April 25 at the Hunter Henry Center where each graduate received a free T-shirt and enjoyed a fun-filled evening with crawfish, ice cream and live music.

42

FALL 2017

Adjacent to Starkville’s own

City Bagel Cafe providing the

convenience of walking to The Cotton District, downtown dining, shopping

& campus. Enjoy open layouts, private

STARKVILLECONDOS.COM balconies & dedicated parking.

2, 3 & 4 bedroom options | Approx. 725-2200+ sq. ft.

Kay Regimbal | RE/MAX Partners 662.816.0094 or 662.498.1111

www.starkvillecondos.com

ille Condominiums

omery with screened

os, main floor master

gs with open layout,

Kay Regimbal

662.816.0094 or 662.498.1111

Partners

Embark on an

ADVENTURE with the MSU Alumni Association

2018 Destinations* Israel

FEBRUARY 10-19, 2018

Miami to San Francisco MAY 6-22, 2018

Great Trains and Grand Canyons MAY 6-12, 2018

Monte Carlo to Rome MAY 9-17, 2018

Scottish Isles to Norway MAY 17-25, 2018

Naples to Paestum JUNE 5-13, 2018

London to Dublin JUNE 7-18, 2018

Zürich to Amsterdam JUNE 22-JULY 2, 2018

Galápagos

JULY 11-18, 2018

Northern Canada JULY 23-29, 2018

Alaska

JULY 23-AUGUST 2, 2018

Chicago to Toronto AUGUST 14-23, 2018

Cape Cod and the Islands AUGUST 19-26, 2018

Prague to Budapest

SEPTEMBER 5-14, 2018

Barcelona

SEPTEMBER 20-28, 2018

Barcelona to Athens OCTOBER 3-14, 2018

*A L L T R I P S A N D DAT E S S U B J E C T TO CHANGE. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR T H E M O S T C U R R E N T I N F O R M AT I O N .

alumni.msstate.edu/travel

44

FALL 2017

The MSU Alumni Association annually sponsors trips across the globe through the Traveling Bulldogs program. Itineraries are booked through 2018. Our program also includes fan travel, featuring trips for select away football games in 2017! Explore the Alumni Association website for more information at alumni.msstate.edu/travel or contact Libba Andrews at 662.325.3479.

Our PEOPLE

HELP MSU RECRUIT

IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

ALUMNI RECRUITMENT NETWORK Dear Alumni and Friends,

MAROON MAIL WRITERS You can influence a student’s decision to choose Mississippi State with the personal touch—a handwritten note. Whether you are writing to high school seniors in your city, those interested in studying in your field or students looking to become first-generation college graduates, your nudge toward Mississippi State University can make the ultimate impact.

Thank you for your support of Mississippi State University. These are exciting times on campus and increased student enrollment has contributed to the excitement. MSU experienced record-breaking numbers in student enrollment in the fall of 2017 with a total enrollment of 21,884 students, which includes first-time freshmen with an average ACT score of 25.13 and a record number of transfer students.

Growing the enrollment continues to be a priority at Mississippi State University, and we need your continued assistance to make this a reality. We encourage you to consider the following ways to assist: • Join the Alumni Recruitment Network and help us reach students in your area by visiting alumni.msstate.edu/arn or by contacting the MSU Alumni Association at (662) 325-3444.

• Share names and contact information on prospective students, both those in high school and community college.

BULLY’S COLLEGE FAIR CREW Take part in sharing Mississippi State’s story with students at high schools near you by representing the Bulldogs at a college fair. We want Maroon and White in high schools across the nation, and this is a huge way you can help.

• Consider hosting a student recruitment event in your area.

Again, thank you for all that you do for our great university. If we can ever be of assistance to you, please contact our office.

Sincerely,

HAIL STATE EVENT REPS John R. Dickerson Assistant Vice President for Enrollment University Registrar

Naron Remillard Director of Student Recruitment

One of the most engaging ways to recruit students is by hosting them at a personal residence or local venue. In-home and local events give students a taste of the hospitality that runs through Mississippi State’s campus, and it gives you the opportunity to spread Maroon and White in your community.

To join the Alumni Recruitment Network, visit www.alumni.msstate.edu/arn.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

45

Infinite IMPACT Bulldog alumni have access to the Mississippi State University Career Center’s online career management system, as well as several of its other services and events at no charge. Job postings, on-campus interviews and resume critiques are just a few of the services offered at the Career Center. Visit the alumni page at www.career. msstate.edu for more information or to schedule an appointment.

TH E A L L U V IA N H O T E L • T H E A L L UV I A N S P A • V I KI N G C O O KI N G S C H O O L • G I A R D I N A ’ S

A cosmopolitan boutique hotel deep in the Delta 318 Howard Street Greenwood, MS 662.453.2114 thealluvian.com

46

FALL 2017

Our PEOPLE

The Mississippi State Bulldog Club, Alumni Association and local alumni chapters come together annually for the Road Dawgs tour as university and athletic department officials visit fans throughout the region.

The 2017 tour featured John Cohen, athletic director; Vic Schaefer, head women’s basketball coach; Ben Howland, head men’s basketball coach; and Dan Mullen, head football coach, along with a few trophies amassed by the Bulldogs in recent victories. This year’s stops included the Mississippi cities of Biloxi, Greenville and Olive Branch, along with Birmingham, Alabama.

Road Dawgs takes place annually, visit alumni.msstate.edu/roaddawgs for details.

Bulldog faithful from Birmingham, Alabama, and DeSoto County ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

47

Infinite IMPACT

Montgomery Foundation gift helps MSU-Meridian students find their path to success

By James Carskadon

W

ith support from the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation, a new advising center on MSU-Meridian’s College Park Campus provides students the opportunity to find an educational path that’s right for them.

The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Advisement and Career Services Center was dedicated during a formal ceremony in May that included MSU and Montgomery Foundation leaders. The facility, which opened in 2016 in the space that formerly housed the Barnes and Noble bookstore, provides a centralized location to guide students through college at MSU-Meridian and into a career.

Cephus McMillian, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said MSUMeridian’s academic advisers helped him navigate the process of finishing a degree after an overseas deployment with the Air National Guard put his degree on hold.

McMillian enrolled at MSU’s Starkville campus in 1999, but at the beginning of his junior year, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks caused his unit to be placed on active duty.

After years of deployments and work delayed finishing his education, McMillian returned to MSU-Meridian in 2016 determined to complete his degree.

“Kristi Dearing helped me out a lot,” McMillian said. “I’m looking to find a job locally after I graduate. I learned I can teach if I take a few more classes, which is something I’m looking to do.”

Brad Crawford, president and executive director of the Montgomery Foundation, said the organization’s namesake envisioned a campus that would improve the lives of Meridian residents such as McMillian.

48

FALL 2017

Terry Dale Cruse, Administrative Director and Head of Campus at MSU-Meridian; C.D. Smith, president of the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning; Judy Bonner, MSU Provost and Executive Vice President; and Brad Crawford, Executive Director and President of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation, celebrate the dedication of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Advisement and Career Services Center on MSU-Meridian’s College Park Campus.

“We all know Congressman Montgomery loved MSU and MSU-Meridian,” Crawford said. “He pushed for this campus to be built, in his special, gentle, people-person way, because he had the vision that it would help Meridian.

He knew the many non-traditional students in Meridian that could use a campus like this, and he knew that with Meridian Community College right next door, the lives of many in Lauderdale County and the surrounding area would be improved.”

Over the last year, MSU-Meridian has worked with area community colleges to create Partnership Pathways programs that help students enter and successfully complete baccalaureate degree programs. Students can enroll concurrently at MSU and partner community colleges Meridian Community College, East Mississippi Community College, East Central Community College and Jones County Junior College. MSU advisers are placed on the community college campuses to assist students, ensuring a smooth transition to MSU-Meridian.

“The Montgomery Foundation’s gift significantly impacts the success of our Partnership Pathways initiative with local community colleges while also promoting retention of current students,” said Terry Dale Cruse, MSU-Meridian administrative director and head of campus. “The Sonny

Montgomery Advisement and Career Services Center serves as a hub for recruiting students to the Meridian Campus, encouraging them to reach graduation, and connecting them to meaningful jobs after degree completion.”

In addition to supporting MSU-Meridian and its community, the Montgomery Foundation also strives to carry on Montgomery’s legacy of supporting America’s veterans. During his 15 terms in Congress, Montgomery was known as “Mr. Veteran” because of his unwavering support for military service members. The Montgomery G.I. Bill, which McMillian is using to complete his degree, preserved the strength of the all-volunteer military force by providing education benefits for active duty National Guard and Reserve members.

The foundation has donated approximately $620,000 to Mississippi State, building upon gifts Montgomery made to the university for student scholarships before his death in 2006.

Led by the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, MSU has become one of America’s most veteran-friendly universities. The lobby of MSU’s Center for America’s Veterans at Nusz Hall was dedicated to Montgomery last November. In addition to MSU, the Montgomery Foundation has supported several veteran-related causes and leadership programs in the Meridian area. n

Susan and Mike McIlwain (center) with their children. From left are Allie, Joe Watt, Kathryn, Amelia and Grace, seated next to her father.

Alumnus accounts for Mississippi State success with gift By Amy Cagle A lifelong connection to the state of Mississippi’s largest university and one of its bestknown towns remains strong for Mike McIlwain.

Born to Starkville natives, he grew up with a great affection for the town and Mississippi State University. Now, a new gift from McIlwain and his wife, Susan, will cement his family’s Bulldog legacy as it furthers an earlier endowed scholarship and creates an excellence fund, both in the Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy. The investment affords the Kildeer, Illinois, couple a greater impact on the school that already boasts 100 percent placement of its graduates.

“I want to further my university’s growing reputation for having an exceptional accounting school with emerging national potential,” McIlwain said. “Professor Shawn Mauldin’s strategic plan as director is what I support, and I am behind his innovative vision for the school

by providing financial resources for its pursuits.”

The McIlwains initially established the Joseph Watt McIlwain Scholarship in memory of Mike’s dad, who died in 1989. The first in his family of

got the basis for my career and I hope to provide that same great foundation for others through the scholarship,” said McIlwain, a 1987 accounting graduate.

“Furthermore, as the proud parents of five children, Susan and I find ourselves passionate about helping educate the youth of our nation.”

At Mississippi State, the Joseph Watt McIlwain Scholarship benefits full-time students enrolled in the Adkerson School of Accountancy who are minoring in entrepreneurship in the College of Business. The first recipients of the scholarship, Ann Marie Ory of Destrehan, Louisiana, and Amanda Garnier of Navarre, Florida, both received $1,000 each toward their academic pursuits.

With the endowment, more McIlwain scholars will follow in the coming years.

Along with Mike’s dad, his mother Bess and her late father Robert Henry “Goober” Sikes instilled a love in him for all things Bulldog. However, it

“It floored me to make the top 100 business alumni list, and I had a great deal of pride as I read over the names of many accomplished graduates who were included.” ~ Mike McIlwain seven siblings to attend college, Joe Watt McIlwain proudly graduated from Mississippi State in 1962 and 1972 with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial arts education. He was a successful teacher and athletic director at Pahokee High School in Florida, where he and his wife, fellow Starkville-native Bess McIlwain Stacy, raised Mike and his two brothers.

“In following in my dad’s footsteps by attending MSU, I

was his great uncle, Starkville resident Bill V.J. Robinson, who made a truly lasting impact on his academic pursuits.

“Uncle V.J. owned the Western Auto store for decades. I looked up to him and his success as a local businessman,” McIlwain said. “Although he is now retired, V.J. traveled everywhere as a Bulldog supporter and that unwavering commitment really inspires me to give back from wherever I live.”

Along with his MSU accounting degree, McIlwain earned a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Alabama, using both degrees as an accountant with KPMG and Arthur Andersen before becoming chief financial officer of Motor Coach Industries. He joined PSAV, a company known internationally for setting the standard for event technology services within the hotel, resort and conference center industry, in 2009. Since 2011, he has been president and CEO. McIlwain’s nearly threedecade career has been recognized

by Mississippi State. He was named one of the College of Business’ top 100 alumni for its centennial anniversary. He also served as a distinguished speaker for a well-known lecture series that began in 1984 and continues to bring many inspirational leaders to campus.

“It floored me to make the top 100 business alumni list, and I had a great deal of pride as I read over the names of many accomplished graduates who were included,” McIlwain said. “My earlier selection as a featured speaker for the Seal series held special meaning because the noteworthy lectureship began when I was enrolled as a student at State.”

For McIlwain, becoming a Bulldog was inevitable because of passionate family ties, and he works hard to remain an ambassador for the university.

“Although none of my five children has selected MSU for their education, yet, I strongly promote my alma mater to the two who remain at home,” he said.

“It was always cool to be a Bulldog fan growing up in Florida, and it’s still cool for our family to be Bulldogs living in Illinois.” n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

49

Infinite IMPACT

UNIVERSITY BREAKS GROUND ON PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL

to enhance education across the state Mississippi State University, Starkville Oktibbeha School District and statewide officials gathered to break ground in May on a building that will enhance education in Oktibbeha County, the Golden Triangle area and Mississippi.

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and education stakeholders were on hand for the ceremonial turning-of-the-sod for the Starkville Oktibbeha School District Partnership School at Mississippi State University. The 128,000-square-foot facility is slated for completion in the spring of 2019.

The school will serve every sixth and seventh grade student in the local district and also will be a demonstration site for student teachers and faculty members in Mississippi State University’s

50

FALL 2017

College of Education. It will provide educational lessons for SOSD and MSU students as the two entities work jointly to identify collaborative efforts on curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation.

“This Partnership School is going to make a difference in the lives of not only the students in Oktibbeha County, but it’s going to make a difference in the lives of students all over the state because we’re going to produce even better teachers coming out of Mississippi State University, and that’s a good thing for everybody,” Reeves said.

An innovative research site on rural education, the school is expected to help Mississippi address challenges rural schools face as Mississippi State and SOSD teachers collaborate to test state-of-the-art practices and

problem-solving.

Professional development opportunities for educators across the state will help Mississippi teachers stay at the forefront of best educational practices.

“The Partnership School is a win-win-win for Starkville, Oktibbeha County and Mississippi State University. And it’s a win for the students who will come here at a critical time in their lives,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “This is an absolute testament to the power of working together in a partnership manner.

That’s what this demonstrates.

“These students will be able to experience learning in a unique classroom setting that stretches beyond the walls of the school building and reaches into our campus. They will be part of a major research university and

By James Carskadon

a world-class community of scholars,” he continued.

Eddie Peasant, SOSD superintendent, said, “This partnership promises to impact the future of education in our state as we reimagine middle school and maximize hands-on learning opportunities to create dynamic learning experiences across all disciplines for sixth and seventh grade students–all supported by MSU academic and cultural resources.”

The 43-acre, universitydonated school site is located on the Mississippi State campus, near the university’s north entrance at the intersection of George Perry Street and Highway 182. Funding for the $27.5 million school is provided by MSU and bond issues from the Mississippi Legislature and SOSD.

Mississippi State, Starkville Oktibbeha School District and statewide officials broke ground in May on the new SOSD Partnership School at MSU. Pictured, from left to right, are Armstrong Middle School Principal Julie Kennedy, future Partnership School student Kayleigh Edelblute, Overstreet Elementary Principal Tim Bourne, SOSD Board of Trustees Member Lee Brand, Jr., SOSD Superintendent Eddie Peasant, MSU President Mark E. Keenum, Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors President Orlando Trainer, Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, former Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman, former Mississippi House of Representatives District 38 Rep. Tyrone Ellis, Mississippi House of Representatives District 43 Rep. Rob Roberson, MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw, Partnership School benefactors Bobby and Judy Shackouls, Partnership School benefactors Terri and Tommy Nusz and former SOSD Superintendent Lewis Holloway. Photo by Russ Houston

“We fully expect the new Partnership School to revolutionize how children learn and teachers teach,” said David Shaw, MSU vice president for research and economic development. “The school is the result of outstanding collaboration and the hard work and support of many.”

In addition to public funding sources, private support from Bulldog alumni and friends will help make the Partnership School possible. To date, significant support for the school comes from: —J.W. “Jim” and Jean Bagley of Coppell, Texas. The retired executive chairman of the board of Lam Research Corp., Jim Bagley earned electrical engineering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1961 and 1966, respectively, and received an honorary doctorate in 2005;

—Thomas B. “Tommy” and Terri Nusz of Houston, Texas.

The current chairman and CEO of Oasis Petroleum Inc., Tommy Nusz earned a 1982 petroleum engineering degree. Likewise, Terri Nusz graduated in 1982 with an interior design degree.

She oversees the family’s various interests in equine sport including TnT Equine Partners, Amalaya Investments and Oasis Stables; —Bobby S. and Judy Shackouls of Houston, Texas. The retired chairman, president and CEO of Burlington Resources Inc., Bobby Shackouls earned a 1972 chemical engineering degree and received an honorary doctorate in 2010; and —Starkville-Oktibbeha Achieving Results (SOAR), an affiliate of the CREATE Foundation of Tupelo.

Beyond committed support,

Mississippi State is seeking an additional $2 million in private gifts for the endeavor through the MSU Foundation. All Partnership School gifts will become part of the university’s successful, ongoing Infinite Impact Campaign, which nears $760 million toward an overall $1 billion goal by 2020.

“With this facility having the connection to and backdrop of Mississippi State, we can change the outlook for these children just by demonstrating a belief in their future and resetting their expectations of what is possible,” Tommy Nusz said.

Flowood-based JH&H Architects is the design professional for the school, which will serve up to 1,000 students every year. The building will house seven MSU

classrooms and several offices for MSU faculty. School plans, developed with extensive input from teachers, administrators and community stakeholders, include a gymnasium, media center, robotics classroom, science labs, music facilities and art classrooms, in addition to classrooms arranged in pods and equipped with the latest technology. The new building also will alleviate building capacity issues for SOSD, which was formed when the Starkville and Oktibbeha County school districts officially consolidated in 2015.

Classroom arrangements will allow MSU education students to observe teaching techniques without interrupting instruction, and the school’s design features spaces for rotating displays from MSU museums and galleries. n ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

51

RIDE WITH

PRIDE

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY CAR TAGS ARE AVAILABLE IN AL, DC, GA, MS, TN AND TX. There is no better way to show your loyalty and pride in Mississippi State than by owning an official university license plate.

Displaying an MSU tag will let everyone know, wherever you drive, that Mississippi State University is your institution of choice. For more information, visit ALUMNI.MSSTATE.EDU/CARTAG.

52

FALL 2017

IL !

A H TE STA

All Bulldogs Welcome!

Come see how The Claiborne cares.

Starkville’s Finest Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care Voted “Best of Starkville” for Retirement Living. schedule a tour today, call us at (662) 268-9555 or visit www.theclaiborne.com 74 CLAIBORNE WAY | STARKVILLE, MS 39759

PROUDLY OWNED & OPERATED BY FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER & MSU BASEBALL ALUMNUS, CRAIG TATUM ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

53

STATE ments Lurleen M. Walters, an assistant professor at the university, was presented the Patrick J. Byrne Emerging Leadership Award for significant contributions to the national organization.

Representing academia, industry and government, Food Distribution Research Society members work to address ongoing challenges in food marketing and distribution.

Susan Seal was named executive director of Mississippi State University’s Center for Distance Education. In this position, she will lead the university’s nationally recognized distance education efforts and work with campus units to enhance the educational experience for students and faculty.

Mississippi State University interior design senior Martina R. Walker of Clinton was selected as a semifinalist in the fourth annual Steelcase NEXT Competition. Out of nearly 800 entries and 65 design programs, she was chosen as one of just five semi-finalists.

John Buol, a master’s student studying agriculture in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is the Southern Weed Science Society’s selection for the Outstanding Graduate Student award for the state. The recognition is given annually to one master’s student across 15 states, and students are only eligible for the award once during their academic careers. Buol also placed second in the Master of Science oral presentation competition.

Senior biochemistry major Lucas J. Ferguson of Batesville, a 2016 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College Outstanding Research Award recipient, became the university’s first recipient of the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. He was among 36 selected to receive one of the most generous international scholarships awarded by the University of Cambridge. In addition to the full cost of studying at one of the world’s leading universities, the award provides additional discretionary funding.

Mississippi State University’s Office of Public Affairs received two top honors garnered “Grand” awards in the Branding/Identity Program and External Communications Program during the annual competition for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District III. The “We Ring True” branding initiative also garnered seven awards, including Best of Show, during the Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s PRism Awards competition.

A Mississippi State University faculty member and an extension agent were honored during the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning’s annual Diversity Awards recognition. The awards recognize campus and community leaders for the impact they have made in advancing diversity and encouraging understanding and respect. MSU’s honorees were Robert Damm, professor of music and director of music education partnerships, and Harvin Hudson, agriculture and natural resources extension agent, who was recognized on behalf of the university’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

54

FALL 2017

TOP: MSU Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Harvin Hudson receives a 2017 Diversity Award from IHL Trustee Shane Hooper (second from left), MSU President Mark E. Keenum (far right) and former MSU Associate Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Bill Herndon.

BOTTOM: IHL Trustee Shane Hooper presents a 2017 Diversity Award to MSU Professor of Music Robert Damm as MSU Assistant Vice President of Multicultural Affairs Ra’Sheda Forbes and MSU President Mark E. Keenum look on.

(Photo by Jay Ferchaud/ University of Mississippi Medical Center)

Two members of Mississippi State’s Bass Fishing Club earned a second-place finish at the YETI FLW College Fishing Southeastern Conference bass tournament at Lake Seminole in Georgia. Jack D. Stegall (right), a marketing major from Carriere, and Caleb A. Hebert (left), a wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Poplarville, accepted a $1,000 prize—on the club’s behalf—for their accomplishment, which also qualifies them to represent MSU in the 2018 YETI FLW College Fishing National Championship.

For more current achievements of Mississippi State faculty, staff and students, visit www.msstate.edu.

Rebecca R. RobichauxDavis was named president-elect of the Mid-South Educational Research Association.

She was named to the leadership position during the association’s recent annual meeting in Mobile, Alabama.

Rita Dove, a former U.S. poet laureate who also won a Pulitzer Prize and other major accolades, led the writer-inresidence program of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Institute for the Humanities. Her visit included a number of activities with members of both the university and area communities.

Leonard D. Taylor Jr., an assistant professor in the university’s educational leadership department, received the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education’s 2017 Dissertation of the Year Award. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native’s research is focused on how higher education administrators, faculty and staff use data and promising practices to enhance student success and encourage more astute consumption of knowledge to help improve quality, quantity and diversity of U.S. graduates.

A research collaboration between Mississippi State University and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom aims to increase understanding of infant head trauma. Using funds from an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant, researchers from both institutions will continue working to create highly-detailed 3-D and computational models of the infant brain, which will advance forensic analysis and safety research related to infant head trauma.

Judith A. “Judy” Spencer, Mississippi State’s chief human resources officer was honored by Women in Higher Education—Mississippi Network with its 2017 Leadership Award at the organization’s convention at Jackson State University.

Assistant professor Gregg J. Twietmeyer is the author of a new textbook titled “The Fundamentals of Sports Ethics” to help future teachers, coaches, sports administrators and others gain a better appreciation for the complex subject of sports ethics. Within its 264 pages, he introduces concepts sports philosophers often take for granted and about which many that are part of the game often struggle.

AROUND CAMPUS Penny Wallin, a Mississippi State University-Meridian assistant professor of educational leadership, gave the featured address during the National Field Experience Conference in Ruston, Louisiana. The purpose of the conference is to share information, practices, policies and research pertaining to teacher candidates’ experiences in school settings.

Ra’Sheda Forbes was named her alma mater’s assistant vice president for multicultural affairs.

She has served in the interim role since fall 2016, when she also was named director of the university’s Holmes Cultural Diversity Center. She previously served for two years as the center’s associate director.

The Reshoring Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Mississippi: Enhancing Skills and Building Competitiveness partnership team included (seated, l-r) Bill Martin, formerly of the MSU Franklin Furniture Institute; Mitzi Woods, South Delta Planning and Development District; Clay Walden, MSU CAVS; Jill Sellers, MSU CAVS Extension; Mary Ann Richardson, MSU CAVS Extension; Mary Swoope, Mississippi Economic Development Council; and Greg Word, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership; and (standing, l-r) Steve Puryear, MSU CAVS Extension; Mickey Milligan, Mississippi Development Authority; James Williams, State Workforce Investment Board; Glenn Dennis, MSU CAVS Extension; Bill Renick, Three Rivers Planning and Development District; Joe Jordan InnovateMEP Mississippi; Raj Shaunak, East Mississippi Community College; Robert Sheely, MSU CAVS Extension; Brad Gates, Itawamba Community College; and Jay Tice, InnovateMEP Mississippi. (Submitted photo)

Mississippi State’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension, which is based in Canton, accepted the Community Economic Development Award for its work to bring advanced manufacturing jobs back to America from the Mississippi Economic Development Council.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

55

STATE ments A Mississippi State University student and a recent alumna will both travel abroad this year after being named finalists in the U.S. Student Fulbright Program.

Andrew House, a senior from Kennedy, Alabama, double majoring in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, and biochemistry, will begin graduate work this fall at Finland’s University of Turku. Bailey Bullock, a 2016 MSU sociology graduate and Crystal Springs native, will participate in the Student Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program in Colombia.

Marty W. Rogers is now the new director of the Mississippi State-led Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, which is the

Bloomingburg

Crawford

Laird

Federal Aviation Administration’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Assistant professor Caleb Lemley is this year’s selection for the Outstanding Young Animal Scientist in Research Award from the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science.

Professor P. Edward “Eddie” French is the new permanent leader of the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Since joining the MSU faculty in 2008, he has served as the department’s graduate coordinator, as well as executive director of the university’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development.

Urvina

Williams

Five Mississippi State University students have been named to the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, providing $30,000 per year for recipients to attend medical school. MRPSP scholarships are awarded after the students complete the pre-matriculation portion of the program, created in 2007 by the Mississippi Legislature. Awards are based on available funding. Scholars selected from MSU are senior biological engineering major Henry M. “Max” Bloomingburg of Hattiesburg; junior biochemistry major Cailey Crawford of Randolph; junior microbiology major Hannah Laird of Starkville; sophomore biochemistry major Austin H. Urvina of Booneville; and senior chemistry major Mary Helen Williams of Clarksdale.

56

FALL 2017

Two Mississippi State seniors are among those recognized by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major Jackson B. Coole of Picayune is the land-grant university’s third student in the past six years to receive the highly coveted Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Senior microbiology and chemistry doublemajor Sabrina E. Moore of Starkville is MSU’s eighth student in the past six years to receive honorable mention selection from the premier national scholarship organization. Both students are members of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at MSU.

Brent Rooker was named a National Player of the Year and First Team All-American

by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He also earned the school’s first-ever Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, in addition to First Team All-SEC accolades, following his play in the 2017 season that was one of the best in Mississippi State baseball history.

In addition to being named a Golden Spikes Semifinalist and Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist, he was awarded the C Spire Ferriss Trophy as the best player in the state of Mississippi.

For more current achievements of Mississippi State faculty, staff and students, visit www.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University will lead a major research and development project for the Department of Homeland Security after a rigorous and highly competitive review process. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate has selected Mississippi as the new base of operations for small unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, and a Mississippi State-led partnership will oversee the initiative.

Four faculty members in Mississippi State’s College of Architecture, Art and Design recently received national awards for their exemplary work in architectural education. School of Architecture associate professors Hans Herrmann and Alexis Gregory and assistant professor Emily McGlohn, along with Building Construction Science assistant professor Michele Herrmann, were formally recognized with two Architectural Education Awards by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture during the organization’s 105th annual meeting in Detroit, Michigan.

Rosângela Yazbec Sebba, the music department’s professor of piano, theory and ear training, has been awarded special citation at The American Prize Piano Solo competition for her performance “Championing the Music of Camargo Guarnieri.”

One of her students, senior music major Jeonai Do Nascimento Batista of Brazil won second place in the Mississippi Music Teachers Association State College Piano Solo Competition Young Artist Category.

Within his major, Batista is pursuing concentrations in piano and voice.

Mississippi State University graphic design professor Jamie Burwell Mixon is being honored with a HOW International Design Award for her Mumford & Sons concert poster. Sponsored annually by HOW magazine, the International Design Award competition recognizes excellence on a global scale.

She is one of 292 recipients selected from over 1,000 entries submitted from around the world.

Mississippi State University is ranked the best in Mississippi and is among the top 50 best colleges in the south in Money Magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money” 2017 rankings.

Veteran chemist and researcher Dennis Smith is the new head of Mississippi State University’s Department of Chemistry. After many years in academia at Clemson University and the University of Texas at Dallas, he spent the last few years focusing on private sector consulting, research and entrepreneurial ventures.

Farshid Vahedifard, a Bagley College of Engineering assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, along with MSU doctoral student Shahriar Shahrokhabadi and civil and environmental engineering colleagues from the University of California, Irvine, penned at letter for Science magazine examining lessons gleaned from the recent Oroville dam incident in California.

Two Mississippi State graduate students were winners of major research honors at the 2017 International Poultry Scientific Forum. Tomilola O. “Tomi” Obe and Mohit Bansal were presented with awards of excellence at the professional gathering held in Atlanta, Georgia. Both are Starkville residents pursuing master’s degrees in the Department of Poultry Science in the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Physics professor Dipangkar Dutta will lead a multiinstitutional, multidiscipline effort as part of a larger National Science Foundation project studying the least precisely known, but very common, fundamental constant in physics. The Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty member will serve as principal investigator with the help from a collaborating nuclear physicist and co-principal investigator from Indiana University. They will conduct research on an alternate material to measure G, Isaac Newton’s gravitational constant, also known as “Big G.”

AROUND CAMPUS Feifei Zeng, a senior marketing/ international business and supply chain management major in the university’s College of Business, is a 2017 recipient of the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Fellowship to study at The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

A senior architecture student, Daniel P. Smith, is the second at Mississippi State University to receive the endowed Aydelott Travel Award, a $20,000 award for travel and research. He used it to visit and research four late modern buildings in Brazil, Germany, France and Bangladesh.

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Board of Directors elected Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum to chair the board. He was appointed to the foundation’s board in August 2014 by then-Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

A Mississippi State interior design major is one of only five U.S. undergraduates selected to receive the highly coveted Celia Moh Scholarship.

The prestigious award covers full tuition, room, board, books and fees for senior Hannah E. Monroe of Meadville during the fall 2017 and spring 2018 semesters.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

57

STATE ments Longtime Mississippi State faculty member and administrator Rick Travis was named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences after serving as interim in the position for the past year.

Jeff Adkerson, director of Mississippi State’s PGA Golf Management program, completed the requirements to become a Professional Golfers’ Association Master Professional in Golf Operations. The MSU alumnus is one of approximately 350 people to earn the distinction since the PGA Master Professional program’s inception in 1969.

Senior fashion design and merchandising major Sadie L. Pierce of Hockley, Texas, was selected to participate in the 2017 Student Entrepreneur Program sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. She has been collaborating with recent MSU business administration graduate Allison A. “Allie” Seale of Vicksburg on a startup project at the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

from Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. He was among 75 members from around the country each receiving the $1,000 award. He was initiated into MSU’s PKP chapter in 2016.

Mississippi State biological sciences doctoral student Jonathan Belanich will continue his dissertation research in microbiology and bio-computing after receiving a fellowship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation to study abroad at the University of Copenhagen.

Through the fellowship, he will conduct studies in the Centre for GeoGenetics, a part of the National History Museum of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen.

He traveled to Denmark in September and will stay for one year.

Longtime Starkville public school educator and administrator Bobby D. “Bob” Fuller has been named College of Education coordinator for the new Starkville Oktibbeha School District Partnership School at Mississippi State University.

Martin McCandless, a junior in aerospace engineering from Ridgeland, has earned an Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As part of the scholarship, he will receive up to $9,500 in academic assistance per year and the opportunity to complete a paid internship at a NOAA facility.

Mississippi State earned its first finish inside the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Program of the Year standings, coming in at No. 10 following a stellar season that saw the Bulldog women’s track and field program qualify for nationals in all three portions of the schedule for the first time in school history.

David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at MSU, will play a key leadership role in a new statewide maritime technologies initiative.

He will serve as co-chair of Gov. Phil Bryant’s Ocean Task Force.

A veteran member of Mississippi State’s geosciences faculty is co-author of a new “road log” designed to educate travelers about Mississippi’s many geological features. Professor Darrel Schmitz, an alumnus of the university, wrote “Roadside Geology of Mississippi” with Stanley Galicki, an associate professor of geology at Millsaps College.

Mississippi State biochemistry major Bradley A. Welch of Laurel studied abroad in Grenoble, France, after receiving a grant

58

FALL 2017

A popular online resource for students seeking information on fashion careers and academic programs again is listing Mississippi State among the nation’s Top 50. According to a report from www.fashion-schools.org, the university’s fashion design program is 34th overall and fifth in the South. For fashion merchandising, MSU is 37th nationally; 9th in the South.

For more current achievements of Mississippi State faculty, staff and students, visit www.msstate.edu.

The Mississippi State University College of Business and its Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy have been reaccredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, maintaining a distinction held by only five percent of business schools in the world.

Mississippi State University brought home 11 awards recently from the 2016 Associated Press Louisiana-Mississippi College Contest. The Associated Press College Contest recognizes outstanding achievement in student media. MSU students won awards in print journalism, broadcast journalism, weathercasting and photography for their working for student newspaper The Reflector and MSTV in 2016.

Mississippi State interior design students received 45 of 71 possible awards, including the student team building competition honor, at the American Society of Interior Designers South Central Career Day recently held on the Starkville campus. Professor Beth Miller, MSU interior design program director, credits the group’s success to its involvement in a wide range of university programs, including furniture design, computer renderings, hand renderings and lighting courses.

A recent paper published by a Mississippi State University assistant professor of physics Ariunbold Gombojav, along with colleagues from Texas A&M University and Baylor University, will inform global food security research through detection of abiotic stress in plants. The novel technique developed will help food growers more quickly and efficiently respond to plant stresses.

Salvador Bartera, an assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, was chosen for the Margo Tytus Visiting Scholars Program administered by the University of Cincinnati’s John Miller Burnam Classical Library.

Mississippi State University is ranked the best in Mississippi and is among the top 50 best colleges in the south in Money Magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money” 2017 rankings.

After a national search, a statewide water resources institute led by Mississippi State University has a new director. L. Jason Krutz will lead the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute. Most recently, Krutz served as irrigation specialist at the Delta Research and Extension Center at Stoneville and as executive director of the H2O Initiative.

AROUND CAMPUS

ALUMNI FACULTY AWARDS Three esteemed faculty members earned special recognition from the MSU Alumni Association as part of the university’s 2017 Faculty Awards and Recognition Program in May. Associate Professor of History James C. “Jim” Giesen, recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award; Professor Robert L. “Bob” Linford of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Clinical Sciences, recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Graduate Teaching Excellence Award; and Associate Professor Molly K. Zuckerman of the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, recipient of the MSU Alumni Association’s Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.

FOSHEE JOINS FUNDRAISING TEAM

for MSU Foundation

The MSU Foundation welcomes Stephen Foshee in a new position as assistant athletic director for development. In this role, he serves as a liaison between the Bulldog Club and the MSU Foundation as he works to secure major gifts for both organizations.

Foshee joins the MSU Foundation from the university’s Bulldog Club, where he has served in athletic fundraising since 2008.

He began his work with MSU as a graduate assistant, and from there became development coordinator. Since mid-2015, he has been assistant director.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Foshee is a graduate of Mississippi State, who earned an MBA and a master’s in sports administration, both in 2011. He earlier earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2006 from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. His resume also includes intern experience with both the Boston Red Sox and the Green Bay Packers organizations.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

59

60

FALL 2017

2017

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

61

STATE ments

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NATIONAL LEADERS

Alumni Association National Board of Directors Twenty alumni from around the nation are joining the national officers of the MSU Alumni Association as members of the national board. These individuals are serving three-year terms from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. They include:

Mississippi Central 1 Region Bert Clark ’81, Rolling Fork

Mississippi Central 3 Region

Theressia McAlpin ’77, ’98, Pearl Riley Nelson ’99, ’01, Vicksburg Fred Nichols ’73, Brandon

Mississippi North 1 Region Incoming national officers for the MSU Alumni Association include (l-r) Ronald E. Black, Sherri Carr Bevis, Brad M. Reeves and Jerry L. Toney.

As the Mississippi State University Alumni Association marks over 130 years of service, new leaders of the national board of directors have begun two-year terms for fiscal years 20172019.

Entering office in July, the national officers include Brad M. Reeves of Jackson as president; Sherri Carr Bevis of Gulfport as vice president; and Jerry L. Toney of Starkville as treasurer.

Ronald E. Black of Meridian continues on the board as immediate former national president.

Reeves graduated in 2002 with a degree in management and construction of land development and later earned a law degree at the University of Mississippi. He is a partner with Randall, Segrest, Weeks, Reeves and Sones, PLLC. He is active with the Central Mississippi chapter, where he has served as president, among other roles.

Bevis earned a communication degree in 1986. She currently serves the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office as assistant secretary of state for external marketing. With MSU, she has served as president of the Hancock

62

FALL 2017

County alumni chapter and treasurer of the Washington, D.C., alumni chapter. Most recently, Bevis served the association’s national board as South 3 Region Director and remains active with the Mississippi Gulf Coast chapter.

Toney is a 1996 graduate with a degree in real estate, mortgage finance and economics. He is a president of Cadence Bank for Mississippi and a senior financial consultant for the bank’s wealth services division. A former MSU Alumni Association national president, he has also served as president of the Oktibbeha County chapter.

Black, a 1980 marketing graduate, is director of human resources for Southern Pipe and Supply Company Inc. For MSU, he has been on the executive committee for five years. He served two years as first vice president and has served as South 1 Region Director. He is active in the alumni association’s Lauderdale County chapter.

The alumni association was founded June 17, 1885, by the first three graduating classes of then Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. A full-service organization, the association now includes 101 chapters and clubs. n

Todd Bennett ’97, Houston Lisa Newcomb ’84, Batesville

Mississippi North 2 Region

William Bowlin ’01, ’09, New Albany Matt Mahan ’04, Tupelo

Mississippi North 3 Region

Jimmy McPherson ’95, Starkville Carol Moss Read ’76, Starkville

Mississippi South 1 Region

Will Carpenter ’00, ’02, Meridian Fred Monsour ’02, ’05, Meridian

Mississippi South 2 Region

Celeste Carty ’79, Brookhaven

Mississippi South 3 Region

Lynn Twitty Burwell ’80, Gulfport Brenda Smith ’78, Leakesville

Out-of-State Region 1

Patrick White ’90, Spring, Texas

Out-of-State Region 2

Sam Nichols ’77, ’79, Lorton, Virginia

Out-of-State Region 3

Stephanie Williford ’72, Mobile, Alabama

Alabama Region Director

Terri Russell ’84, ’86, Helena, Alabama

Tennessee Region Director

Steve Brandon ’72, ’73, Chattanooga, Tennessee

GIVING BACK

IMPACTFUL GIFTS

Contributions through the Infinite Impact campaign continue to make a positive difference at Mississippi State. Some of the most recent gifts for areas across MSU include:

$25,000

Longtime members of the Bulldog Club, Ron and Jan Black, have made a commitment of $25,000 in support of new and enhanced facilities for the MSU Baseball Program. A 1980 marketing graduate, Ron Black is immediate past president of MSU’s Alumni Association.

$25,000

Valerie Wooley of Knoxville, Tennessee, contributed $25,000 to the School of Architecture in the College of Architecture, Art and Design. The donation was made in memory of her husband, David L. Wooley, who graduated in 1978 with a degree in architecture. This gift will continue their legacy of philanthropy at MSU.

3719_USSP_NCAA_MIssStAlumniProgramAd_FINAL.indd 1

$26,000

Mike and Rhonnie Bellin, currently of Montgomery, Texas, have established the Bellin Family Scholarship for students enrolled in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering who are active members of the Famous Maroon Band. Rhonnie Bellin graduated from the MSU College of Education in 1983, and Mike Bellin earned a degree from the Bagley College in 1984.

$30,000

The James Robert and Betty Rowe Endowed Scholarship provides financial support to talented and deserving students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The scholarship was created by the Rowes’ six children who were raised on the family’s farm in Monroe County, before each attended MSU and successfully embarked on careers.

The scholarship honors the couple’s lifelong commitment to education and agriculture.

$100,000

A scholarship in honor of the late alumnus Thomas R. “Tom” Lawrence of Opelika, Alabama, has been established. The endowment will support the MSU Promise Awards Program, which benefits students from Mississippi families with critical financial need. Lawrence served as a charter board member for Nashville, Tennessee-based Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, which makes the $100,000 scholarship possible along with MSU alumnus Will D. Carpenter and other friends and family.

$100,000

A $100,000 gift from James Marion Robinson and family of Mountain Brook, Alabama, will help strengthen the entrepreneurship program in the College of Business. Additionally, the gift will support priorities in the college’s Department of Marketing, from where Robinson earned his marketing degree in 1987, and for MSU athletics.

9/28/15 3:22 PM ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

63

At Mississippi State University, we are proud of our highly ranked graduate programs. We invite you to take that next step, whether it be on campus or online in one of our Distance Education programs.

For additional information, please contact

Pat Lane at (662) 341-7920 or (662) 323-8700 | 550Russell@StarkvilleRealEstate.com

Visit www.550russell.com for additional disclaimers. © August 2016, The Mill. All rights reserved.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

65

STATE ments

1970s Susan Follett (B.S., M.S. computer science; ’74, ’76) earned a McKnight Artist Fellowship for Writers from the Loft Literary Center. The honor recognizes her work in creative prose and comes with a $25,000 award. A Meridian native, she is an advocate for using stories to increase understanding of history and to dismantle stereotypes.

The American Institute of CPA’s June 2017 edition of the “Journal of Accountancy” included an article about James “Jim” Koerber (B.S. banking and finance, ’74) and the development of his niche practice. He is a shareholder in The Koerber Company of Hattiesburg, which limits its work to business valuation and litigation support services.

Lynn Phillips-Gaines (B.A. communication, ’78) a certified financial planner at Phillips Financial and adviser with Raymond James was named to Forbes’ list of the Top 200 Women Wealth Advisors. She also was named to Barron’s list of the Top 1,200 Advisors in the country for the third consecutive year. She manages more than $200 million in client assets and offers comprehensive financial planning, wealth management and investment management, and specializes in retirement income, education planning, long-term care insurance, PERS, and business planning and exit strategies.

Sara Anne Ford (B.S. horticulture, ’79) was named a “Top Flight Attorney” by Birmingham, Alabama-based B-Metro Magazine. She is a partner at Lightfoot, Franklin and White LLC and specializes in complex commercial litigation.

1980s Kimmie Miller VanWyck (B.S. forestry, ’81) reigned as Queen Kimmie XXXV during Mardi Gras festivities for The Order of Osiris in Mobile, Alabama. Her costume reflected her love for Mississippi State in many ways, most obviously with the logo and cowbell displayed prominently on the train. The emerald green color of the costume and train were representative of her degree in forestry along with the embroidered pine bough and cones in the crest. Maroon crystals accented the trim.

Her introduction to the nearly 1,800 guests at the Treasures of the Caribbean Ball was punctuated with the call of “Hail Queen Kimmie” & “Hail State!”

66

FALL 2017

David Pittman (B.S., M.S. civil engineering; ’83, ’88) was appointed director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center headquartered in Vicksburg.

He also serves as chief scientist and head of research and development for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The center includes seven laboratories in four states, with more than 2,100 employees, $1.2 billion in facilities and an annual program exceeding $1 billion. He joined ERDC in 1983 and has held numerous roles within the center, most recently deputy director.

Daria Pizzetta (B.S. architecture, ’83) was named to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, which recognizes architects who have advanced the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training or practice. A native of Biloxi, she is principal at H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture in New York.

Davis “Dave” Dickson (B.S. banking and finance, ’87) is the 2017-18 chairman of the Arkansas Bankers Association. He is president and CEO of Union Bank and Trust Company in Monticello, Arkansas, and is also a member of Union Bank and First Union Financial Corp.’s board of directors.

Jon C. Carr (BBA ’88, MBA ’90; Ph.D. ’01) is now the Jenkins Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University. He previously worked at Texas Christian University in the management, entrepreneurship and leadership department of the Neeley School of Business.

1990s Mike Cresap (B.S. civil engineering, ’91) earned the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ 25-Year Award of Meritorious Service. He serves as the director of

transportation information for the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Jason J. Young (B.S. risk management, insurance, financial planning, ’92) has been named a “top producer” for 2017 by Insurance Business America. He is in his 25th year with Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance where he’s built his career managing contractors’ bond and risk management programs. He previously served on the staff of former U.S. Senator Trent Lott.

Anne Marie Decker (B.S. architecture, ’94; adjunct faculty) was elected to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows. Her Fellowship falls into the category of design, which recognizes architects who have produced distinguished bodies of work through design. She is principal of Duvall Decker Architects, P.A. in Jackson, a firm she founded in 1998 with her husband, Roy Decker.

John E. Walker (BPA ’94) was named managing director of MSLGROUP’s Atlanta office. He previously served as vice president of global marketing communications for Syniverse. Prior to 2010, he led Edelman South’s corporate practice, as well as the agency’s global telecommunications practice.

Germany Kent (B.S. marketing, ’98) was inducted into the Hall of Fame at North Panola High School during a ceremony at the Batesville Civic Center. She is the first female inductee and is best known for her work as a social media expert and influencer. She has been featured in numerous media outlets and made guest appearances on radio and television including NPR, CBS, FOX, The CW, ABC and NBC.

2000s Richard Dodd (B.S. business information systems, ’02) was promoted to senior vice president of Information Technology at First Bank in McComb. He has 13 years of experience in banking, including nine years at BankPlus.

Know an alum who has news or a recent promotion? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.

Wendy Huff Ellard (B.A. political science, ’03) has been named a shareholder in the Jackson office of the Baker Donelson law firm.

She is a member of the company’s government relations and public policy group where she focuses on disaster recovery and state-level public policy. She is president of the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association.

Jason Scott (B.A. communication, ’04) was named the Emerging Practitioner of the Year by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi Central Chapter in Jackson. The annual award is reserved for those with five or fewer years of experience in the field who have exhibited outstanding contributions to the knowledge, skills and abilities of the public relations profession. A native of Raymond, he is the public information officer for the Mississippi Department of Transportation and previously worked for the Mississippi State’s Extension Service and Foundation.

Amy Blaylock (B.S. forestry and wildlife management, ’04; M.S. wildlife science, ’07) was named wildlife resources director by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. She joined the department in 2007, most recently serving as biologist for the East Central Region Wildlife Management Area.

Lauren Black (B.S. marketing, business information systems, ’07; MBA, ’08) was named president of the Starkville Business Network, an organization she helped found in 2015. She is a certified financial planner at Phillips Financial and boasts nine years of experience in the industry.

Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Stephanie Cummins (B.S. business administration, ’07) to the Mississippi Personnel Board. She was approved by the state senate to fill an unexpired term through June and begin a fiveyear term as an at-large member in July. She is coowner and associate broker at Front Gate Realty

CLASS NOTES

and serves on the board of directors for the home builders associations of Jackson and Mississippi.

She is also a member of the Mississippi and Central Mississippi associations of Realtors and was named one of the 50 leading business women by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2016.

between the agency and its clients in today’s digital environment. A native of Gulfport, she came to the company in 2015 from a position with Target Corp.

Kristen Ley (B.F.A. art, ’07) now has an exclusive collection available at Target through Thimblepress, a Mississippi-based paper, gift and lifestyle brand she founded in 2012. Prior to moving back to Mississippi, she co-owned a branding and marketing firm in Charleston, South Carolina.

A Columbus-based personal finance strategy firm owned by Karina Jackson Dorn (B.S. accountancy, ’13; M.S. taxation, ’15) was named an American Small Business Champion by SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Winners received a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card to help with business growth and an all-expenses-paid trip to a training and networking event in Dallas.

Megan McKinnie (BACC, ’09; MPA, ‘10) was promoted to senior manager at BKD CPAs & Advisors in Jackson. She is a member of the BKD National Financial Services Group and focuses on taxation and consulting services for financial institutions and bank holding companies.

Nisma Mujahid (B.S. biochemistry, ’09) was the first author on a recent article in Cell Reports about UV-independent, topical approaches for boosting melanin production in human skin.

She is a third year medical student at the Boston University School of Medicine.

2010s Joseph G. Short (B.B.A. marketing, ’10) is now the orthopedic device coordinator at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center. He previously worked for Altus Spine in the New York City area as a surgical support specialist.

Scott Waller (B.S. interdisciplinary studies, ’10) is now interim president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council following the retirement of Blake Wilson. He’s been with the council for 11 years, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He pioneered the Legislative Scrambler program and played pivotal roles in managing various Blueprint Mississippi research projects.

Alyson Franklin McMullan (B.S. human sciences, ’11) was named client services manager for the GodwinGroup. This newly created position is meant to bridge delivery of services

Nicole M. Harlan (B.A. English, ’13) has joined Carr Allison as an associate in its Gulfport office. She will focus on workers’ compensation and other litigation matters.

Monica Marlowe (Ph.D. community college leadership, ’16) has been named executive director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. A native of Wiggins, she most recently served as chief advancement officer at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Prior to that, she served as district director of institutional relations and strategic communications, special assistant to the president, and coordinator of institutional development at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS Natalie Jean Chandler, July 31, 2016, to Allison Barrett Chandler (’07) and Grant Chandler (’07) of Madison, Alabama.

Robert Gregory Moore III, Sept. 28, 2016, to Bob Moore (’05) and Haley Huggins Moore of Corinth.

Mary Somers Crawford, Dec. 20, 2016, to Wilkins M. “Will” Crawford Jr. (’05, ’06) and Melanie Smith Crawford of Madison.

William Jacob Craven, March 31 to Tracy Craven (’01, ’02) and Anthony Craven (’01, ’08) of Starkville.

George Edward Sanderson, May 4 to Marie Thomas Sanderson (’01) and Brian Sanderson of Ocean Springs.

Alexandra Ruth Patilla, May 22 to Sophie Kershaw (’04) and Michael Patilla of Starkville.

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

67

Forever MAROON Fred Winston Bailey (B.S. mechanical engineering, ’48) 89, Shreveport, Louisiana – A veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he often played saxophone with dance bands, he entered Mississippi State following his honorable discharge. As a student, he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Southernaries Dance Band and served as sports editor and editor-in-chief of The Reflector student newspaper. He was named Engineering Alumnus of the Year and Distinguished Engineering Fellow in 1998 and 1999, respectively. He began his career in Houston, Texas, at ARMCO before moving to Shreveport with Peerless Supply Company. He traveled the world with his work for AMF Beaird, where he became vice president. He founded both Sound Fighter Systems and BailSco Blades and Castings. He was named small business person of the year for both Shreveport and the state of Louisiana and was also a Harris Fellow Rotarian and Friend of Goodwill.

– Jan. 28, 2017 James Earl Bailey (B.S., M.S. aeronautical engineering; ’55, ’58) 83, Brierfield, Alabama – While at State, he earned the rank of second lieutenant in the Air Force ROTC. He then reported to the U.S. Air Force at Wright Field in Ohio where he was promoted to captain and worked as an aeronautical engineer. He later worked as a senior engineer for General Dynamics, which ultimately led to his 28-year career as an aerospace engineering professor at the University of Alabama, which included a three-year stint as a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served as regional vice president for the Sierra Club and founded Bibb County Citizens for Wildflowers to promote stewardship of the area’s scenic roadsides and waterways.

– April 9, 2017 Larry Wayne Bell (B.S. general business administration, ’65) 78, Starkville – He retired from the city of Starkville where he served as building director and civil defense director for more than 32 years. He cofounded and was secretary of the Mississippi Building Officials Association and was elected

68

FALL 2017

to the board of the Southern Building Codes Congress International, serving for 14 years and as president for two. He coached for many years in the Starkville Baseball Association and the Starkville Area Youth basketball leagues. He also officiated several sports including college women’s basketball and college football. He served the Mississippi High School Activities Association for more than 54 years and was a member of the board of East Mississippi Community College. – March 3, 2017 John G. “Jay” Burrell Jr. (B.S. agricultural engineering technology and business, ’86; M.S. computer science, ’89; staff) 54, Starkville – He began his career in Mississippi State’s agriculture economics department where he discovered a love for computers and information technology. He transferred to the Information Technology Services unit as manager for system services before becoming director of information technology infrastructure. He was known across campus for his ability to “McGyver” solutions to any problem. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was also a first lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol Golden Triangle Composite Squadron, participating in many search and rescue missions, including Hurricane Katrina response. – May 14, 2017 Charles Allen “Bubber” Caven (B.S. physical education, ’55) 86, Brandon – A native of Okolona, he made his mark as a high school football player, eventually earning a place in the Mississippi All Star game and then a football scholarship to Mississippi State. He was commissioned into the Air Force through the ROTC and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

During his military career, he was stationed all around the country and five times overseas.

These assignments included being part of a Special Air Mission Squadron that supported American dignitaries and officials visiting Europe and commanding the 7th SOS Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, one of only three bases in the world that performed air rescue missions. – May 31, 2017 John Franklin Clifton Jr. (B.S. horticulture, ’74) 65, Houston, Texas – A native of Yazoo City, he remained a strong supporter

of Mississippi State University after his graduation. He was especially proud of the activities associated with his years in the cooperative education program, which led to career growth and challenges. He earned an MBA from the University of Houston and was an avid outdoorsman and traveler.

– Feb. 20, 2017 Benjamin Hugh Daigre (B.S. management, ’57) 81, Pinehurst, North Carolina – He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the M-Club and served as a Mississippi State cheerleader while in school. He spent three years in the U.S. Air Force following his graduation, then 30 as a community banker, including a 20-year stint as CEO and board member of Uni-Fed Savings and Loan in Vidalia, Louisiana. He also spent several years as vice president and chief financial officer of Dlynn Braswell and Associates Oil Co. – May 14, 2017 Robert Terry Davis (B.S. management, ’75) 68, Conroe, Texas – He was the longtime business manager of the Jackson Water Department and upon retirement, he worked for many years as an independent computer consultant. He was a member of the Optimist Club and The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church (Texas) and Briarwood Presbyterian Church where he served as an ordained elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, youth leader and chairman of various committees.

– June 12, 2017 Frank Earl Easterwood (B.S. industrial engineering, ’62) 77, Brandon – A native of Grenada, he graduated from Natchez High School. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he remained an ardent Mississippi State fan and especially enjoyed traveling in his RV to athletic events. He was a member of the Bulldog Club, the Rolling Bulldogs and the Mississippi Travelers. – March 7, 2017 William Edward “Ted” French (B.S. management, ’59) 79, Ridgeland – He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity as a student and joined the U.S. Air Force following his graduation. He later attended the Wharton

Know someone who should be remembered in Forever Maroon? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.

School at the University of Pennsylvania for the NALSA-Wharton Forum. He began his career in the insurance industry associated with the Memphis office of the Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland in 1959. He later joined the Barksdale Bonding and Insurance Agency in Jackson, then the Dan Bottrell Agency, where he spent the next 32 years. He was named president of the agency in 1993.

He was active in many community-service and business organizations and an avid supporter of Mississippi State. He was a former national president of the MSU Alumni Association and president of its Central Mississippi chapter. – April 25, 2017 John Walter Garrard (B.S. aerospace engineering, ’59) 88, Isola – He served in the U.S. Air Force and later as a pilot in the Air Force Reserves. At State he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and following graduation earned a Juris Doctorate from the Jackson School of Law. He was a partner of Garrard and Trotter and a member of the Mississippi Bar and Mississippi Prosecutors Association.

He also served as president of the Humphreys County Bar Association and was a youth court attorney. – May 28, 2017 George Garlan Harris (B.S. transportation, ’59) 84, Hallettsville, Texas – He worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a supervisor at a cannery. A veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Korean War, he was a member of the Faith Family Church of Hallettsville. – Feb. 7, 2017 Charles L. “Charlie” Hunt (B.S. marketing, ’51) 86, Naples, Florida – Shortly after graduation, he joined the Air Force and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. Returning to Jackson, he established his own insurance agency. He was a member of Sigma Chi and the Sertoma Club in Jackson.

He was a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table with Georgia International Insurance Co. and served as an elder with the Lely Presbyterian Church in Naples, Florida. – Dec. 24, 2016 Richard Henry “Dick” Jones (B.S. civil engineering, ’61) 78, Gainesville, Florida

– He earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida following his graduation from Mississippi State. He was a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society and Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society. He joined the Gainesville firm of Environmental Science and Engineering, now AMEC Foster Wheeler, before joining with Larry Olson to form Jones, Olson and Associates. It later became Jones, Edmunds and Associates Inc. and now employs 160 people and is ranked in the top 20 design firms in Florida and the top 200 environmental firms nationwide. He authored more than 40 environmental publications and consulted with the Environmental Protection Agency.

He helped form Trimark Properties that now owns and operates more than 50 multi-family and commercial properties.

– May 23, 2017 Kaelin Georgette Kersh (B.S. kinesiology and health fitness studies, ’17) 22, Pearl – A world-class runner, she was known as one of the best in Mississippi history. At Mississippi State, she contributed to the Bulldogs’ distance and relay track events.

– May 7, 2017 Tommy Lee Leach (B.S. civil engineering, ’61) 77, Union – He began an engineering career with the Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg but soon felt the call to ministry. He received a degree from the New Orleans Baptist Seminary and was ordained by Pinckney Baptist Church. He earned a doctoral degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, later completing the requirements to become a certified pastoral counselor. He spent most of his career in student ministry and counseling jobs. – April 16, 2017 Marshall Scott Legan (B.S. social studies education, ’61; M.A. history, ’62) 77, Monroe, Louisiana – A native of Louisville, he was a retired professor and history department head at the University of Louisiana, Monroe, where he spent his entire professional career. He held membership in the Mississippi, Louisiana, Northeast Louisiana and Southern historical societies.

He volunteered with the Monroe Symphony League Book Room, ORVAL, Ouachita River and the Valley Animal League and was an active member of Northminster Church.

– May 6, 2017 Louise Jones Loftin (B.S. elementary education, ’48) 96, Southaven – She was a retired elementary teacher and member of the First United Methodist Church of Baldwyn.

– Feb. 14, 2017 John Lewis Lord (B.S. business management, ’67) 74, Calhoun, Louisiana – A native of Natchez and longtime resident of Baton Rouge and St. Francisville, Louisiana, he was an insurance agent for more than 45 years prior to retirement. – April 24, 2017 Anthony Marucci (B.S. general science, ’86) 81, Whippany, New Jersey – Born in Italy, he grew up in New Jersey. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He spent 35 years as a chemist for Knoll Pharmaceuticals and was a past vice commander of the American Legion in Florida. He was also a member of the Italian Club in both Florida and New Jersey. – Feb. 28, 2017 Wilbur F. Mashburn (B.S. accounting, ’50) 91, Brandon – A retired U.S. Army colonel, he was a member of the Morton United Methodist Church for 81 years. He earned an MBA from Indiana University and was a member of the Masons and the Heroes of ’76.

– Feb. 10, 2017 Elliott L. “Buddy” McElroy (B.S. marketing, ’53) 86, Rogersville, Alabama – A native of Starkville, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served in the Korean War. He was a pharmaceutical representative for many years and retired as president of Allied Lawn Mower Co. in Pulaski, Tennessee.

He was a member of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. – Jan. 8, 2017 Richard Cecil Miller III (BBA, ’98) 41, Washington, D.C. – He served as a Road Runner at Mississippi State before earning a law degree from the University of Mississippi where he was instrumental in the creation of the LGBT Law Symposium. He was an ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

69

Forever MAROON attorney in the nation’s capital and enjoyed lending his talents as a court-appointed special advocate for foster children and an advocate for various LGBTQ causes. He was active in the university’s Washington, D.C. alumni chapter and an annual scholarship is set up in his name through the Mississippi State University Foundation. – May 12, 2017

director for the plant. He then bought Baptist Bible and Book House with his wife, and after securing the future of the business, he became city administrator for Laurel. Following a second retirement he was elected to two terms on the city council. He was also a Gideon and member of the Kiwanis Club. – May 10, 2017

John Owen “Froggy” Moore Sr. (B.S. college of agricultural and life sciences, ’49) 89, Helena, Arkansas – He served in the Navy during WWII and the Army during the Korean War. As a student at Mississippi State University, he played football, something his family says solidified his unwavering belief in learning and unfaltering optimism toward Bulldog football. He spent several years teaching for the Veterans Affairs agri-program before joining Helena Wholesale, where he launched an agri-services division. He went on to co-found JMJ Planter Services and his work led to the formation of Sprayrite Manufacturing Co. – March 29, 2017

Franklin Delano Newsom (B.S. business information systems, ’54) 84, Columbus – As a student he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and the M-Club for his time on the football team. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Air Force after a 22-year career, during which he was a B-52 bomber pilot and served in Vietnam. He also served the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and in Germany at the European Command Headquarters. Following his military retirement, he owned and operated the ArmyNavy stores in Columbus and Starkville and was the sole proprietor of two pawn shops in Starkville and Winona. – March 2, 2017

James Reginald Moreton (B.S. mechanical engineering, ’56) 83, Brookhaven – He joined Kappa Alpha Order while at State. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he was founder and CEO of First Federal Savings and Loan. A decorated member of the Boy Scouts of America, he held the rank of Eagle, was part of the Order of the Arrow and earned the Silver Beaver Award. He was a former president and board member of the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Brookhaven Lions Club, earning Lion of the Year in 1999. – June 7, 2017 Tinnon G. “Jerry” Myrick Sr. (B.S. management, ’60) 78, Laurel – A member of the Bulldog football team, he also earned recognition for shot put and discus.

He earned the rank of second lieutenant from the ROTC. Following his time in the military, he worked for American Standard, Boeing Aircraft and Kaiser Aluminum in New Orleans. Returning to his native Laurel, he joined Masonite Corp. as an industrial engineer and retired as technical

70

FALL 2017

Harold Leroy “Pete” Peterson (retired faculty) 70, Starkville – He earned a bachelor’s degree at Mayville State University before attending Iowa State where he completed master’s and doctoral degrees. After a 29-year career, he retired in 2002 from Mississippi State as a professor of soil microbiology and biochemistry. An avid Mississippi State baseball fan and original member of the current Left Field Lounge, he was a longtime member of the Bulldog Club. – Feb. 24, 2017 Henry Hamilton Reynolds (B.S. physical education, ’47) 93, Clinton – He spent three years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in the Marshall Islands during WWII. Following his service, he was drafted into professional football by the Chicago Bears. He later attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he lettered in three sports and was one of the first alumni inducted into the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame.

He worked for Walker Jones Equipment Co. as a sales representative before retiring after 20 years of service. – May 21, 2017 Herbert Franklin Rhea Jr. (BBA, ’83) 62, Carthage – He retired in 2015 as president

of Trustmark Bank, Carthage, after more than 40 years in the banking industry.

An active member of the community, he had served as president of the Carthage Rotary Club, the Leake County Chamber of Commerce and Leake County Industrial Board. He was also active in the Mississippi Bankers Association, serving as former president of the Mississippi Young Bankers, as well as on the association’s board of directors. – April 17, 2017 Allan Boyd Smith Jr. (B.S. agronomy, ’48) 91, West Memphis, Arkansas – He enrolled at Mississippi State in 1942 before volunteering for the U.S. Air Force.

He earned the rank of second lieutenant as a navigator for B-24 aircraft during WWII. He re-enrolled as the war ended becoming a student leader as treasurer and later vice president of the student body. He was also a member and held leadership positions in honor societies and fraternities across campus. He spent 37 years as a farm mortgage appraiser with Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. often guiding clients through tough financial times. He also purchased and improved several tracts of farmland in the Mississippi Delta. – Jan. 22, 2017 Paul E. Warner (B.S. agriculture and extension education, ’50) 90, Brandon – As part of ROTC at Mississippi State, he was a member of the Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Society. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War. He retired from the military with the rank of brigadier general. – May 25, 2017 John Everett Wilson (B.S. agriculture economics, ’48) 93, Liberty – A native of Hazlehurst, he attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College before serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. Following his return, he enrolled at Mississippi State and was a sprinter for the track team. He joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a county executive director in Liberty, where he stayed until his retirement 32 years later. After his retirement, he served three terms on the Liberty Board of Aldermen. – April 1, 2017

Know someone who should be remembered in Forever Maroon? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.

Remembering Hank Flick Hank Flick, whose boisterous personality and unique way with words left a lasting mark on generations of Bulldogs, died in June. He was 73 and still fond of brightly colored shirts and neckwear.

A native of Oakland, California, Flick earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Memphis State University and a doctoral degree in interpersonal and small group communication from Southern Illinois.

Flick was a 45-year veteran of Mississippi State University. He served the university in many roles during that time, including a stint as interim director of the University Television Center and a long-standing post as professor in the Department of Communication.

He held the title of Grisham Master Teacher, the university’s highest teaching honor and was named by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as Mississippi Professor of the Year in 1995. He is also the namesake of a communication department scholarship that annually rewards communication majors who demonstrate service to the community and Mississippi State.

Though Flick officially taught courses in interviewing, small group communication, media relations and corporate communications, those lucky enough to take his classes know his lessons went far beyond the subjects at hand. He opened

every syllabus with the line, “People without passion in their life need not apply,” and exemplified that passion in the unbridled way he approached his career and shared his love of all things Maroon and White.

Seats in his classes were limited and always full before registration closed, but Flick was able to endear himself to the broader Bulldog family over the course of many years as public-address announcer for home football and basketball games. He memorably started every night at the latter wishing the crowd “a good, good evening,” before launching into his now legendary “Welcome to the Hump for hoops!

Mississippi State style!” introduction, delivered in his distinctive nasal voice, which undoubtedly just echoed in many

readers’ minds as they read it. This opening monologue was so well known and loved that much of the student section could be seen reciting along in growing excitement for the game ahead.

As news of Flick’s death spread through the Mississippi State community, fanfavorite segments of his public addresses were just a few of the so-called “Flickisms” that poured out on social media. In all of the remembered expressions he was so fond of coining, one stands out as his lasting legacy to Mississippi State students over the years: “Be what Mississippi State taught you to be. Be loyal. Always honor and treasure your Hail State moments. A Mississippi State University education never stops. It provides light for the journey.”

IN MEMORY OF MELVIN BARKUM Melvin Barkum (Attended) 63, Long Beach – A storied high school athlete from Gulfport, he played quarterback at Mississippi State. He became the first black athlete to start at the position in an intraSoutheastern Conference game when he took the field as the Bulldogs faced the Auburn Tigers in the first game of the 1972 season. An all-around athlete, he played running back and wide receiver in later seasons. He was part of the Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2014, marking a high school career that led to his being named a Parade All-American and landed him on the radar of many college programs. – Feb. 27, 2017

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

71

Back ST O R Y

WITH FRANCES MCDAVID Forty-two years after joining The Reflector staff as a student, I still help produce the twice-weekly newspaper. Now as adviser, I work with students as they tell Mississippi State’s story.

As a senior communication/journalism major in 1975, I wrote for a rare summer edition before serving as state editor until my December graduation. That work set the foundation for my 10-year career as a working journalist followed by 29 years teaching journalism at my alma mater. It also set the course for my family life.

After attaining an MSU graduate degree between two journalism jobs, I became a temporary journalism instructor in 1988.

That job stretched beyond temporary.

At the beginning of my teaching career, I was appointed to the Student Publications Committee that loosely oversees the newspaper’s operation. In 1998, I became coadviser for a year with my mentor, journalism teacher and friend, Henry F. Meyer, who worked with the newspaper staff across four decades. After he retired the following year, I became half-time adviser, half-time journalism instructor.

Much has changed in the industry over my years with The Reflector, but the fundamentals of collecting and writing information mostly remain unchanged. Up until the late 1990s, editors pasted up newspaper pages using long strips of text coated in hot wax. Today, editors use software to create page designs.

Rather than waiting for twice-weekly paper distribution, students post stories and photos regularly on Reflector-online.com and break news over social media. The Reflector’s audience swells far beyond campus.

University officials have respected students’ First Amendment rights since a 1976 federal court decision recognized that The Reflector’s editors make all content-related decisions.

Occasionally administrators discuss concerns with me or with the editors, but none have undermined the students’ control.

I don’t see finished work until after publication unless editors ask for specific insight. Then, or when I am aware of concerns, the staff and I discuss how professional

72

FALL 2017

RESPONSES | McDavid working at the Daily Herald in Columbia, Tennessee, in 1976.

journalists work and make decisions, the pros and cons of the choices they face, and potential legal and ethical ramifications.

With guidance, young minds develop mature thought, and the staff typically makes excellent decisions.

Today’s Reflector confronts a decline in advertising revenue mirroring the financial crisis crippling newspapers across the country.

The newspaper largely must support itself, so this results in smaller editions.

With continuing dedication to excellence, staff members regularly win regional and state awards. Regardless of their study areas, I develop a bond with students while we work and travel to conferences together. This keeps me optimistic about the future of journalism and our country.

My most rewarding relationships as student and teacher have come through The Reflector. Those days as a student journalist shaped me professionally and personally.

During production of that long-ago summer edition, I met fellow staff member Sammy McDavid, the friend who became my husband. We married five years later, and our daughter, Mary Beth, completed our family four years after that.

Indeed, working on The Reflector staff as a student was time well spent. n A Starkville native, Frances McDavid is in her 30th year as an instructor in Mississippi State’s Department of Communication and her 20th as adviser to The Reflector. She earned a bachelor’s in communication, with an emphasis in journalism, and a master’s in public policy and administration from the university in 1975 and 1982, respectively. Throughout her career, she has received numerous honors. Most recently she earned Mississippi State’s highest award for student advising, as well as regional and national honors from the National Academic Advising Association.

Back STORY Alumnus Spring 2016 Anthony Craven (’01, ’08): Seeing this picture of WMSB reminded me of the long history college radio has here on the Mississippi State University campus. After WMSB went off the air in the 80s, it didn’t take long before a call went out to create a new radio station on campus. This time, the station would not just be for MSU, but for Starkville and the entire Golden Triangle (…)

I have been blessed to be a part of WMSV for 15 years. I remember walking into the WMSV studios the week before my first semester at MSU and meeting Steve Ellis, the station’s original GM. Steve asked what I was interested in doing and I told him sports broadcasting. Steve said something to the effect of, “Good, we need someone to do sports on the morning news starting next week.” That was 18 years ago. I have so many vivid memories of how much fun it was to be a sports reporter and DJ at 91.1 when I was a student. But the things I remember most are the lessons I learned (…)

Robert Shaw (’78): The picture of the two students at the radio station had to have been taken before 1974. When I went to work there my freshman year, there were two turntables.

During that year a wall was built to isolate the announcer from the rest of the room and provide storage of records that we played. I worked the late shift from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m. when I signed the station off until the next afternoon at 3 p.m. Later that year we started a morning show from 6– 9 a.m. The remainder of the time was used to work on the station and record announcements and public spots.

A great time for all of us who worked there.

Except for the lack of an elevator to the fourth floor of Lee Hall and no bathroom. If a whole album side was played, you could be certain the DJ on the air had gone down to the third floor to the bathroom.

Content has been edited for length and style consistency. For full responses, visit www. alumnus.msstate.edu.

In this photo pulled from the University Archives, Bully dons an apron to run a printing press. Help us identify where this was taken or share your memories of Mississippi State’s student-produced publications, like The Reflector, by contacting us. Some responses may be published in print or online with the next issue. alumnus@msstate.edu

Alumnus Magazine P.O. Box 5325 Mississippi State, MS 39762

@AlumnusMag

ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU

73

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID

MISSISSIPPI STATE 39762 PERMIT NO. 81

P.O. Box AA One Hunter Henry Boulevard Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526 www.alumni.msstate.edu

ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

BRAINS &

BRAWN

PHOTO SUBMITTED

THIS FALL, AS THE 32 TEAMS OF THE NFL TAKE THE FIELD, THEY’LL HAVE THE EXTRA SECURITY OF KNOWING THERE’S A BULLDOG IN THEIR CORNER. Dr. Allen Sills (’86) was named the league’s first chief medical officer. In this role, he will oversee every aspect of the health and safety of the more than 2,000 active NFL athletes. This includes treatment protocols, safety equipment, training techniques and even nutritional supplements. He will also oversee the league’s medical research program. PG. 35