Ole Miss Alumni Review - Fall 2013 by Ole Miss Alumni Association

Ole Miss Alumni Review

Fall 2013

2013

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ds r a w A guished Alumni

Fall 2013 Vol. 62 No. 4

A ‘Luckyday’ for many at Ole Miss means scholarships, opportunities Alumnus launches successful business from two-minute elevator ride

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Fall 2013

Vol. 62 No. 4

features

20 Chance of a Lifetime A ‘Luckyday’ for many at Ole Miss means scholarships, opportunities By Bill Dabney

34 Titan of the Industry Alumnus forges path in pro football By Brian Hudgins

38 Vino Venture Alumnus launches business from short elevator ride By Annie Rhoades

departments 7 From the Circle

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

16 Calendar 42 sports

‘Forward Together’ takes next step Former linebacker named SEC Legend

46 arts and culture 48 Rebel Traveler

28 Excellence Recognized on the cover

Alumni Association honors top alumni for achievement, service By Jim Urbanek

52 alumni news

On the cover: The Ole Miss Alumni Association awarded seven distinguished alumni with its highest annual honors as part of Homecoming 2013.

Design by Amy Howell

Ole Miss Alumni Review P ublisher TimothyL.L.Walsh Walsh(83, (83) Timothy 91) Editor Jim Urbanek II (97) jim@olemiss.edu jim@olemiss.edu A ssociate A ssociate E Editor ditor and and A A dvertising dvertising D Director irector Tom Speed (91) Annie Rhoades (07, 09) tom@olemiss.edu annie@olemiss.edu Editor C ontributing C ontributing E ditor Benita Benita Whitehorn Whitehorn Editorial A ssistant A rt Director Brandon Irvine Amy Howell Designer C ontributors Eric Summers Andrew Mark Abernathy (08,10), Kevin Bain (98), Misty Cowherd, Bill Dabney (89), C orrespondents Mitchell Diggs(98), (82),Tobie Jay Ferchaud, Tina Kevin Bain Baker (96), Rebecca Lauck ClearyDonn (97), Jones, Lexi Combs, Hahn, Brian Hudgins, Robert Mitchell Ferchaud, Jordan (83), Diggs Nathan(82), Latil,Jay Sharon Morris, Michael Harrelson, Robert Jordan (83), Edwin Smith (80,93), Matt Westerfield Nathan Latil, Jack Mazurak, ODeborah fficers of the University Purnell (MA 02) of M ississippi A lumni A ssociation Edwin Smith (80), Matt Westerfield Jimmy Brown (70) Officers of The University president of M ississippi A lumni A ssociation Trentice Imbler (78) Bill May (79), president-elect president Eddie Maloney (72) Richard Noble (68), vice president president-elect Larry BryanCooper (74), (94) Kimsey O’Neal presidentmember athleticsvice committee Mike Chip Glenn Crunk(77), (87) athletics committee member athletics committee member Sam Lane (76), A lumni A ffairs Staffmember , O xford athletics committee Timothy L. Walsh (83, 91), A ffairs Sdirector taff, O xford A lumniexecutive Timothly L. Walsh (83), executive director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Joseph Baumbaugh, analyst III Allie Bush (12), systems Web developer Clay Cavett (86), associate director Martha systemsprogrammer programmer Martha Dollarhide, Dollarhide, systems II II Sheila Dossett (75), senior associate director Sheila Dossett associate Julian Gilner (04,(75), 07),senior assistant director director Port Kaigler (06), alumni assistant Julian Gilner director and senior(04), club assistant coordinator Sarah Kathryn Hickman (03), Annette KellyM. (79), accountant assistant director for marketing Steve Mullen (92), assistant director Port Kaigler (06), alumni assistant and for marketing club coordinator Annie Rhoades (07, 09), publications editor Annette Kelly (79), accountant Anna Smith (05), alumni assistant Tom Speed (91), publications editor and club coordinator Scott Thompson (97), assistant director Scott Thompson (97, 08), assistant director Jim Urbanek (97), assistant director for Jim Urbanek (97), assistant director communications for communications Rusty Woods (01), assistant director for Rusty Woods (01), associate information services director information services James for Butler (53), director emeritus (60, 66),director WarnerWarner Alford Alford (60), executive executiveemeritus director emeritus The The Ole Ole Miss Miss Alumni Alumni Review Review (USPS (USPS 561-870) 561-870) is published published quarterly quarterly by by The the University is 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 113256

2 Alumni Review

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Chancellor Dear Alumni and Friends,

Welcoming a new class of eager students is an annual rite on college campuses, one that has been going on here at the University of Mississippi for more than 160 years. This yearly influx of new minds allows us to reflect on the recent progress we’ve made and celebrate the promise of the next class of Ole Miss alumni. As classes resume this fall, we have even more than usual to cheer about. It begins with our record enrollment of 22,286 students, the largest of any university in state history and up more than 3 percent from last fall. That figure includes 3,579 new freshmen, again, a state record. But beyond those sheer numbers, we are excited about the quality of our incoming students. This year’s freshman class posted an average ACT score of 24.1, a university record, evidence that the brightest students like what they see in our faculty, academic programs and physical resources. Many of these new students will be majoring in engineering or journalism, two of the fastest growing disciplines on campus. Engineering grew by 21.2 percent, from 1,059 students last fall to 1,284 this year. Even more impressive is the school’s growth over the past decade, up 132 percent from 2003, when only 553 students were enrolled. Also, the school’s program in geology and geological engineering has become the nation’s largest accredited program in the field, with 264 students. Over at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, enrollment jumped 25 percent this fall, going from 708 students in 2012 to 885 this year. Much of that growth is attributed to the popularity of the school’s major in integrated marketing communications, launched in 2011. Ole Miss is one of the few schools to offer this cutting-edge program, and students have quickly recognized the quality and value it offers. Another school moving up – both in terms of students and prestige – is the university’s Patterson School of Accountancy. After being ranked in the top 25 by Public Accounting Report for several years, the school’s undergraduate program leaped to No. 4 in the nation this year, highest in the SEC and ahead of many perennial accounting powers. The school’s master’s and doctoral programs came in at No. 5 and No. 8, respectively, in their categories. Another exciting development this fall is that six incoming freshmen have the distinction of being the first Ole Miss students to benefit from one of the nation’s top scholarship programs, thanks to our new partnership with the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. Valued between $98,000 and $138,000 each, the Penelope W. and E. Roe Stamps IV Leadership Scholarships are the most comprehensive, full scholarship packages in Mississippi. These six inaugural recipients are among the most gifted students in the country, and I have no doubt they will have a profound impact on our community as students. I look forward to following each of them through their educational careers and beyond. And over in the School of Education, we admitted our first 15 students into the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program, an all-inclusive scholarship program designed to attract the brightest students to the fields of English and mathematics education with the goal of helping school districts meet the new Common Core State Standards. I hope you’ll join us in celebrating our successes and welcoming all our students to the Ole Miss family. Sincerely,

Daniel W. Jones (MD 75) Chancellor

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President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Please accept my sincere appreciation for allowing me to serve as your Alumni Association president. The Ole Miss Alumni Association is one of the best in the country, and I am excited to work with Tim Walsh and the Alumni staff. We have about 25,000 active members of the total 120,000 living alums. I think it is important for everyone to know that you don’t have to be an alum to be a member of the Alumni Association. Just think of the vast number of Ole Miss friends and supporters who do not hold a degree from Ole Miss but dearly love our university. We need them to join us as members. Chancellor Dan Jones is an outstanding leader, and I am excited to work with him and his administration. Under his leadership, Mississippi’s flagship university has accomplished the following: • The Patterson School of Accountancy undergraduate program was recently ranked fourth in the nation, first in the SEC. • Total enrollment is now 22,286, representing all 50 states and 93 countries. Sixty-four percent of the students are Mississippians, and 24 percent are minorities. • This year, the university welcomes 3,579 freshmen … the largest single freshman class in state history, up 6.1 percent from the previous year. • Another record occurred in student retention, with 86 percent of last year’s freshmen returning to campus this fall. • The schools of Journalism and New Media and Engineering both achieved growth rates of more than 20 percent. Mississippi’s first School of Engineering was at Ole Miss. • Our athletics programs continue to achieve great successes, including selling the most football bowl game tickets of any school in the country when Ole Miss defeated Pittsburgh 38-17. In the upcoming year, I see even greater accomplishments occurring, both in academics and athletics. Thanks to Mary Sharp Rayner and Rose Jackson Flenorl for inviting me to be on the Ole Miss Alumni board during their tenures. The Ole Miss family is extremely grateful to Larry Bryan for his strong leadership as Alumni Association president. He and his wife, Susan, represented Ole Miss with passion and enthusiasm. I am not only proud of their service but also grateful for their friendship. My wife, Susan, and I are so excited to lead the Alumni Association. We want to carry on the great tradition set by the previous presidents. I encourage you to join us in serving our great university. It is great to be an Ole Miss Rebel! Forever Ole Miss,

Jimmy Brown (BBA 70)

4 Alumni Review

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ircle C

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

Centennial Celebration

NUTRITION AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT MARKS 100 YEARS WITH COOKBOOK

illed with recipes and reminiscences from alumni, faculty and others, Are You Ready?: 100 Years of Family, Friends and Food offers a new collection of recipes and culinary tips sure to delight cooks and foodies of any age. The cookbook debuted on Sept. 6 at Off Square Books, kicking off a yearlong celebration of the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management’s 100-year anniversary. The department was originally named the Department of Home Economics and was chartered through the schools of Education and Medicine before the 1913-14 academic year. The cookbook includes cover art by Mississippian Lisa Paris (BS 81), a foreword by John T. Edge (BA 96, MA 02) and showcases stories from many Ole Miss alumni and friends. It also includes a few favorite recipes from the department’s first cookbook, Rebel Recipes. In his foreword to the book, Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, says, “Long before Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri became culinary demigods, the women who studied here at the University of Mississippi, back before the current Department of Nutrition and Hospitality [Management] was born, were busy defining excellence in cookery, nutrition, hospitality and other domestic arts. With this cookbook, those women — and the men who followed them — get the opportunity to

tell their story.” Proceeds from sales of Are You Ready? will help fund educational endeavors for students and faculty. Copies of the cookbook are available at the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management in Lenoir Hall, online at http://www.olemiss.edu/ depts/nhm or at bookstores and gift shops around the region. The department has several other events planned throughout the 2013-14 academic year to commemorate the m i l e s t o n e a n n i v e r s a r y, including an NHM tailgate on the Lenoir Hall lawn before all home football games, and an open house and presentation of the department’s homecoming float during the parade on Oct. 25. The department also will host an anniversary celebration Oct. 24 at Lenoir Hall. The celebration will conclude with the NHM Graduation Celebration, set for May 9 at Lenoir Hall. Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d a complete list of centennial celebration

events, contact the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management at 662-915-7371 or visit http://www. olemiss.edu/depts/fcs. AR

The Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management released the cookbook Are You Ready?: 100 Years of Family, Friends and Food in September.

Fall 2013 7

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Circle Teaching Excellence UM ADMITS 15 FRESHMEN INTO MISSISSIPPI EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING PROGRAM

mong thousands of University of Mississippi entering undergraduates this fall are 15 freshmen who make up UM’s first class of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program, established in January with $12.95 million in external funding to attract topperforming students to study education. The group hails from across Mississippi and neighboring states and enters the university with a mean grade-point average of 4.0 and average ACT score of 28.5. Each student received an all-inclusive scholarship. Comprising the group are Brenna Ferrell of Ocean Springs, Lydia Hall of Madison, Nancy Hutson of Liberty, Anna Claire Kelley of Madison, Shelby Knighten of Gautier, Benjamin Logan of Sherman, Kaypounyers Maye of Gulfport, Katianne Middleton of Selma, Ala., Abigail Null of Corinth, Rachel Parbs of Southaven, Emily Reynolds of Brandon, Jenna Smiley of Meridian, Abigail Sudduth of Flowood, James Wheeler of St. Johns, Fla., and Kaye

Whitfield of Birmingham, Ala. Ten of the students are majoring in secondary English education, and five are studying secondary mathematics education. The initial focus of these areas was designed to meet the demands of new Common Core state standards being adopted in Mississippi. The program also hopes to help change the perception of teaching as a career choice for the best and brightest incoming freshmen. “ I b e l i e ve b e t t e r t e a c h e r s w i l l make for a better future,” says Logan, a mathematics education major and Tupelo High School graduate. “This is the opportunity of my dreams. I’ve been an Ole Miss Rebel my whole life, and it’s awesome to be a trailblazer in the first class of this. I want to work hard for this. All I’ve done is click the ‘accept’ button, so right now I have to earn that.” The METP was established in collaboration with Mississippi State University and with a grant from the Robert M.

Hearin Support Foundation in Jackson. The program’s five-year goal is to recruit 160 college freshmen with outstanding academic records into education programs with full scholarships and other benefits. Each university will produce 80 new teachers, all of whom must make a five-year commitment to teach at a Mississippi public school after graduation. Besides getting four years of full tuition, housing, funding for technology, professional development and study abroad, all METP students were accepted into UM’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. “We’ve maintained high standards for acceptance into this program,” says Ryan Niemeyer (PhD 08), the university’s director of METP. “It wasn’t enough to just have outstanding grades and ACT scores, and it wasn’t enough to just be passionate about education. I think this group has set a very high bar for the next group.” AR Photo by Nathan Latil

The 15 freshmen who have enrolled in the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program have an incoming, mean GPA of 4.0. 8 Alumni Review

A Lasting Legacy OLE MISS HONORS WARNER AND KAY ALFORD WITH SCHOLARSHIP

Photo by Robert Jordan

Photo by Jay: Leviton - Atlanta

full-page photo in a September 1960 issue of Sports director because athletics is the most emotionally charged Illustrated — accompanying an article on the Univer- activity associated with the university. While Warner was sity of Mississippi and its upcoming football season — serving as athletics director and then later as the alumni captured Kay Swayze and Warner Alford walking hand in hand affairs director, he and Kay constantly built relationships as students. It turned out to be a magical year as Alford co-cap- to keep alumni and friends engaged with their alma mater tained that SEC and national championship football team. and graciously opened their home on many occasions. Their The couple went on to marry, raise a family and weave friendship has been life-enriching.” their lives into the tapestry of Ole Miss. Alford (BA 60, MA “Ole Miss is home — some of our best memories are here,” 66) served in two high-profile leadership positions at his alma Alford says. “We have very emotional ties to this university. mater: athletics director and executive director of alumni We’ve always truly felt that our friends and colleagues are affairs. He continues to propel the university forward by help- family. Being here has never been a ‘job.’ It is something we ing to attract private gifts for academic programs and scholar- dearly love. We are overwhelmed and deeply honored by this ships, with wife Kay sharing his commitment. scholarship.” To honor the Alfords’ longtime service and lasting contributions, the University of Mississippi Foundation has created the Warner and K a y A l f o rd Ol e Mi s s Opportunity Endowment with a $50,000 gift and invites alumni and friends to help build the fund. Annual income from the endowment will provide Ole Miss Opportunity scholarships to academically deserving students from lower income families in Mississippi. UM Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75) says the A l f o rd s h a v e o p e n e d Photo from Sports Illustrated and recent photo in same location. many doors for the university. “Warner and Kay Alford have made it their life’s work Kay Alford (BA 64) says she is pleased the scholarship will to help strengthen the University of Mississippi through give young people the opportunity to enroll at Ole Miss. academic, athletics and alumni programs,” Jones says. “We are “I hope that they will take advantage of all the opportunities deeply grateful that these two extraordinary individuals have here,” she says. “They will reap the results of this experience chosen to invest so much of their time, talents and energy into the rest of their lives, and they will be attaching themselves to Ole Miss. Just as this scholarship endowment will honor them a great group of people. It’s a wonderful feeling to gather into in perpetuity, the impact of the Alfords’ contributions will be the fold of Ole Miss. This is a great university whose continued felt for generations.” excellence has been stunning.” Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66), Individuals and organizations interested in making a gift who was Alford’s college roommate and teammate for four to the Warner and Kay Alford Ole Miss Opportunity Endowyears as well as friend of more than five decades, echoed that ment can send a check with the fund noted in the memo line sentiment. to the University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, “Kay and Warner are in a group of Ole Miss people who University, MS 38677; contact Debbie Vaughn at 662-915are inseparable from the University of Mississippi. One of 1687 or dvaughn@olemiss.edu; or visit www.umfoundation. the most challenging jobs on campus is serving as athletics com/makeagift. AR

Fall 2013 9

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Photo by Robert Jordan

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Members of the largest freshman class in Mississippi history took the field on Sept. 7 to participate in the University of Mississippi’s Rebel Run, an annual event that takes place before the first home game of the football season. UM’s record enrollment topped more than 22,000 students, up 3.5 percent from last year.

Record Numbers SURGE SEEN IN FRESHMAN ACT SCORES, STUDENT RETENTION

ed by dramatic growth in its schools of Engineering and Journalism and New Media, the University of Mississippi recorded another record enrollment this fall, registering more than 22,000 students for the first time, a 3.5 percent overall enrollment increase and more than 7 percent growth on the Oxford campus. Preliminary enrollment figures show a total unduplicated headcount on all the university’s campuses of 22,286. That’s up 758 students from last fall, or 3.5 percent. Nationwide, college enrollments are declining, dropping some 500,000 students in 2012, according to U.S. Census figures released last week. The continued growth at Ole Miss, which has recorded increasing student numbers for 19 straight years, is a testament to the quality and diversity of the university’s academic offerings, Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75) says. “By choosing the University of Mississippi in historic numbers, parents and students are validating Mississippi’s 10 Alumni Review

flagship university as one of America’s academic leaders, as an incredible value, as a place to connect with great careers and as a collegiate experience admired coast to coast,” he says. “Their trust in Ole Miss is a great honor for our faculty, our staff and every Mississippian.” The figures include 18,423 students on the Oxford campus, up 7.4 percent over the previous year. The student body includes 3,579 new freshmen, up 6.1 percent from last fall’s class of 3,373, making this the largest freshman class for any university in Mississippi history. “It all starts with a great group of university recruiters,” says Will Norton, dean of the university’s Meek School of Journalism and New Media. “They are organized and really work effectively.” Student retention also jumped dramatically, with 85.5 percent of last year’s freshmen returning to campus this fall. That improvement reflects significant emphasis on first-year programs to help freshmen adjust to the rigors of higher education.

About two-thirds of Ole Miss students are from Mississippi, but the university attracts students from across the nation and world. Overall, the student body includes representatives from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 93 foreign countries. This year’s freshmen are better prepared for college course work, with an average ACT score of 24.1, an all-time UM record, compared to an average of 23.8 last fall. Their high school GPA increased too, from 3.43 to 3.46. Minority enrollment totaled 5,399 students, or 24.2 percent. AfricanAmerican enrollment is 3,439 students, or 15.4 percent of overall enrollment. The fall 2013 Ole Miss student body, in addition to the 2,860 at the Medical Center, includes 16,677 undergraduates, 2,072 graduate students, 445 law students and 232 students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Enrollment at the university’s regional campuses was 730 at Southaven, 735 at Tupelo, 118 at Grenada and 66 at Booneville. AR

ACCOUNTANCY SCHOOL REACHES ALL-TIME BEST STANDINGS

etting the bar for other Southeastern Conference institutions, all three accountancy programs at the University of Mississippi are ranked in the top 10 nationally by the Public Accounting Report in its latest edition. In its August 2013 issue, the independent newsletter of the accounting profession ranks the Patterson School of Accountancy’s undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs at Nos. 4, 5 and 8, respectively, in their categories. Last year, the undergraduate and master’s programs were both ranked ninth. The Patterson School’s three programs are the highest ranked in the Southeastern Conference. Other SEC undergraduate programs ranked in the top 25 are Texas A&M (7), and the universities of Florida (9), Georgia (11), Missouri (12), Alabama (23) and Tennessee (24). Other highly ranked master’s programs

include Texas A&M (8), Missouri (11), Florida (13), Georgia (14), Tennessee (24) and Alabama (26). The doctoral rankings include Texas A&M (10), Georgia (14), Missouri (16), Florida (19) and Alabama (24). This is the 32nd annual PAR Professors Survey, which bases its results on votes from professors of accounting at U.S. colleges and universities. This is the sixth consecutive year UM programs have ranked in the top 25 nationally. Dean Mark Wilder says it is a great accomplishment for the school to once again be recognized as a top national accountancy program and to achieve alltime high rankings in all three program categories. “This honor is a testament to the hard work of our faculty in delivering a rigorous educational experience,” Wilder says. “Our faculty [members] are highly successful in their research and profes-

sional service endeavors while maintaining the commitment to excellence in teaching that has been the hallmark of our accountancy program for many years. “I also greatly appreciate our faculty selflessly working together toward our common goal of having one of the top accounting programs in the nation.” Wilder also noted the importance of private support in the Patterson School’s successful equation. “The successes we are enjoying are directly attributable to the loyalty and generosity of our alumni and friends,” he says. “Their support helps us to offer scholarships to attract outstanding students, to reward our faculty and to strengthen our program. We are grateful for their loyalty and willingness to give back to the school — it is absolutely a difference-maker for us and allows our successes to be built upon and perpetuated.” AR

A Helping Hand VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE NEEDED HELP WITH MOVE-IN

moved in is larger than the populations of about 80 percent of cities across the state. Volunteers are essential for creating a welcoming environment and providing much-needed assistance with luggage and belongings, says Lionel Maten, UM

Photo by Nathan Latil

ore than 1,200 volunteers from the University of Mississippi, Oxford and Lafayette County helped more than 5,400 students move into student housing at Ole Miss for the fall semester. The number of students who

More than 5,400 students moved into student housing at Ole Miss this fall.

director of student housing. “Our culture of service is evident on campus during move-in,” Maten says. “There is no better way to welcome students and their families to our Ole Miss family than by greeting them with local, friendly help from within our own community. We are grateful to each person who is giving their time to make the move-in experience a pleasant and memorable one.” The move-in schedule expanded on a successful 2012 program, when renovations and construction dictated a need for more flexibility with the move-in schedule. Before 2012, all moves into student housing occurred on the same day. The new schedule staggers the days and times that students move into each housing unit, which alleviates much of the congestion on campus, creates a more manageable environment for faculty, staff and volunteers, and boosts business throughout the community. AR Fall 2013 11

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Circle Writing the Future MFA PROGRAM LEAPS IN PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL RANKINGS

ith a jump in national rankings and students’ works already published or forthcoming, the University of Mississippi’s Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program and its graduates are continuing to advance. Within its 12-year existence, the program has steadily risen in Poets and Writers magazine’s MFA Index for creative writing programs. Ranked 14th in the 2014 national, one-year popularity survey, UM was 38th out of 50 top national programs a year ago. That was 10 spots higher than in the previous year. “P&W changed their ranking system this year, and we moved up significantly,” says Ivo Kamps, chair and professor of English. “We are truly among the best of the best.” In addition to the program’s celebratory status, a dozen of its graduates either have been or soon will be published. “We have a supportive administration; it’s been quick to realize the tremendous energy surging out of the MFA program right now, and it’s provided some important resources that allow us to deepen and expand the range of our

work,” says Beth Ann Fennelly, associate professor of English and director of the MFA program. “And of course, the great students we have, publish exciting work that gets noticed by other prospective students who then apply to us. “In 2012, we had more than 300 applications for just eight spots and were very, very selective indeed. It’s thrilling to be a part of this very young, dynamic, news-making program.” Kamps credits the faculty and students for the program’s success. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford spent a year on the faculty and continues to teach short-term master classes for fiction students. A recent faculty addition, screenwriter Chris Offutt (of “True Blood” and “Treme” fame), has raised the bar in fiction as well as screenwriting. Associate professor Tom Franklin’s 2010 novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, made the New York Times Best Sellers list and won the Los Angeles Times Book Award. His new novel, co-authored with Fennelly, is called The Tilted World. Fennelly also won the College of Arts and Letters Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award and the UM Humanities Teacher

of the Year Award. Poet Ann Fisher-Wirth earlier this year published a much-heralded collection of American ecopoetry, and the new writer-in-residence, Dave Smith, formerly chair of the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University, is an admired and prolific poet and elected member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. “When you add to this strong roster of faculty the new additions of Chiyuma Elliott (a Stegner Fellow) and Derrick Harriell (author of Cotton and Ropes), you have a wealth of talent, energy and experience on which our students can draw,” Kamps says. AR

CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER TAKES SHAPE AT UMMC

12 Alumni Review

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

ork is continuing on what will be the new Cardiovascular Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Construction on the facility, located in the heart of campus behind University Hospital, began in February 2012. Designed by architecture firm CDFL, the building will include three cardiac catheterization labs, two electrophysiology labs, 17 private patient recovery rooms, a noninvasive cardiovascular department, staff offices and a conference room. Chris Burney, executive director for planning, design and construction, says the project is moving along smoothly and “should be fully enclosed by early 2014.” AR

Hometown Specialists SCHOOL OF NURSING HELPS FILL VOID IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSING

mental health issues, as well as elderly patients, in a collaboration known as the Mississippi Educational Consortium for Specialized Advanced Practice Nursing (MECSAPN). As a result of that effort, by 2011, the number of psychiatric NPs addressing the needs of Mississippians had climbed to 79 (the most recent year for statistics available from the Mississippi Board of Nursing). “People have begun to see what psychiatric NPs can do,” says Kokaisel, an employee in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and part-time instructor in the School of Nursing. “And regional health centers across the state want our graduates

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

erry Kokaisel (BSN 88, CERT 05) is unique at the University of Mississippi Medical Center: She’s the only psychiatric nurse practitioner on campus. That may not be the case for long, however. As the need for psychiatric/ mental health providers in Mississippi and across the nation grows, the School of Nursing is rapidly gaining ground in training nurses to fill the gap. In 2007, 42 psychiatric nurse practitioners were employed in the state. The following year, the School of Nursing joined forces with four other universities across the state to bolster access to advanced care for Mississippians with

Nurse practitioner Kerry Kokaisel (left) and charge nurse Ruby Windham discuss a case in the child psychiatry inpatient unit.

because there are not enough psychiatric health providers.” The need for mental health professionals in Mississippi mirrors the need nationwide, but here, Kokaisel says, an inadequate number of health care providers have psychiatric training to get the job done. MECSAPN links UMMC with Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Mississippi University for Women and the University of Southern Mississippi to provide the same level of specialty training to nurse practitioner students around the state in part to keep those specialists in their hometown communities. “Many of the nurses who have shown interest in the psychiatric/mental health program are frontline nurses from around the state,” Kokaisal says. “They’re seeking that training to treat the patients they’re encountering.” For the first year of the collaborative course offering, three students were enrolled in the psychiatric program, says Cynthia Luther, DSN, assistant professor of nursing and director of the consortium. “This summer, there were 18 students. And when I look at the students who are currently working on their core courses, we will have 20 students completing the track in the next few years,” she says. That rate outpaces the 12-student classes that were originally anticipated. “There’s a growing acknowledgment that mental health problems exist, and there’s less of a stigma involved with seeking treatment,” Luther says. The success of MECSAPN is not only that it has trained dozens of nurses to provide mental health care, but that it has done so while keeping those nurses in their home communities around the state. Mississippi has 15 regional health centers, operated by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, which provide preceptor training for nursing students. AR Fall 2013 13

fromthe

Circle Case Closed MBA TEAM MEMBER WINS BEST PRESENTER AWARD IN SEC EVENT L.G. Patterson/Recess Inc.

student team from the University of Mississippi’s MBA program recently participated in the inaugural Southeastern Conference MBA Case Competition in Missouri, bringing home the event’s Best Presenter Award. All 14 SEC member universities participated in a real-time business case competition created by AT&T. MBA students created a proposal for the company to identify the best solution for the panel of judges. The Ole Miss MBA team consisted of Jennifer Urban of Littleton, Colo., Thorne Williams of Birmingham, Ala., Dillon King of Madison and Bret Babcock of Liberty Center, Ohio, winner of the Best Presenter Award for Division 212. All four students completed their MBAs in May. The Best Presenter Award was given to three students based on division. Other awards were the Best Q&A Award, the Team Sportsman Award and the overall team winner. “I think the one thing that our team did the best job out of any of the teams was bringing an original solution to AT&T’s problems,” Babcock says. “The MBA

Members of UM’s case competition team

program at Ole Miss does a great job of teaching business principles, and we were able to leverage that in our solution. “Business is about ideas, and I think our team did a great job of communicating that.” Douglas Vorhies, associate professor of marketing and director of the university’s MBA program, praised Babcock’s performance at the competition.

“He was clear, concise and has a very easy style that makes following him (easy) as he leads you to the answer,” Vorhies says. “AT&T provided the teams with a real problem, one that was not easy to solve. The Ole Miss team had a really innovative solution. I think the real value was in participating in the competition and comparing the Ole Miss solution to that of the other teams.” AR

EVERYBODY’S TENT WELCOMES STUDENTS TO THE GROVE

his football season the Associated Student Body introduced Everybody’s Tent, a student-led, student-organized tailgating tent not affiliated with any particular organization. The idea for Everybody’s Tent was born from a student’s desire to help make everyone feel welcome in the Grove. Everybody’s Tent sets up in the grass along the Union Plaza, tucked as close to the Walk of Champions arch as available. Free food, nonalcoholic drinks and entertainment are provided for students. “Last fall, I was involved in a similar project, which brought to my attention a number of students who have a passion for their university, yet feel excluded from the rich tailgating tradition simply because they do not have a tent in the Grove,” says

14 Alumni Review

William Fowler, a junior majoring in integrated marketing communications who also is executive assistant to the ASB president. “We want to make the experience accessible to everyone, particularly the students who lack a place to call home in the Grove.” Alumni, faculty, staff and friends are also invited to stop by Everybody’s Tent to meet students and welcome newcomers to the Ole Miss family. Members of the ASB cabinet are on hand to distribute the popular “I am a Rebel” stickers. The 2013 schedule for Everybody’s Tent included four home games: Southeast Missouri, Texas A&M, Idaho and Troy (Nov. 16). For more information about Everybody’s Tent, contact Fowler at wdfowle1@go.olemiss.edu. AR

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Calendar Exhibit: ‘Recollecting: 1980-2012 Works by Ron Dale’ Through Jan. 11

‘Crask,’ 2001, Ron Dale. Polychrome on wood and ceramic. On loan from the artist.

November

hrough Nov. 2 Ongoing exhibit: Theora Hamblett’s “Dreams and Visions.” Open to the public. UM Museum. Call 662-9157073.

hrough Nov. 21 Ongoing exhibit: BFA Thesis Exhibition No. 1. Open to the public. Meek Hall. Email art@olemiss.edu.

hrough Jan. 11 Ongoing exhibit: “Recollecting: 1980-2012 Works by Ron Dale.” Open to the public. UM Museum. Email museum@olemiss.edu.

16 Alumni Review

-2 Reunion: Rugby Alumni. Friday 4 p.m. OMOB practice, Intramural Fields; 7 p.m. dinner, Soulshine Pizza Factory. Saturday 1 p.m. OMOB vs. Ole Miss Rugby Team, Intramural Fields. Call 662-915-7375, email clay@olemiss.edu, or visit www.olemissalumni.com/ events.

-2 UM Opera: Meek Hall, 7:30 p.m. Email music@olemiss.edu.

-2 Oxford Holiday Market: Oxford Conference Center, various times. Call 662-232-2367.

UM Opera: Meek Hall, 3 p.m. Email music@ olemiss.edu. Croft Institute Visiting Speaker: Ezra Vogel. Croft Institute, 7 p.m. Email bworthy@olemiss.edu. Theatrical Performance: Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.” Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7-9 p.m. Call 662-915-2787. Panel Discussion: The Kennedy administration’s impact on politics and journalism in America. Overby Center, 5-6:30 p.m. Call 662-915-1692.

UM Art Department: Party Art Auction. Powerhouse, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Email art@olemiss.edu. Columns Society Reunion: Navy Blazer Bash. Carrier House, 6-7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-5203. Banking and Finance Symposium 2013: Oxford Conference Center, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Email events@bus.olemiss.edu.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBA. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Columns Society Reunion Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, three hours prior to kickoff. Call 662-915-5203.

University of Mississippi Medical Center Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, time TBA. Call 800-844-5800.

Children’s Healthcare of Mississippi/ Batson Children’s Hospital Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, time TBA. Call 601-815-6960 or email RRoss@umc.edu. Student Alumni Council Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, two hours prior to kickoff. Call 662-915-7375.

School of Pharmacy Tailgate: Sponsored by the Harvard Drug Group. Front lawn of Faser Hall, two hours prior to kickoff. Call 662-915-7375. Concert: An Acoustic Evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7-9 p.m. Call 662-915-2787.

An Acoustic Evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin Nov. 10

-21 Exhibit: BFA Thesis Exhibition No. 1. Open to the public. Gallery 130, Meek Hall. Email art@olemiss.edu. Japanese Film Series: “Shôhei Imamura, Director.” Malco Studio Cinema, Oxford, 7 p.m. Email bworthy@olemiss.edu.

Mini Masters: Harvest Collages. Powerhouse, 3:45-4:30 p.m. Call 662-236-6429.

Ole Miss Toastmasters Meeting: Minor Hall, noon-1:15 p.m. Email toastmasters@olemiss.edu.

Piano Recital: Scott Carrell. Music Building, 7:30 p.m. Email music@ olemiss.edu.

-16 Reunion: 2013 Band Alumni. Various locations and times. Call 662-915-7375.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Troy. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, time TBA. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Missouri. VaughtHemingway Stadium, time TBA. Visit www.olemisssports. com.

School of Applied Sciences Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, two hours prior to kickoff. Call 662-915-7375.

Fall 2013 17

Calendar 23

University of Mississippi Medical Center Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, time TBA. Call 800-844-5800.

Children’s Healthcare of Mississippi/ Batson Children’s Hospital Tailgate: Lawn of Triplett Alumni Center, time TBA. Call 601-815-6960 or email RRoss@umc.edu.

December

-6 Exhibit: BFA Thesis Exhibition No. 2. Open to the public. Gallery 130, Meek Hall. Email art@olemiss.edu.

Oxford Christmas Parade: Courthouse Square, 6-8 p.m. Visit www. visitoxfordms.com.

Mini Masters: “Letters and Numbers, Art of Jasper Johns.” UM Museum, 3:454:30 p.m. Call 662-236-6429.

Ole Miss Toastmasters Meeting: Minor Hall, noon-1:15 p.m. Email toastmasters@olemiss.edu.

January

-18 Wintersession: Call 662-915-7847 or visit www.outreach.olemiss.edu/ wintersession.

Spring classes begin.

Football: Ole Miss vs. Missouri Nov. 23

18 Alumni Review

Ole Miss Luncheon Series: Chancellor Dan Jones. Mississippi Gulf Coast, location TBA, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 662-915-7375 or visit www.olemissalumni.com/ events.

Oxford Fiber Arts Festival: Powerhouse, time TBA. Visit www.knit1oxford.com.

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Photo by Robert Jordan 20 Alumni Review

Chance of a Lifetime A ‘Luckyday’ for many at Ole Miss means scholarships, opportunities By Bill Dabney Addison Mickens’ face noticeably brightens when he considers his experiences at the University of Mississippi. “Many Luckyday Scholars think of Luckyday as a family away from home ... because we are all here with the same goals. We are all here trying to succeed, and we are all here looking forward to our future. With that support system, we feel very confident going out into the world after our undergraduate years,” says the student from Macon. Scholarship assistance, an established support community and exceptional opportunities have made possible Mickens’ most rewarding days at Ole Miss. He might have missed these valued experiences if not for a private foundation created to help young Mississippians achieve their educational goals.

Luckyday students gather around the statue of Frank Rogers Day outside the entrance to the Luckyday Residential College. Day established the Luckyday Foundation in 1978 to help young Mississippians achieve their educational goals. Fall 2013 21

Luckyday Foundation The Luckyday Foundation was founded by late Aberdeen native Frank Rogers Day (BBA 53). In addition to serving as chairman of the board and CEO of Trustmark National Bank in Jackson, Day committed himself to making a difference in his home state of Mississippi through educational opportunities, and in 1978, he established a foundation to do just that. The positive impact of the Luckyday Foundation on programs at Ole Miss is evident. To date, it has provided $41.6 million in educational support, including awarding 2,342 scholarships for such students as Kathryn Davis of Byram. In addition, the foundation has funded more than 1,200 scholarships at the University of Southern Mississippi. Holmes Adams (BA 68) of Jackson, chair of the Luckyday Foundation board of managers, monitors the academic success of Luckyday Scholars and says their achievements have increased consistently over the years. Retention and graduation rates have climbed dramatically and continue to surpass overall retention rates at the university. In fact, Frank Rogers Day the Luckyday Program is a model for student retention, development and success for Ole Miss and other universities. Luckyday Scholars have made significant contributions to campus life through their work and leadership in all areas of campus life. “Student success is measured by grade-point averages, retention rates and graduation,” Adams says. “In addition, during our board’s conversations with students, they tell us that their participation in the Luckyday Program has benefited them in less objectively measured ways, such as development of a community service ethic, increased confidence and leadership skills.”

22 Alumni Review

Each year, 75 freshmen — all Mississippi residents with an ACT score of 20 or higher and high school GPA of 3.2 or higher — are awarded Luckyday Scholarships, which provide $2,000 to $5,000 annually based on a student’s financial needs. Students can receive the support for all four years of college as long as they maintain minimum requirements, which include participation in a program designed to foster success in college and beyond. Davis found herself volunteering at Crenshaw Elementary School in Panola County as part of the program. “I went to the school’s fall festival, where we had stations set up in the cafeteria. I was in charge of the games and crafts,” she recalls. “The kids were so happy, and it felt good to be giving back to a Mississippi community.” Luckyday Scholars also have the opportunity to visit a Lafayette County farm. Luckyday has partnered with Leslie Wolverton of Woodson Ridge Farms to develop specific learning outcomes for students to explore at the farm. One outcome is that students learn the value of community-supported agriculture and discuss issues related to food production and distribution. “Frank Day established a model of giving back, so we encourage our students to do the same,” says Senora Miller Logan, the university’s assistant director of the Luckyday Program. “Each part of our program is designed to be a learning experience. The interaction with the kids at Crenshaw, for example, encourages the scholars to think broader and wider and not only just about themselves but also about their impact on society. Likewise, the day at the farm gives them an appreciation for the concept of growth and development through hard work. These are life lessons they can take with them and apply to their lives from now on.” In addition to sharing programmatic experiences, Luckyday Scholars live together in the Luckyday Residential College for the first two years of enrollment.

Photo by Nathan Latil

The Luckyday Program provides peer mentoring support to freshmen by assigning them to a group led by upper-class Luckyday Scholars, known as Peer Leaders. Regardless of their backgrounds or majors, freshmen receive this support to help them address the challenges in transitioning from high school to college.

Luckyday Residential College In 2010, a $4 million gift from the Luckyday Foundation funded the construction of the university’s second residential college. The 331-bed Luckyday Residential College houses freshman and sophomore Luckyday Scholars; Ethel Young-Minor, senior faculty fellow and associate professor of English and African American studies; and the Luckyday Associates — students whose academic excellence earned them participation in the program but who are not scholarship recipients. This state-of-the-art facility in the heart of campus is not the traditional college dormitory; in fact, it’s better described as a

self-contained community, where students can eat in the on-site cafeteria on an unlimited meal plan funded by their scholarship or can choose to cook their own meals in one of three kitchenettes conveniently located on each floor. While waiting for clothes to dry in the building’s laundry room, students can play billiards or work out in the exercise room. The mandatory study hall (eight hours per week, monitored by a student proctor) can be accomplished in the building’s fully wired library. The residential college contains a classroom and provides students with access to the resident senior faculty fellow who is available to help them at any time. Other faculty members join residents for meals and informal discussions. “It’s close-knit by design,” Adams says. “The goal of the

Photo by Kevin Bain Fall 2013 23

Photo by Nathan Latil

residential college is to create a community that nurtures and broadens learning. Interaction with the senior faculty fellow, other faculty members and other Luckyday Scholars promotes mutual success. The foundation strongly believes that Luckyday Scholars benefit from living together in a smaller community near the Grove (in the heart of campus) with students who share similar goals and values.” Young-Minor says, “The generous support of the Luckyday Foundation has helped us create a space on campus for dynamic mentoring relationships. The residential college provides a structure for us to involve world-renowned professors with the everyday realities and concerns of undergraduate students. The programming creates spaces where students can have lunch with a law professor or biology professor, visit a museum with a classics professor or play tennis with a chemistry professor.” Students also receive tutoring support and help with strategies to enhance academic performance, Young-Minor says. The structure works for Ashley Saulsberry of Nesbit. “The best part about the Luckyday Residential College is that it’s just like a family. It’s a beautiful building, but behind it is where the magic all happens. The staff really cares about you. They’ve known me since my freshman year and have seen me grow and make mistakes. It’s just a good feeling to know that if you need something or if anything is ever wrong, there’s someone to whom you can turn. It means the world.” Mickens, her fellow Luckyday Scholar, agrees. 24 Alumni Review

“Living in the residential college is the best residence life on campus. It builds a sense of family because you can always have dinner with friends or get to know people during those times. It’s a place where strong bonds are made.”

Luckyday Program Although Luckyday students come from many different backgrounds and pursue varied majors, they share something in common. As freshmen, they all face challenges while navigating the transition from high school to college. Patrick Perry, director of the Luckyday Program, says the program provides peer mentoring support to freshmen by assigning them to a group led by upper-class Luckyday Scholars, known as Peer Leaders. These peer leaders are exceptional students who provide guidance and encouragement to the freshmen. Challenges are therefore more promptly and successfully addressed to ensure students stay on track personally and academically. “I was lost when I first started my collegiate career, and the Luckyday staff really guided me through my four years at Ole Miss,” says Ha Lindsey Pham (BBA 13) of Clarksdale, who has been hired as the Luckyday Residential College coordinator. “The scholarship was the reason why I succeeded in college. Not only did the scholarship help me financially, it helped me grow as a professional. The Luckyday Program always had us work toward life after graduation, so I would

Business school benefits from Luckyday scholarships, endowment

n 1991, in honor of Frank Day’s mother and father, natives of Aberdeen, the Luckyday Foundation established the Christine and Clarence Day Scholarships in the University of Mississippi’s School of Business Administration. Since that time, 22 talented students have received scholarship assistance to pursue education and careers in business. In 2001, the Luckyday Foundation joined with the Mississippi Bankers Association to endow the Frank R. Day/Mississippi Bankers Association Chair of Banking at the university, held by Ken Cyree, dean of the business school. Ole Miss is emphasizing the need to increase such named, endowed faculty positions across campus so the university can better recruit and retain outstanding professors to teach students. The chair endowment is the only one of its kind in the business school. Cyree shared how being named chair has influenced his life, which also reflects Day’s goal of helping young people. “I am honored and humbled to be the Frank R. Day/Mississippi Bankers Association Chair of Banking at the University of Mississippi,” says Cyree. “The endowed position is what attracted me to the position when I came to Ole Miss over nine years ago. Through the funding of this chair, I have been able to represent the industry in Washington and Jackson, impact hundreds of students through the Mississippi School of Banking and in my campus classes, and be an advocate for the school and state in matters related to education and financial issues.” Cyree says that the endowment hopefully has allowed him to further banking education and achievement for generations to come. “I have attempted to uphold the high standards of this position in the three facets of teaching, research and service,” he says. ”I have been fortunate enough to teach over 500 undergraduate students and am hopeful I have made a difference in their lives by providing something of value for their successes. In addition, I have been afforded the great opportunity to know the Luckyday Foundation board members on a personal basis, including Mrs. Barbara Day. I am deeply grateful for this wonderful experience.” Photo by Robert Jordan

Students chat with UM School of Business Dean Ken Cyree, who holds the Frank R. Day/Mississippi Bankers Association Chair of Banking.

Fall 2013 25

Application Requirements To apply for the Luckyday Scholarship, eligible students must submit the following: w University of Mississippi admissions application and other required materials www.olemiss.edu/admissions w University of Mississippi Entering Freshman Scholarship Application www.olemiss.edu/depts/financial_aid/pros_freshman.html w Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – www.fafsa.ed.gov w Students are also required to write an essay and submit a list of any community service activities in which they participated while in high school along with evidence of leadership skills.

not be who I am today without the program.” It’s that transition from high school to college and beyond that the Luckyday Program strives to make seamless for its scholarship recipients. “Our focus is on making sure students are engaged in the world around them and that they are becoming involved on campus,” Logan says. This goal is accomplished through a series of programs in which the scholars participate including: The Luckyday Retreat for Freshmen — During the fall Luckyday Retreat, community service projects and volunteer opportunities are identified and strongly encouraged. The Luckyday Success Program — This program’s mentoring structure, in which upper-class peer leaders guide and advise groups of freshmen, helps ensure student success during the scholars’ often-intimidating first year on campus. The Luckyday Sophomore Year Experience — This program helps students begin to plan for life after college. Luckyday has partnered with the Ole Miss Career Center to provide professional-development opportunities for scholarship recipients in their second year. Thrilling Thursdays — Events have included recreational activities such as golf, volleyball and tennis; learning opportunities such as seminars on study abroad programs and applying to and attending law school; and entertainment such as movie night, skating, professional league ballgames and theatre performances. All events are sponsored by faculty members to promote interaction between the students and professors. Former Luckyday Scholar, Golda Sharpe (BA 09, MA 11) of Clarksdale, is now serving as the Luckyday Program project coordinator and recalls her experiences. “Looking back, being a Luckyday Scholar directly impacted my success as a college student. Time-management skills were taught through balancing the responsibilities of the program and my academic studies. Additionally, study hall hours and

26 Alumni Review

community service requirements kept me focused on my end goal to graduate and commit to a life of service. I formed lifetime friendships through the Luckyday Program and remain committed to helping the students of Mississippi as I have for the previous four years while teaching with the North Panola School District.”

Luckyday Success Frank Day believed in the value of education and in helping young people achieve their full potential. Scholars such as Davis, who plans to become a nurse, and Mickens, who hopes to apply to medical school after earning a master’s degree in public health, demonstrate that Day’s dream has become a reality. “I am fortunate and grateful to be given an opportunity to give back to society as Mr. Frank Day did,” Mickens says. Mickens has participated in several community service events offered by Luckyday and had the privilege to lead an after-school tutoring program implemented last fall. “I coordinate 10 to 12 tutors to assist students in kindergarten through 12th grade at Springfield Baptist Church in Abbeville, Miss.,” Mickens says. “I love children and am honored that Luckyday has given me the opportunity to make a difference in the Lafayette County community. The Luckyday Scholarship has already shaped my future by teaching me to follow my passion.” While the Luckyday Program is an academic scholarship with strict requirements for academic success, it also develops a student’s character, confidence and values, as Adams summarizes. “Our primary interest is assisting students to earn a college degree as a stepping stone to a better life.” AR Bill Dabney of Oxford, corporate communications manager of FNC Inc., is a former editor of the Alumni Review magazine. University Development staff contributed to this article.

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Distin

rds a w A i guished Alumn

by Jim Urbanek 28 Alumni Review

he Ole Miss Alumni Association awarded seven distinguished alumni with its highest annual honors as part of Homecoming 2013. Created in 1974, the Hall of Fame honors select alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their country, state or the University of Mississippi through good deeds, services or contributions that have perpetuated the good name of Ole Miss. Inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame for 2013 are Haley Barbour (JD 73) of Yazoo City; David W. Houston III (BBA 66, JD 69) of Aberdeen; Dick Molpus (BBA 71) of Jackson; Carol Ross (BAEd 82) of Oakland; and Stephanie Saul (BA 75) of Port Washington, N.Y. Jan Griffin Farrington (BAEd 65) of Ridgeland was presented the Alumni Service Award for service to the university and the Alumni Association over an extended period. Lucy P. Priddy (BSCvE 02) of Vicksburg received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have shown exemplary leadership throughout their first 15 years of alumni status in both their careers and dedication to Ole Miss. The Alumni Association hosted a reception and dinner for the honorees on Friday, Oct. 25, in the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss.

Haley Barbour, former governor of Mississippi, is a founding partner of the BGR Group in Washington, D.C., and is of counsel in the law firm of Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada in Ridgeland. Barbour began his political career in 1968 as a member of Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign. By 1976, he was managing former President Gerald Ford’s campaign in the Southeast and would go on to serve as White House political director under former President Ronald Reagan and as a member of former President George H.W. Bush’s campaign. From 1993 to 1997, Barbour served as chairman of the Republican National Committee. In 2003, he made history as the second Republican governor elected in Mississippi since Reconstruction. As governor from 2004 to 2012, Barbour realigned economic development and created thousands of jobs, enacted what the Wall Street Journal termed the most comprehensive tort reform law in the country, reorganized job training efforts and balanced the state’s budget. In his two terms as governor, per capita income of Mississippians rose 34.2 percent. Barbour received national recognition for his leadership including Governor of the Year for 2006 by Governing magazine; the Gulf Guardian Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for his work to rebuild and protect sensitive coastal ecosystems; the 2008 Adam Smith Medal from BIPAC (Business-Industry Political Action Committee) for his pursuit of the principles of free enterprise; and the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award. Barbour returned to private practice at BGR Group and joined Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada in 2012. He resides in Yazoo City with his wife, Marsha. They have two sons, Sterling and Reeves, and four grandchildren.

Fall 2013 29

David W. Houston III served as U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Mississippi from 1983 to 2013. Prior to assuming the bench, he was a partner for 11 years in the Aberdeen law firm of Houston, Chamberlain and Houston. He also served as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., Tampa, Fla., and New York City. Houston served two terms on the board of directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute and chaired its legislative committee for 11 years. From 1995 to 2003, he was the judicial chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop. From 1997 to 2013, Houston served as a member of the Committee on the Budget for the Judicial Conference of the United States and for two years chaired that committee’s Subcommittee on Congressional Outreach. He was a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for nine years. At Ole Miss, Houston was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi and Sigma Chi fraternity. He served as Associated Student Body Judicial Council chairman. In 2011, Houston was the recipient of the Mississippi State Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award. He was selected a fellow of both the Mississippi Bar Foundation and the American College of Bankruptcy. In 2003, he received the Bierce Distinguished Service Award. Houston retired from the federal bench in 2013 and joined the law firm of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams in its Tupelo office.

Dick Molpus is founder and president of Molpus Woodlands Group, a timberland investment management organization headquartered in Jackson. Molpus has had a long career in public service and business. In 1980, he became executive director of the Governor’s Office of Federal-State Programs under Mississippi Gov. William F. Winter and worked as part of Winter’s team to pass the historic Mississippi Education Reform Act of 1982. In 1983, Molpus was elected secretary of state of Mississippi, spearheading improved Mississippi election laws, strengthening public disclosure laws for lobbyists and forcing renegotiations of 10,000 below-market 16th Section Land leases. In 1995, Molpus ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic nominee for governor of Mississippi. After his third term as secretary of state, Molpus began Molpus Woodlands Group, which manages more than 1.5 million acres of timberland across 17 states. Molpus and his wife, Sally, founded Parents for Public Schools, which has spread to 17 chapters across 12 states. He co-chaired the 2006 Jackson Public School Bond Campaign, bringing $150 million for new schools and renovations. Molpus received the H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award from the National Education Association, was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame in 2005 and was honored in 2008 as a Champion of Justice by the Mississippi Center of Justice. In 2007, he organized and founded the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, a $200 million endowment to improve forest health and assist timber-reliant communities, and he is a founding board member of the National Alliance of Forest Owners.

30 Alumni Review

Carol Ross is head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks,

taking that role in January 2012. Before joining the Sparks, Ross spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream, WNBA finalists in both 2010 and 2011. Prior to her tenure in Atlanta, Ross amassed a 324-161 (.668) record in 16 seasons as a head coach in the Southeastern Conference, guiding her teams to 12 NCAA tournaments and two WNIT appearances. Ross spent 12 seasons (1990-2002) at Florida before returning to her alma mater, Ole Miss, from 2003 to 2007. Ross remains the coach with the most wins in school history at Florida with a 247-121 (.671) record. During her four-year run at Ole Miss, Ross compiled a 77-50 (.606) record and guided the Lady Rebels to three NCAA tournaments and a WNIT appearance. In 2006-07, Ole Miss reached the 20-win plateau for the first time in more than a decade and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Also active in USA Basketball, Ross served as an assistant coach with the 2005 Under-19 World Championship team that won the gold medal as well as head coach of the 1998 USA Women’s Select Team that went 7-1. Ross was a four-year starter for the Lady Rebels from 1978 to 1981. She became the fourth women’s basketball player ever to be inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. The Oakland native has served as a board member for both the American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer organization, which honored her as its 2000 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award winner.

Stephanie Saul is a reporter for The New York Times and a

recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in journalism. Saul attended public schools in New Albany, where she showed an early interest in journalism as editor of the high school newspaper. At Ole Miss, Saul was on the staff of The Daily Mississippian and the yearbook. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the academic honor society, and Kappa Delta social sorority. After graduating in 1975 with a B.A. in journalism, Saul joined The Clarion-Ledger as a reporter, covering Mississippi government and the state Legislature. A succession of reporting jobs at other newspapers led her to The New York Times in 2005, where she is currently a member of the newspaper’s investigative reporting team. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize — for reporting on police pension fraud — her journalism honors include the National Press Club Award for outstanding Washington correspondence, the George Polk Award and the Silver Em, given annually by UM’s Meek School of Journalism and New Media for contributions to Mississippi journalism. Saul has also taught journalism at Columbia University’s graduate school of journalism and at Hofstra University. She lives in Port Washington, N.Y., with her husband, New York Times reporter Walt Bogdanich, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner. They have two sons.

Fall 2013 31

Jan Griffin Farrington of Ridgeland is executive

director of Medical Support and Development Organization Inc. She also serves on the board of directors for FNC Inc., Mississippi Technology Alliance and Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. Farrington graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education. She married the late Dr. Jeff Hollingsworth and began teaching political science and history in the New Orleans Public School System. She later worked as a customer service representative for Wachovia National Bank in Durham, N.C. After living in Washington, D.C., and Sunnyvale, Calif., she and Hollingsworth returned to Jackson. In 1986, shortly before Hollingsworth’s death, she helped found Medical Support and Development Organization. Farrington is past president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, past chair of the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy and the UM Foundation, and is serving on the UM Foundation board. She is a member of the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame and served as president of the National Delta Delta Delta Foundation. She is an avid supporter of the American Heart Association. In 1989, she became the first woman to serve as chairman of the board of the Mississippi affiliate of the AHA after serving as state campaign chairman in 1987-88. She has received both the President’s Award and the Heart of Gold Award from AHA. She lives in Ridgeland with her husband, Lawrence (BBA 58). They have six children and 11 grandchildren.

Lucy P. Priddy is a research civil engineer at the U.S. Army Engineer

Research and Development Center in Vicksburg. Her research is focused on expedient pavement repair, evaluation and construction technologies and has developed new pavement repair techniques for airfield and roadway bomb craters. She is the author of numerous technical articles, papers and reports and served as liaison to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology during 2010-11. Priddy graduated from the University of Mississippi with her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2002 and completed her master’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University in 2005. She currently is completing her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. While at Ole Miss, she served as president of the Engineering Student Body. She has continued to be active in the School of Engineering as a member of the Engineering Advisory Board from 2007 to 2012. She serves the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Science as chair of the Young Members Council and as member of the TRB executive board and Technical Activities Council. She is active with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serving previously as president of the Vicksburg branch and secretary of the Mississippi section. ASCE awarded her the Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award in 2010, Mississippi Young Engineer in 2010 and as the national New Face of Civil Engineering in 2005. Priddy is a member of Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church, and her hobbies include cooking, fishing and wine tasting.

32 Alumni Review

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Alumnus forges path in pro football By Brian Hudgins

hen Ruston Webster (BSHPE 85) was a kid growing up in Madison, he regularly watched a group of guys who gave him a glimpse of his future. The New Orleans Saints football squad, the region’s favorite pro football heroes, showed up on television most fall Sundays, sparking Webster’s imagination. “I knew there was something in athletics I wanted to do,” Webster says. “Football is a way of life. I knew I wanted to get involved with it.” Webster’s involvement in the National Football League has put him into an elite fraternity that consists of 32 people representing 32 teams. He is executive vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Titans. He is responsible for shaping a multimillion-dollar team roster with two annual goals: winning the American Football Conference (AFC) South and winning the Super Bowl.

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of the Industry Growing Up in the Game Getting into that fraternity has been a 25-year process that requires Webster to stay on top of the game and also call upon some skills he developed while he was a student at the university. Webster earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1985. “I learned how to communicate. It was part of growing up and learning how to deal with adults. Ole Miss was great for me in that way.” Along the way, Webster met an influential figure: Ray Perkins. When Perkins went to the University of Alabama to be head football coach in 1983, he already had a coast-to-coast taste of the NFL as an offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers and head coach of the New York Giants. Perkins had worked with many eager youngsters and jaded veterans. Then he met Webster. “When I left the New York Giants and went to Bama, I quickly found out that you could have a group of six to eight graduate assistant coaches,” Perkins says. “We took applications from all over the Southeast. This guy from Ole Miss came in — a bright young man who would get up before daylight and stayed late. Did whatever it took. That was my kind of guy.” Webster was working as a graduate assistant at the University of Tulsa when Perkins came calling again in 1988 — this time as head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “That was my one opportunity in Tampa,” Webster says. “Ray Perkins offered me an opportunity, and it sounded like something I would enjoy doing.” Webster served as a regional scout and spent a decade on the road, going from college to college to find young men who could be difference-makers at football’s highest level. “When I started, we carried projectors and watched film,”

he says. “The school had to give you film, and you had to go somewhere and watch it. Technology has made it easier (to see video), but there is still no substitute for seeing a player in person.” Webster saw many players during his days as a scout. While he was wearing out a lot of tires and filling out mileage reports, he found that Tampa, Fla., became a big part of his life. “The size of the city was right, and it was a nice place to live,” he says. “I have friends from there for life. Tampa was a great place to get started. It will always be like home for me.” Webster found himself at home in a supervisory position when the Buccaneers elevated him to director of college scouting in 2001. As he settled into that new role, a big taste of success was not far away. The 2002-03 Bucs brought a Super Bowl championship to Tampa, the first in franchise history for a team that had modest beginnings in 1976 as an expansion club. Tampa went winless in that first season on the way to losing 26 straight games. Webster was not around for that beginning, but he did have 15 years of road trips and long workdays under his belt before seeing the team achieve Super Bowl glory. A Super Bowl ring was waiting at the end of that line. “I don’t think I have had any more exciting (career) moment than that,” Webster says. “You are grinding away daily. When we went to the ring party, that was special. I cherish that ring.” With an established track record of success in Tampa, Webster received an offer in 2006 that would carry him and his family clear across the country. He became vice president of player personnel for the Seattle Seahawks. Webster found himself 2,500 miles away from the place where he used to spend football Sundays as a kid. A friendly work environment and the culture of the Pacific Northwest helped him adjust. “Seattle was a great place to work,” he says. “The salmon and halibut were outstanding. Seattle is a great restaurant city. You

Photos by Donn Jones, Tennessee Titans

Fall 2013 35

Ruston Webster (right) chats with Titans' Head Coach Mike Munchak.

have the mountains, and you might live 30 minutes from a ski resort.” Although skiing was not a natural fit for a son of the South, Webster, his wife Gayle, daughter Hannah, and sons Jacob and Drew would go sometimes. “When we would go skiing, I would be at the bottom of the hill and watch them go down,” Webster says. A few years in Seattle gave Webster a foundation for dealing with high-level personnel issues in the front office. The Tennessee Titans hired him to be their vice president of player personnel before naming him general manager in January of last year. “I had always respected the organization and the people that were running it,” Webster says. “They had a track record of success, and the location appealed to me. I have family in Memphis, my wife is from Corinth, and my parents are in the Jackson, Miss., area. The chance to get closer to family was a big part of the move.” Webster had seen the sport from a variety of viewpoints before reaching the goal of being a general manager. “It all starts with evaluating talent,” Webster says. “I learned around people like Rich McKay, the president of the Atlanta Falcons, and Jerry Angelo (former general manager of the Chicago Bears). They were very good at it, and they were good teachers.”

Friends and Foes Now those team presidents and general managers are Webster’s peers. Although the 32 individual general managers compete against one another, some of them have forged friendships from rising through the ranks together. They also know that they need to maintain open lines of communication and professional courtesy when discussing potential roster moves. “I think most guys get along pretty well,” Webster says. “We are all in the same boat and dealing with the same issues. We talk and compare notes. If there are trades, we are all trying to get the best deal. Everybody understands that pressure to win. We knew each other long before we were general managers.” Webster and New York Jets’ general manager John Idzik both served as college football coaches before they made the transition to scouting in Tampa. They still run into each other at annual NFL meetings, the NFL Scouting Combine, all-star games, college games and individual college workouts known as Pro Days. Considering the Jets and Titans are in different divisions of the AFC, Webster and Idzik are typically more willing to deal with each other than division rivals would be. “Some may choose to limit communication or trade talks with a division rival to a degree, but general managers can certainly relate to what confronts their counterparts,” Idzik says. “This balance between maintaining a distance from your main competition and supporting a peer is a personal style and preference.” In Idzik’s case, he has worked alongside Webster, and their families are close.

Webster visits with Titans’ quarterback Jake Locker.

36 Alumni Review

“I will always keep in touch no matter where the two of us may be,” Idzik says. “I have the utmost respect for Ruston both professionally and personally, and I wish him nothing but the best — with the sole exception of when his Titans play the Jets, of course.” As Webster and the Titans’ staff continue through the 201314 season, the first objective is to capture the AFC South, a division the Houston Texans have won the last two seasons. Because division games make up six of a squad’s 16-game schedule, neutralizing those particular foes through drafting, free agent signings and trades is crucial. “We have to match the best teams in our division,” Webster says. “To compete, that is a big part of it. The first order of business is competing in the division.” Perkins has no doubt that Webster will reach his goals in Nashville — based on seeing his attention to detail and what Webster accomplished at both the University of Alabama and in Tampa. “He is heady from a personnel standpoint,” Perkins says. “You have to know players. He is an outstanding guy. It’s ‘tell me what you want me to do,’ and he stays there until it gets done.” Perkins is gratified to see his former pupil own a Super Bowl ring and have a chance to mold a roster and run the show in Tennessee.

“It gives me a lot of satisfaction,” Perkins says. “I didn’t do anything other than give him an opportunity. He took it and ran with it. To have someone step into an apprentice-type position and go from being on a graduate assistant staff to being in charge of a pro football team … that is really something.” That 25-year professional career has included traveling all over the country as a regional scout and watching the industry change as new tools have become part of talent evaluation. “We have almost every college game and every NFL game (on video),” Webster says. “We can make highlight packages or cut-ups so you can see how individual guys have gotten beat.” Although Webster has spent a lot of time on road trips, he has been able to keep up with his brothers in the pro football fraternity. “I have been to almost every college, and I saw good football. If I had a friend at a college, I was able to stay in touch with people in the business. I enjoy that part of it. The business has been good to me. It has been a lot of sacrifice and working your way up. I wouldn’t change it.” AR

Webster with the Titans’ 2013 first-round draft pick Chance Warmack and Head Coach Mike Munchak

Fall 2013 37

Young alumnus launches successful business from two-minute elevator ride By Annie Rhoades

raveling abroad is a diversion for many, a job component for some and strictly educational for others. For alumnus Matt Hedges (MBA 04), president and co-founder of Vino del Sol, a wine importer and distributor, a trip abroad not only changed his life but the entire landscape of the Argentine wine industry. A native of Corinth, Hedges excelled in school. The valedictorian of his class and a National Merit Scholarship finalist, he graduated from Corinth High School in 1998 and set his sights on Vanderbilt University. During his time at Vanderbilt in 2001, Hedges decided to study abroad for a semester in Argentina. After briefly visiting the country the year prior, he knew this was the place he wanted to be to broaden his horizons and truly learn the language and culture. “I was trying to learn Spanish, so I wanted to go somewhere that spoke the language,” Hedges says. “One of my best friends from college was over there studying as well, so it seemed like the perfect fit.” As it turns out, Hedges made the right choice. While residing in Buenos Aires, he quickly learned how far the peso could stretch to accommodate his budget. “At that time in Argentina, the peso was pegged to the U.S. dollar,” Hedges says. “I was on a student budget, and things were very expensive, but the one thing that was relatively inexpensive was wine. I could get a bottle of wine for the price of a can of beer. And I really began to enjoy the taste.” While Hedges was developing an affinity for Argentine wine, the industry itself was revolutionizing as the economy was

38 Alumni Review

Photo by Derek Myers

Matt Hedges

changing. The Argentine wine industry was the world’s fifth largest wine producer, and given the high per capita consumption of wine in Argentina, there had never been any real reason to export the wine, until Hedges arrived on the scene. “The economy had been somewhat closed for imports/ exports, so it was never really feasible,” Hedges says. “But around this time, a couple of things happened. The domestic consumption of wine dropped dramatically, so the vineyards needed to start exporting, and they were bringing in world-class technology and wine consultants to start making world-class wine.” Adding to the list of favorable conditions, Argentine wine was in scarce supply in the United States. “It just seemed like a great opportunity to start a business,” Hedges says. “I felt that Argentine wine would become a huge hit in the U.S., and it has.” Thane Prichard, vice president of sales, says Vino del Sol was in an enviable position to succeed from the beginning. “We were one of the first groups to approach Argentine wineries about exporting to the U.S. market,” Prichard says. “We chose from over 300 different wineries to bring wine into the U.S.” Not only did the Argentine economy and wine industry create a favorable environment for exporting to the United States, but also the main grape used to make Argentine wine, the malbec grape, was well-suited for the American palate. “It’s very concentrated and fruity, but it’s also very smooth,” Hedges says. “It’s got the power of a cabernet but the smoothness of a merlot, which makes it perfect for the U.S. market.” While Hedges was busy putting all of the pieces together for his new venture, his life took yet another unexpected turn — he met the love of his life, his wife, Claudia.

Fall 2013 39

Vino del Sol staff

The couple first met briefly during his initial visit to the country in 2000. When he returned in 2001 for his study abroad semester stay, the two reunited and were married in 2003. “I, of course, fell in love with my now wife, Claudia, and at the same time fell in love with Argentine wine,” Hedges says. “I had a then girlfriend in Argentina, and I really wanted to do something where I could tie both countries together.” After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy and economics in 2002, Hedges promptly enrolled in the University of Mississippi’s School of Business Administration to pursue a master’s degree. The decision to attend Ole Miss to further his education was an obvious choice. “I had an affinity for Ole Miss growing up,” Hedges says. “I always loved the school, my parents and younger sister are Ole Miss grads, and I knew it was a great business school.” Unlike many students entering their undergraduate and graduate studies, Hedges

knew exactly what he wanted to do once he completed the program. Armed with this knowledge, he was able to use the business school as a powerful resource and ally. “Ole Miss could not have been more supportive of me,” Hedges says. “I was able to shape my MBA classes around this idea of importing Argentine wine.” The next step in making his dream a reality was developing a solid business plan that would garner potential investors. Little did he know his plan would quickly be placed on a prestigious international stage, courtesy of the Wake Forest Elevator Competition held annually in Winston-Salem, N.C. “Ole Miss sponsored [me] and a team to complete a business plan and compete in the competition, which is judged by venture capitalists,” Hedges says. “With it being an international business competition, there were business schools representing all parts of the world.” Under the guidance of Del Hawley, senior associate dean and associate professor of finance at Ole Miss, Hedges and his elevator competition partner, Andrew Jones (MBA 03), had two minutes to ride up an elevator with venture capitalists and pitch their idea. After advancing past the first round, the competition narrowed down to six teams. “At that point we gave a full 20- or 30-minute presentation to the full group of venture capitalists to really go through our idea of importing Argentine wine,” Hedges says. The duo ultimately took home top honors at the competition and quickly began attracting potential investors. “Once we won the competition, we felt we would be able to get venture capital, but a great friend and adviser, Lawrence Farrington (BBA 58), (an independent oil and gas businessman), said, Manos Negras Winery: Argentina & Chile, © Manos Negras

40 Alumni Review

Wild South Winery in Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

‘Why would you give up so much of your company to some venture capitalists you don’t know? Why don’t you raise the money with friends within the Ole Miss system?’” And that’s precisely how Hedges garnered the funds to start Vino del Sol. He loved the idea of keeping everything in the Ole Miss family and was able to attain around 20 angel investors, most of whom had Ole Miss connections. “Lawrence and I were so intrigued with the idea,” says Jan Farrington (BAEd 65), executive director of Medical Support and Development Organization Inc. “Not only did we like the idea, but we liked him. We could tell that he had the drive, intelligence and know-how to make this business go. It’s been such a pleasure to watch him grow and succeed. He really is one of the business school’s true success stories and a great example of what we are producing at Ole Miss.” Hedges’ next step was assembling a team of experts to complete the venture, which included Alejandro Darago, co-founder and agente de representación, Mendoza; and Thane Prichard, vice president of sales. “In 2003, between my first and second year of the MBA program, my wife and I got married in Argentina and lived in Buenos Aires that summer,” says Hedges. “While there, I was trying to meet people in the wine industry, but I soon realized that a lot of the people and wineries I was meeting with weren’t perhaps the most trustworthy. I knew I needed an industry insider.” Hedges found the right man for the job in sommelier Darago while having dinner at the tony Alvear Palace Hotel. “Alejandro and I really hit it off and became great friends,” Hedges says. “He liked the idea of the company from the beginning. At the time he was the top sommelier in the country. He not only had the palate to know good wines but also knew people we could work with and trust because, for years, all of the Argentine wineries had been trying to get their wines into his restaurant and hotel.” With a sommelier and local connections in place, the other major component missing was sales experience. “I had no idea how to sell wine,” Hedges says. “We found Thane,

who had 20 years’ experience selling wine at the national level. He really knew how to start the company from the sales side of it.” Vino del Sol has grown immensely since its formation in 2004, boasting sales of about three million bottles each year and 14 employees located throughout the U.S. and Argentina. The company's imported wines are now available in 48 states, and distribution has increased so much that Vino del Sol bought out its distributor and took over national import distribution directly. The company’s success has been the result of hard work and collaboration. “Matt is a very sharp guy who has really good intuition about wine and about the wine business,” Prichard says. “We get along really well together as partners.” Hedges resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife and two children but still manages to spend a lot of time in Argentina. “We kept a small apartment in Buenos Aires,” says Hedges. “I probably spend two to three months out of the year there due to winery visits, client trips and family vacations.” Through it all, Hedges says he could not have accomplished any of this without the love and support of family, friends, colleagues and the Ole Miss family. “My parents have always been a huge support,” Hedges says. “But I can’t stress enough how much the support of the business school, professors and people like the Farringtons have meant to me. I couldn’t have done it without Ole Miss’ support.” A member of the Business Administration Order and recipient of the Farrington Distinguished Entrepreneur Award, Hedges has shown his appreciation to his alma mater by donating Vino del Sol stock to the university that has given him so much. While Hedges’ immediate plans are to remain in Texas due to its central location, the possibilities for the company are limitless. “We just want to keep growing, bring in great wines and become the trusted source for the top wine buyers across the country,” Hedges says. “I had no idea I would end up doing this. Marrying an Argentine and liking Argentine wine were never part of the plan.” AR Fall 2013 41

Sports The Next Step FORWARD TOGETHER CAMPAIGN REACHES ‘BUILDING PHASE’

s the Forward Together capital campaign reaches its two-year anniversary this fall, its goal to bring first-class athletics facilities to the University of Mississippi continues to be the guiding light. That light shined a bit brighter when Ole Miss Athletics Director Ross Bjork announced the campaign’s next chapter, the “building phase.” “With our goal to open the new arena by January 2016, in addition to all of the other projects we’re working on, the energy and excitement surrounding Ole Miss Athletics is contagious,” Bjork said. Bjork announced in early September that the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation’s vision was becoming a reality as the Forward Together capital campaign exceeded the $95 million mark in pledges and cash received. The building phase will focus on the Rebels’ new basketball arena and a five-story parking garage with 800 spaces

serving the entire campus community. In order for the parking garage to be completed by September 2014, construction on it will begin this fall. Construction on the new arena will begin in spring 2014 with the goal of opening the arena no later than January 2016, which would be in time for conference action. The new basketball arena will seat about 9,500 spectators and include a number of first-class amenities to serve Ole Miss students, student-athletes and fans. The arena will be located on the west side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the space currently occupied by the Rebel Shop and parking lot. The parking garage will be built on the south end of the arena, where the northernmost football practice field currently sits. “The placement of the arena is a long-term decision,” Bjork says. “It will allow us to further enhance our athletics complex, and it will connect athletics to

the heart of the best campus in higher education. This centralized location will create an impressive ‘front door’ for Ole Miss athletics, and it will be a destination point not only on a game day but for every day of the week.” The final phase of the campaign will center on the expansion of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and the redevelopment of the Starnes Center, Gillom Spor ts Center and FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center. The Ole Miss Athletics Foundation has received 14 written agreements for new suites in the planned expansion, but the exact timeline of the expansion is based on additional demand for season tickets and premium seating. To learn more about donating to the campaign or securing seats in Ole Miss’ various athletics venues, fans are asked to go to ForwardTogetherRebels.com, or contact the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation at 662-915-7159. AR Rendering courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

The centerpiece of the Forward Together campaign is the construction of a brand new state-of-the-art basketball arena. The arena will seat 9,500 fans, feature a five-story parking garage and be located on the west side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. 42 Alumni Review

Sports Leading Linebacker JEFF HERROD EARNS SPOT ON SEC LEGENDS CLASS Colts and one year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even in retirement, he has represented the Colts on several occasions, including the 2012 NFL Draft and the 2012 NFL Kickoff celebration, taking part in NFL Play 60 youth clinics. Herrod is a member of the Ole Miss Team of the Century, the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame and Athlon Sports All-Time Rebel Team. This year’s class will be honored at the 2013 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” Dec. 6-7 in Atlanta, Ga. The annual SEC Legends Dinner, presented by AT&T, will be held Dec. 6 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, and the group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, Dec. 7. AR

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

eff Herrod (88), the Rebels’ leading linebacker from 1984-87, has been selected as Ole Miss’ representative for the Southeastern Conference 2013 Football Legends Class. The SEC Legends Class includes 14 former SEC stars who have made a name for themselves as great athletes on the playing field. During his four-year career at Ole Miss, Herrod became the school’s alltime leader in tackles with 528, while also leading the Rebels in tackles all three years as a full-time starter. Herrod was named Defensive MVP in the 1987 Senior Bowl. Not only was his collegiate career a successful one, but so was his NFL tenure. He amassed more than 1,300 tackles during his 11-year career in the league, playing 10 years with the Indianapolis

Jeff Herrod

Winning Streak BRITTNEY REESE DEFENDS WORLD LONG JUMP TITLE Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

Brittney Reese

44 Alumni Review

rittney Reese (BA 11), former Ole Miss star and Olympic gold medalist, did what she does best. At the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow in August, she soared to another world title, and in doing so, she captured her third straight world outdoor crown and sixth overall in international competition. Reese jumped 7.01 meters (23-0) on her second attempt, and that mark held up through the next four rounds of jumps to give her the gold medal. Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare earned silver with a jump of 6.99, and Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic got bronze with a 6.82. “It feels good,” Reese said after

winning another gold. “This was great because now I am in the history books, and I’ve done something that no one has ever done. I’m just excited that God gave me the opportunity to get that last spot yesterday, so I could come out here and show the world that yesterday was not the Brittney Reese that they know. Today was the one that they know.” In her professional career, Reese has now won six consecutive international titles (world outdoor titles in 2009, 2011 and 2013; world indoor titles in 2010 and 2012; Olympic gold medal in London in 2012). The last time she failed to win a world title was in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in her first year as a pro. AR

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OLE MISS NEEDS YOU! Do you have children or grandchildren whom you would like to attend Ole Miss? If so, help us get them here! Students may sign up to join our mailing list by visiting www.olemiss.edu/vip. Select “high school student,” “transfer student,” or “international student,” and complete the interest page. We will add you to our mailing list, and you will begin receiving correspondence from Ole Miss. After completing the form, you will be redirected to a webpage designed specifically for prospective students!

The University of Mississippi is committed to the core principles of a great American university: accessibility, excellence and leadership, and service.

arts &

Culture U.S. president, governors, coaches and celebrities. Khayat served as the 15th chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1995 until 2009. He is a former college football All-Star, All-Pro kicker for the Washington Redskins, law professor and president of the NCAA Foundation. An Academic All-American football and baseball player at Ole Miss, Khayat h a s d e g re e s f r o m Ol e Miss and Yale. He has received the NFL Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award.

The Education of a Lifetime by Robert Khayat, 354 pages, $24.95 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9781936946174 In The Education of a Lifetime, Robert Khayat (BA 61, JD 66) writes about his childhood days in Moss Point, the state’s segregationist policies that prevented his SEC championship baseball team from playing in the College World Series, and the sadness of experiencing his father’s arrest and guilty plea. These seemingly disparate events worked to prepare him to battle the vestiges of racial strife that continued to haunt the University of Mississippi’s culture as he accepted the honor of becoming the university’s chancellor. The Education of a Lifetime gives readers a behind-the scenes look at how a university moved from mediocrity to excellence. Readers relive, along with Khayat, the courting of an eccentric donor as well as private conversations with a sitting 46 Alumni Review

A Ghostly Shade of Pale b y Merle Temple, 354 pages, $25.95 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780981671062 Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Capt. Michael Parker is an unlikely player in a struggle for the soul of America. A ghostly pale embodiment of evil becomes his obsession, and his tormentor leaves a trail of bodies across the South. As snipers ambush Michael and his agents, and the woman he loves is stalked by death, he learns that he is not alone as he has to fight for his life against enemies seen and unseen. M e r l e Te m p l e (BPA 72, MCJ 81), a native of Tupelo, came of age in the South in the wake of Elvis, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. He worked for the FBI in Washington after high school before returning to Mississippi to earn two degrees at Ole Miss.

He then signed on with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. A Ghostly Shade of Pale is fiction based on his experiences in the bureau. I Dream in Color (Volume I) by Jarvis Ray Buchanan, 64 pages, $13.95 (Paperback), ISBN: 9781470054311 I Dream in Color is intended to provide a fun way of educating children about history. The short story takes a look at the world through the eyes of Henry O. Flipper, the first AfricanAmerican to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. Jackson, a troubled preteen, visits Henry in the year 1877, and learns a valuable lesson that helps him understand that although he may not always have the most expensive things in life, he is still capable of accomplishing whatever he puts his mind to accomplishing. Jarvis Buchanan (BA 05) is an active duty captain in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Asheville, N.C. He was commissioned in 2005 from the University of Mississippi ROTC program and graduated with a B.A. in psychology. He received a master’s degree in leadership and management from Webster University in 2012. 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

2014

rebel

raveler T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips for 2014. 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 and complete listing of trips and prices is available on the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s website at www.olemissalumni.com/ travel. PANAMA: 100 YEARS LATER JAN. 5-15, 2014 Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the marvelous Panama Canal on a 10-night full transit cruise. Travel through the locks of the historic Panama Canal on a journey between the Atlantic and the Pacific. The Panama Canal is both an engineering masterpiece and a natural wonder. Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the passageway crosses the huge, man-made Gatun Lake and the amazing Gaillard Cut, blasted out of solid mountainside. The great locks raise and lower your ship along a 50-mile waterway — sometimes with just inches to spare on either side. Venture through the virgin rain forests, and bask in the sun on the world’s most beautiful beaches. Multiple ports will give your vacation variety: quaint villages one day, Mayan ruins the next, peppered with relaxing beach trips and adventurous excursions both sailing above the trees and diving deep beneath the seas. — From $2,280

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Panama Canal

SWITZERLAND AND THE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT *OLE MISS ONLY* JAN. 18-27, 2014 Enjoy four nights in Lausanne, Switzerland, and four nights in Como, Italy, including stays in hotels that overlook Lake Geneva and Lake Como, on this trip exclusively for Ole Miss. Excursions beyond the two cities include outings through the countryside and to nearby historic monuments. From Lausanne, see Montreux, Chillon Castle, Geneva, Annecy, and enjoy chocolate and wine tastings. From Como, visit Stresa, Lake Maggiore, and cruise on Lake Como to Bellagio. This unique vacation to Lausanne and Como promises beautiful scenery, magnificent art and architecture, excellent food and wine, and most importantly, the camaraderie and fun of traveling with Ole Miss colleagues and friends. — From $4,638, including airfare

EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA JAN. 31-FEB. 13, 2014 Join us for this spectacular 14-day journey featuring a nine-night cruise to Antarctica, Earth’s last frontier. Cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, intimate M.S. L’Austral, the finest vessel in Antarctic waters, featuring private balconies in 95 percent of the deluxe, ocean-view accommodations. Experience the White Continent in its unspoiled state — fantastically shaped icebergs, turquoise glaciers, bustling penguin rookeries and breaching whales. Accompanied by the ship’s expert team of naturalists, board sturdy Zodiac craft for excursions ashore, and observe Antarctica’s abundant wildlife. Also, spend two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires. Extend your journey with the exclusive three-night Iguazú Falls post-program option. This unique itinerary sells out every year. — From $7,995

AROUND THE WORLD BY PRIVATE JET FEB. 1-23, 2014 Explore the world’s most treasured and legendary places — places that define the human experience, where natural splendor merges with the majesty of human achievement. Travel by private jet with a team of world-class experts and professional staff for a level of service, security, comfort and convenience that makes this journey a truly unforgettable experience. 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 to face 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 expedition or to make a reservation, call our tour operator, TCS & Starquest Expeditions, at 800-454-4149 or 206-2540228. — From $69,950 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND FEB. 5-18, 2014 This spectacular 14-day journey captures the essence of Australia and New Zealand and features an exclusive three-night Great Barrier Reef cruise aboard the intimate Coral Princess. Accompanied by a marine biologist, observe the wondrous underwater world from a glass-bottom boat or while snorkeling. On land, experience the magnificent natural wonders and dynamic cultures of Down Under with stays in Queenstown, Te Anau, Sydney and Cairns. Enjoy a scenic cruise on Milford Sound, see the stunning vistas of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and learn about the rich heritage of the Aborigines. Auckland pre-program and Ayers Rock post-program options are offered. — From $3,995

VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY: WONDERS OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS FEB. 7-15, 2014 This incredible nine-day journey features a four-night cruise in the Galápagos Islands, a nature lover’s dream destination and UNESCO World Heritage site, aboard the firstclass small ship M.V. Santa Cruz. This exploration vessel is fully equipped for the complete Galápagos experience, from a glass-bottom boat to a team of certified naturalists and complimentary snorkeling gear. Visit seven islands and see the exotic birds, animals and plants that inspired Charles Darwin, including species unknown elsewhere in the world. On mainland Ecuador, enjoy deluxe hotel accommodations in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Guayaquil. The six-night post-program option features Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and historic Lima, Peru. — From $3,795 CALIFORNIA COASTAL FEB. 10-18, 2014 Discover the beautiful, golden coast of California the way you’ve never seen it before. Relax and enjoy the warm sunshine and cool breeze of the Pacific Ocean. Breathtaking coastlines stretch as far as the eye can see. Historic missions and churches give Santa Barbara and Monterey a unique European and Spanish flavor. Three full days in

San Francisco allow plenty of time to explore one of the most fascinating cities rich in culture and diversity. While in San Francisco, wine connoisseurs will be in heaven visiting the many vineyards in the Napa and Sonoma valleys. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, the Financial District, Twin Peaks and Ghirardelli Square are a few of the many must-see attractions in San Francisco. — From $2,399 ASIAN EXPLORATIONS — HONG KONG TO BEIJING FEB. 20-MARCH 10, 2014 Find yourself in the legendary lands of East Asia, a world filled with rich traditions and mystifying architecture, while cruising in luxury aboard Oceania Cruises’ Nautica, an intimate ship offering outstanding amenities. After a day in exciting Hong Kong, a city of modern high-rise buildings dotted with timeless Chinese temples, depart for Taipei, Taiwan, a savvy metropolis whose colorful markets brim with flowers and jade. Continue north to the Japanese island of Okinawa, where the imposing 14th-century Shuri Castle awaits. Experience Kyoto, an ancient imperial capital sprinkled with temples and shrines, and Hiroshima, home to the moving Peace Memorial Park. Next is Shanghai, where bustling markets and distinct architecture line the

Galápagos Islands Fall 2013 49

2014 rebel

Traveler Bora Bora, and wander the black sand beaches of Nuku Hiva. Sail to Hiva Oa, artist Paul Gauguin’s idyllic island home, and enchant your senses with colorful sea life at Rangiroa before returning to Papeete on the lovely island of Tahiti. Set adrift, catch the breeze, and discover Polynesia’s most beautiful gems on this exceptional voyage. — From $3,299, including airfare

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Yangtze River, before a stop in Seoul, South Korea’s vivacious capital city that blends history and modernity. Sail to Dalian, China’s “most livable city,” and conclude your Asian odyssey with a day in Beijing, China’s fascinating capital, home to remarkable sites such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the legendary Great Wall. From ancient temples to soaring skyscrapers, vibrant markets to world-renowned museums, natural wonders to cuttingedge technology, this will truly be an exceptional voyage. — From $5,999, including airfare TANZANIA SAFARI DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION MARCH 3-13, 2014 Travel with us on this 11-day safari of a lifetime into the majestic grasslands of Tanzania, Africa’s premier safari destination, during the annual Great Migration. Visit three of Tanzania’s finest game parks — Lake Manyara National Park and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater — with 50 Alumni Review

deluxe accommodations. Guided game drives reveal vast herds of elephants, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles and Cape buffalos, and prides of magnificent lions, cheetahs and leopards. An expert curator illuminates human prehistory at Olduvai Gorge, the “cradle of mankind.” A twonight Tarangire post-program option is available. This exceptional travel value includes all accommodations, game drives and most meals. — From $6,495 TAHITIAN JEWELS — OCEANIA CRUISE MARCH 26-APRIL 5, 2014 Savor the tropical splendor of emeraldgreen palms, white sand beaches and brilliant turquoise waters as you sail aboard the luxurious Oceania Cruises’ Marina to the most stunning destinations in the South Pacific, the gorgeous Polynesian islands. Experience a cruise with the finest service, accommodations and cuisine at sea, where every port of call is an island paradise. Admire multihued lagoons around Moorea, and discover the region’s cultural heritage on beautiful Raiatea. Be engulfed by magnificent tropical beauty on romantic

Springtime in PARIS APRIL 4-11, 2014 Blanketed in enchanting, twinkling lights and radiating sheer romance and glamour, Paris is a true masterpiece whose very name evokes a multitude of wondrous images, from charming sidewalk cafés and elegant haute couture shops to stunning monuments and magnificent architecture. Admire the City of Light from the gentle waters of the Seine during an evening cruise on one of the world’s most romantic rivers. Marvel at the grand Louvre Museum with its vast art collection; witness the superb Gothic architecture of the largest cathedral in Paris, Notre-Dame; and walk through Europe’s largest opera house, the lavish Palais Garnier, renowned for its striking white marble staircase. Sample wine and cheese at the Musée du Vin, 15th-century cellars originally built as part of a monastery; take in the popular Champs-Elysées and the famed Arc de Triomphe; and unravel the secrets behind the global symbol of Paris, the amazing Eiffel Tower. Consider a visit to the magnificent Palace of Versailles and Claude Monet’s beloved garden estate in Giverny. Discover the lovely town of Chartres and its remarkable cathedral, a 13th-century French Gothic work of art, or journey to the famous beaches of Normandy, a significant landmark in American history. Experience more of charming France with an optional two-day extension to Bordeaux, the elegant city at the center of the famous wine region in southwest France. — From $2,899

News alumni

Class Notes ’40s ’70s MAYES MCGEHEE (LLB 48) of Butler Snow in Jackson received the 2013 Mississippi Bar Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the annual meeting of The Mississippi Bar. PATRICK D. SMITH (BA 47, MA 59) of Merritt Island, Fla., received a Great Floridian Award from Gov. Rick Scott.

’50s

JAMES E. DARNELL JR. (BA 51), Vincent Astor professor emeritus and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology at Rockefeller University, was elected to the American Philosophical Society.

’60s

LOUIS ALLEN (LLB 64) of Glankler Brown in Memphis was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. DAVID BLAYLOCK (LLB 64) of Glankler Brown in Memphis was named Memphis Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. DON L. FRUGÉ (BBA 67, JD 70), president and CEO of Oxford Investment Advisors LLC, was named the 2013 University of Mississippi School of Law Alumnus of the Year. E. CLIFTON HODGE JR. (BBA 64, JD 67), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of litigation (corporate and commercial) by Chambers USA, an annual ranking of law firms and lawyers comprising an extensive range of practice areas. DR. RUSSELL F. KEARNEY JR. (BA 61) of Long Beach was granted membership in the Jamestowne Society by proving direct descent from a burgess in 1600’s Jamestown. GUY W. MITCHELL III (JD 68) of the Tupelo office of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams was sworn in as 2013-14 president of The Mississippi Bar. W. SCOTT WELCH III (LLB 64), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of litigation (general commercial) by Chambers USA.

52 Alumni Review

RON ALDRIDGE (BBA 72, JD 75) of Jackson was elected to the board of directors of Woodmen of the World/ Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. BOB BANE (BBA 79) of Jackson retired as business development manager with Ford Motor Credit after 34 years and is joining Santander Chrysler Capital Group. MARK CHINN (JD 78), of Chinn & Associates PC in Jackson, was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2014 (Family Law). CALVIN COSNAHAN (BBA 78, JD 81) moved to Jackson as associate pastor-congregational care at Christ United Methodist Church. THOMAS CREELY (BBA 77, MBA 81), principal of EthixFirma LLC in Atlanta, was elected secretary of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training board of directors. BROOKS EASON (BA 79), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of labor and employment law by Chambers USA.

STEPHEN C. EDDS (BA 71, JD 73), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of corporate/commercial law (municipal finance) by Chambers USA. DERRICK FREEMAN (BBA 77) of Jackson joined Allen Financial Group/Park Avenue Securities as the firm’s investment specialist. WILLIAM W. “BILL” JONES III (BPA 71, JD 73), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of litigation (general commercial) by Chambers USA. BOB LOMENICK (BSPh 77) of Potts Camp was awarded the 2013 Next-Generation Pharmacist Entrepreneur of the Year by Parata Systems and Pharmacy Times.

BILL LUCKETT (JD 73) of Luckett Tyner Law Firm was elected mayor of Clarksdale. GEORGE NASSAR JR. (BBA 77, JD 79) of Glankler Brown in Memphis was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. RUSH O’KEEFE (BBA 75, JD 79) of Batesville was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest adult volunteer award a Boy Scout Council can give. PAT PATTERSON (BAEd 75) was re-elected mayor of Oxford. WILLIAM N. REED (BA 72, JD 77), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of litigation (general commercial) by Chambers USA. STEVEN ROGERS (BA 76) of Jackson was elected chairman of the board of directors of RREEF America REIT III Corp. FRANCES PERMENTER SMITH (BA 74) of Madison received the Virgil Evans Award from the Louisiana Cable Telecommunications Association honoring outstanding lifetime achievement in the cable industry. NINA STUBBLEFIELD TOLLISON (BM 73) of Oxford was presented the 2013 Susie Blue Buchanan Award by the Mississippi Bar’s Women in the Profession Committee during the 15th annual Price-Prather Luncheon at the Mississippi Bar’s 2013 annual meeting. WENDELL WEAKLEY (BBA 76) of Oxford was elected to the national board of directors of Ducks Unlimited Inc.

’80s

DEBRA VEAZEY AKERS (BSPh 82), co-director of Owl Drug Store in Hattiesburg, was named medical support employee of the year for 2012 by the multispecialty clinic. DIANE SCHULER ASHLEY (BSPh 80), codirector of Owl Drug Store in Hattiesburg, was named medical support employee of the year for 2012 by the multispecialty clinic.

In Memoriam

FORMER ALUMNI DIRECTOR JIM BUTLER REMEMBERED AS INNOVATOR

ames N. Butler (BSPHE 53, MEd 62), who served 10 years as director of alumni affairs and nearly two decades in other roles with the Alumni Association, died on July 1 at his home in Oxford after a long illness. He was 86. Butler helped modernize and dramatically expand the Alumni Association and is remembered as an innovator, a compassionate leader and a dedicated friend and husband. “He truly loved people,” says Brenda West, former associate director of alumni affairs who worked with Butler for 10 years. “He was fair, and people respected him. He had high standards for the organization, but he was wonderful to work for.” A native of Pontotoc County, Butler came to the university in 1944 as a freshman guard on the Rebel football team. He served a tour James N. Butler of duty during World War II before returning to campus to complete his degrees. He served as principal and head football coach at Pontotoc High School for a few years and returned to Ole Miss in 1961 as alumni secretary. In 1980, Butler was named the university’s second full-time director of alumni affairs, a position he held until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure, the Alumni Association increased

MICHAEL T. DAWKINS (BAccy 81), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of environmental law by Chambers USA. TIM LINDSAY (BBA 81, JD 84), of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C.’s Jackson office, was included in the 2013 edition of Chambers USA. ALWYN LUCKEY (BA 82, JD 85) of Ocean Springs was elected to serve as chairman of the Mississippi State Personnel Board for fiscal year 2014. DARREN MUSSELWHITE (BBA 89) of Southaven was sworn in as Southaven’s first new mayor in 16 years. WILLIAM N. PRICE JR. (BAccy 84, MAccy 85) of Forest was elected to the board of directors of Bank of Forest.

its active membership by almost 7,000 members and added two professional chapters and more than 20 new alumni clubs. One of the Association’s greatest accomplishments came when Butler took the bold step to buy a computer system for maintaining alumni records early in his stint as director. Butler also helped organize the Black Alumni Advisory Council and the university’s first Black Alumni Reunion, and he helped open doors for women on campus, West says. Despite being retired for more than 20 years, Butler remained active in the Alumni Association until recently. “I never worked for Mr. Butler, but he had continued to be present in our activities for the 23 years I have worked here,” says Tim Walsh, Alumni Association executive director. “He and Mrs. Butler mentored some of our Student Alumni Council members through last semester, and they continued to come to every alumni event to which he was invited. He was a great man and will be sorely missed.” Butler was named to the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 1991, and the auditorium in the Triplett Alumni Center is named in his honor. AR

COLLEEN COFFIELD SACHS (BA 83) of Sachs & La Seur PA in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., was selected as a 2013 Legal Elite honoree in Florida Trend magazine. THOMAS B. SHEPHERD III (BBA 80), a partner in the Jones Walker LLP law firm in Jackson, assumed the office of president of the International Association of Gaming Advisors. J. CARTER THOMPSON JR. (JD 84), a shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, was ranked as a leading practitioner in the field of litigation (general commercial) by Chambers USA.

’90s

DR. BILL BAIRD (BA 91) assumed the role of associate medical director for primary care with Ochsner Medical System in Baton Rouge, La. RYAN BECKETT (JD 99), of Butler, Snow,

O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada PLLC in Jackson, was appointed to serve as chairman of the Mississippi Tort Claims Board. JOHN F. FLETCHER (JD 94) joined the Jackson office of Jones Walker LLP as a partner in the Tax and Estates Practice Group and the State and Local Tax team. JAY HUGHES (JD 91) was elected to Oxford’s Board of Aldermen for Ward 1. CHARLIE HUSSEY (BBA 99) of Birmingham was promoted to the position of associate commissioner for SEC Network relations. KAREN MORGAN IVY (BA 91, MS 93, PhD 01) of Maplewood, an associate professor of mathematics at New Jersey City University, was invited to deliver the National Association of Mathematicians’ prestigious David Blackwell Lecture at the 2013 Mathematical Association of America MathFest.

Fall 2013 53

News alumni

KEVIN KINKADE (BBA 93) of Madison was promoted to first vice president with Trustmark. ROBYN TANNEHILL (BA 92) was elected to Oxford’s Board of Aldermen for Ward 2. RUSSELL WILSON (BAEd 92) was elected mayor of Carrollton.

’00s

KATHERINE CLIBURN (BBA 09, BAccy 09, MAccy 10) of Ocean

Springs joined Hancock Holding Co. as senior auditor. DAVID DAVIS (BA 07, BAEd 12) of Senatobia accepted a teaching job with Coldwater High School. REV. CHRISTOPHER C. DIGGS (BA 09) was appointed by Bishop James E. Swanson and the cabinet as senior pastor at Burns United Methodist Church in Oxford.

KELLY ENGLISH (BSFCS 02), chef and owner of Restaurant Iris in Memphis, was named a 2013 Young Memphian professional by the Greater Memphis Chamber. MICHAEL JUHAS (BBA 00, BA 07) was selected president of St. Joseph Catholic School in Jackson. DR. TAYLOR SMITH (BA 04, MD 09) joined the ophthalmology practice of Jackson Eye Associates. MARY GUNN SPRAGINS (BA 08) of Shea Ear Clinic in Memphis graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with a Doctor of Audiology. RYAN UPSHAW (BA 06, MA 08) of Oxford was named associate dean for student services at the University of Mississippi School of Engineering. BEN WEST (BBA 06, JD 09) of Houston, Texas, joined the international top 20 law firm Reed Smith as an associate in its Houston office, focusing on energy litigation, complex business and commercial litigation, toxic tort and product liability. KYLE WIDDOWS (BBA 08, MBA 09) of Ocean Springs accepted the position of regional revenue manager for MGM Resorts International Mississippi Properties.

’10s

ALEXANDER AIVAZIS (JD 12) of West Columbia, S.C., passed the South Carolina Bar Examination. VINCE CHAMBLEE (BA 10, BAccy 10), CPA, joined the Memphis office of Diversified Trust. JEFFREY GRAVES (JD 12) joined the insurance litigation division of Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush in Jackson.

Baby on Board

cott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), assistant director for the Ole Miss Alumni Association, welcomed a new addition to his family this summer. Samuel Carter was born on June 28 to Thompson and his wife, Mary (MEd 08). Also welcoming Samuel was big sister Lucy. Thompson joined the Alumni Association staff in 2003 and currently directs alumni activities for the schools of Law and Pharmacy. He also works with the Herb Dewees Alumni Association Scholarship program. AR

54 Alumni Review

DOUGLAS ODOM (BA 13) of Jackson received national recognition as a campus leader in scholarship by Omicron Delta Kappa. VALMADGE TOWNER (PhD 10) of Marks was named president of Coahoma Community College. TAYLOR REBECCA WEST (BAccy 11, MAccy 12) joined the accounting firm of KPMG as an audit associate in Birmingham, Ala.

JOIN. THE WEEKEND IS ON US. Join, renew, or extend your membership, or become a Sustaining Life Member by Jan. 15, 2014, for a chance to win a stay at The Inn at Ole Miss during the Memphis home football weekend in 2014! Make your Alumni Association the strongest in the SEC and the nation by renewing your membership and encouraging your classmates, neighbors and friends to remain active.

#OMAA25K Rising to 25,000 Members in 2013

OLEMISSALUMNI.COM/JOIN

News alumni

Top Teacher

ALUMNA HONORED AS AMERICAN LAWYERS ALLIANCE TEACHER OF THE YEAR

ichael Anne Pettiette (BA 06) was presented the programs in their schools and communities. “As our teacher for the gifted and talented students, Law-Related Elementary School Teacher of the Michael Anne Pettiette encourages and Year Award for 2013 by the American challenges all of her students by offering Lawyers Alliance. a rigorous curriculum as well as addiPettiette, a teacher at Ben Milam tional educational opportunities such Elementary School in the Dallas (Texas) as our first-ever chess club,” says school Independent School District, received a cerprincipal Anna Gamez. “Students spent tificate and a $1,500 award at ALA’s annual time learning chess and participated in conference in August. She received an a district chess tournament. Through additional $500 at the awards ceremony in her extra efforts, our students experiSan Francisco for hotel and travel expenses. enced success and will be prepared and The award honors U.S. public and encouraged to continue participating in private schoolteachers who have made additional educational opportunities for significant contributions in the area years to come.” of law-related education. Teachers are Founded in 1958, ALA is a charitable acknowledged by the ALA for furtherand educational nonprofit organization ing the understanding of the role of the with individual and institutional members courts, law-enforcement agencies and the Michael Anne Pettiette nationwide. ALA’s mission is to promote legal profession; aiding students to recognize their responsibilities as well as their rights and civic understanding of the American legal system through its duty; and encouraging effective law-related education national network of lawyers’ spouses. AR

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56 Alumni Review

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Fall 2013 57

News alumni

WEDDINGS Laura Elizabeth Allison and William R. Woods (BBA 01), May 17, 2013.

Jane Brinkley, daughter of Ellen Brinkley Street (BBA 00) and Stuart Pleasant Street (BBA 98), Jan. 7, 2013.

Julia Elizabeth Cruzen (BS 10) and Mark Beasley Scales, April 21, 2012.

Samuel Carter, son of Mary Sloan Thompson (MEd 08) and Gerald Scott Thompson (BA 97, MA 08), June 28, 2013.

Jessica Glynn Fort (BAccy 10, MAccy 11) and Erik Don Tolleson (BBA 09), June 29, 2013. Catherine Leigh Freeman (BA 10, MEd 12) and Steven Ware Barnett (BBA 10), April 13, 2013. Sara Elizabeth Henderson (BBA 08) and Michael Thomas Miller, Aug. 3, 2013. Blewett Elizabeth Melton (BBA 02) and Seth M. McInteer, April 13, 2013. Hannah Wells and Dustin Cory Bridges (BA 12), May 18, 2013. BIRTHS Robert Kaden Justice, son of Penny Nichole Barnes (BAEd 11), May 20, 2013.

Miriam Elizabeth, daughter of Amanda C. Waddell (BA 95, JD 99) and Alexander B. Waddell (BA 95), April 22, 2013. Mary Thorne and Pauline Grace, daughters of Julia Givens Williams (BA 06, JD 09) and Oliver Williams (BAccy 06, MAccy 07), March 23, 2013. IN MEMORIAM 1930s John Andrew Johnson Sr. (34) of Albuquerque, N.M., Jan. 14, 2013 Louise Andrus Love (BA 33) of Yazoo City, July 17, 2013 Scott Seaton Warfield (37) of Ridgeland, Aug. 15, 2013

Vivienne Vail, daughter of Camille Collins Black (BA 02) and Geoffrey Nathaniel Heard Black, Jan. 4, 2013.

1940s Herbert Barton Bailey Jr. (BBA 48) of Oxford, July 28, 2013

Jacob Alan, son of Melissa Webster Goe (BBA 06, BSPh 09, PharmD 11) and Joshua Clay Goe (BA 04), June 25, 2013.

Jim C. Barnett (MedCert 47) of Brookhaven, July 26, 2013

Richard Wayne III, son of Karen Courtney Kostal (BSFCS 04) and Richard Wayne Kostal (BBA 04), July 17, 2013.

Mary Virginia McCoy Bonds (BAEd 46) of Savannah, Ga., July 15, 2013

Parker N. Jr. and Emily L., twins of Kristin Baber Pugh and Parker N. Pugh (BBA 04), June 13, 2013.

Lillian Elizabeth Lott Cameron (43) of Long Beach, March 3, 2013

Sidney B. Berry Jr. (47) of Joliet, Ill., July 1, 2013 Dorothy Barranco Bridgers (BA 48) of Vicksburg, July 19, 2013

Now is the time for a fiscal check-up No more excuses for not knowing how your finances and investments line up with your life goals and retirement expectations. Call today for a free consultation, and we’ll explore strategies for protecting yourself and helping you prosper today, tomorrow and into the future.

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58 Alumni Review

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ARE YOU A CARD-CARRYING OLE MISS FAN?

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News alumni

Photo courtesy of Ken Foose

Showing Their School Spirit

embers of the UM Freshman Class of 1941 gathered in June to celebrate their 72nd anniversary. Attendees included (front row from left) Bubber Fletcher, David Stewart, Harold James, (back row) William Winter, George Thatcher, Ken Foose, Bill Threadgill and Joel Varner. AR

Historic Historic

Double Decker Bus Tours

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Tour Dates Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday,

October 11 October 18 October 25 November 8 November 15 November 22

FOOTBALL FRIDAYS AT 2 PM (FRIDAYS PRIOR TO ALL SEVEN HOME FOOTBALL GAMES)

Tours depart from the NEW Visit Oxford Visitors Center located at 415 South Lamar.

Historic driving on the Double Decker bus with local historian, Jack Mayfield. Tours will take you through the Ole Miss campus, historic downtown Square and other historic points of interest in Oxford.

Tickets for tours are $5 and tours last 1 hour. For more information, call Visit Oxford at 662.232.2477

60 Alumni Review

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Auto insurance that makes the most of your connections. Did you know that as a member or friend of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, you could save up to $427.96 or more on Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance?1 You could save even more if you also insure your home with us. Plus, you’ll receive quality coverage from a partner you can trust, with features and options that can include Accident Forgiveness2, New Car Replacement3, and Lifetime Repair Guarantee.4

This organization receives financial support for allowing Liberty Mutual to offer this auto and home insurance program. 1 Discounts are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Figure reflects average national savings for customers who switched to Liberty Mutual’s group auto and home program. Based on data collected between 1/1/2012 and 6/30/2012. Individual premiums and savings will vary. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. 2For qualifying customers only. Subject to terms and conditions of Liberty Mutual’s underwriting guidelines. Not available in CA and may vary by state. 3Applies to a covered total loss. Your car must be less than one year old, have fewer than 15,000 miles and have had no previous owner. Does not apply to leased vehicles or motorcycles. Subject to applicable deductible. Not available in NC or WY. 4Loss must be covered by your policy. Not available in AK. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA. © 2013 Liberty Mutual Insurance

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Fall 2013 61

News alumni

A Great Journey through Europe

le Miss alumni and friends enjoyed “The Great Journey through Europe” from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6. The trip took participants through the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland as part of the Alumni Association’s travel program. For more information on upcoming trips, visit the Rebel Traveler department on page 48 of this issue, or visit the Alumni Association website at www.olemissalumni.com. AR Jane Finney Clark (46) of Maryville, Tenn., June 27, 2013

Nell Finlay Guinnup (BAEd 43) of Lafayette, Ind., July 15, 2013

Virginia Shumpert Dykstra (BA 43) of Tupelo, Aug. 4, 2013

Constance Pilkinton Johnson (BA 44) of Townsend, Ga., July 28, 2013

Paul B. Eason (BSC 43) of Ridgeland, July 1, 2013

Henry Allen Lee Jr. (BBA 49) of McComb, Aug. 10, 2013

Geddes Broadwell Flagg (MedCert 40) of Gulfport, July 12, 2013

Alice Sharpe Swittenberg (BA 42) of Ridgeland, June 17, 2013

Ruth Ervin Gates (BSHPE 41) of Woodstock, Ill., Aug. 5, 2013

Wilbur Lee Todd (BBA 48, MBA 51) of Tupelo, June 25, 2013

William Meek Gillespie Jr. (BS 49, MedCert 50) of Meridian, July 31, 2013

Guy Morrison Walker II (LLB 49) of Ocean Springs, Aug. 1, 2013

62 Alumni Review

Your Unique Holiday Experience Awaits... join us in Greenwood. Holiday Open House / Yuletide Trolley Ride November 14th - 16th www.greenwoodms.com

Courthouse Lighting and Holiday Movie Night December 5th www.mainstreetgreenwood.com

Roy Martin Delta Band Festival, Christmas Parade, Ice Skating and Fireworks December 6th www.greenwoodms.com

Cookie Decorating with Viking Cooking School December 7th www.vikingcookingschool.com

Holiday Concert with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra December 8th www.thealluvian.com

Buford Family Christmas December 18th www.thealluvian.com

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Bash December 31st www.thealluvian.com

Fall 2013 63

News alumni

Muriel Mulvenna Webster (41) of Marianna, Ark., May 26, 2013

Billy Ragland King (BBA 55) of Oxford, July 14, 2013

Alonzo D. Welch (MA 46) of Jackson, July 14, 2013

William Robert Lamb (BBA 56, LLB 59) of Oxford, June 27, 2013

Ann Mott Williamson (BBA 48) of Midland, Texas, June 22, 2013

Tony Gene Lee Sr. (BA 53) of Greeneville, Tenn., July 24, 2013

Lester Franklin Williamson Sr. (LLB 49) of Meridian, Aug. 7, 2013

Barney Luther (MEd 54) of Ecru, June 18, 2013 Patricia McNease McCrackin (BSPh 53) of Fayette, Ala., June 18, 2013

1950s Thomas Mason Altee Sr. (BPA 59) of Portland, Tenn., July 24, 2013

Robertson Lispenard Miller (BA 57) of Asheville, N.C., June 14, 2013

Alex Dan Ball (BSPh 51) of Malvern, Ark., July 30, 2013

Joseph Earlton Paslay Sr. (BSHPE 57) of Oxford, July 31, 2013

Mary Futhey Blanchard (BAEd 59) of Las Vegas, Nev., July 25, 2013 William Alonzo Bolick (BA 59, MA 62) of Neenah, Wis., Nov. 4, 2012 James N. Butler (BSHPE 53, MEd 62) of Oxford, June 30, 2013 Roy D. Cochran (BBA 58) of Kosciusko, June 21, 2013 Helen Conger Dayton (MedCert 50) of Dunnellon, Fla., June 18, 2013 Allan George Edgar Jr. (BBA 56) of Brandon, July 9, 2013 Jessie Stewart Everett (BSC 51, MS 56) of Decatur, June 16, 2013 Laura Rivers Finlay (BA 55) of Jackson, Ala., Aug. 13, 2013 Albert J. Graehler (BBA 52) of Louisville, Ky., June 25, 2013 Lundy Reid Gunn Sr. (BBA 50, LLB 52) of Madison, Aug. 3, 2013

Grady L. Nabors (58) of Clarksdale, July 30, 2013 Ernest C. Phillips Jr. (BBA 53, LLB 60) of Longview, Texas, June 18, 2013 Marlin E. Ryland (BBA 56) of Gulfport, June 18, 2013 Charles Carroll Scott (BBA 59) of Oxford, July 1, 2013 William Edward Skinner (BSPh 50) of Natchez, July 20, 2013 Harry Jackson Stuart (BAEd 57) of Tupelo, July 28, 2013 Gene Perry Tate (BA 57, MBA 61) of New Albany, Aug. 2, 2013 Oscar Felix Temple Jr. (BBA 57, MBA 58) of Walnut Creek, Calif., July 29, 2013 Catherine Bankston Varner (BBA 50) of Jackson, July 20, 2013

Francis Everett Hall Jr. (BA 54) of Mobile, Ala., July 10, 2013

1960s Joseph Malcolm Booth (BS 68, MS 71) of Germantown, Tenn., July 3, 2013

Lloyd Harder (BSPh 52) of Blacksburg, Va., Aug. 15, 2013

Gary Ray Cowand (BBA 69) of Chesapeake, Va., Aug. 14, 2013

William Howard Hudspeth (BA 51) of Plano, Texas, Aug. 10, 2013

Robert Crespino (BBA 61) of Decatur, Ga., July 29, 2013

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

WE HAVE 3 GROWING COMPANIES AND PLENTY OF JOBS

64 Alumni Review

• • •

These companies are: Security Card Services, LLC – a credit card company Security Credit Services, LLC – an accounts receivables management company U.S. Capital, LLC – a consumer lending company

Two of our companies are listed on Inc 500’s fastest growing companies in the United States. We have immediate job openings for people who can help us grow these companies. Majority of the jobs are in sales, accounting, and administration. We are looking for people who have: • Integrity • Positive Mental Attitude • Strong Work Ethic • Common Sense • Team Player • Money-‐Oriented • A Belief in Capitalism and the Free Enterprise System We would be interested in discussing our opportunities with you. If you have an interest, please call Meghan Barkley or Lynda Windham at 662.281.7220 and they will arrange a personal, face to face interview with someone on our management team.

Lundy Webb Daniel (BBA 61) of Memphis, Tenn., June 23, 2013 Nancy Brewer Evans (61) of Midlothian, Va., July 25, 2013 Terrell Ann Ford (PhD 69) of Pascagoula, June 15, 2013 Nancy Blackwell Gordon (BA 63) of Rome, Ga., July 31, 2013 James Louis Hemphill (MD 65) of Knoxville, Tenn., Aug. 2, 2013 Albert Randel Hendrix (BAEd 68, MEd 71) of Ovett, June 28, 2013 Newton Ward James (BA 69) of Summit, July 4, 2013 Walter David Loden (BAEd 67) of Cantonment, Fla., June 24, 2013 Frances Gilbert Martin (MLS 66) of Grenada, Aug. 10, 2013 Edward C. Milner Jr. (BBA 60) of Gulfport, June 29, 2013 Grady Ray Palmer (MEd 67) of Clarksdale, June 19, 2013 Ernest Edgar Polk Jr. (MS 60) of Mount Olive, July 20, 2013 Richard Ellis Reeves (BBA 64) of Corinth, June 25, 2013 Edwin H. Roberts Jr. (BBA 69, JD 72) of Oxford, July 1, 2013 1970s John Roger Austin (MD 70) of Memphis, Tenn., July 24, 2013 Emma Miller Beck (MEd 79) of Holly Springs, July 24, 2013 Ronald Giles Dozier (BSHPE 71) of Columbia, S.C., July 3, 2013 James Brooks Griffin (MD 78) of Ridgeland, June 22, 2013 David Holmes Hale (BBA 77) of Senatobia, Aug. 3, 2013 Charles Herbert Laney (MD 75) of Madison, Aug. 4, 2013 Bob A. Lunceford (BS 79) of Oxford, July 22, 2013 Steven L. Melancon (JD 79) of Brookhaven, Aug. 2, 2013 Frank Donald Nidiffer Jr. (MA 76, PhD 78) of Charlottesville, Va., June 23, 2013 Rayford Tucker Peyton Sr. (BBA 75) of Indianola, July 8, 2013 William Timothy Poole (75) of San Marcos, Calif., Nov. 29, 2012 William E. Shelby (73) of Coldwater, Aug. 1, 2013 Nora Martin Stacey (BBA 74) of Springfield, Mo., June 27, 2013 Edwin Thomas Sweeney (BAEd 72) of Atlanta, Ga., June 30, 2013 Paul Sherman Wilkerson Jr. (BPA 79) of Brandon, June 28, 2013 Joe F. Williams Jr. (BA 77) of Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 6, 2013 1980s Brad Alan Alford (MA 81, PhD 84) of Greentown, Pa., June 21, 2013 Patricia Oliphant Bailey (BAccy 87) of Oxford, July 31, 2013 William Lewis Bambach (JD 83) of Columbus, July 26, 2013 Keith D. Kimmons (BA 85) of Chicago, Ill., Aug. 10, 2013 Rudolph Anthony Lesso III (BBA 89) of Biloxi, Aug. 10, 2013 Elizabeth McGowan Montgomery (SpecE 82, PhD 90) of Tupelo, Aug. 1, 2013 Bernell Allen Reiser (BSCS 86) of Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 9, 2012 Gregory Harold Smith (BBA 87) of Philadelphia, June 20, 2013 1990s Sammie David Armstrong (MEd 91) of Batesville, July 5, 2013 Jim Forrest Couch (PhD 95) of Tuscumbia, Ala., June 26, 2013 Mari Charlene Fielding (MD 90) of Lakeland, Fla., Aug. 10, 2013

Fall 2013 65

News alumni

James Ashley Herring (BA 90, MS 96) of Biloxi, July 30, 2013

Janice Mitchell Jones of Meridian, May 12, 2013

Bennett Van York Jr. (BBA 90) of Hattiesburg, Aug. 13, 2013

Todd Christopher Waltman Lambert of Jackson, July 28, 2013 Bradley Dean Martin of Water Valley, July 4, 2013

2000s Elliott Wilson Teague (BBA 00) of Hickory, N.C., July 11, 2013

Rebecca Jordan Nelson of Clinton, Aug. 15, 2013

Mary Gardiner Tims (07) of Tupelo, June 23, 2013

Mary Katherine Ford Rowland of Madison, Aug. 12, 2013

2010s Muzhi Luke Liu (BA 13) of Oxford, June 29, 2013 Parris Michelle Wallace (13) of Canton, June 23, 2013 FACULTY AND FRIENDS Kenneth Russell Bender of Oxford, Aug. 4, 2013 Joan Miller Bowen of Oxford, July 8, 2013 Elizabeth Boozer Brevard of Tupelo, Aug. 16, 2013 Benjamin Rowe Byers of Jackson, June 26, 2013 Kevin James Coleman of Hoboken, N.J., July 6, 2013 Billie Burt Delaughter of Clinton, July 27, 2013 Eleanor Glenn Lamb Haltom of Ridgeland, June 25, 2013

Mertice Banks Posey of Tupelo, July 7, 2013 Milton Robert Starnes of Oxford, July 31, 2013 Park Coleman Stevens of Columbus, July 3, 2013 James Bradley Stubbs of Raymond, Aug. 15, 2013

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@olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848. 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. AR

Raymond Carl Highsmith of Oxford, July 10, 2013

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.

66 Alumni Review

Serving Oxford, Lafayette County and the University of Mississippi

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010

142ND Year, No. 169 — 50 CENTS

Run-off solution sought E-Edition booming

INSIDE

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

BY MELANIE ADDINGTON

The Oxfo rd Eagle E-Edition helps you keep up w ith your home awa y from ho me Complete C o v eragework BP probe on other companies’ of Ofocuses le accepted iss Sports Report: Oversite workersM 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.

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.

gifts from oil companies

INDEX

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

One of th e top dail ies in Mississ ippi Subscribe to the E-Edit io n Only $5 p er month 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

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.

Staff Writer

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.”

Worst-case scenario

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

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Ahead of Their Class

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CONGRATULATES 2013-14 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

he Alumni Association held an ice cream social in September to honor all recipients of the Herb Dewees Alumni Association Scholarship, Ben Williams Minority Scholarship, Wobble Davidson M-Club Scholarship, Clay Waycaster Student Alumni Council Scholarship, Alumni Association Band Scholarship and the Grove Society Scholarship. Overall, 203 scholarships totaling $188,900 were awarded for the school year. For more information on alumni scholarship opportunities, visit www.olemissalumni.com. AR

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The University of Mississippi Alumni Association P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848 (662) 915-7375 www.olemissalumni.com

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