Ole Miss Alumni Review - Summer 2011

Summer 2011 Ole Miss Alumni Review Summer 2011 Vol. 60 No. 3

A

L

U

M

N

I

R

E

Are You Ready?

Vaught-Hemingway kicks it up a notch

Alumnus at helm of ‘The Help’ A new name for Old Chemistry

V

I

E

W

Looking for an Apartment?

Rent from a Rebel!

Cambridge Station 801 Frontage Road (662) 234-1801 • Basketball Court • Swimming Pool • Close To Campus

Old Taylor Place 2112 Old Taylor Road (662) 236-4300 • Balcony/Patios • Swimming Pool • Volleyball

Lexington Pointe

2000 Lexington Pointe Drive (662) 281-0402 • Covered Parking • Tennis Court • Clubhouse

Heritage Properties, Incorporated is owned by two Ole Miss graduates, George R. Walker, III and Wayne Pierce.

A

L

U

M

N

I

R

E

V

I

Summer 2011

E

W

Vol. 60 No. 3

features

18 Directing ‘The Help’ from the Heart

UM alumnus adapts lifelong friend’s best-seller for the big screen

by Rick Hynum

26 Game

on the cover

Changer Sports marketer tasked with bringing new energy to football stadium

by Tom Speed

departments 6 From the Circle

The latest on Ole Miss students, faculty, staff and friends

15 Calendar 40 sports

Six Rebels picked in MLB draft

44 arts and culture 46 travel

34 Building

50 alumni news

a Legacy

Family’s commitment reflected in School of Engineering hall

By Tina Hahn

On the cover: As Rebel fans anticipate football season, they can also expect major changes at Vaught-Hemingway.

Photo by Robert Jordan

Ole Miss Alumni Review Publisher TimothyL.L.Walsh Walsh(83, (83) Timothy 91) Editor Jim Urbanek Urbanek II II (97) (97) Jim jim@olemiss.edu jim@olemiss.edu Associate Associate Editor Editor and and Advertising Advertising Director Director Tom Mullen Speed (91) Steve (92) tom@olemiss.edu steve@olemiss.edu Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Benita Whitehorn Benita Whitehorn Editorial Assistant Art Director Brandon Irvine John McCustion Designer Correspondents Eric Summers Kevin Bain (98), Pablo Corona, Correspondents Rebecca Lauck Cleary (97), Kevin Bain (98),(82), Tobie (96), Mitchell Diggs JayBaker Ferchaud, RebeccaTina Lauck Cleary (97), Lexi Combs, Hahn, Rick Hynum, Mitchell Diggs (82), Jay Ferchaud, Robert Jordan (83), Barbara Lago (82), Michael Harrelson, Jordan (83), Erin Parsons, Robert Elaine Pugh, Nathan Jack Mazurak, Edwin Smith Latil, (80), Tom Speed (91, 03), Deborah Purnell (MA 02) Janis Quinn Edwin Smith (80), Matt Westerfield Officers of The University Officers ofAlumni The University of Mississippi Association of Mississippi Alumni Association Bill May (79, 82), Billpresident May (79), president Richard Noble (68, 73), Richard Noble (68), president-elect president-elect Larry Bryan (74), Larry Bryan (74), vice president vice president Mike Glenn (77), Mike Glenn (77), athletics committee member athletics committee member Sam Lane Lane (76), (76), Sam athletics committee member athletics committee member Alumni Affairs Affairs Staff, Staff, Oxford Oxford Alumni Timothy L. Walsh (83, 91),director Timothly L. Walsh (83), executive executive director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst Clay Cavett (86), associate directorIII ClayDollarhide, Cavett (86),systems associateprogrammer director Martha Martha Dollarhide, II systems programmer II Sheila Dossett (75),(75), senior associate director Sheila Dossett senior associate director Julian Gilner (04, 07), assistant director JulianKathryn Gilner (04), assistant director Sarah M. Hickman (03, 05), Sarah Kathryn M. for Hickman (03), assistant director marketing assistant director for marketing Port Kaigler (06), alumni assistant Port Kaigler alumni assistant and and(06), club coordinator coordinator Annetteclub Kelly (79), accountant Annette accountant Steve MullenKelly (92),(79), publications editor Tom Speed (91), publications editor Scott Thompson (97, 08), assistant director Scott Thompson (97), assistant director Jim Urbanek (97), assistant director Jim Urbanek (97), assistant director for for communications communications Rusty Woods (01), associate director Rusty Woods (01), assistant director for for information services information services James Butler (53, 62), director emeritus James Butler (53), director emeritus Warner Alford (60, 66), Warner Alford (60), executive director executiveemeritus director emeritus The The Ole Ole Miss Miss Alumni Alumni Review Review (USPS (USPS 561-870) 561-870) is published is published quarterly quarterly by

by The The University University of of Mississippi Mississippi Alumni Alumni Association Association and and the the Office Office of of Alumni Alumni Affairs.

Affairs. Alumni Alumni Association Association offices offices are located at Triplett Alumni Center, 651 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677.

Telephone 662-915-7375.

AA-10504 AA-11502

2 Alumni Review

fromthe

Chancellor Dear Alumni and Friends,

The Oxford and University of Mississippi community has enjoyed a strong literary heritage for many years. And thanks to the dedication and vision of our faculty and staff, that literary tradition is deepening this summer. Besides bringing incredible opportunities for students in our writing programs, this enhanced emphasis will enrich the educational experience for everyone on campus.

First, we’re all reading this summer. The award-winning, nationwide best-seller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the subject of our new UM Common Reading Experience. Every freshman is receiving a copy of the book during orientation sessions to read before the fall semester begins.

Our instructors in the Center for Writing and Rhetoric, Freshman Year Experience, Honors 101, Provost Scholars, Department of Nursing and several other academic departments will use it in courses this fall.

This extraordinary, thought-provoking book is a great human story filled with a bit of science, a bit of sociology and a lot about family and family relationships. The Common Reading Experience is an attempt for us all to move forward together in a common conversation, and it is something I’m really excited about. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and, if you have not already read it, I invite you to get a copy and join us.

But the experience doesn’t end there. Rebecca Skloot will visit Oxford to speak at the Freshman Convocation ceremony, set for 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Tad Smith Coliseum. It promises to be an amazing evening that will help incoming students begin the fall semester with a common vision.

Next, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford, one of the country’s most respected and honored fiction writers, and also a native Mississippian, joins our creative writing faculty this fall as a senior fiction writer. He’ll teach a graduate fiction seminar this fall and a graduate class on form, craft and influence during the spring semester. His wife of more than 40 years, Kristina, accompanies him to Ole Miss as a visiting professor of public policy leadership.

It is a tremendous honor for our creative writing program to have a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction join us. Our M.F.A. program in creative writing has already been ranked as one of the nation’s best by Atlantic Monthly, and Richard Ford’s presence can only increase the quality, visibility and prestige of that program.

Both of these developments add to our literary heritage and affirm our commitment to being a community of great writers and great readers. The university’s role is to inform, enable and challenge our students, and I invite you to join us this fall in reading, discussing and even creating great writing.

Sincerely,

Daniel W. Jones (MD 75) Chancellor

fromthe

President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I was recently at The Inn at Ole Miss and met an incoming freshman from California who, along with her mother, was on campus for freshman orientation. When I inquired what brought her to Ole Miss, she responded, “My best friend is on a soccer scholarship, and when I came to visit her, I just fell in love with everything here.” I welcomed her and her mother to campus, and as I walked away, I chuckled to myself at how Ole Miss had once again done its magic.

This fall Ole Miss will welcome the largest incoming freshman class in her history. These young students are finding a university that is more beautiful than ever, with incredible promise for great achievements in all phases of university life.

New residential halls are being aggressively constructed to meet the ever-increasing demand of on-campus housing. What a wonderful problem for our university— an overflow of bright young students desiring to pursue their education at Ole Miss.

I applaud the leadership of Chancellor Dan Jones and his staff, as they have focused on enrollment challenges and continue to keep the university on solid fiscal ground despite challenging economic times. Special thanks go to the thousands of dedicated and generous alumni and friends who donate to the university.

This past year was a challenging athletics season. I am pleased with the exciting and program-changing plans being made through university leadership to position Rebel athletics to break through to a championship level. I applaud these efforts and the commitment that we will all show to our athletes, coaches and athletics programs.

Exciting changes in the football game-day experience also await our fans this fall.

Michael Thompson with our athletics department, who is featured in this issue of the Ole Miss Alumni Review, has done an outstanding job seeking fan input and responding with improvements. Let’s fill Vaught-Hemingway every game!

Our Alumni Association is led and served by a dedicated and committed staff. Throughout the year, the association provides outstanding service to alumni throughout the nation through club meetings, football-season events, reunions and membership services. I am so grateful to our staff members for their commitment and love for our university.

Our incoming Alumni Association president, Richard Noble of Indianola, stands ready to lead us next year. Richard and his wife, Laurie, are “die-hard” Rebels, and their commitment and passion for Ole Miss are inspiring. Richard will lead us well, and I thank him for his great service to our association and to Ole Miss.

Serving Ole Miss as your Alumni Association president has been one of the great honors and highlights of my life. Throughout this year, you have shown unwavering support for and dedication to our university. To each of you, I offer my deepest thanks for your support and for serving faithfully with me, as we love Ole Miss— always. God bless each of you.

Go Rebels!

Bill T. May (BA 79, JD 82)

4 Alumni Review

The Perfect Location

for Every Occasion

No w f e a t u r i n g

S unday Brun ch in Lucille’s Tea R oom reservations only

- Girls Riding Camps - Horseback Riding Lessons - Horse Boarding - Weddings & Special Events

Laura Peddle Sale 670 County Road 101 • Oxford, MS 662-801-2084 or 662-234-8488 Five miles from the Square www.oakhillstablesbedandbreakfast.com e-mail sarthou@watervalley.net

fromthe

ircle C

The latest on Ole Miss students, faculty, staff and friends

A Bite of the Big Apple SHEPARD SMITH TEACHES UM CLASS, GIVES ADVICE TO RISING JOURNALISTS

F

ox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith (87) shared his insights and experiences with University of Mississippi journalism students through an intersession class in May. Smith taught Journalism 580: Multimedia Storytelling, a two-week course with 12 students enrolled.

“This place gave a lot to me, and I want to try to give a little back,” says Smith.

During the first week of the class, Smith met the students in person and talked with them via Skype. The class traveled to New York during the second week, where they worked on various

6 Alumni Review

stories at the Fox News headquarters.

Additionally, they had opportunities to shadow staff from “The Fox Report with Shepard Smith.”

Gerard Manogin, a rising junior from Jackson, says that he hopes the course will help him chart his career.

“I hope to become a better storyteller,” he says. “I would also like to learn how to survive working in New York.

That would be really valuable.”

Smith says he was impressed after meeting the students.

“I think their ideas are great,” he says. “I can’t wait to see their work and

find out what they will accomplish, and watch them grow and make us proud.”

Smith joined FNC at its inception in 1996. He anchors “The Fox Report with Shepard Smith,” as well as “Studio B with Shepard Smith.” Over the course of his career, he has covered events including Hurricane Katrina and the Middle East conflict. He was recognized as America’s second-most trusted news anchor in a TV Guide poll.

For more information on the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, go to http://meek.olemiss.edu. AR

Photo by Erin Parsons

Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith taught a May intersession class on broadcast journalism at the UM Meek School of Journalism.

Spyglass to the Past DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS STUDENTS CLEARER OBSERVATION OF historic papers

R

evolutionary War letters handwritten by President George Washington and unpublished poetry

by Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner are among the rare and fragile documents being scrutinized at The University of Mississippi with the use of a pioneering digital-imaging technology.

Both the Kate Skipwith Papers and the Wynn-Faulkner Collection contain damaged, faded manuscripts that are being made legible once again with the use of the portable, high-power, multispectral digital-imaging laboratory being developed by Gregory Heyworth, UM associate professor of English. Roger Easton Jr., professor of imaging science at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and William Christens-Barry, chief executive and technical officer of Equipoise Imaging LLC, are assisting Heyworth’s

research efforts.

“We are imaging two very important, fascinating sets of papers,” Heyworth says. “The Skipwith papers primarily consist of correspondence between the president and patriot soldiers, including Nathaniel Greene. Oxonian Kate Skipwith, who was a direct descendant of Greene, donated these items to the University of Mississippi for preservation.

“The Faulkner papers are unpublished letters and poems found in the attic of Phil Stone, one of his closest confidants. Given to the university by a Mrs. Wynn in the 1980s, these documents are in both his (Faulkner’s) and some unknown person’s handwriting.”

The Wynn Faulkner Poetry Collection, donated by Leila Clark Wynn and Douglas C. Wynn (LLB 56), consists of 48 pages of early poetry written by Faulkner, most

likely between 1917 and 1925.

“What distinguishes this collection is the proportion of unknown, unpublished poems, poem fragments and variants contained among the 48 typescript pages,” says Jennifer Ford (PhD 10), head of UM’s Department of Archives and Special Collections, where both collections are housed.

“Ideally, I want the lab to be a teaching tool for UM students,” Heyworth says. “The lab is to be made available to U.S. researchers to use in recovering other manuscripts at home and around the world. Already, the imaging team is planning trips to the Sinai and T’bilisi, Georgia, to recover some of the earliest copies of the Gospels, hopefully with the help of UM students.”

For more information on Heyworth’s work, email heyworth@olemiss.edu. AR Photo by Robert Jordan

Roger L. Easton Jr., Ph.D. (left), Devon Emig, Marie Wicks, William A. Christens-Barry, Ph.D., and Danielle Thornton look at the images as they are downloaded from the camera to a laptop computer.

Summer 2011 7

fromthe

Circle Lightning in a Bottle PHYSICS PROFESSORS’ research ‘discovered’

T

wo University of Mississippi physicists’ efforts to understand the fundamental nature of lightning has attracted worldwide interest and acclaim, including a two-page story in the March issue of Discover magazine.

Tom Marshall, professor of physics and astronomy, and Maribeth Stolzenburg, research associate professor of physics and astronomy, discuss their work on lightning physics in the article written by Dava Sobel. Sobel is a science writer whom they met when she spoke at the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College fall convocation in September 2009, which was sponsored in part by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

In the article, Marshall and Stolzenburg relate how they hope to capture the entire life cycle of a lightning flash by linking their detectors with four other types of sensors. They hope the data will eventually shape a general theory of lightning behavior.

Sobel was with the two researchers for three days of a seven-week data acquisition trip to the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This site is ideal because it has one of the highest summertime lightning flash rates in the country and because NASA has several permanent lightning sensors that were useful for the experiment.

“A lot of excellent research is being done at UM that is worthy of inclusion in science magazines like Discover; such articles help Mississippians see that UM research is competitive on the national level,” Marshall says.

Three University of Mississippi gradu- Lanka, and Lauren Vickers of Henderate students, Sumedhe Karunarathne son, Ky., were also featured in the article. and Nadeeka Karunarathne, both of Sri For more information on atmospheric

8 Alumni Review

physics research at UM, go to www. olemiss.edu/depts/physics_and_astronomy/research/atmospheric.html. AR

Green Thumb NEW MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN FACILITY GOES GREEN TO GROW BETTER GREEN

B

y design and by its very nature and purpose, the Maynard W. Quimby Medicinal Plant Garden at the University of Mississippi will undoubtedly be the “greenest” facility on campus.

Operated by the School of Pharmacy for more than 40 years, the garden is being relocated from the Coy Waller Laboratory Complex on Hathorn Road to a new site on Intramural Road. When complete, the new six-acre site will include a 4,300-square-foot office and laboratory building, 4,200-square-foot horticulture building, 3,800-squarefoot shade house, 1,800-square-foot greenhouse, 1,320-square-foot equipment shed and areas for growing medicinal plants outdoors.

Energy-efficient features of the new structures include natural lighting, a 20,000-gallon tank to collect rainwater running off the roofs and green “walls” of climbing medicinal plants for cooling.

“We can’t use tap water to germinate sensitive medicinal plant seeds for research unless we remove the chemicals it contains, like chlorine and fluoride,” says Aruna Weerasooriya, a research scientist who manages the garden for UM’s National Center for Natural Products Research. “It is much better to use natural rainwater.”

The new complex will provide new space for greenhouses, labs, demonstration plots and education projects, says Ikhlas Khan, NCNPR assistant director.

“The facilities are important to the center’s drug-discovery efforts because we collect, grow and provide plant material for those efforts.”

The garden’s staff members maintain one of the nation’s largest collections of medicinal plants and provide plant material to researchers around the country and world, in addition to those at NCNPR. They also provide educational opportunities to local residents and visitors, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses the garden for one component of its training program for botanical supplement Good Manufacturing Practice enforcement.

“We have trained more than 200 FDA inspectors to go out and monitor the dietary supplement industry,” Weerasooriya says. “This work is important for the health and safety of U.S. consumers, because there are new companies, new products and new plants entering the industry at a rapid pace.”

For more information on education and research programs at the UM School of Pharmacy, go to www.pharmacy.olemiss.edu. AR

Architects expect the Medicinal Plant Garden facility to receive a high rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification program.

Master of Health Care Administration Program to be offered online

T

he University of Mississippi School of Business Administration and University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Health Related Professions are seeking charter students for a new online master’s degree program in health care administration.

The program is designed for full-time students, with online instruction as the primary method of content delivery. Courses are offered for the fall, spring and summer terms. Due to the specialized content and close working relationship between faculty and students, an on-site orientation is required over a weekend at the beginning of each student’s first term.

“This is a great collaboration between the UMMC and the School of Business,” says Bethany Cooper, director of corporate relations and MBA services. “We are excited to combine our collective faculty expertise to deliver a program that will graduate future leaders in the health care administration industry.”

New graduates and mid-career professionals are encouraged to pursue the program, Cooper says.

“The industry is growing and changing rapidly, and there is a need for bright creative talent,” she says. “This is a new, cutting-edge online program designed to provide graduates an opportunity to assume upper-level managerial and leadership roles within the health care delivery system.”

“The program will include an internship to ensure that graduates are ready to meet the demands of the workplace upon graduation,” says Clyde Deschamp, professor and chair of general health professions. “The job outlook and earnings potential of health care administrators is very good. The mean annual wage for all health care managers in 2009 was $90,970. Hospital executives may earn considerably more with a mean salary exceeding $400,000.”

For more details about the Master of Health Care Administration program, visit www.olemissbusiness.com/mha. AR Summer 2011 9

fromthe

Circle Record Highs MORE THAN 600 graduate AT UMMC’S COMMENCEMENT

A

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

10 Alumni Review

total of 634 physicians, dentists, nurses, allied health professionals and graduate students in the health sciences—the largest group of graduates in the Medical Center’s history—were awarded degrees during the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s 55th Commencement on May 27 at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

Graduates included 118 who received the M.D.; 35 who received the D.M.D.; 26 who received the Ph.D.; 45, the Master of Science; 44, the Master of Science in Nursing; 121, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing; 63, the Doctor of Physical Therapy; and 36, the Master of Occupational Therapy. Two students received both the M.D. and the Ph.D. Receiving the B.S. in the School of Health Related Professions were 144 students. They included 41 in clinical laboratory sciences, six in cytotechnology, 21 in dental hygiene, 12 in health informatics and information management, 43 in health sciences and 21 in radiologic sciences.

UM Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75) noted before conferring degrees that research on both the Medical Center and Oxford campuses has experienced vast growth with 618 externally funded research projects for a total of $177.6 million.

Jones introduced Dr. Hank Bounds (PhD 00), commissioner of higher education, and Institutions of Higher Learning board members C.D. Smith, Bob Owen and Stacy Davidson (MedCert 55, MD 57). Davidson is a member of the Medical Center’s first medical school class and has never missed a UMMC commencement during his 12-year tenure on the board. AR

Dr. Mary Currier (left), state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, hoods her son, Drew Mallett, after he received his Doctor of Medicine diploma May 27.

Photo by Maude Schuyler Clay

‘Crooked Letter’ Acclaim UM PROFESSOR TOM FRANKLIN WINS LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE

A

uthor Tom Franklin, assistant professor of fiction writing at the University of Mississippi, has won a Los Angeles Times Book Prize for his acclaimed 2010 novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.

Recognized in the “Best Mystery/ Thriller” category, the book was also nominated for a Barry Award, an Edgar Award, a Hammett Award and a Southern Independent Booksellers Association Award. It is the recipient of the Alabama Librarians Association Award for Best Novel.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (William Morrow) is Franklin’s third novel.

Like his Hell at the Breech and Smonk, it is set in a small Southern town.

A recipient of a 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship, Franklin credits the university and the Department of English with nurturing and encouraging his work as a writer.

“I can’t even imagine a more supportive environment for writing,” he

says. “Not only does the administration encourage me as a writer, but [it makes] it easier for me to write; for example, providing a summer research grant so I have the time away from classes to work.

Knowing there are expectations for me as a writer, as well as a teacher, keeps me on my toes and motivated.”

The national attention Franklin’s novel has garnered brings acclaim to the department and to the university, says Ivo Kamps, UM English chair.

“Tom Franklin is an enormously talented writer and storyteller whose novels and stories raise the reputation of the English department and its MFA program across the country,” Kamps says. “We are extraordinarily fortunate that Tom and his wife, the poet Beth Ann Fennelly, have made Oxford and the English department their home.”

For more information on the Department of English, go to www.olemiss.edu/ depts/english.

Tom Franklin

MOOT COURT TEAM WINS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL COMPETITION

A

University of Mississippi School of Law moot court team won the prestigious 23rd Annual National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, held at Pace Law School in White Plains, N.Y. More than 250 law student competitors and 150 attorney judges assembled at Pace during the three days of oral arguments. The UM law school emerged as the winner out of 73 competing law schools from across the nation.

The Ole Miss team included secondyear law student Dreda Culpepper of Oxford and third-year law students Christina Ashoo of Oxford and Neal Wise of Jackson. David Case (BA 85, JD 88), associate professor of law at UM, and Stephanie Showalter Otts, director of the UM School of Law’s National Sea Grant Law Center, served as team coaches.

The team put in extraordinary efforts in

preparation for the competition, conducting at least 25 live practice rounds, typically between two and three hours long, in the six weeks leading up to the competition, Case says.

“First, the students spent two months writing a federal court of appeals brief, which constitutes 40 percent of the overall preliminary rounds scoring,” Case says. “Those efforts were rewarded when the team won the award for best brief– appellant and just missed receiving the award for best overall brief in the competition by less than twotenths of a point. Second, the team [members] spent nearly three months in researching, outlining and practicing their oral arguments.”

The Pace competition is one of the largest national moots and has the reputation of being among the very best in terms of the quality of competition.

For more information on the School of Law, visit www.law.olemiss.edu. AR

Summer 2011 11

fromthe

Circle Peer Review ENGLISH, AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES PROFESSOR NAMED 2011 UM TEACHER OF THE YEAR exactly the kind of teacher the award was created to honor, Jones said.

“She takes her job seriously, but everybody notices her infectious laugh and boundless energy when she’s working,” Jones said. “She is noted for her uncanny ability to connect with students as individuals, and that’s what makes her perfect for her role as the senior fellow of the Luckyday Residential College.”

A member of the UM faculty since 1996, Young-Minor teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Southern literature and the Harlem Renaissance.

Students praise her as a powerful educator, motivator and mentor.

Young-Minor earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Tennessee and her master’s and doctoral degrees, both in English, from Bowling Green State University. Since joining the UM faculty, she has been a leader in efforts to improve student writing and helped develop the university’s Quality

Enhancement Plan, which aims to strengthen student writing a c ro s s a l l a c a demic disciplines.

She was named the 2003 Liberal Arts Outstanding Ethel Young-Minor Teacher of the Year. In 2001, she was faculty adviser for the university’s Gospel Choir, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Each year since 1966, the university has recognized excellence in teaching by presenting the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award. Based on nominations from both students and faculty, the award includes a personal plaque and a check from the chancellor. Recipients’ names are also engraved on a plaque listing previous winners, which is displayed in the J.D. Williams Library. AR

ARABIC PROGRAM HELPS FILL CRITICAL NEED

D

12 Alumni Review

This is accomplished by providing students an opportunity to spend summers abroad at Yarmouk University in Jordan during their sophomore, junior and senior years.

Students also can practice with language partners, particularly through the Arabic Language Club, in which only Arabic is allowed. The program also allows students to experience Arabic culture t h r o u g h m ov i e s , television, food and conversation.

For more information on the Arabic minor at UM, go to www.olemiss. edu/arabic. AR

Photo courtesy of Allen Clark

emand for professionals proficient in Arabic language has skyrocketed since 2002, and civil unrest spreading across the Middle East is sure to fuel the need in both the government and private sectors.

Arabic has become the fastest growing of all language classes taught in the United States. To help meet the demand, the University of Mississippi is offering a minor in Arabic through its Arabic language program in the Department of Modern Languages.

Development of the minor is a huge step in the right direction for the Arabic Language Program, which was launched in the UM Department of Modern Languages in 2008, says Allen Clark, the program’s director and assistant professor of modern languages.

“Since the beginning, our department has been working steadfastly to provide a minor in Arabic and hopefully, in the next three years, offer a major, too,” Clark says. “Students who complete the minor in Arabic will leave the program as marketable students with real-world experience to offer their future employers.”

Photo by Kevin Bain

W

henever Ethel Young-Minor enters her classroom at The University of Mississippi, she brings a smile, a positive attitude and an enthusiasm for her subject matter that students find contagious.

Colleagues across campus have taken notice of Young-Minor’s lively teaching style, and alumni cite her as a major influence on their own successes. Chancellor Dan Jones introduced the associate professor of English and African-American studies as recipient of the 2011 Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award at the university’s 68th Honors Day Convocation.

“This one is amazing because it is voted on by professors from across the university,” says Young-Minor, a Memphis native who also serves as senior fellow for the Luckyday Residential College.

“This is the ultimate statement from students, alumni and your peers from across the college. It’s really a humbling honor.”

In many ways, Young-Minor is

Photo courtesy of UM Army ROTC

Members of The University of Mississippi Army ROTC participate in the unit’s commissioning ceremony in May in the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Battle Tested ARMY ROTC UNIT RANKS SECOND NATIONALLY ON TRAINING, RECRUITING AND MISSION FOCUS

H

ard work, diligence and excellence in team performance have paid off for some 120 cadets in the Army ROTC Unit at the University of Mississippi.

The Rebel Battalion was selected as second-best in the nation in the annual Order of the Founders and Patriots of America “Outstanding Army ROTC Unit Award.” Seattle University placed first, with Cameron University coming in third.

There are 273 Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs in the nation, which are divided into eight regional brigades. The UM unit is part of the 6th Brigade, which nominated the UM program for the annual review recognition.

The review is based on certain criteria, including recruiting, retention, training and cadet performance at summer camps.

In a congratulatory letter to Lt. Col. John Abruscato, the unit’s commander, Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet

Command, said, “The degree of excellence the Rebel Battalion has achieved in total training performance, recruiting and achievement of mission will make a visible and enduring contribution to our command’s mission—to commission the very best young men and women that America has to offer.”

Paying tribute to his unit for a job well done, Abruscato said, “This award is a review of the overall program, not any one particular cadet, and we have the best and most motivated cadre that a commander could ever ask for. This has been the best job in the Army over the course of my 20 years of service.”

The number of students enrolling in the Ole Miss Army ROTC program has doubled over the last three years, Abruscato says. Last year, the program commissioned 27 officers, the most commissioned from this program since the 1970s, when ROTC was required.

Typical of the caliber of students who

comprise the Ole Miss unit is senior Gabriel Weiss of Ocean Springs. A member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and Croft Institute for International Studies, Weiss is majoring in international studies and Chinese, with minors in intelligence and security studies, and military science and leadership.

Weiss says the award reflects the hard work of the cadre and cadets over the last several years.

“I have witnessed firsthand the changes in this program and was happy to see our standards raised and our performance improved. Only the best and brightest should be able to become Army officers, and our program today is a reflection of that philosophy,” says Weiss, who plans to report to the activeduty Army for Infantry Officer Training in January 2012.

For more information about UM’s Army ROTC program, visit www. olemiss.edu/orgs/arotc. AR Summer 2011 13

fromthe

Circle UM COMMON READING EXPERIENCE UNITES CAMPUS

F

or the first time at The University of Mississippi, students, faculty and staff will take part in a reading program designed to unite the Ole Miss campus through discussion about a book.

“The UM Common Reading Experience is an attempt for us all to move forward together in a common conversation,” says Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75).

This year’s common read will be the award-winning, nationwide best-seller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Rebecca Skloot. This book has been the inspiration for more than 50 college, university and One Book programs across the nation. Skloot will visit Oxford in August to speak and sign books at the Freshman Convocation ceremony.

Jones spoke about the program to upcoming freshmen at a recent orientation session.

Every freshman is receiving a copy of the book during summer orientation to read before the fall semester begins.

Instructors will use it in courses taught by more than 120 faculty and staff.

“When you come back in August and begin classes, you’re going to find this book being discussed in your classes,” Jones told the students.

Students say they are looking forward to participating in the program.

“I think it’s a really good program because it’s something that all students can read together and share as one,” says Ian Nicely, an incoming freshman from

Atlanta. “It’s one of the only things here that everyone will have in common when they come to class for the first day.”

“I think the book is a really cool idea,” says Susan Jenkins, incoming freshman from Starkville. “It will be nice to talk to other students about it and compare.”

Skloot will be available to sign books after the Freshman Convocation ceremony, set for 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Tad Smith Coliseum.

For more information, visit the UM Common Reading Experience, http:// umreads.olemiss.edu. AR

Prescription for Success SCHOOL OF PHARMACY NAMES DISTINGUISHED TEACHING SCHOLARS

14 Alumni Review

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

F

our faculty members in The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy are being recognized through the Distinguished Teaching Scholars Program, which rewards faculty for teaching excellence, dedication to student achievement and research on effective teaching and learning.

Na m e d T h e l m a H . C e r n i g l i a Distinguished Teaching Scholars are Brian Crabtree, associate professor of pharmacy practice and clinical associate professor of psychiatry, and Gary Theilman, associate professor of pharmacy practice and vice chair for practice, education and student affairs. Both work at the UM Medical Center in Jackson.

John Rimoldi, professor of medicinal chemistry, was named to his second three-year term as Galen Order Distinguished Teaching Scholar, and David McCaffrey (MSPh 92), professor of pharmacy administration, is the Dean’s

Three of four Distinguished Teaching Scholars—John Rimoldi (left), Gary Theilman and David McCaffrey— pose for a photo following the pharmacy school’s May commencement ceremony.

Not pictured is Brian Crabtree.

Advisory Committee Distinguished Teaching Scholar.

All the awards include an annual stipend for three years.

“Teaching and student learning are our No. 1 priority,” says pharmacy dean

Barbara G. Wells. “The recipients of these awards are passionate about both, as well as overall student welfare and assessment.

Other faculty members desiring to improve in these areas often look to them for mentoring and inspiration.” AR

Calendar

Academic Traveler: New York: A Culinary Adventure Aug. 4-7

AUGUST

4

-7 Academic Traveler: New York: A Culinary Adventure. Call 662-9156511, or email antonow@ olemiss.edu.

11

-13 M-Club Summer Weekend: M-Club members and their spouses and guests are invited to enjoy a weekend of fun and fellowship. Various times and locations. Call 662-

915-7375, or email teresa@ olemiss.edu.

20

Board Meeting: Young Alumni Council, 8:30 a.m., Griffin Boardroom in The Inn at Ole Miss, Board members only.

22

Fall Semester: Classes begin. Oxford campus. E-mail registrar@ olemiss.edu.

25

SEPTEMBER

25

3

Ole Miss Club Season: Washington Park Picnic. Denver, Colo., noon-5 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Luncheon: School of Accountancy. Jackson.

Call 662-915-7375.

27

Picnic: Southeastern Conference Picnic.

Washington Park, Denver, Colo. Call 662-915-7375.

1

Luncheon: School of Accountancy. Memphis.

Call 662-915-7375.

Reunion: 1951 and 1952 football teams. Locations and times TBD. Call 662915-7375.

3

Tailgate: Alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy are invited to a tailgate prior to the BYU Summer 2011 15

Calendar vs. Ole Miss football game.

Sponsored by Top RX. Two hours before kickoff, Faser Hall front lawn. Call 662915-7375, or email jovon@ olemiss.edu.

3

Football: Ole Miss vs.

BYU. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 3:45 p.m.

9

-10 Fall Family Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-1136.

9

-10 Inside OM Event: Major donors take an “inside look” at the Luckyday Residential College, Robert C. Khayat Law Center, Basketball Indoor Practice Facility and the Center for Manufacturing

Excellence. Tours will be given by students and administrators at the respective sites.

10

Football: Ole Miss vs. Southern Illinois.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

23

Board Meeting: Fall meeting of the Pharmacy Alumni Chapter board of directors, Dean’s Conference Room in the Thad Cochran Research Center, 1 p.m. Board members only.

23

Ceremony: M-Club Hall of Fame reception and dinner. The Inn at Ole Miss. Call 662-9157375. Invitation only.

24

Tailgate: Alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy are invited to a tailgate prior to the Georgia vs. Ole Miss football game.

Sponsored by Walgreens.

Two hours prior kickoff, Faser Hall front lawn. Call 662-915-7375, or email jovon@olemiss.edu.

24

Tailgate: The University of Mississippi Medical Center. UMMC alumni and friends are invited to a tailgate prior to the Georgia vs.

Ole Miss football game. Two

hours prior to kickoff.

Triplett Alumni Center front lawn. Call 601-984-1115.

24

Football: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. VaughtHemingway Stadium.

OCTOBER

2

-9 Academic Traveler: Florence: A Culinary Adventure. Call 662-9156511, or email antonow@ olemiss.edu.

8

Artist Series: “Chanticleer.”

Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. Call 662-9152787.

Tailgate

Sept. 3, 10, 24 Oct. 15, 22

Photo by Robert Jordan 16 Alumni Review

Photo by Joan Marcus

RAIN, A Tribute to the Beatles Oct. 27

14

Board Meeting: Fall meeting of the Law Alumni Chapter board of directors. McMillan Boardroom in The Inn at Ole Miss, 3 p.m. Board members only.

15

Tailgate: Alumni and friends of the School of Education are invited to a tailgate prior to the Alabama vs. Ole Miss football game.

Two hours before kickoff, Triplett Alumni Center lawn. Call 662-915-7375.

15

Tailgate: Alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy are invited to a tailgate prior to the Alabama vs. Ole Miss football game.

Two hours before kickoff, Faser Hall front lawn. Call 662-915-7375, or email jovon@olemiss.edu.

Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. Call 662-9152787.

15

22

Football: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. VaughtHemingway Stadium.

19

Ford Series: “Young Frankenstein.” Ford

21

Bridging the Gap: A student/alumni networking forum, 3:30-5:30 p.m., The Inn at Ole Miss Ballroom.

Tailgate: Alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy are invited to a tailgate prior to the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss football game. Sponsored by

The Harvard Drug Group.

Two hours before kickoff, Faser Hall front lawn. Call 662-915-7375, or email jovon@olemiss.edu.

22

Football: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. VaughtHemingway Stadium.

27

Ford Series: “RAIN, A Tribute to the Beatles.” Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. Call 662-915-2787.

Summer 2011 17

18 Alumni Review

directing

the

Heart from the

By Rick Hynum

UM alumnus adapts lifelong friend’s best-seller for the big screen Summer 2011 19

Tate Taylor with Emma Stone, who plays Skeeter in ‘The Help.’ Brunson Green, Taylor's producing partner, is in the background.

20 Alumni Review

If

success depends largely on being in the right place at the right time, University of Mississippi alumnus Tate Taylor (BBA 91) couldn’t have picked a more unlikely combination of era and locale to find his niche as a director of Hollywood blockbuster movies—Jackson, Miss., in the 1970s.

That’s where and when Taylor met one of his closest lifelong friends, novelist Kathryn Stockett. They were both 5 years old, a pair of high-spirited kindergarteners being raised in Jackson by single mothers and their African-American housekeepers.

Little could they have known that their shared experiences eventually would lead them to collaborate on one of the most hotly anticipated movies of 2011: Taylor’s big-screen adaptation of Stockett’s wildly popular debut novel, The Help.

“We became really good friends from the start,” recalls Taylor, 42, who wrote the script for and directed the upcoming movie that opens Aug. 12 nationwide.

“We had a unique relationship. We always supported each other creatively, and she has been one of my best friends ever since.”

Stockett, a University of Alabama graduate, had struggled for years to find a publisher for The Help, a sometimes serious, sometimes comic tale addressing the complex, bittersweet relations between black domestic workers and their white employers during 1960s Mississippi. She has said she received about 60 rejection letters before landing a deal with Putnam that propelled her to best-seller status in 2010.

But, even as publishers were turning up their noses at The Help, Taylor, then a mostly unknown actor/director in Los Angeles, knew a good thing when he read it. He believed in his friend’s authorial gifts—and the powerful message and universal appeal of her book—so passionately that, upon reading the manuscript, he immediately phoned his friend and asked for the film rights.

“It was great, and I knew someone would eventually publish it,” Taylor says.

“I told her I wanted to make it into a movie. She said, ‘Well, if anybody can do it right, you can.’ We’d both been raised Summer 2011 21

by single mothers in Jackson who had to work, and we both had domestic workers who’d helped raise us. And we both knew how Hollywood often gets the South wrong. So I adapted and wrote the screenplay before the book was even in print.”

Hollywood’s Siren Call

Taylor is proud of his Southern roots, but, as a teenager at Jackson Preparatory School in the 1980s, he says, “I was anxious to get out of Mississippi and go far away.”

Required by his father to attend 22 Alumni Review

an in-state university for one semester before trucking off to more glamorous environs, Taylor chose to major in business at Ole Miss.

“After a week I never wanted to leave,” he says. “I loved it. It was far enough away from Jackson that I felt free there, yet the people made it comfortable.”

Confident and gregarious, Taylor took full advantage of the college experience and became a leader of his fraternity, but his career track at the time was fairly conventional.

“Looking back, I should have been majoring in something in the arts, but I didn’t know any better,” he says. “I was active around campus, though, and I was being creative as my fraternity’s social chairman and in my hobbies without realizing it.”

Ole Miss alumnus Charles Greenlee (BBA 92), Taylor’s close friend and fraternity brother, remembers him as a merry prankster.

“Tate was always the life of the party with his humor and dry wit,” Greenlee

an adaptation of John Grisham’s novel, and the process captivated him.

“They were filming in a house that was on the same street where I lived,” he says.

“I’d come home from work, take off my suit, run outside and hide in the bushes to watch them making the movie. I knew then that I didn’t want to sell jet fuel anymore.”

Spurred by this epiphany, Taylor quit his sales job and moved to New York for a stint as a production assistant with media giant Viacom. He eventually returned to Mississippi, where he designed and built homes for awhile.

“But I didn’t really want to be in the spec-building business, either,” he says.

Again, Hollywood came along in the mid-1990s and gave him a second nudge toward show business, this time in the form of another Grisham-inspired movie, “A Time to Kill,” which was being shot in Canton. Unable to resist its siren call, Taylor secured a production assistant job on the set, then followed his crew buddies west to forge a new life in Tinseltown.

Creating New Worlds

Emma Stone (left), Taylor and Viola Davis, who plays Aibileen, work on a scene in ‘The Help.’

says. “He had an insatiable appetite for practical jokes, so you always wanted to stay on his good side.

“I had no idea he’d become a major film director, but, without a doubt, I knew he would make a profound impact on people’s lives as a result of his creativity and personality,” Greenlee adds.

Upon graduating, Taylor landed a sales position with Mapco Inc. in Memphis, hawking jet fuel to clients such as Federal Express. But the work left him unfulfilled and restless.

Despite doing very well at the company, Taylor says after two years he was both bored and lost. “I kept going into my boss’s office and asking, ‘What are we doing here? What are we accomplishing?’ I felt like we weren’t doing anything worthwhile,” he says.

In the midst of this existential crisis, fate intervened, marking the first time— but obviously not the last—that a bestseller-turned-blockbuster movie would alter the course of Taylor’s career.

A film crew had moved into his neighborhood to shoot scenes for “The Firm,”

Once in Hollywood, Taylor landed a few bit parts and the occasional featured role, most prominently as the bail bondsman Satterfield in 2010’s “Winter’s Bone,” the acclaimed indie film that made a star of Jennifer Lawrence. In addition to a recurring role on the Logo network’s series, “Sordid Lives,” he paid his dues as a member of the legendary comedy troupe, The Groundlings, whose alumni include Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow, Phil Hartman and Kristin Wiig.

As a Groundling, Taylor discovered a new passion.

“You go through four levels of the Groundlings, and, at the third level, you have to start writing sketches,” he says. “I almost didn’t do it. I didn’t want to write but went ahead and tried it. My first sketch was 40 pages long. I’d created this entire world and loved it. You were supposed to showcase yourself in the skits, but I was casting everybody else. I was barely in it because I preferred being the writer and director.

That’s when I discovered I loved writing and creating and bringing these worlds to life.”

In 2003, Taylor wrote and directed “Chicken Party,” a short film starring Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney. It earned top honors at various film festivals and caught the attention of director-proSummer 2011 23

ducer Chris Columbus, who’d directed “Home Alone,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” and other hit films.

More importantly, “Chicken Party” served as a springboard for Taylor’s first full-length feature, “Pretty Ugly People,” also starring Spencer and Janney as well as Missi Pyle. With two indie flicks under his belt and Columbus eager to partner with him, Taylor was now ready to tackle a major project. His timing couldn’t have been better, when his old pal Stockett’s novel began climbing the best-seller charts.

Honoring Unsung Heroes

After years of struggling in obscurity, Stockett had suddenly rocketed to literary celebrity, and everyone in Hollywood wanted to be her best friend—and Taylor’s, too.

“I had the rights, I had the script, and everybody wanted to know who the hell Tate Taylor was and what he intended

“I understood this material so well,” he says. “I knew these women, these great unsung heroes. One of them raised me. When you’re telling a personal story that you know inside out, it alleviates the pressure. If I’d conned my way into doing a robot movie or some kind of political thriller, I would have been a wreck. But I knew this story and how to tell it.”

Taylor and his mother, a federal bankruptcy trustee, remain close to Carol Lee, the African-American housekeeper who helped raise him. With assistance from Taylor’s mom, Lee earned her GED after Taylor became a teenager and currently works as a bankruptcy secretary for the U.S. Justice Department.

“Carol and my mom take care of each other; they love each other,” Taylor says.

“Yes, she worked for my mom, but she had a son of her own, and my mom would do things to help out with her son. They had a unique partnership, taking care of

sense to bring the movie here for economic reasons—to give back to my home state— and because Mississippi itself is a huge character in the novel and the movie. I wanted to use these great locations and let people see how beautiful our state is. I also knew it’d be good for the actors to feel the heat and the bugs and experience what it would be like to live in Mississippi. I think it especially took the African-American actors to a deeper level, and they liked it.”

Greenlee and his family, who live in Jackson, worked as extras during the film’s shooting in Greenwood.

“It was surreal to me, watching Tate directing on set,” Greenlee says. “On the first day of shooting, I was incredibly nervous for him, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that he had everything under control. An amazing group of talent had been assembled to create this film.”

“The Help” may be considered one of this summer’s must-see movies, but Taylor

“If I’d conned my way into doing a Tate Taylor

robot movie or some kind of political thriller, I would have been a wreck.

But I knew this story and how to tell it.”

to do with these rights,” Taylor chuckles.

“All these people I’d been trying to get on the phone for 15 years suddenly started calling me.”

With Columbus’ backing, Taylor inked a deal with DreamWorks, Steven Spielberg’s production company. Rising star Emma Stone signed on for the lead role, along with Janney, Spencer, Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard. Putting the relatively inexperienced Taylor at the helm of a big-budget production seemed a big risk to some industry insiders, especially since readers around the world felt a strong personal connection with the novel’s vividly drawn characters, such as the dignified but oft-maligned Aibileen, the sharp-tongued Minny and Skeeter, the privileged, white Ole Miss grad who seeks to give these domestic workers a voice through a groundbreaking book she’s writing.

But Taylor never doubted he was the man for the job.

24 Alumni Review

each other’s children. Their relationship is much like Celia’s and Minny’s in the book. It’s not about race.”

Taylor wanted to pay tribute to that enduring friendship in his movie just as Stockett’s novel honored the housekeeper who’d helped raise her.

“It was wonderful to have this AfricanAmerican woman that I loved so much raising me,” he says. “She was so much a part of my childhood. But then to hear disparaging remarks (about African Americans) around Jackson, it was odd.

I would think, ‘What are they talking about?’ That’s what I loved about this book. It’s about the love, the bonds and the friendships that transcend race.”

Taylor insisted on filming the movie in Mississippi, mostly in Greenwood, for added credibility and atmosphere.

“I just thought that was important,” he says. “To tell the story of underprivileged people in our state in the 1960s, it made

downplays all the buzz, preferring to focus on the story itself.

“What makes it universal is that it’s not about racism and bigotry in the South,” he says. “That is a backdrop, yes, but the novel and the film are both about courage and integrity, taking a chance and having a voice and being heard. These characters are not just turning the other cheek and accepting their situation. They know things have to change.

“If you look at the climate of the world right now, the Middle East, regimes being toppled, people are making their voice heard on Facebook and Twitter,” Taylor notes. “These are normal people working for change. And that’s what ‘The Help’ is about. It’s not about mean white people in Mississippi. It’s about the positive bonds and relationships between blacks and whites.” AR Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Summer 2011 25

Sports marketer tasked with bringing 26 Alumni Review

Michael Thompson, Ole Miss’ new senior associate athletics director for communications and marketing, is working to improve fans’ game-day experience at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Photo by Robert Jordan

new energy to football stadium

By Tom Speed Summer 2011 27

Throughout the South,

anticipation is particularly high for the first game of the football season.

Last year, enthusiasm was higher than normal for the Ole Miss Rebels as the team was coming off back-to-back Cotton Bowl wins and looking toward continu-

games fans feel pretty good about scrawling a “W” beside in their pocket schedules.

It was a sweltering September afternoon, but the football-starved crowds showed up. The Rebels took a commanding and expected 31-10 halftime lead. So many fans, thinking a winning outcome was secure, left the stadium to return to the Grove, where shade and cold beverages would protect them from the heat as they watched the rest of the game, and perhaps some others, on their satellite TVs. But Jacksonville State fought back. The Rebels slowly lost their grasp. Suddenly, the game was tied and headed to overtime.

After one overtime period, it was still tied.

Then the unthinkable happened. Coach Jack Crowe, a former mentor to Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt, rolled the dice by going for a two-point conversion rather than the safe extra point. His team followed through, and Ole Miss lost the game.

The optimism of an entire fan base was squashed in one brief second. The fans who remained in the stands were in

fan with a background in sports marketing, had been on the job for just a few short weeks and knew his job had quickly become much more difficult.

“It was a bizarre way to start,” says Thompson, a Memphis native with more than a decade of sports-marketing experience.

The Survey Says …

But Thompson was undeterred.

“I can’t do anything on that field, as much as I wish I could make a tackle or throw a pass or catch a ball,” Thompson says. “I can’t do that, but I can do what I do best and what I think God gave me the ability to do, and that’s [to] manage the brand and help build it with every bit of passion and energy I have.”

Thompson’s goal is to energize the fan base and improve the fan game-day experience. To that end, one of his first orders of business was to gauge the temperature of the constituency. This was easy enough

I can do what I do best and what I think God gave me the ability to do, and that ’s [to] manage the brand and help build it with every bit of passion and energy I have.”

—Michael Thompson

ing its newfound winning ways. Season tickets were sold out. Record crowds were expected. In the off-season, the Rebels landed a highly touted, if controversial, transfer quarterback. The words “Heisman contender” were bandied about.

The season started with Jacksonville State, a school most Rebel fans would have a hard time finding on a map. The team was in the Football Bowl Subdivision— formerly Division I-AA. It was one of those 28 Alumni Review

shock. Some sportswriters called the game one of the worst losses in the history of the football program. The loss hung like a cloud over the rest of the season, setting the stage for a disappointing year in football and in other sports.

It was an inauspicious beginning to what was a dream job for Michael Thompson (BA 01), the new senior associate athletics director for communications and marketing. Thompson, a lifelong Rebel

to ascertain when it came to results on the playing field this particular year—nobody likes losing. But Thompson wanted to know how he could get people to enjoy their time at the games so they would want to come back more often. After the Fresno State game, he distributed an extensive survey to season-ticket holders.

The feedback was overwhelming. Nearly 4,000 people responded to the survey, which took an average of 18 minutes to complete.

I was blown away by how important the band is to the whole experience—97 percent said it was very important.”

—Michael Thompson

1 2 3

Gameday Element: Band

Gam

ions

Gam

1 2 3

ed a y

The band is obviously a very important

after the game. Some areas that w ill part of any gameday experience. W of improvement are entrance to the , e have an immediate impact are the tion tion new have begun ox stadium, exit and march from Grove in swec ith the band to sec b work

to uniforms that the band will wear this ment the this the e increase stadium, pre-­‐game and updated stand om n c p articipatio i

d n of the band season. They will also move from n-­‐ende before the game, ked pare ith th pe s o

songs/che a

m ers which will move in line during the game, and fro ns o com ent w nt. section A over to Section 6. Other a reas sampled stio t with f ans expectations and desires.

lem com meents que o able h eim lem f e 16

C o urren ls e acat ame f erb t Effe typ ere a e Ve s c o ha t w ctive we ortan n of t

ness 14 n ce of Ea Band Importance difficult in imp factio a ra ch Ele be ppe of cSan Band Satisfaction atis (Importance of Band to f a ns ment o

s , io e O verall ll r y ss tadium ag Experience)

12 once to Ma cent era ispla t yea c

t er v a p es

y

( 4-­‐Point in o l S ge x cale d nl b y Category) ximiz Important a lar s Not in long aff, ell as s. Ne about BBQ Cash o a

g t re a ge

e Cro s a tin

es

ai

y t s e w h. W t wd P the gam ience for me. day and carry cas3% os 10 o urit m, as hmen stion of th t is lm o c th A g

I articip e t. er e Uniforms and Appearance nien o not ve at when game day exp the Grove. ff, s tadiu mplis de qu cause d

e ation on o le a t oo

t t nc i op et 3.11

n s s e o g pe

e bee s very i ine the n as bein g in he acc l inclu ve. B l I eveior ns s av ef t Al d h

I s f

TM 8 A m

7 o t . It help o .2tio ir s venue acos at the gra ey wil he Gr e, MS) f a tra3di rt f he o n t ch ag o i po h t

r na s a is )

rth

uc r v p e ds s m Music Selection - Right Music at -­‐Jay (Ca y other or debit carSomewhat cto ur SatIt' s rt sur and T ancost a

er a lm

e a f ev d

h o

t e t 6 ge

Important ing an f Impo redit 2.61 c S) e s

Pivotal M rk Times lar r wha s of th , pt c a a ce on

o

p . ac

r an 30% (Cant re fo part tion, n stand ort y Orde ns a ions r -­‐ Peggy c concessio b 4 Imp 6 ssio ectat n othe his se aker 9 ns anked 2.8 p re 3.0 p t et t i Music Selection - Overall Songs R ssio t im e ex nce t. In k Extremely 2.55 Firs ing th xperie men ut tic pre ale and m

Important 2 n o I t

3 e c t o b se will envir ns a 2.9 irst oint S in ty 67% F s ali

io in n P 3 orig

fa eday uest (4 -­‐ 3.0 lack of nce q 0 3 a distinct Typical higph orta n g a m s ke d Volume is e 2.53 er . a

ch Th ns io io Im mat ct we s not fa d select Studen m the foo dium2 f are. Doe tuSre at.is t Sect diu cul sta 3.1 ion f Sta school sine and mous 2 2.5 ce o 3 2 ocal cui -­‐ Anony Other 3.5 ran 2.8 up with l to the w

lo pea et b

p ig m Public Audio or swe A

diu was a b of the 's ide Addre on ta ky iti or ts S C u f ss the add play to the Losing e o .95 ll O ike l

B c I

2 . an ra n e d can sions 2.8 2 ara Ov add a

ore you conces ppe el nk the m better. Maybe se lines.

3.19 e A Most Video on n sid tea. I thi tho Importance of Time d the ers ImpBoand Plays Board t he ll In ty P Mississippi foo r something along MS) rtant era curi Ov 8 Elem e o ord,

lac xf p 2.7 Cheer

f Se O (

sh o

e nts to catfi -­‐ Kyle m leader f water kers o

a alis ut

o I

T n n s e trodu e ran

ket e 7w ssio

ot som g ic am .6 y c g fe .9

T in 3 all dy 2 n f g a N (Respo Pro n we fin d o drinks o the V2an .77 he d e e At W ol e w . nd c o

Chee ents half Playing During the Game e n3 gs Sp Could fore the ot. There wer3.1 ave m any r rkin w be a

m it Selec t M Video on't h was h s. t up t h Maxim diu

Sea o 3) more it day. Also we d cession Board St a 3.2stand um C nd of ot con filthy rowd w a a very h n, MS) rance in other Part ers , Ro reas are vailable Warren (Jackso Tak icipati tion pea t table a leaned items a -­‐ en ket Sec Ap m on

ic di c e

T e t con not Band sid 2.8 re

s of Th Very ied a n

s I

e

nd sf

a Playing a ll n ti the Pre-game e Show are 2.3 1 (Least Important) ewh ieh ns era ndli dissa 5% nts d alftim ki v m e e ap o ri

O N S by F tisf e. hm in a Studen r am o g issa %

d plis d he un t 66 m t Sect

24 ring % cco ion food at du 2.4 n the gro ents are 2 m A tion of 46% found o m gra er selec corn, and Veryied diu usually table. Condim n f Pro d a wid Sta y o Cheer We nee . Hot dogs, pop . Maybe sati2sf1% the pla ave bee leader on the h 3 (Most Important) le Dis ns

es y

u nd pi io 2 Playing he am pt t the s g ro

Halftime o Show after 41% the eally h, e A to Other Publ e catfis nag re not r ic Add not filled omeone needs 21% candy a e local food lik I very l Sig m ress o on a d. S adiu r Aud better. rporat ecti others. emptie inco f St io Dir se areas ous fish, BBQ, and because of lack m he ce o ry t

ny n or d no it a A r 18% craw 0 Ve sfied food sfie mon 3 pea 4 1 -­‐ 2 Sati 0% ti 5 urchase 6 7 8 5 Ap

9 dissa 6% rarely p n.

Other ide mous

tio uts 5% -­‐ Anony of selec ll O

era

Ov

at wh d e 0% Som sfie

Ga

Ele da y me

nt: me

m st I Fir

Concess lement: eday E

Elem

ent:

Crow

d Par

ticipa

tion

ns ssio pre

y Ver ied sf sati % 26

ti dissa 0% 2

5 (Mo st Effect ive) 4 3 2 1 (Lea st Effect ive)

25% 50% 75%

d sfie Sati 8% 4

By survey standards, that’s a long time.

The response rate was almost 25 percent.

For surveys like this, marketers typically consider just 5 percent to be a really good response rate. At 25 percent, Thompson says the response rate was “astronomical.”

The online survey was broken down into several sections, which included first impressions, pregame, concessions, restrooms, merchandise sales, band, video board and sound, cheers and crowd participation.

Some of the response was expected.

Thompson knew, for example, that the sound system was lacking. He knew that there needed to be some consistency in signage, logos and colors. Stadium signs varied in size and color. Some used outdated logos. Restroom signs on one side of the stadium did not look like restroom signs on the other side of the stadium. Some were just old and worn. This, he knew.

But he was surprised by some of the feedback, as well.

“I was blown away by how important

the band is to the whole experience—97 percent said it was very important, and 67 percent said extremely important,” he says.

“I told the band they hold an amazing amount of power. If just they improved, 97 percent of our fans would have a better game-day experience.”

As a result of the survey, many changes will be noticeable this season. In June, Thompson released a list of them in an ambitious report titled “100 in 100: One Hundred Improvements in One Hundred Summer 2011 29

Days.” The report outlines the results of the survey and includes quotes from some of the comments. The 100 changes are to be completed by opening day of the 2011 season.

Distracting ads on the video board?

Gone. Improved concessions and restroom facilities? Done. Thompson and

band so that more fans can hear the music.

Starting this year, the band will be placed in the south end zone, underneath the upper deck. Planners expect the overhang to provide a megaphone effect so that the band will be more integrated into the game experience.

was not specifically mentioned in the survey but was included in many comments. That attention to detail shows how passionate Ole Miss fans are, Thompson says.

“The helmet was a major thing,” he says. “I couldn’t believe how many times that was mentioned specifically. They said

“I had a sense of unloading—people baring their soul and saying what they’ve been wanting to say for a long time.”

—Michael Thompson

his team are moving quickly to make the changes the fans want.

The Pride of the South Marching Band—the element of the game-day experience that almost every fan said was important—will be revamped, too. The band will be sporting new uniforms, and a pep band—a scaled-down version of the full band—will trek to every away game except Fresno State. A team of acoustic experts was brought in by Thompson to help improve the PA system, and it advised moving the

“It’s going to allow the band to be heard better by the entire stadium,” says Bill DeJournett, associate director of bands at Ole Miss and director of the Pride of the South since fall 2010. “It’s going to be a better thing for all involved.”

DeJournett also tells fans to expect “some exciting additions to the pregame show.”

Another unexpected concern of survey respondents was the helmet logo on the side of the press box, which will be replaced after an overwhelming sentiment against it. It

it looked bush league or high schoolish. It did look old, but for people to recognize that and isolate it by name and recall it unaided and mention it in the survey, that’s something else.”

Thompson had crafted the survey to include an open-ended space at the end of each section for comments.

“I had a sense of unloading,” Thompson says. “People baring their soul and saying what they’ve been wanting to say for a long time.”

By the Numbers

Some numbers revealed in the Game-day Experience Survey: 15,221

78%

The number of surveys sent to student and nonstudent season-ticket holders.

Those who selected the “Celebrity Hotty Toddy” as their favorite pregame element.

3,718

67%

The number of responses to the survey.

Those who said the band was an “extremely important” element to the overall game experience. Three percent said the band was “not important.”

58% The percentage of survey respondents who are Ole Miss graduates.

48% Those who were “satisfied” with the outside appearance of the stadium. Six percent were “very dissatisfied.”

50% Those who were “satisfied” with the inside appearance of the stadium. Five percent were “very dissatisfied.”

30 Alumni Review

92% Those who said that crowd noise has an effect on an opponent.

100 The number of improvements the athletics department plans to make to the game-day experience at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Pride of the South Marching Band will sport new uniforms this football season and will move to the south end zone. The band’s director says to expect more “exciting additions” to the band’s performance this season.

Photo by Kevin Bain Summer 2011 31

What You Said

A sampling of comments left by Ole Miss fans who took the Game-day Experience Survey: “We have entirely too many shades of blue. The blue in the end zone should be the only color blue used ANYWHERE in the stadium. …”

“Too many sponsors on the video board.

If I wanted to watch commercials, [I’d] stay at home and watch the game on television.”

“The condiment areas are filthy by halftime and are not cleaned during the game. … Someone needs to monitor these areas better.”

—Kirk (Ridgeland)

—Eli (Birmingham)

—Anonymous

“The outside and inside appearance of the south end zone is great. The outside appearance of the rest of the stadium needs work. … I would propose getting rid of the painted helmets and having some banners of past players or accomplishments.”

“The band’s entrance should be more energetic and crowd-involved.”

“Restrooms are the same as when I was a freshman in 1966, despite the many improvements to the rest of the stadium. My wife is more negative in her feeling about this than am I.”

—Anonymous

“We need a wider selection of food at the games. … I very rarely purchase food because of a lack of selection.”

—John (Jackson)

—Anonymous

“… It is time to remove the silly football helmet on the west side of the stadium.

Replace it with a painted Ole Miss script or The University of Mississippi.”

“I like the addition of the sweet tea. I think the more you can play to the Mississippi food the better. Maybe add a catfish place or something along those lines.”

—Anonymous (Jackson)

—Kyle (Oxford)

Pressbox — start to finish

32 Alumni Review

—Dewey (Oxford)

“My section has a difficult time hearing the band when they play during the game. I would like to see them in the section next to the student section on the other side of the field.”

—Cheryl (Clinton)

Getting out of the Grove

Sports fans nationwide know about the splendor of the Grove. Sports writers wax nostalgic about it. Every year it’s on those inevitable lists of great college traditions. Fans everywhere put a visit to the Grove on their “bucket list.” What they

eliminated, and a creative team has been assembled to mine historical footage and create new content. The sound system will be more in sync with the band, too.

“When I got here last August, one of the first things people told me was that we had the band playing over the music, the music playing over the band,” Thompson says.

strongest brands in the nation.

Recently, Thompson was watching an Ole Miss baseball game on ESPN. It was one of the first games of the year. He noticed that on the score overlay, the team was listed as “Mississippi.” So he snapped a photo of his TV with his phone and emailed the picture to ESPN’s Southeast-

We need to make our opponents have to prepare extra to play in our stadium.”

—Michael Thompson

might not know is that experience doesn’t always translate into an equally elegant experience in Vaught-Hemingway.

“The Grove is a double-edged sword,” Thompson says. “It makes Ole Miss arguably the greatest college football game-day experience in the United States. People talk about it nationally. But to get our fans away from there is a challenge, even on big games for just three hours.”

In today’s advanced technological age of high-definition television and broadcasts of every SEC game, Thompson says his first level of competition is people’s living rooms. With their own chairs, bathrooms, food and drinks, people can watch every game at home in true comfort. Then when fans come to Oxford, they have a sometimes equally luxurious environment in the Grove.

“We have to make sure that when you come to the stadium, it’s going to be just as great of an experience,” he says. “It’s not going to be the same, but it has to be as good.”

To that end, Thompson has some tricks up his sleeve that he won’t reveal until the time comes. But some of them will involve special video content and experiences that aren’t available on television or even the Internet.

In fact, the video board will become a more integral part of the game-day experience. Commercial messages are being

Some efforts were made to remedy that on the fly last season, but now the team is more prepared, he adds.

With so many variables at work, Thompson will appoint one person to coordinate all game-day efforts.

“Having a game-day director that can keep all these moving parts in sync is key,” he says. “You have to have one person where the buck stops. Then, on top of that, you have to have a killer communication system in place so that the director can talk to the people leading the band, the cheerleaders, the Rebelettes and the video boards.”

Building the Brand

Making sure bathroom signs are all the same color may seem like a minute and inconsequential detail, but it’s all part of maintaining and building a brand.

Thompson is tasked with helping protect and build that brand. That means making sure logos match, but he’s also taken the initiative to ensure that Ole Miss as a brand name develops and deepens across media outlets. That means appealing to the NCAA to change its media guidebooks so that broadcasters and media writers refer to “Ole Miss” instead of “Mississippi.”

“We’re out there talking to every partner we can,” says Thompson, who adds that the name Ole Miss is one of the

ern Conference representative and asked that the name be changed. It was “Ole Miss” for the rest of the year.

“There will be times when it’s not right the first time,” Thompson says.

But in terms of identifying what those problems are and fixing them, Thompson is getting there.

As the anticipation and hopeful prognostication builds toward this year’s first football game, changes are underway to improve the brand and the experience for fans at the game. And if winning helps everything, fans can play a part in that, too.

“We should absolutely have an advantage playing at home in terms of being loud, being crazy, getting there early and staying until the very end,” Thompson says. “We need to make our opponents have to prepare extra to play in our stadium. We’ll get there.” AR

On the Web GAME-DAY SURVEY: Download the survey at Ole Miss’ athletics website, www.olemisssports.com.

Click on the Men’s Football link.

Summer 2011 33

name ? what’s in a by tina hahn

34 Alumni Review

Brevard Hall reflects longtime commitment of family

The Brevard family has created a legacy of giving to Ole Miss through their generous contributions. Pictured are David Brevard (left); his parents, Henry and Elizabeth Brevard; Henry and Elizabeth’s daughter and son-in-law, Elise Brevard Smith and Mike Smith; and David’s daughter, Stewart, and wife, Shawn.

Photo by Robert Jordan Summer 2011 35

36 Alumni Review

Photo by Robert Jordan

Henry Brevard speaks at the dedication of the newly renamed Brevard Hall.

A

revered academic leader once observed that “a university’s greatest treasure is its names.”

A walk around The University of Mississippi’s Oxford campus, then, is like a visit with both distinguished scholars and devoted supporters. The names of buildings, facilities, programs and streets offer a who’s who list of difference makers in the life of Ole Miss—such as Barnard, Cochran, Day, Galtney, Hemingway, Holman, Khayat, Lewis, Lott, Manning, Martindale, Overby, Paris, Triplett, Williams, Vaught, Ventress and Yates.

A new name on the Circle has joined this roster and reflects the Henry Brevard family’s deeply held affection for and transformative support of Ole Miss.

During the School of Engineering’s 110th anniversary festivities this spring, Old Chemistry—the central building of UM’s Engineering Complex—was renamed Brevard Hall. Believing in students through scholarships, giving critical support to engineering education and providing alumni leadership are defining elements of the legacy Brevard and family members continue to build. To date, around 500 students have pursued their dreams of higher education at Ole Miss, thanks to Brevard Family Scholarships, and more certainly will follow.

The Brevard Family Chair in Civil Engineering has been established with a portion of the family’s gift and will be used to recruit an additional distinguished scholar to the faculty. Another portion will be directed to the scholarship endowment, which was established in 1991, and the remainder will provide operational funds for Brevard Hall.

The Engineering Complex now includes Brevard, Carrier and Anderson halls; the Charles E. Smith Engineering Science Building; part of Weir Hall, where the Department of Computer and Information Science is housed; and the new Center for Manufacturing Excellence.

“We feel the Ole Miss School of Engineering has made excellent progress over the past few decades and is poised to make even greater progress in the coming years,” says Brevard (BSCE 43) of Tupelo. “About 20 years ago we decided we wanted to give credit to the university that we believe has had a major degree of responsibility for

our personal and professional growth. I am grateful for my engineering education at Ole Miss. Among others, former dean of engineering Dr. Lee H. Johnson was a teacher of great merit and strong influence. Our family believes that no financial donation can repay adequately the mentoring and experience received here.”

Involved Alumni

School of Engineering Dean Alex Cheng says Brevard has been known for playing an active role on campus since his student days. Brevard has served as president of the Engineering Alumni Chapter and as chair of The University of Mississippi Foundation, School of Engineering advisory board and the Woods Order. He was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 1988.

David Brevard (BA 78) has shared his father’s devotion to Ole Miss, frequently becoming involved in the life of his alma mater. His contributions were recognized with the Alumni Association’s 2009 Alumni Service Award. He has led the Ole Miss Alumni Association as president and has worked in several major capital campaigns that successfully attracted private gifts to help secure the university’s future. He now is active on the University Foundation board of directors.

Tim Walsh (BPA 83, MEd 91), executive director of Alumni Affairs, believes the building dedication is a fitting tribute to the family.

“I was excited to learn that the Old Chemistry building was being renovated and would become part of our Engineering Complex as Brevard Hall,” he says.

“Situated right next to the Lyceum at the very center of campus, it is appropriate for that building to be named Brevard Hall, as the Brevard family has touched almost every part of our university through their generous gifts of time and resources. The renovated building is more spectacular than I imagined it could be, and it does my heart good to walk by and see the Brevard Hall sign.”

Henry Brevard agrees, saying, “The university and the architect have done a remarkable job of preserving the stately nature of this grand old building. It provides utility as well as historical continuity.

When I saw the Brevard Hall sign, my first thought was ‘Wow—how about that!’

A slightly more considered thought was

a hope that some future family member benefiting from the Ole Miss experience would be reminded that he or she would be walking in the family tradition.”

Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75) says he believes the building that has played such a pivotal role in the lives of generations of students will continue to have a great impact.

“Brevard Hall will provide constant inspiration to the university community, standing as a testament to the remarkable service of Henry Brevard and his family, all of whom are deeply devoted to their community, their state and to engineering education and Ole Miss,” Jones says.

“We are profoundly grateful to Beth and Henry Brevard and their family for their generosity and involvement that continue

“ It is appropriate for that building to be named Brevard Hall, as the Brevard family has touched almost every part of our university through their generous gifts of time and resources.”

—Tim Walsh

to significantly strengthen our university.

This new gift focuses on our engineering students and faculty, whose careers will make important contributions on state, national and global fronts.”

Devotion to Engineering

“I would like to shake Mr. Henry Brevard’s hand and say, ‘Thank you for believing in me,’” says Matthew Herring of Oxford, a Brevard Scholar and rising senior electrical engineering major.

Students such as Herring are what the family had in mind for its support.

Summer 2011 37

When Old Chemistry was ‘new’

I

n 1920, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated $750,000 for capital construction and $300,000 in support funds for The University of Mississippi, launching a construction program that would transform the campus.

The six buildings constructed were the 50,000-square-foot science building, four men’s residence halls and one women’s residence hall. Of course, when classes first began in the “new” science building during spring semester 1923, it wasn’t called “Old Chemistry.” Although the recently dedicated Brevard Hall now serves as the heart of the Engineering Complex, the building first housed the departments of Chemistry and Pharmacy.

A brochure printed at the time stated, “No finer provision for instruction in these fields exists in the South.” The building was designed by architects Trueblood and Link of St. Louis, Mo. The building freed up classroom space in the Lyceum, which received renovations and the addition of the west portico.

The year 1923 was an interesting time on our campus and in our country. What was happening on our campus and elsewhere when the building opened?

Dr. Joseph Neely Powers was UM’s ninth chancellor.

Engineering dean was Dr. John Hazard Dorah.

Enrollment at Ole Miss numbered fewer than 1,000 students.

The UM School of Medicine was located on the Oxford campus.

For the 21st time, the Ole Miss football team played the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Starkville. Tickets to the game in Jackson were $2.50 each.

A copy of The Mississippian, the school’s official newspaper, could be purchased for 10 cents.

The acting campus postmaster for the U.S. Post Office was future Nobel laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner William Faulkner.

Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as U.S. president after the death of President Warren G. Harding.

The first baseball game was played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Insulin was introduced as a treatment for diabetes.

The portable radio was developed in the United States.

Walt Disney Studios was formed by Walt and Roy Disney.

“We have always thought that our scholarship endowment was important to help the school increase the caliber of our already gifted student body and help

Henry Brevard. Photo courtesy of Ole Miss 1940, Archives and Special Collections, UM Libraries 38 Alumni Review

increase enrollment to a point of more efficiency per student, considering the funding available,” says Henry Brevard. “Our second purpose has been to make engineering education possible for deserving and talented students who might otherwise not have the means necessary for that pursuit.”

Cheng says that Brevard is generous with his financial donations, but he also continues to have an interest and desire to stay involved with what is taking place here on campus.

“In particular, he seems to enjoy hearing and seeing those things that affect students of today’s generation,” he says.

“He takes the time and effort to follow up on his gifts to ensure funds are used wisely for the benefit of the school and especially for the students. It would be difficult to put into words the far-reaching impact Henry Brevard has had and continues to have on the School of Engineering.”

Brevard first used his civil engineering degree as a Mississippi State Highway Department bridge designer. In 1949, he and his father-in-law, Riley Boozer, became convinced that ready-mix concrete was the wave of the future, offering more labor efficiency than the standard of the day: job-site mixed concrete. The two men founded B&B Concrete Co. of Tupelo, the first transit-mixed concrete plant in North Mississippi. The business has expanded to include 12 other locations in the state.

Brevard’s son, David, earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Ole Miss, where he was a Carrier Scholar. He went on to receive an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. After a few years of business experience in New York, he joined B&B Concrete, where he serves as president and chief executive officer.

“Although David did not choose to

pursue an engineering degree, he has had a continuing interest in the profession and in the Ole Miss School of Engineering because our long-range business success depends on engineering talent,” the elder Brevard says.

Engineering Training

Henry Brevard was first attracted to Ole Miss by a relative who had recently earned a law degree here and another who was a rising senior in chemical engineering. The engineering school then occupied the Lyceum’s north wing.

“When I was a student, the engineering school was very small and the faculty was correspondingly small, but the individual faculty members were very able and professional,” the alumnus says. “I was particularly impressed by Dr. Johnson, the dean, who also taught a number of classes. He continuously worked on his students to improve their ability to think logically. Dr. Johnson knew engineers needed broad knowledge with some liberal arts education in making appropriate use of the technical.”

Brevard, an Amory native and fifthgeneration Mississippian, was selected as a student instructor—with little faculty oversight—for the plane surveying course.

Brevard also was asked to return after graduation as an instructor but chose to serve his country. The U.S. Army second lieutenant was a navigation instructor who flew training missions and later completed training on a B-29 combat crew. When he completed his service in 1946, he married Beth Boozer of Shannon, initiating a partnership he describes as his “best-ever move.”

Beth Boozer Brevard holds a degree from the Mississippi University for Women and a lifetime membership in the Ole Miss Alumni Association. She was honored in 2001, when daughter, Elise Brevard Smith of Ridgeland, joined Henr y and David in endowing the Elizabeth Brevard Council Scholarship through the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy.

Natural Leaders and Givers

“The Brevard family and Ole Miss are synonymous,” says Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66). “My earliest memories of engineering at this university include Henry Brevard.

In his quiet, dignified manner, he has thoughtfully and consistently supported our School of Engineering. In addition, Henry, Beth and their family have participated in many university events and have been quite supportive of chancellors, deans, faculty members and students.”

The Brevards also have played an instrumental role in UM’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture, where the Elizabeth Brevard Council Scholarship is awarded to undergraduates.

“The Brevards have been active on our advisory committee and have provided thoughtful guidance to our programs,” says Ann Abadie (MA 62, PhD 73), CSSC associate director. “They are deeply interested in the larger community and how the center’s work can help preserve and promote understanding of the South’s rich history, literature and culture. They recognize the importance of an academic center addressing issues that will help

move our society forward.”

Service to one’s community is a cornerstone of the Brevard family. Both Henry and David have provided leadership on boards of institutions focusing on health care, senior citizens and young people. Both have chaired the Methodist Senior Services, a statewide retirement and elderly health-care system. Henry has chaired the North Mississippi Health Services board of directors, while David chaired the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi. They also have devoted time and energy to the Yocona Council of the Boy Scouts of America and served in leadership positions at Tupelo’s First United Methodist Church.

“My parents have always been involved in working together with others and in financially supporting worthy endeavors to improve the quality of life here in our community of Tupelo,” David Brevard says.

“My parents love and support Ole Miss. I am motivated to support and participate in the life of the university because of their example, but, more importantly, because of my own recognition of the positive influence Ole Miss has had on my life.

The University of Mississippi is a stronger school now than when I graduated in 1978.

Its reputation as a great public university has grown and spread. For this to continue, private support from me and other members of the Ole Miss family is essential.” AR Tina H. Hahn is the communications specialist in the Office of University Development. Joshua Waggoner, former associate director of development for the School of Engineering, contributed to this story.

Photo by Kevin Bain

Henry Brevard and his son, David, take care of business at their company, B&B Concrete in Tupelo.

Summer 2011 39

Photo by Nathan Latil

Sports Sophomore high jumper Ricky Robertson

Leaps and Bounds Eight REBELS EARN TRACK-AND-FIELD HONORS

E

ight Ole Miss Rebels earned Outdoor All-America distinction from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The organization announced the honors in June, following the 2011 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships.

Receiving first-team All-America were sophomore high jumper Ricky Robertson, senior hurdler Lee Ellis Moore and sophomore sprinter Mike Granger. Second-team distinction went to junior hurdler Carson Blanks, senior sprinter Jonathan Juin, sophomore triple jumper Morris Kersh, junior long jumper Caleb Lee and sophomore women’s triple jumper Marci Morman. All seven men that Ole Miss sent to the championships earned All-America recognition.

“The large group of Ole Miss athletes selected as All-Americans just caps off a very fine year for our 2011 team,” head Coach Joe Walker (67) says. “They have

40 Alumni Review

represented themselves and Ole Miss in exemplary fashion.”

First-team All-America honors were awarded to those who earned any portion of a team point or reached an eightentrant final at the national championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Second-team All-America honors were handed out to those whose final placing in the national meet ranged from ninth to 16th place.

Robertson capped off a sensational sophomore season by finishing runner-up in the high jump to archrival Erik Kynard of Kansas State. The Hernando native received his fourth-straight first-team All-America honor in four tries (two indoor, two outdoor) and recently earned his fourthstraight Southeastern Conference title in the high jump (two indoor, two outdoor).

Moore claimed a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles in Des Moines, while Granger placed seventh in the 100meter dash. Moore was also an Outdoor

All-American in 2009. Granger had earned All-America status in each of his two indoor seasons as a collegian.

Blanks finished 12th in the 400-meter hurdles, Juin was 11th in the 200 meters, Kersh was 14th in the triple jump, Lee was 14th in the long jump, and Morman was 16th in the women’s triple jump. Lee was a repeat All-American (2011 Indoor), while Blanks, Juin, Kersh and Morman earned the honors for the first time.

Ole Miss capped off the 2011 trackand-field season with the Rebel men placing 19th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and finishing fourth among SEC schools.

The Ole Miss men put the final touches on a 2011 season that also included an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. The women had a school-record nine participants in the outdoor championships and finished 23rd at the indoor championships this year. AR

An Academic Medical Center is not like an ordinary hospital.

When the unexpected happens, it’s where we turn.

A place where miraculous advances are nurtured through research, teamwork and innovation.

A place where second chances are born.

This is not ordinary health care.

This is University of Mississippi Health Care.

Learn more at umhc.com or call 888.815.2005.

6797-2_UMHC_Helicopter_OleMSAlum_7x4.75.indd 1

9/27/10 1:19 PM

With Liberty Mutual, Ole Miss alumni can get more from their auto and home insurance.

Savings of up to $327.96 or more a year on auto insurance*

with a special group discount and other discounts**

12-month Rate Guarantee

unlike the six-month policies that some other insurers offer

Help when you need it

with 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance and 24-hour claims service

Additional coverages for added security

including Umbrella Liability policies, Accident Forgiveness† and Home Insurance with optional Identity Fraud Expense Coverage

Get More. Save More.

Find out just how much more today.

• Call (888) 798-5644 and mention client #113966 Monday-Friday, 7a.m. to 12:30a.m.; Saturday 7a.m. to 11p.m.; Sunday 9a.m to 10p.m. (ET)

• Go to www.libertymutual.com/olemiss • Or visit a Liberty Mutual office near you

AUTO

HOME

This organization receives financial support for allowing Liberty Mutual to offer this auto and home insurance program. *Figure based on a February 2008 sample of auto policyholder savings when comparing their former premium with those of Liberty Mutual’s group auto and home program. Individual premiums and savings will vary. **Discounts and credits are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; except in Massachusetts, not all applicants may qualify. †Accident Forgiveness coverage subject to terms and conditions of Liberty Mutual’s underwriting guidelines and is not available in all states. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA. A consumer report from a consumer reporting agency and/or a motor vehicle report, on all drivers listed on your policy, may be obtained where state laws and regulations allow. Please consult a Liberty Mutual specialist for specific details. © 2008 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. All Rights Reserved.

Sports

Photo courtesy of UM Sports Information

Watch This

Center NAMED CANDIDATE FOR RIMINGTON TROPHY

O

le Miss’ A.J. Hawkins was named to the 2011 Spring Watch List for the Rimington Trophy, which honors college football’s top center.

A junior from Lithonia, Ga., Hawkins started 11 games at center last year and helped Ole Miss lead the Southeastern Conference in fewest sacks allowed and rank third in rushing offense.

Behind Hawkins’ line, the Rebels notched eight individual 100yard rushing performances by four different runners.

Hawkins is among six SEC players on the Rimington Trophy Watch List, which ties the Big Ten for the most candidates by a conference. In all, 42 players are on the list, including 14 returning players from the 2010 Watch List.

The winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theater in Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 14.

A member of the National College Football Awards Association, the Rimington Trophy committee uses four prestigious teams to determine a winner: the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America.

Because the selectors of these four All-America teams can place centers in a “mix” of offensive linemen that includes guards and tackles, their 11-man first teams often can have two centers.

The policy is to count all players that primarily play the center position for their respective teams as centers, even though they may be listed as guards or tackles on the four All-America teams.

The center with the most first-team votes will be determined

A.J. Hawkins is among six SEC players on the Rimington Trophy Watch List.

the winner. If there is a tie with first-team votes, then the center with most second-team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by the Rimington Trophy committee.

The annual Rimington Trophy is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised more than $86 million for cystic fibrosis research. Dave Rimington, the award’s namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com. AR Photo courtesy of UM Sports Information

Near ‘Par’-fection Three REBEL GOLFERS EARN TOP 10 FINISH AT tOurney

T

hree members of the Ole Miss men’s golf team finished in the top 10 at the Mississippi State Amateur in June at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point.

Rising senior Billy Brozovich of Greenville held the first-round lead and was tied for the lead after two rounds, but he ended up seventh with a 294.

Thomas Watkins of Madison carded a 292 and tied for fifth, his second top-five finish in the last three

42 Alumni Review

years. He was runner-up in 2009 to Jonathan Randolph. Chad Bounds of Meridian tied for 10th with a 299.

Randolph missed the West Point tourney to compete in the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown, Pa. The All-American shot a 285 to finish 37th at the par-70, 6,868-yard Sunnehanna Country Club. After a first-round 75, Randolph shot 68-67 to get back in the tournament but concluded the 72-hole event with a 75. AR

Jonathan Randolph

Photo courtesy of UM Sports Information

David Goforth was one of six Rebels taken in the 2011 MLB Draft.

Six Rebels Taken in MLB Draft

REBELS BOAST MOST PLAYERS DRAFTED OF ANY MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL IN 2011

M

att Snyder became the sixth member of the Ole Miss baseball team to be selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, when he was taken by the Washington Nationals in the 44th round.

Snyder joins teammates David Goforth (seventh—Milwaukee), Austin Wright (eighth—Philadelphia), Miles Hamblin (12th—Houston), Matt Crouse (24th—Detroit) and Matt Tracy (24th—New York Yankees) as Rebels taken in the 2011 edition of the draft.

Ole Miss had more players selected in the 2011 MLB Draft than any other program in the state of Mississippi.

This season, Snyder hit .301 with a team-leading nine home runs and 39 RBIs to go along with 14 doubles and 25 runs scored. The junior caught fire late in the season, hitting at an almost .400 clip through the final 17 games of the season with seven home runs and 21 RBIs. AR

Summer 2011 43

arts &

Culture keeps up with his greatest passion: baseball.

He lives in Virginia and Mississippi.

The Confession: A Novel by John Grisham, 432 pages, $28.95 (Hardcover), ISBN: 0385528043 For ever y innocent man sent to prison, a guilty one is left on the outside.

Travis Boyette is such a man. In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, he abducted, raped and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row.

Now, nine years have passed, and Drumm is four days away from his execution. Boyette has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime and suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?

When he’s not writing, John Grisham (JD 81) devotes time to charitable causes, including his Rebuild the Coast Fund, which raised $8.8 million for Gulf Coast relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He also 44 Alumni Review

The Telegrapher by Thomas L. Wiley, 243 pages, $23.95 (Hardcover), ISBN: 0979786118 The Telegrapher is based on a true story. A young boy’s world suddenly turns upside down when he loses his arm in a teenage prank gone awry in the 1890s. His hopes and dreams give way to uselessness and despair until he is introduced to a fascinating device that changes his life forever—the telegraph key.

Thomas L. Wiley (MD 77) tells the story of telegrapher Ollie P a r k e r. F r o m experiencing the taunts of the school bully to the envy that engulfs him as he watches his best friend go off to war, Parker sees life passing him by. But through the loving wisdom of his grandmother and the captivating dots and dashes of the telegraph, he finds room for hope and fulfillment.

Wiley, a lifelong resident of Mississippi, lives in Jackson, where he is a practicing gynecologist. He and his wife, Merrie, have four children and six grandchildren. He also is the author of The Angels of Lockhart.

Mississippi: State of Blues by Ken Murphy and Scott Barretta, 119 pages, $22 (Hardcover), ISBN: 0615376916 Mississippi: State of Blues is the latest book from acclaimed photographer Ken Murphy, whose work was previously collected in the coffee-table books Mississippi and My South Coast Home. The result of three years of collaboration between Murphy and Oxfordbased blues writer Scott Barretta, the book portrays in both images a n d p ro s e t h e

blues in the 21st century.

Barretta is the former editor of Living Blues, published by UM’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture, and is a UM adjunct instructor in sociology and anthropology. He is the host of the radio show “Highway 61” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, writes a blues column for The Clarion-Ledger, conducts folklore research for the Mississippi Arts Commission, and has served as a researcher and writer for the Mississippi Blues Trail and the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center.

The Little House Songs by Caroline Herring, CD, $15 For a decade, Caroline Herring (BA 92) has produced emotional folk songs deeply rooted in narrative tradition and mined Southern themes evocative of her native Mississippi. One song, “Tales of the Islander,” is about artist Walter Anderson.

Another, “Fay,” is about her favorite Larry Brown character.

For her fifth album, Herring took a different approach. Rather than draw inspiration from her literary leanings, she crafted songs based on her children’s favorite book—The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. Herring finds in this simple children’s book the same type of yearning and detail that she evokes in her other work and in the process produces a recording fit for children and adults alike. “The Little House Songs” is available via her website, www. carolineherring.com.

Information presented in this section is compiled from material provided by the publisher and/or author and does not necessarily represent the view of the Alumni Review or the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To present a recently published book or CD for consideration, please mail a copy with any descriptions and publishing information to: Ole Miss Alumni Review, Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. AR

JAMES A. KOERBER, CPA/ABV, CVA, CFE, CFF BRIAN D. SCHMITTLING, CPA/ABV, CVA, CFE, CFF EDWARD T. SIMMONS, CPA/ABV, CVA, CFE, CFF ROBERT D. KING, JR., CPA, CVA, CFE JEFFERY E. TINNON, CPA, CVA, CFE, CFF LISA R. BERNARD, CPA, CVA, CFE, CFF EMILY K. MONTGOMERY, FIRM ADMINISTRATOR

• Business Valuation Services • Calculation of Damages • Forensic Accounting

• Lost Profit Analysis • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death • Shareholder Disputes

• Family Law Services • Intangible Asset Valuations

103 Madison Plaza • Hattiesburg, MS 39402 • Toll Free 888.655.8282 • www.koerbercompany.com

Travel planner 2011-12

T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips for 2011 and 2012.

Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. For a brochure or more information, contact the Alumni office at 662-915-7375. The most current listing of trips and prices is on the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s website at www.alumni.olemiss.edu.

ALASKAN DISCOVERY CRUISE AUG. 24-31, 2011 Set sail on the elegant Oceania Cruises’ Regatta to some of Alaska’s most captivating attractions. This deluxe vessel comes complete with upscale amenities, exceptionally attentive service, lavish staterooms and the finest cuisine at sea.

Explore some of the last frontier’s most stunning sights, and revel in the rugged splendor of an unspoiled land as you visit the historic towns of Wrangell, Skagway, Kodiak, Sitka and Ketchikan, and savor the majestic beauty of ancient glaciers, icy-blue fjords, soaring granite cliffs and unique wildlife. Let Alaska’s unrivaled landscapes enchant you.—From $9,998, including airfare CHICAGO—AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE AUG. 30-SEPT. 4, 2011 Once a small settlement and a military base, today Chicago is one of the world’s leading cities in business and the arts.

From the fashionable department stores of Michigan Avenue to the impressive exhibits at world-renowned museums, from the history at Jackson Park to the dazzling modern architecture at Millennium Park, Chicago has something for everyone.

Planned excursions include visits to the famed Art Institute to view its stunning works and Hyde Park to see the impressive architecture of the University of Chicago and the home of President Barack Obama.

46 Alumni Review

An exclusive series of discussions with Chicago insiders highlights the city’s famous politics, architecture, art and living in Chicago today. Best of all, ample leisure time gives you the freedom to explore other sites at your own pace from your city-center hotel.—From $2,245 PROVENCE AND CRUISING THE LIGURIAN SEA SEPT. 13-24, 2011 Join us for a unique journey that combines a delightful sojourn in Provence with a spectacular cruise on the four-star tall ship S.Y. Star Flyer along the French and Italian Rivieras. Spend three nights in deluxe accommodations in Avignon; see Provence’s inspiring landscapes, palaces,

Chicago

monuments and ruins; walk in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh; and enjoy specially arranged wine tastings. From Cannes, sail to the seldomvisited islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Giglio and on to the stunning coast of the Italian and French Riviera. During the cruise, choose from a program of attractively priced shore excursions, such as a visit to Florence to marvel at Michelangelo’s iconic “David.”—From $5,295 ISLAND LIFE IN ANCIENT GREECE AND TURKEY SEPT. 19-27, 2011 Cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. L’Austral, a state-of-the-art vessel launching in 2011, from the

mythical relics of Athens, Delos and Troy, across the glistening waters of the Aegean, to the bustling bazaars and sparkling mosques of Istanbul. Visit Greece’s history-rich islands—Pátmos, Rhodes, Delos and Santorini. Along Turkey’s enchanting coast, stroll the marble-paved boulevards of Greco-Roman Ephesus, and visit the site of fabled Troy. Extend your journey with a pre-cruise option in Athens and a post-cruise option in Istanbul or Cappadocia.—From $4,195 CANADA & NEW ENGLAND, FALL FOLIAGE—OCEANIA CRUISES (NEW YORK TO MONTREAL) SEPT. 30-OCT. 12, 2011 Experience the vibrant fall colors of New England and Canada on the beautifully appointed Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. Lose yourself at sea in the comfort and luxuries of fine cuisine, upscale amenities, staff devoted to your every need and lavishly appointed staterooms. Visit historic cities and picturesque ports in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec. This memorable cruise offers colorful landscapes, historic attractions and renowned landmarks.—From $7,598, including airfare FRENCH ALPS AND PROVENCE OCT. 20-29, 2011 Experience the joie de vivre in provincial France in the Rhône River valley on this unique 10-day journey from the tranquil beauty of the French Alps through the timeless allure of Burgundy and Provence.

Enjoy deluxe lakeside accommodations for three nights in charming Annecy, the gem of the French Alps, and view snowcapped Mont Blanc. Cruise for five nights aboard the intimate M.S. Rembrandt past rolling hills and lush family-owned vineyards. Enjoy a private wine tasting in a medieval castle; savor the world-renowned cuisine of Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France; visit medieval Avignon; and explore ancient Arles. Join the exclusive two-night Aix-en-Provence post-program option.—From $4,795 CRADLE OF HISTORY CRUISE NOV. 1-14, 2011 Sail through thousands of years of history as you cruise the Mediterranean on Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Marina. Lose

Tahiti

yourself at sea in the comfort and luxuries of fine cuisine, upscale amenities and lavishly appointed staterooms. Immerse yourself in the ancient legends, traditions and cultures of Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, each destination with a different story to tell. From pyramids to palaces, discover the cradle of history.— From $4,299, including airfare TAHITI AND THE FRENCH POLYNESIA NOV. 3-13, 2011 The evolution of ancient volcanic activity beneath the sea, sculpted by waves and wind over millennia, created the idyllic islands of Tahiti, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Moorea. Authentically preserved, they have beckoned travelers to their shores for centuries. This earthly paradise is yours to discover during this nine-night land/sea sojourn with two nights in Papeete, Tahiti, and seven nights aboard the five-star M.S. Paul Gauguin, specially designed to cruise the crystalline waters of the South Pacific.

Cultural enrichment abounds here in

this natural environment populated by the lovely Gauguines. During your stay on Tahiti, an exclusive Paul Gauguin excursion to the west coast of the island explores the artist’s sites, including the grotto where he swam and the museum dedicated to his original engravings, gouaches and even sketches and block prints unseen in years. An onboard naturalist will provide a variety of talks and demonstrations about the islands’ history and cultural heritage throughout the cruise. You can observe—and even snorkel and swim with—extraordinary bird and marine life, and breathe in the fresh fragrances of vanilla, gardenia and jasmine that permeate the island air.—From $5,995 MEDITERRANEAN SPLENDORS CRUISE NOV. 4-12, 2011 The splendor of the Mediterranean comes to life on this exciting one-week cruise. Depart from Rome on a captivating adventure to historic ports of call in Italy, Greece and Croatia. Delight in the charms and scenic panoramas of Amalfi or Positano, explore Summer 2011 47

Machu Picchu

historic sites in legendary Sicily, and discover a kaleidoscope of color in the coastal city of Corfu. Stroll medieval lanes in the old quarter of Bari, and wander the winding streets of Dubrovnik, a walled city laden with Venetian monuments. Complete your adventure with a day in Venice, the romantic city of winding canals, majestic buildings and hidden piazzas.—From $5,598 ROME—AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE NOV. 7-15, 2011 AND NOV. 14-22, 2011 Travel back in time with a walk through the Coliseum and Roman Forum, marvel at the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, and examine the amazing network of the catacombs. Travel to Orvieto for a cooking class and the chance to explore this vibrant hill town. Delve into unexpected Rome with a special visit to Studio Cassio, which has restored ancient mosaics for more than 100 years. In addition, travel to the ancient port of Ostia to view its impressive shrines and temples, all remarkably wellpreserved. A unique program of planned excursions and free time, plus centrally located accommodations for a seven-night stay, gives you the opportunity to discover the Eternal City’s treasure trove of must-see sights at a relaxed pace.—From $2,495

48 Alumni Review

AROUND THE WORLD BY PRIVATE JET JAN. 7-29, 2012 AND JAN. 29-FEB. 20, 2012 Climb the terraced steps, and touch the seamless walls of the ancient Inca citadel Machu Picchu. Feel the protective gaze of the Easter Island moai statues. Bask in the radiant beauty of lush tropical Samoa.

Immerse yourself in the underwater splendor of the Great Barrier Reef. Welcome the sun among Angkor Wat’s astoundingly beautiful temples, and watch it set amid Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania. Stand enthralled before the majesty of the Taj Mahal. Come face-toface with the mysterious Sphinx in the company of the ancient Pyramids. Explore the colorful souks and treasures of Berber kings in the celebrated medina of Fez. To learn more about this extraordinary expedition or to make a reservation, please call our tour operator, TCS & Starquest Expeditions, at 800-454-4149 or 206254-0228.—From $64,950 CRUISE TO THE LESSER ANTILLES JAN. 27-FEB. 3, 2012 Explore the most beautiful natural features of the Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles aboard the six-star Silversea Small Ship M.V. Silver Cloud. Cruise from San Juan to the coral reefs of Jost Van Dyke,

British Virgin Islands, to Philipsburg, St. Maarten, the newly independent Dutch side of the smallest island in the world shared by two countries. Call at Gustavia, St. Barts, where street signs appear in French and Swedish, and be on deck as you approach St. Lucia for a picturesque glimpse of its twin mountain peaks, the Gros and Petit Pitons. You will find picturesque stone and wooden Victorian townhouses as well as fascinating volcanic geology in Roseau, Dominica, and discover elegant 18th-century sugar plantation estates near Basseterre, St. Kitts. If your schedule permits, plan to join the two-night, attractively priced pre-cruise option in San Juan, a vibrant and historic city.—From $3,508, including airfare from 23 major cities AMAZON RIVER EXPEDITION FEB. 3-12, 2012 Join us for this unforgettable 10-day journey featuring six nights cruising the mysterious Amazon River Basin aboard one of the Jewels of the Amazon. These impeccably crafted riverboats evoke the 19th century’s great age of discovery while providing 21st-century comforts. This custom-designed itinerary also includes two nights in historic Lima, Peru, a

UNESCO World Heritage site, and the choice of an overnight stay in a tented camp. Cruise into one of the Earth’s most exotic natural realms and our planet’s largest rainforest ecosystem, where the number of butterfly species climbs into the thousands, and other species have yet to be classified or even discovered. Led by expert Peruvian naturalists, seek rare indigenous flora and fauna—delicate orchids, towering ceiba trees, pink river dolphins and slow-moving sloths. Visit local villages to observe the traditional way of life of the ribereños (river people), and see a shaman perform an ancient ritual of purification.

Continue with the special post-program option to legendary Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. This unique program is an exceptional value, and space is extremely limited.—From $3,895 if booked by Aug. 9.

VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY: WONDERS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS FEB. 24-MARCH 3, 2012 This incredible nine-day journey introduces you to the remarkable Galápagos Archipelago, a nature lover’s dream destination and UNESCO World Heritage site, with a four-night cruise aboard the state-of-the-art M.V. Santa Cruz.

This exploration vessel is fully equipped with everything necessary to make your Galápagos experience complete, from a fleet of Zodiacs and a glass-bottom boat to a highly qualified team of certified naturalists and complimentary snorkeling gear. Visit seven islands and see the exotic birds, animals and plants that inspired Charles Dar win, including species unknown elsewhere in the world. With few natural predators on the islands, the

abundant wildlife is nearly fearless and accepts human company up close. You can almost touch spiny-backed iguanas and snorkel alongside tropical penguins and playful seals. On mainland Ecuador, enjoy deluxe hotel accommodations in Quito and Guayaquil. See the magnificent colonial churches of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the colorful Andean market of Otavalo.

The six-night post-program option features Peru’s legendary “lost city” of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the historic cities of Lima and Cuzco.—From $3,595 SAMBA RHYTHMS FEB. 25-MARCH 9, 2012 Travel where pulsating rhythms, natural beauty and colorful traditions thrive along South America’s east coast while cruising on the elegant Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, a haven of superb accommodations, exceptional service and the finest cuisine at sea. Enjoy spectacular views of Sugarloaf Mountain or Rio de Janeiro’s famed beaches before setting sail for Buzios, the St. Tropez of Brazil, and the beautiful island of Ilha Grande.

Stroll past charming Portuguese colonial architecture in Parati, visit vibrant São Paulo, savor the beautiful Emerald Coast of Porto Belo, and wander the gracious old squares in lovely Rio Grande. Leaving Brazil behind, spend a day in the chic beach resort of Punta del Este, and explore charming Montevideo before concluding your voyage in the elegant city of Buenos Aires. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, each with something distinctive to experience.—From $3,299

Galápagos sea lion Summer 2011 49

News alumni

T

Sustaining Life Membership Program

he Sustaining Life Membership Program is a voluntary way for current Life Members to provide additional annual support to the Ole Miss Alumni Association at one of several tax-deductible levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Blue and Red. These contributions are used to support necessary programs to engage Ole Miss alumni and friends and to help create future alumni leaders through student involvement, scholarship and leadership programs.

— 2010 Members — Platinum $1,000+ Mr. and Mrs. David E. Brevard Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Clark Mr. and Mrs. J. Stacy Davidson Mr. W.M. Elliott Dr. Dewey D. Garner Jr. Mr. Charles G. Gates Mr. and Mrs. Alfred D. Green Mr. and Mrs. David O. McCormick Dr. and Mrs. Paul H. Moore Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Knox Ridley Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sean A. Tuohy

Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey R. Godwin Jr. Mr. Hardy M. Hill Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Imbler Mr. Aaron C. Lambert Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Lane Mr. M. Leonard Lurie Mr. and Mrs. William T. Mays Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Lee D. Morris Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Noble Mr. Donald B. Samuels Mr. and Mrs. Robert Seibels III Mrs. Lisa Puckett Sinders

Gold $500-$999

Blue $100-$249

Mr. and Mrs. Olen S. Akers Mrs. Kay D. Allen Dr. Antrece Lynette Baggett Mrs. Callie S. Brandon Dr. Fred G. Corley Jr. Dr. James W. Davis Mrs. Georgia M. Ellison Mr. and Mrs. S. Lawrence Farrington Mr. and Mrs. William Walton Gresham III Mr. Joe D. Havens Jr. Dr. and Mrs. W. Briggs Hopson Jr. Mr. William H. Howard III Mr. and Mrs. Donald D. Jones Mr. and Mrs. William T. May Mr. and Mrs. John A. McKinney Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Nance III Dr. Blake D. Neal Mr. John Douglas Self Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Walman Dr. and Mrs. Lynn K. Whittington Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Williams Jr.

Mr. A.G. Abide Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Warner Alford Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Donald B. Bedell Mr. and Mrs. David K. Biddle Ms. Kathryn B. Black Mr. Cornelius H. Block Mr. and Mrs. Kevin A. Brooks Mr. William D. Brooks Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James N. Butler Dr. Gary D. Carr Mr. Mark J. Chaney Sr. Mr. David H. Chapman Mrs. Mary Anne S. Day Mr. C. Craig Dearman The Hon. and Mrs. Robert W. Elliott Sr. Mr. Joe M. Enoch Mr. and Mrs. James M. Epting Jr. Dr. Charles Farris Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Brooke Ferris Dr. Samuel E. Field Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd W. Franks Mr. Tyrus C. Gibbs Mr. Karl D. Gottschalk Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Gunn Mr. James C. Herbert Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Herrin Mr. and Mrs. George Hilliard Mr. Joseph M. Hinshaw III Mr. R. Huston Hollister Mr. and Mrs. W. Carter Hutchins Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William M. James Mrs. Shirley Sneed Keith

Silver $250-$499 Mr. Aubrey L. Boone Mrs. Marvine M. Brand Ms. Angela D. Carney Mr. Robert D. Church Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Eric C. Clark Mr. and Mrs. William D. Coleman Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Galey Mr. and Mrs. John H. Geary Dr. Donna Clay Gerhardstein

50 Alumni Review

Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. John B. Laney Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Preston H. Lee Jr. Mrs. Barbera H. Liddon Mr. Prentiss C. McLaurin Jr. Dr. Fred L. McMillan Jr. Mrs. Georgia G. McPherson Drs. Charles E. Moore Jr. and Judy T. Moore Mr. and Mrs. G. Terrell Morgan Dr. Karl F. Morrison Mrs. Sue M. Pearson Mr. James A. Peden Jr. Mrs. Martha A. Pembroke Mrs. Anne Biles Ponder Dr. and Mrs. James W. Rayner Col. and Mrs. James W. Rice Jr. Mr. Ben B. Sayle Mrs. Mary Ann S. Stefancik Dr. Ancel C. Tipton Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jon C. Turner Ms. Mary N. Watson Mr. and Mrs. R. Quentin Whitwell Jr. Mr. Michael W. Wright and Ms. Vickie M. Cook Mr. and Mrs. Willis E. Young Jr.

Red $1-$99 Mr. Jason V. Calvasina Mr. Daniel Conwill IV Mr. Edward G. Covington III Mr. Joseph W. Gex II Mr. Augustus R. Jones Mr. J.T. Keeton Jr. Mr. Oswald B. Mazzanti Mrs. Nell S. McMullen Mr. and Mrs. Lee Notestone Dr. Robert E. Ringer Mr. Eugene R. Schnierle Capt. Jack F. Speed Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Phineas Stevens Mr. William E. Stitt Mrs. Anne J. Wilbourne Dr. and Mrs. Travis Wayne Yates

Class Notes ’60s

John David Blaylock (LLB 64) was inducted as a fellow into the American College of Bankruptcy in Washington, D.C. Blaylock is an attorney at Glankler Brown, PLLC, in Memphis, Tenn.

Eddie Fritts (61), a native of Union City, received the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award.

Paul W. Klotz (BA 64, MCS 70) gained membership in the Academy of Fellows from the Society of American Military Engineers.

Michael J. Malouf Sr. (BA 67, JD 70) was elected a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. He practices with his son, daughter and associates at Malouf & Malouf in Jackson.

’70s

Harris H. Barnes III (JD 72), a partner at Barnes, McGee and Associates, P.A., was named one of the “Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi” by the Mississippi Business Journal. Barnes also was named an “AV Preeminent Lawyer” by Martindale

Hubbel, a designation given only to 5 percent of U.S. lawyers.

R. Michael Bolen (BPA 74) retired as U.S. trustee for Louisiana and Mississippi and joined William Ryan Hood (BPA 74) in forming the law firm of Hood & Bolen, PLLC, in Jackson.

James Edward Donald (BA 70) was elected to serve as chairman of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Donald, a native of Jackson, also was chosen as the 2010 recipient of the Mississippi Trailblazer Award, honoring his outstanding achievement in the military and government.

David E. Jackson Jr. (BBA 77) was named partner in The Jackson Group, P.C., CPAs in Atlanta.

Joe Frank Lauderdale (BSCVE 71) was appointed to serve on the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. Lauderdale also is a member of the Ole Miss Engineering School Advisory Board.

Greg Sparks (BA 78, JD 88) of Madison was named director of the Central Legal Staff by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

William D.R. Waff (BM 76) assumed the duties of commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command in 2010. Maj. Gen. Waff also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and a doctorate in medical ethics through a joint venture of the Graduate Theological Foundation and Georgetown University.

’80s

James R. Gordon (BAccy 87) joined Horne, LLP, as partner in charge of the firm’s Memphis, Tenn., office.

Gordon was also named to the 2011 “Power Player” list by Memphis Business Quarterly.

Kenneth Craig Johnston (BBA 88, JD 91) received the announcement that his firm, Kane Russell Coleman & Logan, PC, was named the 2010 Commercial Litigation Firm of the Year, USA by the readers of Finance Monthly.

Summer 2011 51

News alumni

Hu Meena (BSPHE 80), president and CEO of Cellular South, was elected chairman of the board of the Rural Cellular Association for a one-year term.

Van Ray (BBA 80, MBA 85) was named president of the Bank of Yazoo City.

John B. Stroud (BSPHE 82, MEd 86) coached the New Albany girls basketball team to become the 2011 4A State Champions. As the state’s top-ranked squad all season and unbeaten in Mississippi, this is the Lady Bulldogs’ first state title since 2002.

Philip C. Williams (BBA 84, MBA 86) was named chairman of the board of the Bank of Yazoo City.

’90s

William Joel Bell (BE 98) joined Memphis-based Strategic Financial Partners to anchor a new office in Oxford.

Benjamin David Blossom (BA 97, MD 03) of Kosciusko joined Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi, P.A., to practice interventional cardiology.

Kevin Ray Brown (PhD 96), associate professor of English at Lee University, won the Excellence in Advising Award for 2011.

Kimsey O’Neal Cooper (BSPH 94) of Carthage was promoted to pharmacy supervisor at CVS. Brian H. Glahn (BBA 96) was named president and CEO of Atlantix Global Systems.

John P. Henson Jr. (BBA 92), a financial adviser in Jackson with Northwestern Mutual and president of Fred Salvo Associates, earned the Accredited Estate Planner designation from the Estate Planning Council of Mississippi.

Amy H. Herring (BS 95) was promoted to full professor of biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Stephen D. Miles (BBA 99) was awarded one of the life insurance industry’s premier professional credentials, Chartered Financial Consultant, from American College. Miles is a financial adviser for Strategic Financial Partners.

Service Honored

PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE DEVOTES WORK AND FREE TIME TO FIGHTING CANCER

D

r. Ralph Vance (BA 68, MD 72) was honored by the Cancer League of Jackson at the 31st annual Seasons of Hope Gala, held late February at the Mississippi Arts Center in Jackson.

Vance is a professor of medicine, teaching medical oncology at The University of Mississippi School of Medicine, and a member of the board of directors of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

He was honored for his 35 years of service volunteering with the American Cancer Society.

He has served as president of the Mississippi Division and the Mid-South Division, and has been a member of the society’s national board of directors, as well as past national president.

The Seasons of Hope Gala is an annual event held by the Cancer League of Jackson to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Over the past 30 years, the event has raised more than $4.5 million to support public awareness of cancer and research for a cure.

For more information on the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org. For more information on the Cancer League of Jackson, visit www.thecancerleague.net. AR 52 Alumni Review

Vance

John T. Moses (BA 99, JD 03) joined Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, in 2010. He works in the litigation and dispute resolution practice, with a focus on securities litigation and arbitration, as well as general business and contract litigation.

Joseph Reid (BA 92, JD 95), newly appointed partner with Lathrop & Gage, LLP, law firm, was selected as a “Rising Star” in 2010 by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers. Reid also was elected president of the board of directors of the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

Joel Smith (BA 96, JD 99) is the district attorney-elect for Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties.

Roger D. Stephens (BBA 93) was appointed technical fellow at FedEx Corp. in Collierville, Tenn. He works in the Office of the Chief Technical Architect in the Information Technology division and resides in Olive Branch.

William E. Stitt (BSHEC 91) opened Old 27 Grill, a restaurant in Fairhope, Ala.

’00s

Matthew Richard Bailey (BAccy 06, MAccy 07) was promoted to senior accountant in the audit department at BKD, LLP, in the Jackson office.

Jessica Katherine Bruce (BBA 05) accepted a position with the Bank of New York Mellon in Nashville, Tenn. She will serve as vice president of governance, risk and compliance.

Ashley Lauren Hewett (BBA 08, MBA 09) accepted a position with the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society as the new development director, coordinating events to help raise funds for the shelter and organizing volunteers.

C. Allen Justice (MD 02) of Saltillo joined Digestive Health Specialists of Tupelo in 2010.

Robert D. King Jr. (BAccy 08) was promoted to senior accountant at the Koerber Co., PA, in Hattiesburg.

Jeffrey S. Lohmeier (BBA 01) was promoted to first vice president of Bank Plus’ wealth management group.

Micah McCullough (BBA 08) was promoted to vice president at UCR Properties,

LLC, a commercial real estate firm in Jackson.

McDaniel D. Wicker (BA 09) was named Distinguished Graduate upon completing the Air Force intelligence course at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

Logan Edward Newsome (BSCJ 08) made the captain’s promotion list for the summer.

Currently serving in the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, Newsome is deployed in Afghanistan until 2012.

Rosamond Hawkins Posey (BBA 00, JD 03) became a shareholder in the law firm of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A. Posey practices in bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, business/commercial litigation and general litigation.

Andrew Jason Sakalarios (MAccy 06, JD 06) joined Glankler Brown, PLLC, as an associate. Sakalarios concentrates his practice in tax, trust and estate, and general business law.

He also received his Master of Laws in Taxation and certificate in estate planning from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2008 and his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Christian University in 2003.

Richard Derek Wood (BBA 09) accepted a position with Marriott International as an at-your-service supervisor with the Memphis Marriott Downtown.

Richard Woodruff (BAccy 07, MTax 08) was promoted to senior accountant in taxation in the Jackson office of BKD.

’10s

Wes Scott (BAccy 03, MTax 04) joined the Memphis group of Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC.

Monica Ann Daniel (BA 10) accepted a position as a campus recruiting associate with Pricewaterhouse­ Coopers in San Francisco.

Emmett James Kelly (BBA 10) accepted a position as a database coordinator with Grubb & Ellis in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

30117 Blackjack Rd. Sardis, MS. 38666

(662)578-7922

Open 7 days a week!

> Modern Floating Docks > Fuel Dock > Sanitary Pump Out > Convenient Parking > Restroom Facilities > Personal Dock Locker

> Secured Access > Dock Shop > Electric & Water hook-up > Concierge-style Service > Southern Hospitality Operated By:

Summer 2011 53

News alumni

WEDDINGS Carol Anne Marion (BAccy 04) and Warren Neil Miconi (BA 10), Feb. 5, 2011.

Noah Young, son of Janelle Elaine Joe-Murphy (BSPhSc 05, PharmD 07) and Jesse Michael Murphy (BSPhSc 05, PharmD 07), Feb. 2, 2011.

Whitney Erin Thomas and Drew F. McMullan (BBA 02), Feb. 26, 2011.

Arnold Ray, son of Emily Fabianke Kadue (BSES 01, MS 02) and Bradley Arnold Kadue (BAccy 00, MAccy 01), Aug. 2, 2010.

Marianthi Janelle Venetis (BBA 08) and Edward Sheffield McGraw (07), April 16, 2011.

Births Caroline Mae, daughter of Mary Elizabeth Justice Barnes (BAccy 01, MA 06, MBED 06) and David Coleman Barnes Jr., Aug. 21, 2010.

Irvin Leon IV, son of Virginia Stearns Breckenridge (BAccy 05, MTax 06) and Irvin L. Breckenridge III (BAccy 98, MAccy 00), Dec. 31, 2010.

Ann Farley, daughter of Lacy Bobo Carpenter (BBA 98) and Preston Caswell Carpenter Jr. (BAccy 98, MAccy 01), Dec. 10, 2010.

Caroline Fair, daughter of Emily Fair Fisher (BAccy 02) and Andrew Clark Fisher, Aug. 25, 2010.

William Russel, son of Meredith Carlson Fleming (BBA 03) and William Reno Fleming Jr. (BSFCS 03), May 6, 2011.

Howard O’Keefe III, son of Ann Morgan Brendle Graham (BA 04, BAEd 09) and Howard O’Keefe Graham II (BBA 05), April 13, 2011.

Lynnleigh Kate, daughter of Sarah Kathryn Sprinkle Hopkins (BAEd 99, MEd 00) and Brian W. Hopkins (BS 01, PhD 06), March 1, 2011.

Joseph William “Will” II, son of Jessica Smith Hudson (BSN 04) and Jason M. Hudson, Nov. 25, 2010.

Madilyn Ruth, daughter of Sherilyn Temple Huey (BBA 05) and Charles Matthew Huey (BBA 07), April 6, 2011.

Baylor Mark, son of Anna Taylor Lidbom (BA 00) and Paul David Lidbom, Dec. 16, 2010.

Ava Frances, daughter of Abby McGrew Manning (BSFCS 05) and Elisha Nelson Manning (BBA 03), March 21, 2011.

Lydia Lander, daughter of Kimsey Troxler McCormick (BA 05) and Alan Patrick McCormick (BBA 03, MBA 04), Dec. 10, 2010.

Payton Oxford, son of Haley Phelps Montanaro (BSPh 03, PharmD 05) and Pasquale James Montanaro IV (BS 01, MS 04), Nov. 1, 2010.

Zack Beers, son of Suzanne F. Nappier (BAccy 92) and Herbert C. Nappier IV (BAccy 96, MTax 97), March 12, 2011.

Ann Marie, daughter of Sandra Taylor Penick (BBA 97) and William C. Penick IV (BAccy 97, MAccy 98, JD 01), Dec. 21, 2010.

Grayson Cole, son of Nikki Bender Ramsey (BSPh 03, PharmD 05) and James Eugene Ramsey (BSPh 03, PharmD 05), Jan. 19, 2011.

Mary Louis, daughter of Wendy W. Russ (BSJ 95) and W. Michael Russ (BAccy 96, MTax 97, JD 03), April 19, 2011.

Jack William, son of Cara P. Scott (BSPh 99, PharmD 01) and Shea S. Scott (BBA 99, JD 02), June 23, 2010.

Stella Blair, daughter of Misti Stevens Sims (BA 97) and Clint Davison Sims (BBA 93), May 13, 2010.

Simple and reliable has always been a good way to go.

At Regions, we know our customers want a banking experience that’s personal, helpful and secure. And when you bank with us, that’s exactly what you’ll get. We’re dedicated to sound banking practices that are effective in any environment – so you can reach for your goals with more peace of mind. Most of all, we’re dedicated to putting you first. Come see what over 8 million customers across 16 states have already discovered – with Regions, it’s time to expect more.

1.800.regions | regions.com

© 2010 Regions Bank.

MS-SW100509 OleMissAlumniReview.indd 1

54 Alumni Review

5/26/10 4:35 PM

Questions.

Is your wealth working for you?

Here are three questions to ask your Financial Advisor to find out:

Nancy K. Mellon

1. How broad is their experience in financial planning?

2. Do they have the independence to do what’s best for you?

3. Do they have analysts and resources around the globe?

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney 100 N. Tampa St., Suite 3000 Tampa, FL 33602 813-227-2030 • 800-282-0655

Vice President-Wealth Management Financial Advisor

Three simple questions. Three not-so-simple answers.

Unless you work with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Our Financial Advisors have, on average, 16 years of industry experience. They have the independence to recommend investments that are right for you. And only Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisors have direct access to the depth of our global resources.

nancy.k.mellon@morganstanleysmithbarney.com fa.smithbarney.com/nancymellon

©2010 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Job no: 6047 Size: 7 x 4.75” Description: Mellon, Feb 24, 10

MR 04

News alumni

Prophetic Gift

RESEARCH UNCOVERS 100-YEAR-OLD YEARBOOK FROM WHITWORTH FEMALE COLLEGE IN BROOKHAVEN

I

those laws. … She will not marry before minutes, publications, broadsides, clipshe is twenty-five, rarely before thirty, and pings, memorabilia and a scrapbook. AR will be young at fifty.”

Jennifer Ford (PhD 10), head of Archives and Special Collections, says the gift is historically important to the department.

“This is a wonderful addition, especially as we house the papers of Lily Wilkinson Thompson.

We are greatly indebted to the generosity of Mr. Caver,” Ford says.

The Lily Thompson Collection possesses material related to the M i s s i s s i p p i Wo m a n Suffrage Association and the Equity League of Jackson. Thompson held various offices in both organizations. The collection includes corre- Mitch Caver and Jennifer Ford hold Caver’s donation of The spondence, manuscripts, Whitworth Clionian.

Personal Financial Planning for the retirement you want My approach to retirement planning begins with you and your dreams. I can help you develop a customized financial plan focused on the retirement you want.

Doug R. Duke, Jr. CRPC® Associate Financial Advisor

Call 662-533-0935 today.

Doug R. Duke, CRPC® with the practice of Robert S. Mackenzie 501 Heritage Drive Oxford, MS 38655 662-533-0935 Doug.R.Duke@ampf.com

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. 56 Alumni Review

Photo by Robert Jordan

n his research for the Chickasaw Nation in February, Mitch Caver (BBA 84) discovered a 1901 edition of The Whitworth Clionian, which included writings of the students of Whitworth Female College in Brookhaven. One of the included essays was “The Women of 2001,” written by Lily Wilkinson Thompson, on whom the Department of Archives and Special Collections in the J.D. Williams Library has a collection of papers. Caver discovered the essay featured Thompson’s predictions of what women would be like in 100 years.

“This lady must have been a Nostradamus because almost every hopeful prediction she made in 1901 has come to be,” Caver says. “Her prophetic vision of today is worthy of remembrance.”

Thompson notes in her essay, “The woman of 2001 will be the physical superior of the woman of today. She will be taller, stronger, longer lived. She will possess a comprehensive knowledge of the laws of life and health, embracing much that is not known by us, and will live in a conscientious application of

Lucille Pannell, daughter of Mary Sloan Thompson (MEd 08) and Gerald Scott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), April 11, 2011.

John King Cornell (49) of Lakewood, Ohio, April 5, 2011

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Joe Fuerst Sr. (BSHPE 49, MEd 52) of Jackson, Feb. 21, 2011

1930s Ernest Edward Morrison (BA 38) of Spanish Fort, Ala., May 16, 2010

Melissa Hathorn Gordon (BAEd 46) of Philadelphia, March 10, 2011

Winnie Busby Norsworthy (BA 38) of Farmington, N.M., May 2, 2011

Charles Clark Jacobs Jr. (BA 42, LLB 47) of Cleveland, April 8, 2011

Arthur Clifton Rhyne (BSC 37) of Wilmette, Ill., April 28, 2011

Merrel Parker Johnson (44) of Greenwood, April 4, 2011

Grace Patterson Ross (39) of Clarksdale, April 14, 2011

Samuel Thames Lloyd Jr. (LLB 48) of Madison, March 26, 2011

Dan Monroe Russell Jr. (BA 35, LLB 37) of Gulfport, April 16, 2011

Ruth Ray Lutken (BA 43) of Dallas, April 14, 2011

William Thomas Trusty (BSC 33) of Water Valley, March 9, 2011

Troy Watts Mashburn Sr. (LLB 40) of Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 19, 2011

Mary Mellen Wehling (BA 38, MA 40) of Granger, Texas, April 15, 2011

George F. Maynard Jr. (42) of Tupelo, March 26, 2011

1940s Max Whitworth Akins (BBA 49) of Pontotoc, April 9, 2011 Richard Marion Bevis (BSC 43) of Houston, Texas, Feb. 22, 2011 Charles S. Boyd (BBA 48) of Walnut Creek, Calif., March 1, 2011 Charles Edward Clark (LLB 48) of Madison, March 6, 2011 James Andrew Clemmons Jr. (BA 49) of Alhambra, Ill., April 28, 2011

The Association’s Newest Faces Steve Mullen (BA 92) joined the Alumni Association staff in June as publications editor and director of advertising. In addition to serving as advertising director and associate editor for the Ole Miss Alumni Review, Mullen produces the Rebel Insider e-newsletter and other Alumni communications.

Prior to joining the Alumni team, Mullen’s positions included managing editor of The Bakersfield Californian in Bakersfield, Calif., managing editor of The Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, assistant metro editor at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, and news editor and reporter at The Oxford Eagle. He holds various industry awards for writing, editing and page design.

Scott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), assistant director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, welcomed an addition to his family this spring. Lucille Pannell Thompson was born April 11 to Scott and his wife, Mary Sloan Thompson (MEd 08). Thompson joined the Alumni Association staff in 2003 and directs alumni activities for the schools of Pharmacy and Law. AR

Audrey Mendez Covington (BAEd 47) of Converse, Texas, March 14, 2011

Ruth Covington Harris (48) of Marks, Feb. 4, 2011

S. Jay McDuffie (MedCert 47) of Nettleton, April 20, 2011 William F. McGehee (41) of Vicksburg, Feb. 28, 2011 Joseph Power McKell (BS 49, MedCert 50) of Tampa, Fla., April 6, 2011 Ervin Edward Nelson Jr. (BSCvE 49) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 12, 2011 Elaine Hood Randall (BAEd 47) of Indianola, May 14, 2011 H.M. Ray (LLB 49) of Tupelo, May 18, 2011 John David Ross Sr. (BSChE 43, MS 47) of Senatobia, Feb. 18, 2011 Herbert Carl Sanders (BSCvE 41) of Covington, La., May 16, 2011 William Smylie Shipman Jr. (BA 41) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Nov. 22, 2011 Mary Holliday Simonton (46) of Collierville, Tenn., April 21, 2011 Katherine Shipp Steele (BAEd 49) of Jackson, April 28, 2011 Charles Maxwell Sudduth (BSC 40) of Madison, Feb. 19, 2011 Evelyn Pirtle Waldrup (BAEd 40) of Kingston, Tenn., April 21, 2011 M.J. Williams Jr. (MBA 48) of Tallahassee, Fla., April 22, 2011 Gus Harmon Yeager Jr. (49) of Hattiesburg, April 22, 2011 Jimmy Boyd Zachary (BA 48, MS 49, MedCert 51) of Baltimore, Md., Feb. 15, 2011 1950s Harvey Clinton Aden Jr. (BSCvE 50) of Huntsville, Ala., April 7, 2011 George Edward Alexander Jr. (BSCvE 54) of Lake Village, Ark., Feb. 28, 2011 Howard M. Bishop Jr. (BBA 56) of Stevensville, Md., March 19, 2011 Donald Charles Bowen (BBA 50) of New Bern, N.C., March 7, 2011 Benny Houston Bush (BSPh 57) of Converse, Texas, July 18, 2010 Mary Wroten Caldwell (56) of Blytheville, Ark., March 14, 2011 William Oliver Cleland (MedCert 53) of Austin, Texas, Oct. 19, 2010 Don Alden Cranford (BSPh 54) of Seminary, April 2, 2011 Joseph K. Davis (MA 55) of Mount Vernon, Wash., Dec. 22, 2010 Shirley Elkin Davis (BAEd 52) of Gainesville, Fla., March 26, 2011 Ruth Pidgeon Demere (52) of Memphis, Tenn., March 11, 2011 George Edwin Denley (MEd 54) of Coffeeville, March 17, 2011 George Ervin Estes Jr. (LLB 50) of Gulfport, April 23, 2011 Nona Gillis Fortenberry (MA 50) of Ackerman, March 31, 2011 Addie Sue Fuller (BSC 57) of Huntsville, Ala., March 30, 2011 William Quintard Glass Jr. (BBA 57) of Memphis, Tenn., March 10, 2011 Sarah Knight Grantham (BA 51) of Jackson, Feb. 24, 2011 John Marshal Grower (LLB 50) of Madison, March 23, 2011 Summer 2011 57

News alumni

Clarence Lonzo Hardin Jr. (BBA 52) of Pontotoc, May 24, 2011 James Kenneth Harris (BAEd 53, MEd 54) of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Nov. 30, 2010 Clyde Vernon Hill (BBA 50, MBEd 51) of Grenada, March 8, 2011 Jeryl Taylor Johnson (BA 51) of Vicksburg, May 10, 2011 Arthur Francis Keller (BBA 52) of Akron, Ohio, April 29, 2011 Albert M. Kirk (BA 54, BSPh 60) of Belden, May 2, 2011 Rosemary Stephens Landon (BA 56) of Memphis, Tenn., May 14, 2011 Norma Garrison Linton (BAEd 55) of Moss Point, Feb. 24, 2011 Lawrence Farnum Matulich Sr. (MEd 56) of Slidell, La., Feb. 10, 2011 Fred William McEwen Jr. (BSPh 51, MS 59, PhD 69) of Jackson, March 27, 2011 Paul Wilson McMullan (BBA 54) of Hattiesburg, April 10, 2011 George Lamar Mitchell (BBA 58) of Knoxville, Tenn., March 4, 2011 Coy Lee Nicholson (MA 59) of Modesto, Calif., March 19, 2011 John Miller Parker (MD 57) of D’Iberville, April 2, 2011

More Than a Smudge QR Codes Offer quick access to Smart-Phone Users

A

lthough it looks quite different from a typical bar code, Quick Response codes, or QR codes, work much the same way. QR codes were created 15 years ago but are catching on with smart-phone users, who use them to quickly access or download information. The codes can be read by free applications available on many phones. Scan the code here to visit the Ole Miss Alumni Association website, and look for more codes in future issues and other Alumni communications. AR

Richard Albert Perkins (BBA 53) of Friendswood, Texas, Feb. 25, 2011 David Pointer Jr. (BBA 54, MBA 57) of New Orleans, March 29, 2011

Elizabeth Kramer Sullivan (BSC 51) of Memphis, Tenn., March 31, 2011

Dorothy Malone Richardson (BA 52) of Abbeville, Feb. 26, 2011

Nancy Sowell Taylor (BAEd 52) of Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 19, 2010

W.B. Boots Rives (MS 51) of Jackson, April 19, 2011

William R. Trott (BA 52, MA 53) of Oxford, April 25, 2011

Margaret Catching Robinson (BA 50) of Jackson, Feb. 7, 2011

John Van Den Bosch Jr. (LLB 55) of Jackson, Tenn., May 10, 2011

Bonnie Grove Rodriguez (57) of Davenport, Iowa, April 15, 2011 John Hillman Rogers (BA 50, LLB 52) of Brandon, April 2, 2011

1960s Chester Braswell Adams (BA 66) of Charlotte, N.C., March 12, 2011

Emmitt Purnell Rose (59) of Kosciusko, Feb. 24, 2011

Carolyn Hawks Ballard (BAEd 62) of Hernando, March 4, 2011

Gathel Oliver Runnels (MedCert 51) of Hattiesburg, Feb. 22, 2011

Leon Jackson Beck Jr. (BA 61) of Holly Springs, March 2, 2011

Wilbur Woodson Russell Jr. (BSME 57) of Oxford, May 12, 2011

Dorothy Phillips Bradley (EdD 68) of Delhi, La., March 28, 2011

L. T. Senter Jr. (LLB 59) of Gulfport, May 18, 2011

Charles M. Bright (MA 65) of Guntersville, Ala., March 28, 2011

Ross L. Shipman (BA 50) of San Antonio, Feb. 27, 2011

John Frank Chappell (BSPh 64) of Dyersburg, Tenn., March 23, 2011

Howard Sterling Smithson Jr. (BA 50) of Goodman, April 23, 2011

Clois Cheatham (MCS 64) of Preston, March 25, 2011

Vera Wagner Stevens (59) of Mount Olive, May 17, 2011

Charles P. Chisholm (BSHPE 65) of Pontotoc, May 5, 2011

58 Alumni Review

FroMThe GuysWho BroughtYou City Groceryand Bouré

Inspiration for Others

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING ALUMNI hree University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy alumni were honored for their outstanding careers and contributions during Pharmacy Alumni Weekend in March. Phil Ayers (BSPh 84, PharmD 96) of Ridgeland and David Hudson (BSPh 93) of Kosciusko each received a 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Bob Broadus (BSPh 74) of Madisonville, La., received the Dean’s Service Award.

A clinical pharmacy specialist, Ayers is chief of clinical pharmacy services with Baptist Health Systems in Jackson and a clinical associate professor at the pharmacy school. He is board-certified in nutrition support pharmacy.

Hudson owns Sullivan’s Discount Drugs in Kosciusko and co-owns Howell and Heggie Drug Co. in Durant.

“These two remarkable professionals join a list of professionally accomplished alumni who have advanced the School of Pharmacy, our profession and their communities in countless ways,” says pharmacy dean Barbara G. Wells. “They inspire us and our students, and their example encourages us to do more and to do it better.”

Broadus is director of state government affairs with Allergan. He has served as president of the Mississippi Pharmacists Association and the pharmacy school’s Dean’s Advisory Committee.

Recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award are selected based on professional accomplishments and service to the School of Pharmacy, students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The Dean’s Service Award is given to individuals who have exhibited extraordinary service and dedication to the School of Pharmacy. AR From top: David Hudson, Phil Ayers and Bob Broadus with Barbara G. Wells.

Photos by Pablo Corona

T

IN-House smoked bacon and sausage Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

719 N.Lamar Oxford,MS (662) 236-2666 bigbadbreakfast.com

and our newest restaurant

The perfect place for cocktails, conversation and food.

Oxford’s only raw bar featuring ApalachIacola Bay oysters

Monday-Saturday 4 P.M. - Midnight

721 N. Lamar Oxford, MS (662) 236-6363 www.snackbaroxford.com Summer 2011 59

News alumni

James Kenan Clinton (BBA 65) of New Albany, April 10, 2011

Richard Alvey Miller (MA 61) of Anchorage, Alaska, May 11, 2011

Barbara Hardin Crespino (BAEd 61) of Jackson, May 21, 2011

Virginia Keesee Milwee (BA 61) of Little Rock, Ark., April 25, 2011

Hugh Kimbriel Curry Jr. (BA 64, MA 65) of Bruce, May 7, 2011

David Paul Myers (BAEd 69) of Fort Myers, Fla., March 23, 2011

Sarah Hartzwell Darby (BAEd 61) of Courtland, April 1, 2011

Bob King Parks (BSPh 65) of Clinton, March 8, 2011

Martha Gamble Dulin (BAEd 60) of Byhalia, May 18, 2011

Phyllis Acree Pettey (BBA 65) of Meridian, Oct. 24, 2010

George Alexander Everett Jr. (BA 64) of Oxford, May 14, 2011

Thomas Wendell Prewitt Sr. (LLB 60) of Madison, April 15, 2011

Louis E. Farris Jr. (BSEE 67) of Hot Springs National Park, Ark., Jan. 30, 2011

James Victor Rackley (BA 65) of Pontotoc, April 13, 2011

George Henry Garbark (BA 61) of Berkeley Springs, W. Va., March 5, 2011

Jimmy P. Roberts (BA 63) of North Las Vegas, Nev., March 2, 2011

Carlton Homer Green (MEd 66) of Eureka, Mo., April 23, 2011

Judith Cole Roberts (MEd 67) of Lakeland, Fla., May 11, 2010

Arnold Fredrick Gwin (LLB 63) of Greenwood, April 11, 2011

Paul A. Roell (MD 61) of Madison, May 7, 2011

Carolyn Slade Hill (BAEd 68) of Alpharetta, Ga., May 1, 2011

Alvin Curtis Smith (BBA 61) of Brookhaven, Feb. 19, 2011

John Franklin Holmes (BBA 66) of Raleigh, N.C., April 22, 2011

Frederick Loring Smith (BSGE 61) of Vicksburg, April 3, 2011

Patricia McRaney Hootsell (BFA 61) of Natchez, March 23, 2011

Joseph Joshua Stevens Jr. (JD 66) of West Point, March 14, 2011

Thomas Homer Horton (MD 67) of Verona, March 4, 2011

Barbara Robinson Tillman (BA 63) of Hernando, April 25, 2011

Donald Ray Jobe (BSHPE 61) of Corinth, Feb. 23, 2011

John Herndon Townsend (BS 68) of Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 23, 2011

Robert Eugene Johnson (MCS 63, PhD 72) of Waldron, Ark., May 29, 2010

Claire Blount Underwood (BSPh 65) of Birmingham, Ala., March 8, 2011

Anne Finger Kelly (BAEd 63) of Cincinnati, May 9, 2011

Nell McNeill Werkheiser (BSN 65) of Madison, March 6, 2011

Alfred Thaddeus Leggett III (LLB 61) of Magnolia, April 21, 2011

Rosemary Quin Williams (MEd 60) of Summit, Aug. 2, 2010

Myrtle Frances Livingston (BBA 69) of Batesville, April 8, 2011

Thomas Earl Willingham (BSPh 63) of Marianna, Ark., April 19, 2011

Clarence Lee Lott Jr. (BBA 62) of Jackson, May 24, 2011

Ann Stallings Hutchinson Wilson (MCS 69) of Saraland, Ala., May 10, 2011

George Sidney McIngvale (BBA 64, JD 67) of Coldwater, April 3, 2011

Gwin Dale Winter (63) of Vardaman, May 6, 2011

HERE’S YOUR LICENSE TO BRAG! Now you can sport the official University of Mississippi license plate!

For an additional $50 a year — $32.50 of which returns to Ole Miss for educational enhancement — you can purchase this “license to brag” about your alma mater. When it’s time to renew your license plate, simply tell your local tax collector you want the Ole Miss affinity license plate. It’s an easy way to help your University.

This particular tag is available to Mississippi drivers only. Some other states, however, offer an Ole Miss affinity license plate. Check with your local tax collector for availability.

60 Alumni Review

The Highlands A PRIVATE

And the Em Goes to …

KITCO NEWS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RECEIVES SILVER EM JOURNALISM AWARD erry Wooten (65), editor-in-chief of Kitco News in Montreal, was honored this spring as the 52nd recipient of the Samuel Talbert Silver Em Award. The Silver Em is The University of Mississippi’s highest journalism award.

Wooten joined Kitco News as editor in 2009.

A division of Kitco Metals, the unit develops global news coverage in metals, energy and other commodities for the company website and other global clients. From 2004 to 2009, Wooten was Wooten (right) with Provost managing editor of the Americas for the commodi- Morris Stocks ties service at Dow Jones Newswires.

“Terry Wooten is an outstanding graduate who has kept up with changes in the media and been a leader in adapting to new technologies while adhering to the core principles of good journalism,” says Charles Mitchell (JD 86), assistant dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media and chair of the Silver Em selection committee. The Silver Em has been awarded annually since 1958. AR

Photo by Kevin Bain

T

LAKE COMMUNITY

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? WHERE DO YOU FISH? 75 Acre, Crystal Clear Lake Professionally Managed for Trophy Bass and Bream.

Only five minutes from the Oxford Square, on Highway 6 East.

For more information or to schedule a pontoon tour, call or visit our website today: 662-816-8187 or www.highlandsoxford.com ONLY AT

The Highlands

BACK TO BACK CASTS!

11.2 LBS. & 11.7 LBS.

Summer 2011 61

News alumni

1970s Lewis Jones Barksdale III (BBA 75) of Marks, March 19, 2011

William Chappell Pinkston (BA 70, MD 74) of Ridgeland, March 5, 2011

Billy H. Barnett (73) of Quitman, Texas, April 2, 2011

Nathaniel L. Rash (BPA 76) of Sunflower, May 23, 2010

Warner Robert Berry Jr. (BSChE 73) of Pass Christian, April 13, 2011 Leda Graves Bloesch (MLS 74) of Batesville, Ark., Feb. 14, 2011 Sara Dillingham Blough (MEd 74) of Natchez, March 31, 2011 Cathy Collins Bowles (BSPh 79) of Ridgeland, Feb. 28, 2011 Mitchell Dale Colburn (JD 79) of Tupelo, March 8, 2011 Bentley Baker Crawford (BS 78) of Oxford, March 25, 2011 Michael Dickson (BBA 71) of Ocean Springs, March 16, 2011 Mary Thomas Fisher (BAEd 74, MLS 76) of Iuka, March 3, 2011 Ira Mae Ford (MEd 76) of Holly Springs, Feb. 16, 2011 Henry Frank Howell II (MD 71) of Brandon, Feb. 27, 2011 Robert N. Jones (BBA 71) of Oxford, April 30, 2011 George Thomas Kelly Jr. (JD 74) of Greenville, April 16, 2011 Karen Elaine King (BSHPE 74) of Nettleton, April 24, 2011 Robert Yuangfong Lee (MS 78) of Tupelo, Feb. 4, 2011 Sherry Stone Martin (BFA 74) of Memphis, Tenn., May 8, 2011 G. Jenkins Maynard (BBA 74) of Oxford, March 3, 2011 John Walker Montgomery (BBA 77) of Memphis, Tenn., May 8, 2011 Carl Burnes Parrish (BAEd 74, MEd 77) of Pontotoc, March 5, 2011

Thomas Mathews Plyler (73) of Olive Branch, May 21, 2011 Bruce Alfred Richards (BA 78, MD 82) of Gainesville, Fla., April 23, 2011 Biswanath Shaw (EdD 71) of Clinton, April 20, 2011 Gregg Lyndsay Spyridon (JD 77) of Mandeville, La., March 8, 2011 Donald Scott Stone (MEd 79) of Ozark, Ark., March 23, 2011 Cecelia Aron Tackitt (BAEd 76, MEd 08) of Pontotoc, Feb. 23, 2011 Billy Rudolph Thomas Jr. (BS 74) of Muscle Shoals, Ala., May 12, 2011 Carolyn Hayes Trayal (BA 76) of Germantown, Tenn., March 17, 2011 1980s George T. Baggett (BSN 85) of Monroe, La., March 20, 2011 Gustave B. Baldwin IV (BBA 88) of Mandeville, La., Feb. 27, 2011 Robert M. Barnett (BS 83) of Albertville, Ala., April 6, 2011 James Gregory Davidson (BBA 83, MBA 85) of Corinth, March 31, 2011 E.L. Easterwood (BBA 83) of Houston, Texas, Jan. 21, 2011 Baird Roscoe Faulkner (DMD 89) of Old Hickory, Tenn., May 21, 2011 Bryan Frank McCraw (MD 80) of Columbia, May 24, 2011 Thomas Wesley Park (BBA 83) of Corinth, April 15, 2011 Monnie Carroll Singletary (BAEd 82) of Brandon, March 18, 2011 Gary Neil Sneed (BSME 80) of Thaxton, May 5, 2011

Thank you to the 2011 Ole Miss Luncheon Series Sponsors Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

Horne, LLP

C.M. Treppendahl & Sons, Inc.

John O’Neil Johnson Motor Company

Sally and Tommy Cribbs

Leila and Sam Lane

Don S. Davis, MDPA

Susan and Tad Mays

Eric Herrington Periodontal Clinic

Meridian Ole Miss Club

Dorothy and John Glass

Silas Simmons, LLP

Hardy P. Graham

Stephens & Hobdy Insurance

Hammack, Barry, Thaggard & May, LLP

Truly Smith & Latham, PLLC

Hennessy Automobile Companies

Wilson Hyundai

Without the continued support from these businesses and alumni, the luncheon series would not be a success. Please help the Ole Miss Alumni Association in telling them thanks.

62 Alumni Review

Serving Oxford, Lafayette County and the University of Mississippi

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010

INSIDE

142ND Year, No. 169 — 50 CENTS

Run-off solution sought E-Edition booming Erosion problems wash away county officials’ patience

BY ALYSSA SCHNUGG Staff Writer

The Lafayette County Planning Commission has ordered the owners of Williams Equipment Co. to

produce a plan of action on how it intends to solve erosion issues once and for all at its construction site located across from the Cumberland subdivision.

“I need a schedule of how this is going to progress with a time frame I can put my hands on by June 1,” County Engineer Larry Britt said at Monday’s Planning Commission meeting.

Williams Equipment started con-

struction in the summer of 2008 on its new home for the commercial business on 4.3 acres of land located on Highway 6 West. Since construction began, neighbors have complained the runoff from the graded property has caused silt to run onto their lawns, destroying grass and bushes, as well as cause local flooding.

A year ago, a cease and desist order was issued until erosion problems were handled.

“We have had some problems with erosion out there that we’ve been dealing with for a year and a half,” Britt said.

When 3 inches of rain fell in Oxford within 30 minutes last week, the issue resurfaced when silt and water caused erosion on some of the adjoining landowners’ property.

See SOLUTION on Page 2

Oxford schools set budget hearing

GRADUATION CELEBRATION

POMERANZ HONORED Ole Miss left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz was named as the recipient of the 2010 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy given to the top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi. For more details on the honor, see Page 6.

BUSINESSMAN ARRESTED A local businessman who has been on the lam from the law was arrested last week. Get the details on Page 2.

EDUCATION NEWS Turn to Pages 6 and 7 of Education to find out what’s happening with local teachers and students.

UM GRADS

ONLINE

The Oxfo rd Eagle E-Edition helps you keep up w ith your home awa y from ho me Complete Coverage o Ofocuses le Monisother BP probe companies’ workf s Sp orts BRUCE NEWMAN

Many of the students graduating from the University of Mississippi earlier this month were from the Oxford area.

Turn to Pages 5 and 10 to read the names of the locals who picked up a diploma.

INDEX

Classifieds 12-13 Local 2-3 Comics 14 Obituaries 2 Editorial 4 Sports 8-9 Education 6-7 Weather 2

Brittney Deonna Jeffries (from left), Wesley Lane Carroll and Kimberly Annette Wilson throw their caps at the Scott Center’s graduation ceremony on Monday afternoon. Also graduating were Laura Leeann Brower and Dillon Lee Hopkins.

Report: Oversite workers accepted gifts from oil companies

Number 1 Daily in Mississ ippi (Circula

BY GREG BLUESTEIN AND

MATTHEW DALY

Associated Press Writers

Guinness finds Minn. man is tallest in US ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Guinness World Records has recognized a Minnesota man as the tallest man in the United States.

The Guinness World Record Association measured Rochester’s Igor Vovkovinskiy (voh-kov-IN’-ski) at 7 feet, 8.33 inches tall during NBC’s “The Dr. Oz Show” on Monday. He edged out Norfolk, Va., sheriff’s deputy George Bell by a third of an inch.

The 27-year- old Vovkovinskiy is originally from Ukraine but moved to Minnesota with his mother when he was 7 years old for treatment at the Mayo Clinic for a pituitary disease that spurred his rapid growth.

Vovkovinskiy now attends the Minnesota School of Business and is pursuing a degree in paralegal studies.

Guinness says the world’s urkey’s Sultan tallest man is Turkey’s Kosen. He measures in at 8 feet, 1 inch tall.

also owned the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

The other three areas of focus for the investigation involve the cementing and casing of the wellhead, which was Halliburton Inc.’s responsibility.

COVINGTON, La. — Oil giant BP said its internal investigation of Assessing decisions the unchecked Gulf oil spill In BP’s release, Chief is largely focused on work Executive Tony Hayward done by other companies as stopped short of assigning a new government report responsibility. President today showed workers at the Barack Obama has blasted federal agency that oversees executives from the compaoffshore drilling accepted nies for blaming each other sports tickets, lunches and during Congressional hearother gifts from oil and gas ings this month. companies.

“A number of companies BP PLC said in a release are involved, including BP, that an initial investigation and it is simfound mulply too early tiple control “...it is simply — and not mechanisms too early — and not up to us — should have to say who p r e v e n t e d up to us — to say who is at fault,” the accident is at fault.”

Hayward that started said. with an oil — TONY HAYWARD G e n e rig explosion Chief Executive, BP Beck, a April 20 off petroleum the coast engineer of Louisiana that killed 11 at Texas A&M at College workers.

Station who worked in the Seeking the cause drilling industry for two BP, the largest oil and decades, said the list of gas producer in the Gulf, Gulf problems BP is investigating listed seven areas of focus appears exhaustive. But he as it hunts for a cause. Four said the company also needs involve the blowout pre- to look at decisions made by venter, venter a massive piece of people on the rig. machinery that sits atop the “That needs to be inveswellhead and should have tigated: Why did they do acted as a safety device what they did?” Beck said. of last resort but did not.

“They need to ask themThat was manufactured selves that very very, very serious

by Cameron International question: ‘Why did we make Corp. and owned by these choices?”’

Transocean LTD, which

PATRICK SEMANSKY/AP

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (center) speaks at a press conference in Galliano, La., Monday. Standing behind Salazar are Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Meanwhile, a new Interior Department report released today found that staffers in the Louisiana office of the Minerals Management Service violated a number of federal regulations and agency ethics rules, including accepting gifts from oil and gas companies and using government computers to view pornography. pornography The report by the department’s acting inspector general follows up on a 2007 investigation that revealed what then-Inspector General Earl Devaney called a “culture of ethical failure” and conflicts of interest at the minerals agency. agency

Staff Writer

Worst-case scenario

tion Belo w 9,000)

Subscribe to the E-Edit io n Only $5 p er month

BY MELANIE ADDINGTON

Members of the Oxford School Board set a public hearing for June 14 at 5 p.m. for the public to discuss the district’s 2010-2011 budget.

Despite continued budget cuts from the state during the past several months, the Oxford School District has put together a budget for the coming school year that ensures no jobs will be cut.

The school board has a proposed $29 million budget that, while not yet finalized, won’t cut jobs and won’t raise the tax rate.

On Monday, Gov. Haley Barbour signed the FY 2011 education funding bills, House Bill 1622 and House Bill 1059, Mississippi Department of Education Superintendent Tom Burnham said.

“HB 1622 is the primary funding bill that we recommend (districts) develop the FY 2011 budget around,” Burnham said. “HB 1059 is contingent upon the passage of federal legislation that would extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage provided for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.”

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the latest report “deeply disturbing” but stressed that it only covered a period from 2000 to 2008. He said he wants the investigation expanded to include agency actions since he took office in January 2009.

BP filed its site-specific exploration plan for the Deepwater Horizon in February 2009.

The Obama administration has come under increasing pressure as frustrations build, oil washes up in delicate Louisiana wetlands, and efforts to cap the well prove unsuccessful.

City school officials are basing their budget on the funding equation that provides Oxford the lowest amount of state funds.

The board will not request any increase to the city’s tax rate, but the district still expects to experience an increase in revenue collections due to the additional taxes it projects to increase from new homes.

Revenue is expected to be up about $420,000 from 2009-2010 for a total of $29.5 million. Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding is slightly down to $12.54 million from $12.56 million the year before. Ad valorem tax collections will go up from $14.1 million to $15.4 million. With athletic admission tickets expected to be down about $10,000, the district may have to dip deeper into its reserve funds.

After the hearing, the board will vote on the budget.

In other business, the school board: — Approved salary scales for employees, teacher assistants and administrators.

— Approved a resolution in memory of the late Patricia P Aschoff SPED teacher at Aschoff, Oxford Learning Center.

Marcia Cole accepted the plaque and resolution on family behalf of the family.

—melanie@oxfordeagle.com —melanie@oxfor

www.oxfordeagle.com 662-234-2222 www.oxfordeagle.com

Ole Miss Alumni Association

Rebel Network Meet alumni in your area    Catch up with old friends    Share photos    Network with alumni around the world

better than a hotel...

Why stay in a hotel when you can have the space & comfort of a fully furnished condo or house?

Weekend or Weekly

Rentals Available

Hightower

Property Management, LLC

http://rebelnetwork. olemissalumni.com

www.OxfordTownHouse.com or call Kay at 662-801-6692

News alumni

Rebels Abroad

OLE MISS ALUMNI TRAVEL THE WORLD

O

le Miss alumni and friends enjoyed the Alumni Associationsponsored Cradle of History cruise on the Mediterranean in May with stops in Greece, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and Turkey. For more information on upcoming trips, see the Travel Planner on page 46 of this issue, and visit the Alumni Association website at www.olemissalumni. com for a complete listing.

Danny Earl Turman (BBA 82) of Olive Branch, March 30, 2011

Hortense Gholson of Columbus, April 22, 2011

Janet Hamilton Wood (BBA 80) of Biloxi, Feb. 21, 2011

Carl Jack Gordon of Okolona, May 7, 2011

1990s Benjamin Daniel Arnold (PhD 91) of Pineville, La., March 19, 2011 Normand Raymond Chouinard Jr. (BA 97, DMD 01) of Gulfport, Feb. 26, 2011

Nathan Lee Gordon of Abbeville, April 28, 2011 William Kennedy Griffin Jr. of Gloster, May 25, 2011 Renee Ryan Hathorn of Prentiss, April 3, 2011

John Clinton Cummings (PhD 91) of Lakeland, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2011

Rosemary Shannon Kerr of Oxford, May 11, 2011

David Bronson Kent (BSPh 96) of Brandon, March 10, 2011

A.J. Kilpatrick of Grenada, May 20, 2011

Michael W. Kolesar (BBA 91, MBA 92) of Canton, Ga., May 12, 2011

Grover Neal Lipe Jr. of Germantown, Tenn., April 2, 2011

Valerie Childers Meredith (BAccy 95, MTax 96) of Myrtle, April 30, 2011

Tony Meeks of Bethel Springs, Tenn., March 13, 2011

Chandler Brooks Mohamed (BS 94) of Belzoni, May 10, 2011

Kenneth Boyd Mullin Sr. of Oxford, April 28, 2011

David Daniel Quon (BS 94) of Canton, April 10, 2011

Ronald Ray Partridge of Oxford, April 18, 2011

Richard Raleigh White (BA 98) of Huntington Beach, Calif., April 15, 2011

Ann Williams Peacock of Clarksdale, April 1, 2011

2000s Joanne Lee Strayham (BSCJ 04) of Ocean Springs, April 26, 2011 2010s Richard Steven Brueckner (11) of Booneville, April 27, 2011 Faculty and Friends Malcolm Wesley Arnold II of Batesville, May 6, 2011 Opal James Bowles of Oxford, Feb. 26, 2011 Karl Brenkert Jr. of Sun City West, Ariz., May 19, 2011 Lorraine Mahaffey Caldwell of Clinton, March 16, 2011 Bryan D. Cowan of Ridgeland, May 8, 2011 Huntley Gordon Davidson of Olive Branch, Dec. 18, 2010 John Davidson Jr. of Corinth, April 26, 2011 64 Alumni Review

Patricia Hapes Roberts of Gulfport, April 21, 2011 G.L. Tatum of Oxford, March 17, 2011 Ken Taylor of Cordova, Tenn., May 20, 2011 Maurine Christman Twiss of Jackson, May 8, 2011

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@alumni.olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 386771848. Class notes also may be submitted through the association’s website at www.olemissalumni.com. The association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

The University of Mississippi Alumni Association P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848 (662) 915-7375 www.olemissalumni.com

A Legacy of Leadership... since 1933.

insurance wealth management retirement employee benefits

Left to Right: *Scott A. Trammell, CFP® V.P. Training & Development Ole Miss ‘01 *Eric McCully, MBA Financial Advisor Ole Miss ‘04 *Eric S. Bubrig, JD, MBA Chief Operating Officer Ole Miss ‘97, ‘00, ‘01 *Walter Grant, ChFC Financial Advisor Ole Miss ‘97 *Frederick C. Schaeffer Jr. Financial Advisor Ole Miss ‘92 *Hampton A. Holcomb Executive Vice-President Ole Miss parent *Webb Sabin, MBA Financial Advisor Ole Miss ‘05 *W. Joel Bell, CFP® Financial Advisor Ole Miss ‘98

memphis - nashville -knoxville - little rock jackson - oxford - birmingham - montgomery www.strategicfinancialpartners.com - 800.968.6792

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through registered representatives and financial advisors, respectively, of New England Securities Corp.,(NES)(member FINRA/SIPC), a registered investment advisor. Joel Bell , Eric Bubrig, Scott Trammell, Walter Grant, Fred Schaeffer, Hampton Holcomb, Eric McCully, and Webb Sabin are registered representatives of NES. Branch Office: 795 Ridge Lake Blvd. Memphis, TN 38120. Phone:901.767.5951. Strategic Financial Partners is not affiliated with NES. L0611185344[exp1011][MS]