Ole Miss Alumni Review - Winter 2018

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OLE MISS ALUMNI REVIEW

WINTER 2018

ALUMNI REVIEW

Black Student Union Celebrates Anniversary PAST, PRESENT STUDENTS REFLECT ON FIVE DECADES OF CHALLENGES, ACHIEVEMENTS

WINTER 2018 VOL. 67 NO. 1

Alumnus Sly Lee makes top list of rising entrepreneurs

Alumna reports during Harvey’s aftermath and recovery


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Features ALUMNI REVIEW

Redefining Reality 22

Alumnus Sly Lee makes top list of rising entrepreneurs BY ANNIE RHOADES

28 Black Student Union Celebrates Golden Anniversary Past, present students reflect on five decades of challenges, achievements BY EDWIN SMITH

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32 More than News

Alumna reports during Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath and recovery

BY BRIAN HUDGINS

38 30 Years of Building Bonds 2018 Black Alumni Reunion builds upon successful history BY JIM URBANEK

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Contents VOL. 67 NO. 1

Departments

WINTER 2018

ON THE COVER

2 Chancellor’s Letter 4 President’s Letter 6 From the Circle

20 Calendar

42 Ole Miss Sports

Ole Miss wins UCA championship Gillom Center dedicated

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48 Just Published

50 Rebel Traveler

54 Alumni News

James Meredith (BA 63), whose statue graces the University of Mississippi campus, paved the way for the Black Student Union to achieve many successes and celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. Photo by Nathan Latil


O le M iss A lumni R ev iew Publisher Kirk Purdom (93) Editor Jim Urbanek II (97) jim@olemiss.edu Associate Editor and Advertising Director Annie Rhoades (07, 09) annie@olemiss.edu Contributing Editor Benita Whitehorn Art Director Amy Howell Contributors Kevin Bain (98), Alana Bowman, Stella Connell, Marlee Crawford, Bill Dabney (89), Mitchell Diggs (82), Sydney Slotkin DuPriest, Jay Ferchaud, Thomas Graning, Tina Hahn, Anna Herd (16), Brian Hudgins, Robert Jordan (83, 90), Nathan Latil, Joshua McCoy, Ed Meek (61, 63), Michael Newsom (05), Annie Oeth, Sarah Sapp (04, 09), Edwin Smith (80, 93), Christina Steube (11, 16), Lisa Stone (97), Whitney Tarpy (09) Officers of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association Bobby Bailess (73, 76) president Augustus L. “Leon” Collins (82) president-elect Matt Lusco (79) vice president Andy Kilpatrick (74) athletics committee member Deano Orr (93) athletics committee member Alumni Affairs Staff, Oxford Kirk Purdom (93), executive director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Allie Bush, graphic web designer Clay Cavett (86), associate director, campaigns and special projects Anne Cofer (07, 08), accountant Martha Dollarhide, systems programmer II Sunny Eicholtz (09, 11), coordinator of student engagement Annette Kelly (79), accountant Steve Mullen (92), assistant director for marketing Annie Rhoades (07, 09), communications specialist Anna Smith (05), assistant director Scott Thompson (97, 08), assistant director Jim Urbanek (97), associate director, communications and marketing Torie Marion White (07), assistant director Rusty Woods (01), associate director for information services Warner Alford (60, 66), executive director emeritus The Ole Miss Alumni Review (USPS 561-870) is published quarterly by the University of Mississippi Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Affairs. Alumni Association offices are located at Triplett Alumni Center, 651 Grove Loop, University, MS 38677. Telephone 662-915-7375. 15264

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ALUMNI REVIEW

C hancellor from the

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Spring at Ole Miss is a season filled with extraordinary energy and excitement on all our campuses, culminating in a grand way with commencement when another graduating class of leaders goes out into the world. We also get to enjoy a multitude of alumni events around the state and region. It is always so great to meet with passionate members of Rebel Nation and share exciting developments about all our flagship achievements as well as new initiatives and momentum. Let me take a moment to share some of these recent achievements because they are the foundation for so much of what we will accomplish going forward. This past fall, we welcomed an exceptional freshman class with the highest-ever entering GPA of 3.59. We also held our second annual Tech Summit with world-renowned panelists. And at our Medical Center, we recently dedicated the new Translational Research Center, which will help our researchers improve the health of individual Mississippians and will have tremendous longterm impact upon our economy by growing our biomedical industry base. And if all that weren’t enough, we have begun to implement transformative initiatives from our new strategic plan, Flagship Forward. For example, in November we launched Flagship Constellations, an innovative universitywide research initiative that brings together faculty, staff, students and partners across all our disciplines and all our campuses to find solutions to grand challenges in the areas of big data, brain wellness, community well-being and disaster resilience. We are extremely grateful to Tommy and Jim Duff for their generous $1 million gift to create the Ernest R. Duff Flagship Constellation Fund in honor of their father, a former ASB president. This spring, you will begin to hear more about another one of our transformative initiatives — M Partner, our community partnership program. Starting as a pilot in 2018, this innovative, collaborative program seeks to match university resources with community goals and needs to create leveraged results across the full community spectrum. Whether those needs relate to health care and education, economic development and policy, marketing and tourism, resiliency, or core government systems, the goal of M Partner is to create substantial and sustainable results that will be viable in the community for decades to come. On the athletics front, we recently celebrated the completion of a $13.8 million renovation of our state-of-the-art Gillom Athletics Performance Center. The Gillom Center is home to our volleyball team, which finished a record-setting year in attendance and wins, including the National Invitational Volleyball Championship! And don’t forget that Ole Miss Athletics has declared 2018 to be the Year of the Fan. Be sure to check it out so you can get in on the great prizes and maybe even be recognized as the Ole Miss Fan of the Week! I encourage you to stay tuned for many more exciting developments as we continue to implement game-changing strategies and move forward together in the shared vision for our university. I reiterate our commitment to working hard every day to grow the reach and impact of our beloved flagship institution. Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Vitter Chancellor P.S. I encourage you to reach out to me at chancellor@OleMiss.edu. And be sure to stay connected by following me on Twitter @UMchancellor and signing up for my communications at chancellor.olemiss.edu/chancellors-communications.


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President from the

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ALUMNI REVIEW

It is very difficult to adequately express how blessed the Alumni Association has been to have had Sheila Dossett in its ranks. Sheila retired at the end of the year after serving the Association for 16 years. She held positions from advancement associate for the School of Applied Sciences to interim executive director, ably stepping in when director Tim Walsh departed. Under her leadership, the Association did not miss a beat. Many thanks, Sheila, for your outstanding service. We wish you health and happiness in your retirement. Since our last correspondence, the Ole Miss family has added a new head football coach. I offer my sincere, personal thanks to Coach Luke for accepting the immense challenge in July and for achieving more than anyone could have expected under the circumstances. I know that you, your staff and the team are doing what is needed to put us in a position to be champions. In that regard, this year’s Rebel Road Trip is scheduled for April 22-27, beginning in Charlotte, North Carolina. On the 23rd, events will be held in Pensacola, Gulfport and New Orleans. On Tuesday, the 24th, we will stop in Vicksburg and Indianola. On the 25th, we will be in Tupelo, Birmingham and Corinth. We will conclude with a breakfast in Oxford on Friday, the 27th. Mark your calendars and make your plans to attend. Rally the troops, and support Coach Matt Luke and the Rebels. The OMAA sponsored a trip to Florence, Italy, Jan. 12-20. My wife, Natalie, and I took advantage of this tremendous opportunity. Longtime tour guide Angelika Mair led the tour, providing a wonderful, well-planned and aggressive agenda. We had a fabulous time and wholeheartedly recommend that you consider traveling with the Ole Miss crew. Next year’s trip will be to Austria. More specifics on that later. It is still pretty chilly while I am writing this, and Coach Kennedy has the roundballers improving every game. By the time this magazine is published, Rebel baseball should also be in full swing. Try to get back to campus to catch a game and enjoy the world’s most beautiful campus while staying at The Inn at Ole Miss. Out of our 27,000 dues-paying alumni, you should all be excited to know that we exceeded 10,000 Life Members in 2017! Nearly 500 of those are Sustaining Life Members. We have almost 700 in the Future Alumni Network and more than 700 in the category of Parent Members. Take a leap and contact your friends to encourage them to become dues-paying members. Last, but surely not least, please know that I have not forgotten about the importance of a good education. Many other great things about the university could be mentioned, but I’ll leave that to Chancellor Vitter. Good things are happening at Ole Miss! Hotty Toddy!

Bobby Bailess (BBA 73, JD 76)


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Circle from the

THE L ATES T ON OLE MISS S TUDENTS, FACULT Y, S TAFF AND FRIENDS

Kudos for Khayat

FORMER CHANCELLOR RECEIVES WINTER-REED PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Photo by Robert Jordan

niversity of Mississippi Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66) was honored in Jackson on Oct. 17 for his tireless lifelong commitment to improving education. Khayat received the 2017 Mississippi Association of Partners in Education Winter-Reed Partnership Award during a tribute luncheon at the Hilton of Jackson. MAPE established the award in 2007 to honor former Gov. William Winter (BA 43, LLB 49) and the late Tupelo businessman Jack Reed Sr. for their lifelong contributions to public education and to provide continuing recognition for Mississippi’s outstanding education leaders. The former chancellor says the honor is special to him because he greatly admires the award’s namesakes. “When a chancellor or any other university employee

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receives recognition, it is being received really on behalf of the entire university because of contributions the university makes to the lives of our students and to the public,” Khayat says. “Knowing Mr. Reed through the years and knowing Gov. Winter all these years, I know what remarkably generous men they were to continue giving so much of their lives to public service. This is a tremendous honor.” Khayat’s vision took the university to previously unimagined heights of excellence, says Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter. “Robert’s exceptional leadership laid the foundation for where we are today and our continued focus on excellence across all aspects of the university,” Vitter says. “We are all indebted to him, and I am especially appreciative that, since my arrival, he has been a true friend and mentor to me.” MAPE was designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1994 and is committed solely to providing training and resources to help build local support for the success of all students. Khayat served as UM chancellor from 1995 until his retirement in 2009 and has established a legacy of leadership in numerous fields throughout his distinguished career, including academics, law, sports and higher education. MAPE president Phil Hardwick says one of the attributes of a real leader is the courage to change things that need to be changed, especially in the world of education. Khayat embodies these attributes, he says. “Robert Khayat showed genuine transformational leadership as chancellor of Ole Miss at a time when others would have preferred the status quo,” Hardwick says. “His memoir, The Education of a Lifetime, should be required reading not only for educators but for anyone in a leadership position. He truly exhibits the spirit of the Winter-Reed Award.”


from the Circle

Special Ingredient

UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS DISCOVER KEY INGREDIENT FOR SKIN-CARE LINE

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Photo by Robert Jordan

cientists at the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research spend much of their time working to discover new pharmaceutical products, botanical dietary supplements and agrichemicals. Once in a while, however, discoveries made at the center benefit something a little more cosmetic.

David Pasco (left) and Nirmal Pugh have studied the chemistry of aloe for many years. Their work led to the discovery of aloeride, an immune-enhancing extract patented by the university.

Among other things, the center’s ongoing research on botanicals led to the launch of a skin-care line called Sustainable Youth brand products, owned by Woodcliff Skincare Solutions Inc. The key ingredient is Alasta brand aloe product, a patent-pending ingredient that includes aloeride, an immune-enhancing extract patented by the university. “Aloeride’s activity is predominantly derived from aloe’s bacteria,” says Nirmal Pugh, principal scientist at NCNPR who worked on the discovery of aloeride with other Ole Miss researchers. “As wit h a l l plants occurring in a natural state, aloe has communities of bacteria. “Aloe’s beneficial bacteria produce immune-enhancing components that we concentrated to create

the aloeride that Woodcliff uses in Alasta.” At the time of the discovery, Pugh was working as a graduate student with David Pasco, now the associate director of the UM natural products center. Pasco, who has studied the properties of aloe for more than 20 years, observed that the active components in aloeride were beneficial for skin health. That information was used to guide clinical studies and product development for aloeride. Once NCNPR published the team’s findings, a cosmetics industry executive approached the center about licensing the extract. After licensing aloeride, cosmetic expert formulators combined it with other ingredients to create Alasta brand aloe product, which can be applied topically. “This kind of discovery is indicative of the commercial and medical potential of natural products, and is just one example of the impact of NCNPR’s research,” says David D. Allen, dean of the UM School of Pharmacy. Alasta brand aloe product is at the center of all Sustainable Youth brand products, says Mary Coon, a brand development consultant with Woodcliff. “The Sustainable Youth collection includes five innovative, clean, anti-aging skin-care products, all made with organic and natural ingredients purposefully selected for their ability to enhance Alasta’s properties for healthylooking skin.” Woodcliff is offering a 30 percent discount for Ole Miss alumni on its Sustainable Youth brand of products from Feb. 1, 2018, through Jan. 31, 2019, by using the code UMISS. To view the product line and for more information, visit sustainableyouth.com. Sustainable Youth brand products contain a compound discovered and patented by researchers at the UM National Center for Natural Products Research.

Photo courtesy Woodcliff Skincare Solutions Inc. W I N TE R 2 018

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from the Circle

Leading with Experience

LAW SCHOOL DEAN SUSAN DUNCAN BRINGS ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACH ollowing a national search and approval by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, Susan Duncan assumed the role as dean of the University of Mississippi School of Law in August. “I am thrilled and deeply honored to join a law school with such a rich tradition and positive momentum,” Duncan says. “In the few months I have been here, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know faculty and staff members as well as many alumni throughout the Southeast. I love being a part of the Ole Miss family, and I am excited to help take the law school to new heights.” Since beginning her post, Duncan has hit the ground running by attending over 100 one-on-one meetings with alumni as well as multiple receptions and law alumni meetings. She has also met with several current law students regarding their job searches, personally called each newly admitted student, formed a Law School Diversity Council and collaborated with various university departments. Duncan joins UM from the

University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she served as interim dean from 2012 to 2017 and on the faculty

Susan Duncan

since 1997. The Louisville, Kentucky, native is widely recognized in the field for her entrepreneurial approach, ability to connect to various aspects of the practice of law, deep understanding of national trends and opportunities, energetic fundraising and commitment

to working across campus. “We are extremely pleased to have such an accomplished scholar and practitioner to lead the law school,” Chancellor Jeff Vitter says. “Ms. Duncan is well-respected by students and faculty alike and has a proven track record of successful leadership, particularly in the area of fundraising. She will be instrumental in guiding our law school to higher rankings and a greater role in Mississippi.” Duncan has received numerous honors and recognitions. The Kentucky Bar Association presented her with the 2016 President’s Special Service Award, and in 2014, the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Alumni Council presented her with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Duncan holds a J.D. f rom the Brandeis School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has lectured internationally, including at the University of Montpellier, France; University KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany; at the University of Leeds, England; and the University of Turku, Finland.

OLE MISS PHARMACY PROFESSOR NAMED AAPS FELLOW

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niversity of Mississippi School of Pharmacy pharmaceutics professor S. Narasimha Murthy has been elected as a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, one of the highest honors given to its members. At its annual conference in San Diego in November, AAPS honored eight recipients, including Murthy, who have demonstrated a sustained level of professional excellence in fields related to its mission. Murthy conducts research to develop noninvasive technologies for the treatment of chronic disorders. He also founded a nonprofit research organization

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in his home country of me to keep abreast of India to foster research the latest developments that addresses unmet in the field of drug medical needs. delivery.” “I was humbled Murthy has served and honored by the as a member of AAPS recognition because it is since 2005. He is one of the highest orgaactively involved in the association’s dermatonizational recognitions,” pharmaceutics focus Murthy says. “AAPS has group, including having had a huge influence on previously served as many facets of my career. S. Narasimha Murthy the group’s chair while “It helped me connect with collaborators and pharmaceutical organizing webinars, symposiums and companies. AAPS programs have helped workshops for AAPS meetings.


from the Circle

‘Doc’ Hollingsworth Celebrated OLE MISS WOMEN’S COUNCIL SELECTS HIM AS 2018 LEGACY AWARD WINNER

Photo by Bill Dabney

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r. Gerald M. “Doc” Hollingsworth (BS 53, MedCert 53), a Mississippi native and University of Mississippi alumnus, has devoted a lifetime to taking care of his patients, monitoring the health of high school athletes, championing competition for intellectually challenged youths and providing major resources for his alma mater’s athletics programs. For these reasons and more, he will receive the 2018 Legacy Award from the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy. The prestigious award recognizes those who have a life’s work of mentoring, leadership, scholarship and/or philanthropy — characteristics promoted and encouraged by the OMWC. All these are descriptive of Hollingsworth, who lives in Niceville, Florida. The physician and businessman has mentored many young people and attributes his own successful medical career to mentors in his life. “Dr. Earl Fyke (BSEE 70, MS 73) of Centerville, Mississippi, asked me to go on house calls with him and then shadow him at the hospital,” Hollingsworth says. “He was trying to encourage my interest in medicine. “He actually demanded that I attend the University of Mississippi. I was already on the campus of another Mississippi university, and Dr. Fyke came and got me.” Fyke provided the resources and necessities for Hollingsworth to attend Ole Miss and succeed. “The other mentor in my life was Dr. Arthur Guyton (BA 39) — author of the world’s most widely used medical textbooks — who steered me to Harvard University for medical school after I finished Ole Miss,” Hollingsworth says. “Dr. Guyton and Dr. Fyke were the two most influential people in my life, as well as my mother, Irma Blakeney Hollingsworth, who gave me unconditional love and support and made me believe I could achieve my dreams.” The OMWC will recognize Hollingsworth for being influential in the lives of many others. “The far-reaching impact of Dr. Hollingsworth’s service and philanthropy will be felt for generations to come,” says Mary Donnelly Haskell (BM 81) of Oxford, OMWC chair. “He devoted almost 35 years to serving as the team doctor for Choctawhatchee, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville high schools. He helped found the All-Sports Foundation of Northwest Florida and helped establish the first chapter of Special Olympics in Florida. “‘Doc’ Hollingsworth, as he is affectionately called, also has generously provided private gifts to ensure that Ole Miss athletics programs have the resources to provide studentathletes with outstanding opportunities and facilities, as well as enhance experiences for Rebel fans.” The OMWC was established in 2000 by a group of female leaders and philanthropists. The council awards scholarships

Dr. Gerald M. ‘Doc’ Hollingsworth

to both young women and men based on their academic performance, desire to give back to society and successful interview process. Council members are committed to nurturing the development of the students through mentoring, leadership development, cultural experiences and travel opportunities. In its 17th year, the OMWC scholarship endowment stands at more than $13.1 million. The $32,000 named scholarships are awarded each year and have grown to be among the largest on campus. Thus far, 119 OMWC scholars, including 26 current students, have benefited from the program. “This year we are so excited to award the OMWC Legacy Award to Dr. Hollingsworth, who has been a deeply committed philanthropic supporter of Ole Miss as well as a huge advocate of high school athletes on the Florida Panhandle,” says Roane Grantham (BAccy 90) of Oxford, the OMWC member chairing the Legacy Award event. The April 14 Legacy Award sponsor reception and dinner will be held in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where the field is named for Hollingsworth. W I N TE R 2 018

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from the Circle

Wonder Material

UM ESTABLISHES CENTER FOR GRAPHENE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

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Photo by Robert Jordan

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he University of Mississippi has established a new center to advance translational science and engineering of graphene-based technologies. The Center for Graphene Research and Innovation was officially established in October with approval from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The new center will focus on bridging the gap between university-based science and discovery and industry-led innovations and applications for graphene, a form of carbon made of a single layer of atoms. First isolated and described by scientists in 2004, the material is incredibly strong and flexible, and its conductivity lends it to a broad range of applications ranging from manufacturing to electronics to medicine. Establishing the center aligns with UM’s status as a Carnegie R1 highest research activity institution and the growth of research in graphene and related nanostructure materials at the university over the last decade, Chancellor Jeff Vitter says. “ The Center for Graphene Research and Innovation will serve as a hub connecting research activities across multiple disciplines and departments and will propel the university forward in this field,” Vitter says. Graphene is heralded for having significant growth potential across a number of market segments. It is 200 times stronger than steel and more conductive than silicon. Another notable property is flexibility, which allows it to be pulled and curved to a certain extent without breaking. Graphene makes solar cells 50 to 100 times more efficient, semiconductors 50 to 100 times faster, aircraft 70 percent lighter and composites more multifunctional. “Graphene is one of the strongest materials known,” says Alex Cheng, dean of the UM School of Engineering. “It also has superior thermal, electric, electromagnetic and even antibacterial properties. “The wide range of applications will greatly impact technology and spur innovators to develop new products and processes.” During the past few years, graphene-related research conducted at UM has included computational physical chemistry; photovoltaic solar cells; drug, protein and gene delivery; electromagnetic applications, including perfect absorbers, highimpedance surfaces, subwavelength imaging, hyperlenses, plasmonic waveguides, cloaking/invisibility and reduction of interference in antennas; and nanocomposites for defense, homeland security, aerospace and structural application. While graphene has a number of applications, initial sectors to be targeted by the center include energy, electronics, biomedical

Ahmed Al-Ostaz

and structural, says Ahmed Al-Ostaz, director of the Nano Infrastructure Laboratory and professor of civil engineering. “Graphene offers many potential applications, such as reinforcement in composites, energy conversion and storage, thermal conductors, electronics, anticorrosion coatings and paints, and drug and gene delivery to human diseases and medical devices,” Al-Ostaz says. The center will partner with a number of public and private entities, including the Oxford-based National Graphene Association. The association provides a networking and information platform to expedite the integration of graphene into the commercial arena.


from the Circle

MORRIS STOCKS NAMED FIRST HOLDER OF JONES CHAIR

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he University of Mississippi’s Patterson School of Accountancy named Morris H. Stocks as the inaugural holder of the Don Jones Chair of Accountancy. Stocks, who returned to the school’s faculty in January 2017, had served in high-level administrative roles at the university for the past 15 years. As provost, executive vice chancellor and interim chancellor, Stocks provided vision and leadership related to many academic honors and advancements at the university. “I am extremely humbled to be named the first recipient of the Don Jones Chair of Accountancy and especially heartened by the designation because I knew Don personally and considered him a great

friend and colleague,” Stocks says. “This chair is a tribute to his outstanding career and significant contributions to the profession of accounting. I’m greatly honored to hold a position that represents his legacy.” Under Stocks’ leadership as UM’s chief academic officer, overall student enrollment grew by more than 40 percent and minority student enrollment soared by more than 60 percent. Student success measures also improved, with freshman retention and six-year graduation rates each increasing by roughly 7 percent. Besides his many accomplishments as a higher education administrator, Stocks won the coveted Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award in 1998 as a faculty member of the Patterson School of Accountancy.

Morris Stocks

Croft Scholars Named

HONOREES GET $4,000 PER SEMESTER TO FUND STUDIES, TRAVEL Submitted photo by Joe Worthem

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he University of Mississippi’s Croft Institute for International Studies announced this year’s winners of eight Croft scholarships, which pay up to $32,000 over four years, making them among the most valuable and prestigious on campus. The Croft Institute selects outstanding incoming freshmen as Croft Scholars each year. Winners receive $4,000 per semester for four years, and the funds can be combined with other scholarships. Croft Scholars retain the funds as long as they stay in the international studies major and maintain a 3.4 GPA both in the major and overall. “We are proud to welcome these exceptionally talented students as our newest cohort of Croft Scholars,” says Oliver Dinius, executive director of the Croft Institute. “It is a wonderfully diverse group, both in terms of their background and in terms of the foreign languages and regions of the world that they are studying.” Of the more than 270 applicants to the Croft Institute this year, 110 were admitted, and from that pool the admissions committee selected 25 prospective students to be interviewed for the scholarship. They answered follow-up questions about their application essays and questions about current affairs, their intellectual interests and their motivations for wanting to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies. The 2017 Croft Scholars are Susanna Cassisa, Lea Dudte,

The 2017 UM Croft Scholars are (front, from left) Swetha Manivannan, Susanna Cassisa, Lucy Herron, Lea Dudte and Eli Landes, and (back, from left) Colin Isaacs, Isabel Spafford and Andrew Osman.

Lucy Herron, Colin Isaacs, Eli Landes, Swetha Manivannan, Andrew Osman and Isabel Spafford. Like all students in the international studies major, they have chosen a foreign language to study throughout their four years in Croft, as well as one of four regions: East Asia, Europe, the Middle East or Latin America. All eight Croft Scholars are members of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. W I N TE R 2 018

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from the Circle

Something to Smile about

PATIENTS GET DENTURES AS PART OF REVISED SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY COURSE

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he automobile accident that nearly ended Dyanne Sellers’ life in 1985 destroyed her teeth. “I was too young,” the Madison resident says of losing her teeth in her early 30s. “It happened on the interstate at the Woodrow Wilson bridge. I was in the hospital for two months. I’m really blessed to be alive.” Since the collision, Sellers, whose parents emigrated from Beirut, has had several pairs of dentures, none of which fit her correctly. “With my old dentures, there was no room for my tongue,” she says. “The bottom ones had recently broken two different times.” Sellers no longer has to wear ill-fitting, broken dentures, thanks to the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. As a part of a new addition to a longstanding denture course for second-year dental students, Sellers had her choice between two student-made pairs of dentures, free of charge, and she couldn’t be happier. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a set of teeth that fit like this,” Sellers says. “It’s a perfect fit.” Students Brandie White, of Taylorsville, and Nikki Morel (BA 14, MS 15), of McComb, worked with Sellers during her appointment series that involved impressions and fitting. Patients had to commit to attending eight visits to allow the students to complete the course. Morel says that having her first patient was a rewarding experience, and presenting the new dentures to Sellers was emotional.

“She cried and told us that we were really changing lives. It made me feel like we are here for a purpose and that what we are doing is important.” Students Mary Linda Remley, of McComb, and Terah Shelby, of Brookhaven, were paired with patient Jackie Epps, who has been a housekeeper at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 15 years. For Epps, the dentures were a birthday present. A single parent who also helps take care of a grandchild, she has been without teeth for three years. As she looked into the mirror during her fitting, tears welled up in her eyes. Dr. David Felton, professor of care planning and restorative dentistry sciences and dean of the school, designed the program to allow students a more hands-on approach to learning the techniques of making dentures by treating a patient in the clinical setting. “We can go from the classroom to the bench lab to the chair side, and they get to learn firsthand,” he says. Felton began screening potential patients earlier in the year. Because it was a pilot program, patients were first recruited from within UMMC. Out of the 30 patients screened, 18 were chosen and paired with two dental students each. Both students crafted a set of dentures, and the patient picked the pair that fit the best. Plans are already in the works for the next course. Felton says the clinical part of the course will likely take place again in the fall 2018 semester, but it could start as early as summer.

Dr. David Felton, dean of the School of Dentistry, snaps a photo at the request of patient Dyanne Sellers, of Madison, with the dental students who crafted her dentures, Nikki Morel (left) and Brandie White (right).

Photo courtesy of UMMC

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ALUMNI REVIEW


from the Circle

BOOK CELEBRATES FIRST 100 YEARS OF UM BUSINESS SCHOOL

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he University of Mississippi School of Business Administration concluded its series of events celebrating the school’s centennial with a book launch on Nov. 10 at Oxford’s Off Square Books. The book, , a 200-page illustrated history of the school, takes the reader on a journey from the inaugural 1917 semester as the School of Commerce, led by Dean James Warsaw Bell (BP 1898), through the spirited leadership of Ken Cyree, the school’s current, and 11th, dean. The volume opens with the speech Cyree made in September at the kickoff event in the courtyard of Holman Hall, the school’s home, which was newly adorned with centennial banners along the front. “Thousands of lives have been changed, thousands of opportunities created and thousands of people making a difference,” Cyree said. “I look forward to the next 100 years and know we are poised to do great things with the dedication and commitment of this group of people in the business school.” Bell was not only instrumental in the school’s launch but also in the university’s athletics programs. In the early 1900s, he personally financed the football squad. As a member of the athletics

committee, Bell was also instrumental in hiring C.M. “Tad” Smith (BSC 30), the school’s longest-serving athletics director, who coincidentally married the school’s first female graduate, Frances “Bunch” Clark Smith (BSC 30). The book explores the move from the Lyceum to Conner Hall in 1961, when enrollment spiked from several hundred to 1,100. Many observers partially credit the explosion in enrollment to the fact that Conner Hall had air conditioning, and the Lyceum did not. It chronicles the extraordinary accomplishments of the school’s graduates in the 1950s, the enrollment of its first black students in 1965 and the peaceful separation of the schools of Business Administration and Accountancy in 1979. The school has more than 3,800 students, 63 faculty members and 18 staff members, making it the largest business school in Mississippi. It offers 11 majors, a top 10 insurance program and a new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In honor of the centennial, the UM Foundation created the 1917 Order, a fundraising effort to recruit faculty, provide scholarships and increase class offerings, among many other initiatives. Membership begins with a gift of $25,000 or greater, with pledges scheduled over five years.

Deep-sea Partnership

UM, GENERAL ATOMICS TO COLLABORATE ON UNMANNED SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY

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he University of Mississippi and General Atomics have begun an on-campus collaboration focusing on acoustic sensing and navigation technologies for unmanned underwater vehicles to aid Department of Defense operations in deep-sea areas. GA Electromagnetic Systems Group moved into offices on the UM campus at Insight Park on Nov. 1. The Insight Park facility will help GA-EMS strengthen the relationship established with UM and its National Center for Physical Acoustics to facilitate the investigation of acoustic-based techniques for navigation and control of unmanned underwater systems. The collaboration ultimately will likely involve not just the NCPA but other campus groups as well, says Josh Gladden, UM interim vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs. “We are so pleased to have General Atomics plug into the university community through Insight Park,” Gladden says. “Over the course of the past year, we have identified multiple research groups on campus that could partner with GA-EMS to help find solutions for modern needs of the Department of Defense.

“I’m sure as our partnership continues to strengthen, both GA and UM will find this a mutually beneficial relationship.” GA-EMS has a history of collaboration with universities to advance acoustic and infrasound technologies. This partnership is a natural one, says William Nicholas, Insight Park’s assistant director. “Our location provides GA-EMS with close proximity to the National Center for Physical Acoustics and other key schools, colleges and centers at the University of Mississippi,” Nicholas says. “We are especially excited to provide our students with opportunities to intern with such an innovative company.” Officials with the company look forward to continuing research and development of critical technologies designed for real-world applications on the UM-Oxford campus, says Hank Rinehart, business lead for surveillance and sensor systems at GA-EMS. “The broad spectrum of talent at Ole Miss and the focus on engineering disciplines is a great match for GA-EMS,” Rinehart says. W I N TE R 2 018

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from the Circle

Multidisciplinary Solutions

UM LAUNCHES FLAGSHIP CONSTELLATIONS TO TACKLE ‘GRAND CHALLENGES’

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BIG DATA

The team will pursue the development of more creative and useful ways to analyze and visualize data to gain new insights and drive innovative research. Its work will encompass many industries, including medicine and health, engineering, security, business, policy and education.

BRAIN WELLNESS

The academically diverse team will engage in population-based research, 14

ALUMNI REVIEW

clinical care, education and basic research to develop technologies and practices to help prevent and promote recovery of brain impairment.

technology and tools to reduce the impact of natural, man-made and environmental disasters and to increase the sustainability of affected communities.

COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

Provost Noel Wilkin says he is Members of this constellation will excited about the energy Ole Miss work in communities to identify fac- faculty and staff have brought to the tors that are impeding upon quality Flagship Constellations initiative. of life and implement new programs “This collaborative initiative has and methods to foster stronger and more vibrant communities. Major concerns both in the United States and around the world are lifestyle and behavior health issues causing premature births, fetal origins of adult diseases, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and disability. The central goal is to develop innovative met ho ds in addressing these issues. The constellation is already working to implement telemedicine in Bolivia, along with two projects in Mississippi: one to help residents of the Mississippi Delta improve water safety, and another to help Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter premature and low-birthweight children and mothers attempt- the ability to advance our standing as ing to breast-feed these children. an academic institution, to magnify the influence of our research on solvDISASTER RESILIENCE ing major challenges faced by society The impact of disasters can be and to contribute knowledge that will detrimental to a community or area. changes the lives of people,” he says. For example, Hurricane Katrina caused “I also hope that it will rekindle more than 1,800 deaths and economic your confidence that our faculty and damage exceeding $200 billion in 2005. researchers have incredible potential In the last decade, disasters cost $1.4 to change the lives of others through trillion worldwide and have affected 1.7 their research. I look forward to the billion people. meaningful work that will be done and The disaster resilience team will this difference we’re going to make in combine research from environmental society.” and legal disciplines with material For more information, visit sciences, information technology and FlagshipConstellations.olemiss.edu. public health. Its aim is to develop the

Photo by Thomas Graning

he University of Mississippi unveiled its Flagship Constellations initiative in November, which includes multidisciplinary teams with the goal of creating solutions in the areas of big data, brain wellness, community well-being and disaster resilience. Each team consists of faculty, staff and students who are collaborating to explore and solve complex issues through the diversity of ideas. The constellations also will include subthemes, allowing groups to work on multiple projects at once. “These four constellations are made up of brilliant individual stars, yes, but it’s together that they can make their legendary impact,” Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter says. “By working together, we can address compelling challenges where no single discipline has all the answers and where only deep insights from multiple points of view will discover solutions.” Vitter also announced a donation of $1 million in support of this effort by Tommy and Jim Duff to create the Ernest R. Duff Flagship Constellation Fund, in honor of their father, a 1955 law school graduate. “With this gift, they are commemorating their late father’s love for Ole Miss, his alma mater,” he says. “This support will allow us to truly maximize and launch the potential of the Flagship Constellations.”


from the Circle

Tribute to Longtime Benefactor ENGINEERING ADVISORY BOARD HONORS BREVARD FAMILY

Henry Faser (PHG 24), the university’s first dean of the School of Pharmacy, personally lobbied for construction of the building, which was started in 1921. When it opened in 1923, it housed the pharmacy school and the Department of Chemistry. The building was rededicated as Brevard Hall in 2011 after a renovation that provided space for the dean’s office, two research centers and space for the departments of Civil Engineering and Geology and Geological Engineering. Henry Brevard’s son, David (BA 78), like his father, has been active in alumni and leadership roles at Ole Miss. He represented the family at the ceremony. “The dedication ceremony on April 1, 2011, to rename the Old Chemistry building in honor of my father and family was an unparalleled honor for our entire family,” David Brevard says. “The unveiling of the recognition plaque, which will be on permanent display inside Brevard Hall, is another extraordinary gesture by Dean Cheng, the School of Engineering and the university for our family. “We are very blessed to be members of the Ole Miss family and thankful to be

Photo by Bill Dabney

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he University of Mississippi School of Engineering Advisory Board and Dean Alex Cheng recently unveiled a plaque in the lobby of Brevard Hall to honor UM alumnus and benefactor Henry C. Brevard Jr. (BSCvE 43), of Tupelo, and his family. Brevard, founder of B&B Concrete, provided substantial support creating a faculty chair endowment and a scholarship endowment that has helped more than 500 students attend the School of Engineering. The 1943 civil engineering graduate and his family also contributed funds to renovate the landmark building on the Circle, known to generations of Ole Miss students and alumni as Old Chemistry, as the headquarters for the engineering school. “Over the years, more than 500 students have benefited from the Brevard Family Scholarship, which allowed them to pursue engineering degrees at the university,” Cheng says. “The Brevard Family Endowed Chair enabled the engineering school to reward and retain its distinguished and highly productive faculty.”

Alex Cheng (left), dean of the School of Engineering; David Brevard; Ahmed Al-Ostaz, Brevard Endowed Chair and professor of civil engineering; and Bill Dykeman, president of the Engineering Advisory Board

part of the support team for the School of Engineering and the entire university.” Founded in 1900, the UM School of Engineering is the state’s oldest engineering school.

OLE MISS ONLINE MBA PROGRAM RANKS IN U.S. NEWS’ TOP 25

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he University of Mississippi’s online Master of Business Administration program was named as one of the best in the nation by . The rankings, released on Jan. 9, place Ole Miss at No. 25 nationally. “We are thrilled to have this external recognition of the success of our online MBA program,” says Ken Cyree, dean of the School of Business Administration. “This achievement is a reflection of the dedicated faculty and staff who have created an excellent learning environment for our online MBA students who are not able leave their jobs in order to obtain

their degrees. “We are excited to continue the strong tradition in our online program and to receive these accolades for our efforts and for our online students.” MBA programs have a greater enrollment than any other type of graduate business degree program in the country, the release noted. Prospective students often narrow their research exclusively to programs that award MBAs. To aid their efforts, the publication compiles annual rankings of distanceeducation MBA programs. “A strength of our online program

is that all (our) instructors are full-time faculty at Ole Miss,” says Walter Davis, faculty adviser for the MBA program. “The curriculum for the online program is the same as the campus program. “While students in our online program are always welcome on campus, all course requirements can be completed online.” For the 2018 edition, ranked online MBA programs using five categories: student engagement, admission selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. W I N TE R 2 018

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from the Circle

We, Robot

UM STUDENTS PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL ROBOTICS CONTEST

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“After the competition was completed, the first-place award went to the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, second went to the Ole Miss Red team with Ryan Steele of Southaven and Turner Wharton of Fairfax, Virginia, and third went to the Ole Miss Blue team with Jonathan Brown of Ecru and Eli Schuette of Ocean Springs,” Rajendran says. “Overall, the Ole Miss students won $1,500 in prizes, plus an additional $750 to the ASME student group on campus.” Photos submitted by Arunachalam Rajendran

wo University of Mississippi mechanical engineering student teams have brought home top prizes from an international robotics competition in Tampa, Florida. The 2017 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Student Design Competition (The Robot Pentathlon: Citius, Altius, Ingenious) challenged each team to create a fast, strong and agile robot. Each team was also expected to build a device to remotely control its robot and compete against others in five different events — a robot pentathlon. This competition is based on design requirements and a set of rules that change annually. The 2017 requirement was to design a robot that could accomplish five objectives: a 10-meter sprint, a stair climb, a tennis ball throw, a golf ball hit and a weight lift. “Ole Miss had two teams that not only won first and second place in the regional competition in Tennessee, but also those teams went on to win second and third place in the finals, which included teams from around the world,” says

Members of the award-winning UM team (above) are Jonathan Brown (left), Eli Schuette, Turner Wharton and Ryan Steele.

Arunachalam Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering, who accompanied the teams. The original regional competition, held at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, last April, included such universities as Virginia Tech, Clemson University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and several SEC universities. After their victory, the UM students graduated and began their careers. However, the robots they left were eligible to compete in the international competition in mid-November. 16

ALUMNI REVIEW

Matt Lowe, machine shop supervisor in UM’s mechanical engineering department, says the teams can be very proud of their placements in the competition. “They took a cost-effective approach to complete a very engineering-effective design,” Lowe says. “For example, the manufacturing cost for the Ole Miss robot was less than $500, and it outperformed a robot from a rival institution that costs more than 10 times as much to create.” The ASME competition provides a platform for engineering students to present solutions to design problems ranging from everyday household tasks to groundbreaking space exploration. Each team is required to design, construct and operate a prototype that meets the requirements of an annually determined problem statement. “This experience not only allowed students to learn more about robotics, design and engineering, but it also showed engineers from around the world the fantastic capabilities that Ole Miss has in engineering,” Rajendran says. “Several hundred schools enter the regional competitions each year, yet Ole Miss teams held two victorious positions.”


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from the Circle

For Future Generations

GROUNDBREAKING KICKS OFF CONSTRUCTION OF $180M PEDIATRICS TOWER AT UMMC

C

Photos courtesy of UMMC

onfetti rained down and cheers went up on Dec. 1 as The campaign has raised more than $60 million toward patients joined leaders in medicine and government its $100 million goal so far, a result Woodward calls “an to break ground for a $180 million new pediatrics outpouring of love and support that runs deep and wide tower at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. across all of Mississippi.” Gov. Phil Bryant (79) has participated in many such ceremonies, he says, “but none like this. None of those facilities are the places of miracles, but this is.” “This one,” says Mississippi Commissioner of Higher Education Glenn Boyce (BAEd 81, EdD 96), “is special.” The tower’s opening is planned for August 2020. Children’s of Mississippi leaders anticipate recruiting 30-40 new physicians in the next five years as the facility is built and after it is opened, The seven-story, 340,000-square-foot tower to be built adjacent to Batson Children’s Hospital since it will provide additional capacity. will house a state-of-the art neonatal intensive care unit with private rooms, additional At a minimum, about 50-75 staff posi- pediatric intensive care unit rooms and surgical suites and an imaging center designed tions, not including physicians, would for children. The Children’s Heart Center, representing the Medical Center’s pediatric cardiovascular program, will also call the new building home. be added after construction. “We have outstanding physicians and the best staff, and they have a passion for caring for patients,” “The fact that this groundbreaking is happening less than says Dr. LouAnn Woodward (MD 91), vice chancellor for two years after the launch of the Campaign for Children’s of health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “What we Mississippi shows how much we as Mississippians value our need now are the facilities to match that quality of care. children and their health and how generous the people of this “The time has come,” she says, “for a transformation.” state are,” Joe Sanderson says. “We have a world-class mediThe construction is funded in part through the Campaign cal team here, but they do not have resources to match their for Children’s of Mississippi, a philanthropic effort launched skill. The opening of this children’s tower will mean better in 2016 with co-chairs Joe Sanderson Jr., board chairman outcomes for our children, but also better research, more top and CEO of Sanderson Farms, and his wife, Kathy, making a doctors coming to Mississippi and more jobs. personal $10 million pledge. “This project is not just for the children who need it Friends of Children’s Hospital, a nonprofit dedicated to today,” he says. “It’s for future generations and is part of a raising funds for Batson Children’s Hospital, followed that strategic long-term plan for Mississippi’s future.” with a $20 million pledge later that year. Children’s of Mississippi is the umbrella organization that Hundreds of state leaders, philanthropists, medical professionals, patients includes Batson Children’s Hospital and all UMMC pediatric and their families listen as Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, speaks during the care throughout the state. groundbreaking ceremony.

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ALUMNI REVIEW



Calendar FEBRUARY

24

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. The Pavilion, noon. Visit olemisssports.com.

24

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Stephen F. Austin. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, noon. Visit olemisssports.com.

24

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Stephen F. Austin. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 5:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

UM K-12 Students Summer Programs Open House: Jackson Avenue Center, 4-6:30 p.m. Call 662915-7621 or visit outreach.olemiss. edu/pre_college.

28

Ole Miss Luncheon Series featuring Chancellor Jeff Vitter: Memphis, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Chickasaw Country Club. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni.com/events.

MARCH

25

1

25

1

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Tulane. Oxford-University Stadium, 1:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com. Softball: Ole Miss vs. University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 2 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

25

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 4:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

26

Black History Month Keynote: Clint Smith. Fulton Chapel, 6 p.m. Visit events.olemiss.edu.

27

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Murray State. Oxford-University Stadium, 4 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

27

Rebel Networking with the Young Alumni Council: Online event, noon-2 p.m. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni.com/events.

27

Ole Miss Luncheon Series featuring Chancellor Jeff Vitter: Laurel, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Laurel Country Club. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni.com/events.

27

Performance: “Considering Matthew Shepard,” Conspirare, a Company of Voices. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-2787 or visit fordcenter.org.

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ALUMNI REVIEW

-4 Black Alumni Reunion 2018: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni. com/events. Performance: “Celebrating Gershwin: A Stroll Down Tin Pan Alley, The Julian Bliss Septet.” Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-9152787 or visit fordcenter.org.

1

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Florida. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

2

-4 Rugby Alumni Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-9157375 or visit olemissalumni.com/events.

2

Oxford Date Night: A two-hour live comedy event for couples. Featuring the comedy of Jonnie W. and Steve Geyer. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7 p.m. Call 662-915-2787 or visit fordcenter.org.

2

Softball: Ole Miss vs. UT Martin. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 5:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

2

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

3

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. Palmer/Salloum

Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

3

Softball: Ole Miss vs. St. Louis. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 3 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

3

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. The Pavilion, 7:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

4

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/ Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

4

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Boston College. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

4

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Austin Peay. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

6

Ole Miss Luncheon Series featuring Chancellor Jeff Vitter: Chattanooga, Tennessee, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Black Creek Club. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni.com/events.

7

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Little Rock. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

9

-11 Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Eastern Illinois. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

15

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

16

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

16

-18 Softball: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.


Calendar

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-18 Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Oxford-University Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

17

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

18

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

20

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. New Orleans. Oxford-University Stadium, 11 a.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

21

-22 Ole Miss Insurance Symposium: The Inn at Ole Miss. Call 662-915-2380 or visit olemissalumni. com/events.

22

-24 Law Alumni Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni. com/events.

25

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APRIL

20

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Palmer/ Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

5

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

7

Grove Bowl: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 11 a.m. Free admission. Visit olemisssports.com.

7

Women’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

8

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 1 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

9

Performance: “LOU Symphony Orchestra.” Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-2787 or visit fordcenter.org.

Performance: North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra featuring Andreas Klein: “Revolutionaries: Ginastera and Beethoven.” Gertrude C. Ford Center, 3 p.m. Call 662-915-2787 or visit fordcenter.org.

11

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Southern Miss. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

-16 Softball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 4 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 6 p.m. Monday. Visit olemisssports.com.

27 29

-31 Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemisssports.com.

30

Men’s Tennis: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts, 5 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

30

-April 1 Softball: Ole Miss vs. Auburn. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. Visit olemisssports.com.

Softball: Ole Miss vs. Belmont. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

14 18

Softball: Ole Miss vs. LouisianaMonroe. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

18

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Arkansas State. Oxford-University Stadium, 6:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

19

-20 Engineering Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni. com/events.

Baseball: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Oxford-University Stadium, 1:30 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com. -21 Pharmacy Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375.

20

-22 Performance: “Macbeth” – Ole Miss Theatre. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Call 662-915-2787 or visit fordcenter.org.

22

-27 Rebel Road Trip: Various times and locations. Call 662915-7375 or visit olemissalumni.com/ events.

24

Performance: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” – National Tour. Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 662-915-2787 or visit fordcenter.org.

25

Softball: Ole Miss vs. UT Martin. Ole Miss Softball Complex, 6 p.m. Visit olemisssports.com.

26

-28 Baseball: Ole Miss vs. LSU. Oxford-University Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday. Visit olemisssports.com.

26

-27 Accountancy Weekend: Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375 or visit olemissalumni.com/events. For a complete and latest listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit olemisssports.com.

For more Oxford events, news and information, go to visitoxfordms.com or call 662-232-2477.

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BY ANNIE RHOADES

Alumnus Sly Lee makes top list of rising entrepreneurs

Lee captures underwater photographs in Indonesia.

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or a first-generation American born to parents who emigrated from Singapore, alumnus and Oxford native Sylvester “Sly” Lee (BSPh 10, MS 12), designer, scientist, entrepreneur and cofounder of Emerge, has traveled across the globe to garner diverse and specialized work experience that led to being named one of Forbes magazine’s top “30 Under 30.” “We [Emerge] were really surprised [to be on the list],” Lee says. “A lot of people don’t see that it’s a team behind it — it wasn’t just me on my own. Our team behind it and my co-founders are amazing. Our employees are worldclass, and our advisers are top-notch as well.” Formed in 2015 by Lee, Isaac Castro and Mauricio Te r á n , E m e r g e i s a t e c h company specializing in augmented reality, or AR. “We came together as a team and asked ourselves: Wh at i s t h e s i ng l e m o s t i mp or t ant t h i ng t o u s ? ” Castro recalls. “We said family. We discovered that our shared passion was human communication, so we decided to create Emerge.” The trio invented a hardware device that enables users to physically feel virtual objects in AR, without the need for wearables, controllers or gloves. Instead, it uses a proprietary technology to create precise force fields midair. This allows users to physically feel shapes, volumes and even textures.

Photos courtesy of Sly Lee ALUMNI REVIEW


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“I can’t tell too much about how it works because we’re still in kind of stealth mode,” Lee says. “What we do is create force fields midair to where you reach your hands out, and we create a sense of touch — it’s sci-fi-level interaction. We have multiple working prototypes now, and we’re scaling up the company. We’re starting the next phase in the coming years, and we’ll be coming out with a product that consumers can buy.” Lee’s path to augmented reality started out at Ole Miss. With an undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences, he realized after a trip to Egypt to scuba dive in the Red Sea that marine science was his true passion. “That was a specific moment after my bachelor’s, that I did a complete life switch and decided to pursue a degree in marine science, because every kid wants to be a marine biologist at some point, right?” he laughs. “I luckily had the courage and support from my dad and mom to pursue my dream and become a marine biologist. Ole Miss has a really good marine science department inside the School of Pharmacy called environmental toxicology. My advisers in grad school, Marc Slattery and Deborah Gochfeld, really helped shape me and supported me. I think it’s really key for a university to teach people how to learn. They helped me with problem solving and the ability to ask big questions.” Specializing in underwater science, Lee earned his master’s degree and completed his research in the Bahamas, studying coral reefs.

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What Lies Beneath In 2012, Lee moved to Hawaii where he worked for the U.S. National Park Service until 2015. While scuba diving to collect underwater coral reef data, Lee got the itch to do something else. On the weekends, he began experimenting with different technologies that could be applied underwater. “This was a critical phase in how I got to what I’m doing today through technology,” Lee says. “I’ve always been really into technology and photography and was a pretty decent underwater photographer. So, I got invited to do this project at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.” The project involved making a 3-D map of the sunken U.S.S. Arizona battleship — something that had never been done before. “It’s really shallow so you can actually see it above water,” Lee says. “The issue is the ship holds half-a-million gallons of oil and it’s a history tomb, so our job was to 3-D map it to understand how it’s degrading over time and understand the basic things about the ship. “We successfully 3-D mapped the ship, which was amazing because it was the first project in the world that combined three different technologies: lidar, which uses lasers; sonar, which uses sound waves; and photogrammetry, which uses photographs to create a really high-resolution 3-D image. My part of the project was to explore the photogrammetry side, because it was really new and hadn’t been done before.”


Photo by Matthias Ruby

Lee has tea at the Extreme Tech Challenge with Sir Richard Branson (right).

He took his newfound interest in photogrammetry and began exploring the idea of 3-D mapping coral reefs in highresolution photographs. With many difficulties involving underwater photography, including light changes, Lee hypothesized that he could photo edit the images to make it work. As it turns out, he was right. “The engineers didn’t think it would work,” Lee says. “I was thinking I could do it, so I spent all of my personal money investing in all of this camera gear and went across the world to just kind of test it. It worked, and we created some of the world’s first really high-resolution underwater coral captures.” This led to Lee starting a nonprofit in 2014 called the Hydrous, an international community of scientists, divers, designers, filmmakers, technologists, educators and concerned citizens who love the ocean and want to share it to protect it. “[With the Hydrous] we kind of pioneered this method to capture underwater coral,” he says. “That’s important because corals are like (an) underwater rain forest, and without the rain forest the whole ocean falls apart. “The problem with corals is we know hardly anything about them, so by 3-D mapping them, we provided some really amazing insights to the underwater rain forest and corals for people who don’t know what a coral looks like. My hypothesis was people don’t really care about what they don’t know about or what they don’t have an emotional attachment with; we make decisions based on emotion.” With sponsorships from the Smithsonian Institution, Lenovo and Autodesk, and a partnership with Google Expeditions, the nonprofit has completed dozens of expeditions in eight countries, helping scientists and other groups learn this method so they can do the work in their own parts of the world.

“About 20 universities adopted our method, and we just kind of gave it away,” Lee says. “We wanted to do something good for the world. My passion was for impact, and I’m pretty happy that it’s still going on today.” With the success of the Hydrous, Lee soon found himself heading to Silicon Valley, where he met Castro and Terán at the prestigious Singularity University in May 2015.

The Next Frontier Sponsored by NASA and Google and founded in 2008 by Dr. Peter H. Diamandis and Ray Kurzweil, Singularity University is a global community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. “I met Sly upon arriving at Singularity University,” Terán says. “His warm, charming and humble personality made him one of my favorite people in the program immediately. From those early days, Sly, Isaac and I realized we just clicked. Our different styles, strengths and experience were bound by common values. As soon as we started working together, we realized we could move ultrafast.” Lee first learned about the program while watching a TED Talk. With an intensive application process and extremely low acceptance rate, he feels lucky to have even been accepted. “It’s a 10-week program within NASA, and the goal is to bring together entrepreneurs around the world that are passionate about social impact and leveraging what they call exponential technology to do so,” Lee explains. “I used to volunteer a lot at soup kitchens, which I still really enjoy, but the impact was not scalable. I could impact the life of this one person I picked up to go to the soup kitchen every week, but how do you do that for a billion people? The way to do that is, we believe, and they believe, through exponential technology.” W I N TE R 2 018

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Lee’s 2015 class was the first to be sponsored by Google, which paid his entire costly tuition. The group consisted of 80 entrepreneurs from 43 countries and was more than 50 percent female. “That [program] changed my life fundamentally,” Lee says. “I grew 10 years in the span of 10 weeks. During that program you learn about everything. They flew in the best speakers around the world and had 10 TED Talks a day that were packed with information. It’s a crazy challenge, but the challenge is within 10 weeks to build a company and scale it with people you don’t even know.” Lee was surprised by how easily three strangers from Spain (Castro), Ecuador (Terán) and the U.S. could bond in such a short span of time due to their shared passion for the importance of human connection.

you use two senses. We thought it would be amazing if we could incorporate our sense of touch. We think it’s the next frontier that hasn’t been addressed. It’s how you bond. You give someone a hug, and that conveys emotion and empathy. We thought, what if we bring that into our future? That would be pretty spectacular. We literally wanted to do the virtual hug, so I could hug my mom when I’m not with her.”

Scaling Up With exciting developments on the horizon for the company that currently have to be kept under wraps, Lee finds immense gratification in defining himself as an entrepreneur — a term that is still somewhat new to him. Photo by Matthias Ruby

Lee takes the stage on Necker Island at the Extreme Tech Challenge.

“The most important thing to us was human connection with our families and loved ones,” Lee says. “We believe that technology is amazing, but we’re really limited in how we connect with one another and felt really disconnected from our families when we’re not with them.” With the idea of wanting to be able to hold the hands of their mothers from across the globe, the concept behind Emerge was born. “We saw this huge potential for immersive computing, which is more widespread now,” Lee says. “We saw a lot of potential in those technologies and believe they will change the way we interact with each other, just like the internet did. We wanted to add the next level of that. “With augmented reality, you only see and hear things — 26

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“I never thought I would become an entrepreneur,” Lee says. “I didn’t know what that word was until two years ago. I didn’t even learn what Silicon Valley or venture capital was until maybe three years ago. For anyone else that reads this, even though you don’t have the background or experience, the opportunities today are so immense that you can go into whatever you’re interested in.” According to Lee, Emerge aims to be the next big communications company by capturing user emotions and becoming the next platform for communication. “We’re on a really exciting journey to try to create that next level,” he says. “I had no idea what augmented reality was. I read about it in a Wired magazine article and thought it would be amazing if I could get into it, but I’m too late. It’s definitely not too late.”


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‘ I t g a v e m e p e r s p e c t i v e in problem solving and preparation to remove emotion, as appropriate, to find relief in all situations.’ — Norman H. Seawright Jr. BSEE 82

‘ ( The BSU) opened parts of myself that I loved, as well as parts of myself that needed improvement.’ — Donald R. Cole PhD 85

‘ … i t wa s a n h o n o r a n d a privilege to carry on the legacy of those who had come before me.’ — Reginald Turner BBA 92

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BLACK STUDENT UNION

Celebrates Golden Anniversary Past, present students reflect on five decades of challenges, achievements By Edwin Smith

J

ames Meredith (BA 63) has the distinction of being the first African-American to enroll at the University of Mississippi and paving the way for thousands of people of color to become Ole Miss students. Since UM’s historic integration in 1962, many of these students have made their mark at the university as scholars, researchers, community leaders, activists, personalities and more. And a few of these trailblazers were the first, but certainly not the last, African-Americans to either be elected or selected to fill universitywide titles and roles. Still, none of those achievements were initially possible without challenges. For that reason, many of these African-American students bonded for mutual support, fellowship and to make their united voice heard by those in authority. Following several protests in the mid-to-late 1960s, a group that became known as the Black Student Union originated on March 25, 1968. Fifty years later, the BSU remains active and is celebrating its golden anniversary with a series of special promotions and events scheduled through March 2018.

Rebels with a Cause

From its inception, the BSU’s mission has been to involve African-American students in campus decisions, and request more representation on the faculty and more minority recruitment initiatives. Slowly but consistently, strides in this direction were made. As the list of its major achievements grew longer, the BSU emerged from being seen as a small group of radicals to becoming a recognized and respected student organization on campus. “From its founding, the Black Student Union has remained steadfast in its mission to keep the University of Mississippi moving forward,” says Nekkita Beans, a senior social work major from Philadelphia, Mississippi, and BSU president. “To celebrate its successful continuance in its golden year, the executive members of the 50th governing board hosted events throughout the academic year that align with the BSU’s mission and that are celebratory of this momentous occasion. Moreover, it was our desire to celebrate and (enjoy) fellowship

with past executive officers and members of the Black Student Union at these events.” Beans delivered her State of the Black Student Union address to the African-American university community, which launched the third annual IAMBSU Week, in September. Events included doing a communitywide service project, hosting a tent in the Grove during the Homecoming game and carrying out a “Living the Legacy” social media campaign aimed at educating the campus on the history of the BSU. This past October was dedicated to giving back to fellow students and the LafayetteOxford-University community. Other events include the fifth annual Black History Month Gala on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at The Inn at Ole Miss. The golden anniversary observance ends in March with the BSU hosting a brunch during Black Alumni Weekend. “The 2013-14 BSU executive board saw a need to recognize African-Americans who dedicated their time and energy to creating a more diverse and inclusive atmosphere on campus and were going unrecognized,” says Shawnboda Mead, director of the Center for Inclusion & Cross Cultural Engagement and BSU adviser. “The gala [was] open to the campus community, and we also [welcomed] all past executive officers and members of the Black Student Union to attend.”

Remembering the Past

In honor of the celebration, former BSU members and alumni from the past five decades offer their reflections on what the organization meant to them during their tenure as students:

Donald R. Cole, 1970s

Donald R. Cole (PhD 85), UM assistant provost and associate professor of mathematics, became involved around the time of the BSU’s formation. He eventually became a vice president in the organization and helped establish a constitution. “That was such an ‘eye-opening’ experience for me at that time, a real collegiate experience and one that was so far above my singular capabilities,” Cole says. “I recall being totally dedicated to W I N TE R 2 018

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‘ T he BSU served as a voice to a sometimes voiceless population of the Ole Miss community.’ — Raymond Wade BA 06, MA 08

‘ B SU allowed us to be ourselves and stay in touch with the culture that we ex p e r i en c ed growing up …’ — Daniel Roberts BS 14

Photo by Robert Jordan

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this group much more than to any other affiliate in my life.” Though Cole remembers the various debates that he and other BSU members had, some of his warmest memories center on the bond they developed. “The BSU was fraternal to us in nature as we all cared so dearly for each other,” he says. “Simultaneously, it was a political organization that allowed us to engage forces that were intent to modify, change or dismantle. We felt deeply that it was an organization with the right ‘moral authority,’ and as such we would ultimately succeed in our mandate to integrate UM and, moreover, the institution would become a much better place.” Cole praises the BSU for providing lifelong friends, as well as sharpening his analytical skills. “It opened parts of myself that I loved, as well as parts of myself that needed improvement,” he says. “It made me think — all traits of what is supposed to happen at an institution of higher learning. To this very day, my very best friend and I reflect on the role that the BSU had in transforming our lives.”

Norman H. Seawright Jr., 1980s

BSU-related experience. I found it incredibly rewarding to have students in the choir from different denominations, cultures and race participating in sharing the good news of the gospel in some challenging times. Furthermore, it was an honor and a privilege to carry on the legacy of those who had come before me.”

Raymond Wade, 2000s

“The BSU served as a voice to a sometimes voiceless population of the Ole Miss community,” says Raymond Wade (BA 06, MA 08), director of university relations at Fisk University in Nashville. “As universities strive to promote the culture of diversity and inclusion on college campuses, the need for the BSU is just as prevalent today as it was when I enrolled at Ole Miss in 2002.” Since leaving Oxford, the Moss Point native served as a two-term member on the Ole Miss Black Alumni Advisory Council and as a two-term chair of the Ole Miss Young Alumni Council. “I welcome any opportunities to return to Ole Miss and work with the next generation of young scholars and leaders.”

A stellar Air Force ROTC student-athlete who played running Daniel Roberts, 2010s back for the Ole Miss Rebels, Capt. Norman H. Seawright Jr. When Moss Point native Daniel Roberts (BS 14) entered (BSEE 82) was heavily involved in the BSU. In addition to serving as a freshman, his friends from home initially felt some appreas president, the Moss Point native sang lead and later directed the hension about him being on campus. However, their doubts award-winning BSU Gospel Choir. never became Roberts’, thanks to his involvement in the BSU. “As a freshman, I was fortunate to be selected to the execu“BSU allowed us to be ourselves and stay in touch with the tive board by then-president of the BSU culture that we experienced growing up, and scholar-athlete Curtis Weathers (BS navigating a predominantly white ‘From its founding, the Black while 79),” says Seawright, assistant chief pilot university,” says the public policy leaderStudent Union has remained ship alumnus who minored in political and Boeing 757/767 line check airman with the United Parcel Service Airlines s te a d f a s t i n i t s m i s s i o n science. “It taught us about the different in Louisville, Kentucky. “After his tenure hues of blackness and the varied experito keep the University of ences many of us have.” was over and his subsequent graduation from the university, I believe James GilRoberts says the organization helped Mississippi moving forward.’ leylen (BS 80) became president, and I African-American students maneuver — Nekkita Beans followed as president of the BSU, along through campus and provided a place BSU president with serving as director of the BSU to talk about challenges on campus and Gospel Choir. Curtis and James gave me strategize ways to address them. a sense of purpose to help those whose voices were not readily “I appreciate BSU for that,” he says. “I continue supporting heard by those in positions of authority.” the university by playing an active role in the internship proSeawright’s most memorable experience was serving with gram. I work with the staff twice a year to speak with students Weathers and Gilleylen as the BSU addressed issues that some who are interning in my city and help connect them with students in communicative disorders studies were experiencing. professionals in their fields of interest.” “It was quite refreshing to watch these young men use intellect and facts, presented in a calm and collective manner, Building on a Golden Legacy to overcome the problems these students faced,” he says. “It According to Beans, the Black Student Union’s best days gave me perspective in problem solving and preparation to remain ahead of it. remove emotion, as appropriate, to find relief in all situations.” “It is our belief that the Black Student Union is a successful student organization today because of the diligent work of Reginald Turner, 1990s those who came before us,” she says. “Without a doubt, it has Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, but raised in Lamar, Mis- been the generous support and contributions over the years sissippi, Reginald H. Turner (BBA 92) served as BSU president that has enabled us to accomplish our organizational goals. In and also as president and director of the BSU Gospel Choir. the upcoming year, our leadership wants to be able to continue “It was meaningful to me because I had the opportunity to building on the legacy of our predecessors. We want to use provide programming, representation and access to black students this year as a year to honor them and to empower our current on campus,” says Turner, former president of Westwood College’s students through them. To show them that each and every Atlanta Northlake campus and now an information tech- day they are living a legacy and contributing to a greater story nologist and educational consultant. “This was by far my favorite much bigger than their own.” W I N TE R 2 018

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MORE THAN NEWS

Alumna reports during Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath and recovery BY BRIAN HUDGINS 32

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G

race White (BA 06) realized the raw power of Hurricane Harvey while holding an infant after the storm.

Following the impact of Hurricane Harvey that flooded KHOU offices, the station had to use cement blocks as part of a makeshift central desk foundation so daily broadcasts could continue.

White, a graduate in broadcast journalism, is a Houston native who had traveled the streets of her hometown countless times. As a reporter for CBS-affiliate KHOU, White’s travel during the aftermath of Harvey required a boat. “The storm became real when a couple asked me to hold their baby so they could step into a rescue boat,” White says. When Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast a dozen years earlier, White was in the later stages of earning her bachelor’s degree. From the Phi Mu sorority house, she and her roommates watched Katrina’s damage develop via TV news reports. Harvey was also a devastating storm but contained new elements. T h e c om mu n i c at i on f l ow f rom Houston i ans w as he c t i c , and it continued at all hours. People who needed assistance and could not get through to responders via 911 lines had to send out an SOS through social media. White, who had worked in Lafayette, Louisiana; Pensacola, Florida; and San Antonio prior to coming home, was now part of the response team. “It was all hands on deck [for coverage],” White says. “I have covered other hurricanes but not Harvey. Journalists became responders when 911 was jammed. We were constantly getting messages on social media. That was a challenge because not only was I texting and getting voicemails from people, I was also trying to check my different apps because I didn’t want to miss a message.” In the nation’s fourth-largest city, the damage hit home in countless ways — even at work. The KHOU offices took on water while White was out in the field. Whereas reporters and anchors had been able to move up one floor during previous Houston floods, Harvey proved to be a far different deal. When water came rushing through, the KHOU newsroom had to be gutted due to interior damage. White and her peers have set up a temporary newsroom on the University of Houston campus. In this case, temporary means through the remainder of the year with relocation to a permanent facility planned for 2019. Meanwhile, the station had to spread out across five locations with the master control operating out of Dallas.

Photos courtesy of Grace White W I N TE R 2 018

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The environment that helped prepare White for these developments a few years into her Houston homecoming was part of her Ole Miss student experience, which gave her a chance to leave her home state and embark on a new adventure. “Ole Miss was one of the few schools that let freshmen do [broadcasts],” White says. “All four years, I worked for the campus TV station on NewsWatch 12. Some days I was a reporter or doing the teleprompter or audio or anchoring.” It’s a recipe the station sticks to — giving students the chance to show some versatility while learning. “Unlike most schools, we let students get involved in the freshman year,” says Nancy Dupont, professor of journalism and adviser to NewsWatch. “There are not a lot of lectures. Most of the (journalism) classes are skill based. The students take that knowledge to the Student Media Center and get rolling.”

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News directors at stations throughout the state have told Dupont that daily newscast experience is vital. The communication between Mississippi stations and the university did lead to one curriculum change for students. “The TV stations have said there is no value in giving students an assignment and then giving them a week to do it,” Dupont says. “We started to go with a daily deadline where students receive an assignment in the morning and turn it in by the end of the day.” In addition to that on-camera training via the daily broadcasts, students find out there is work to be done behind the scenes. “I was an on-air reporter, and then I switched to off air as a producer,” Dupont says. “Students need to find out what jobs are out there. You can’t make those decisions that fast in the last two years. I would advise students to go where they can get the most work. We are hands-on at the Meek School.” Although that foundation provides a solid base, White credits former Ole Miss faculty member Ralph Braseth (MA 92, EdD 96) with stressing that landing the first job after graduation would be a process. Braseth was director of student media at Ole Miss and now serves in a similar role at Loyola University – Chicago. “I taught Grace in a beginning reporting course,” Braseth says. “She did internships and prepared herself for an entry-level job. People who don’t go up to the fence or stand on the fence never work. People who jump over the fence and get rejected — but they have their hearts set on it — will work.” For White, the leap took her through a handful of college towns and cities on her way back home. Lafayette was White’s first professional news destination. The capital of Cajun Country serves as a business hub between Houston and New Orleans. Being only three-and-a-half hours away from Houston was a bonus. Moves to Pensacola and San Antonio followed. “Lafayette was my first taste of the business,” White says. “Pensacola was great. It is a big military town. San Antonio


is a huge military town. San Antonio was great because I got back to Texas. Reporting on crime in San Antonio was a good experience [preparing] for Houston by dealing with the police and city hall.” One of the best San Antonio stories that sticks with White involved meeting a wounded warrior who met his eventual wife in a hospital. “His face had been severely damaged,” White says. “It was a nurse and her patient. True love.” San Antonio also gave White the chance to tell stories of people at the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas. She won a regional Emmy award for a series of special reports about rising immigrant deaths on the border. “Every difficult story always has a purpose,” White says. Eight years into her career, the call came from the city where White had grown up. Watching the local news as a high school student solidified White’s goal to be one of those Houston TV reporters. When she returned to Houston, an immediate lesson was waiting for her. “Houston is so much bigger than I realized,” White says. “You live in a bubble, but then you realize how big the city is. It has given me an appreciation for Houston. I love that you are on your feet and out there meeting people at their best and worst.”

PULLING TOGETHER

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the purpose at KHOU was to soldier on as some staff members faced in-home flooding or destroyed vehicles. White was in the second group, as her car was at the station while she was out in the city reporting. Meanwhile, staff members from other Tegna-owned stations were chipping in to help with immediate needs. News people in the field needed socks, blankets and other supplies. People donated bottled water, toiletries and snacks, which continue to help keep the new newsroom going. Another task involved trying to relocate a newsroom amid the ongoing hurricane recovery. Items such as a central desk,

Houston native Grace White with her husband, Nathan Proske, and their son, William Scott

teleprompter, work cubicles and meeting spaces had to be set up at the University of Houston campus. “It takes a lot to move a TV station,” White says. “We will be here until at least some point in 2019. We had journalists (from other affiliates) come help us, and they also left messages of support (scribbled on white poster board). We saw messages of hope as we covered the news in town. Losing a newsroom takes a toll on people.” Amid the loss, the daily broadcasts continue. Cement blocks were used as part of a central desk foundation in the early aftermath of the storm. News trucks have to find places to park, and the staff takes shuttles to work. Many of the current news stories on health care, education, housing or other subjects also have a Hurricane Harvey theme. Houston news covers a wide scope — and that was before the storm. “There are probably 400 city organizations in Houston, W I N TE R 2 018

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on cold cases. She uses the KHOU archives to look back at original footage on each case. Trying to file reports or perform search-and-rescue missions during and after the hurricane posed a different set of problems. Two volunteer rescuers and a third man were electrocuted in separate incidents. One responder contracted flesh-eating bacteria. Many Houston residents have felt the effects of the storm for months. “We have been doing a lot of medical stories,” White says. “We had debris sitting around for such a long time, and it is so spread out. Doctors have been raising money for patients.” White turned her reflection on Hurricane Harvey, the storm’s effect on the people of Houston and her station’s coverage into prose when she penned the poem “Houston, we are with you.” and it is the eighth-largest market,” Braseth says. “You have to figure out where to spend resources.” Just as nearly everybody has a Hurricane Harvey story, another event gave Houstonians a common cause. While the city was dealing with the immediate aftermath of Harvey, the Houston Astros were initially stuck on the road. They played a “home” series in St. Petersburg, Florida, before being able to return home. As the Astros took flight during a playoff run that ended on Nov. 1 with a seventh-game World Series win in Los Angeles, the crowning of the city’s first World Series champion became the city’s second-biggest story of 2017. “The city needed it,” White says. “It was something to cheer for. It was something good we could all get behind. We went into continuous coverage for Harvey and then did it again for the Astros. It was so good to see people happy. Thousands of people lined up downtown for the parade. They were flood victims with Harvey stories.” Both the brand-new and older news stories have taken on more meaning for White. The process of getting back to work after Harvey included KHOU staff members donning hazmat suits to examine their damaged desks. Cold case files from the 1970s and ’80s were damaged and are in the drying-out process. White recently started a series 36

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Houston, we are with you. We are with you while the skies flood our streets, homes and change our lives. Our newsroom, where we got to tell your stories, flooded, too. But the damage does not define us, just like your loss does not define you. We evacuated and are waiting, just like you, for the waters to recede. We will rebuild, and so will you. Houston, we will do this together, and we will not stop telling your stories, because this is our home too.

— GRACE WHITE


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30 Years

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of Building Bonds 2018 Black Alumni Reunion builds upon successful history By Jim Urbanek

T

Photo by Thomas Graning

Photo by Marlee Crawford

he 2018 Black Alumni Reunion at the University of Mississippi, scheduled for March 1-4, marks a milestone of 30 years since the event’s inception and is expected to be the largest to date with more than 650 registrations. “We hopefully added something for everyone,” says Torie Marion White (BSCJ 07), assistant director of alumni affairs. “We have a great offering of activities and events and hope they will be a big draw for the 2018 reunion. This weekend provides an opportunity to explore the remarkable progress that has taken place here at the University of Mississippi and to connect with current African-American students to strengthen the Ole Miss alumni network.” In the early 1980s, Ole Miss Alumni Association Director Jim Butler (BSHPE 53, MEd 62) and then-Assistant Director Brenda West (BAEd 76, MEd 77) began working in earnest to increase minority alumni involvement and engagement with the university in general. To help achieve that goal, the Association created the University Affairs committee in 1984 and added a position the following year to devote attention to the area of minority recruitment and identification of black alumni.

Photo by iStock

Phyllis Thompson (BSB 80), the first to serve in that role, helped in the formation of the Black Alumni Advisory Council, which held its first meeting in February 1987. Thompson left the university prior to the 1988 reunion, but BAAC members played a key role in making that event, held Feb. 26-27, a success. Bonita Terry-Malone (BA 88), former assistant director, joined the staff in 1988 and began efforts to develop the Black Alumni Reunion as part of the Alumni Association’s strategic plan — not only to draw African-American W I N TE R 2 018

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alumni back to campus, but to also get them involved in and committed to influencing policy decisions, funding scholarship opportunities and networking. By the third reunion, the number of dues-paying AfricanAmerican alumni increased by more than 200 percent. Since then, the reunion remains the largest registered event sponsored by the Alumni Association. “I’m really pleased that the reunion has evolved and the participation of black alumni at Ole Miss has skyrocketed,” says Terry-Malone, who lives in Memphis and works with the Salvation Army. “Several other components of that strategic plan — such as the Ben Williams Minority Alumni Scholarship, the Black Alumni Advisory Council and the Black Alumni Newsletter — have also been realized. All of these contribute to the ongoing involvement and commitment of black alumni to Ole Miss.” As part of this year’s reunion, alumni and other representatives from public, private and government sectors will have the opportunity to network at noon on March 1, at the Career Center Diversity Career Expo. Alumni interested in representing their company or organization can email Toni Avant (BA 97, MA 97) at toni@career.olemiss.edu for registration details. The evening of March 1 features a stand-up comedy show with Billy Sorrells and Oxford’s very own Karlous Miller of the hit show “Wild ’n Out,” hosted by JJ Williamson. Activities on March 2 culminate with a concert at 8 p.m. at Tad Smith Coliseum, hosted by Willie Moore Jr., that features performers Keke Wyatt and Jon B. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are included in the all-inclusive registration package and are available at eventbrite.com.

ALUMNI REVIEW

that previously unoccupied seat at the table. The Black Alumni Reunion was not and never will be about anything other than family coming together to support family, for we too are Ole Miss.” Gala level sponsors for the 2018 Black Alumni Reunion include Perry Griffin PC, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Ole Miss Athletics and the Ole Miss Alumni Association. For more information, visit olemissalumni.com/bar18.

Photo by Robert Jordan

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Photo by Thomas Graning

Photo by Thomas Graning

Another highlight includes the Athletic, Greek and Organization Picnic at the Manning Indoor Practice Facility on March 3. The family-friendly event offers a chance to socialize with former athletes, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, the BSU, the Gospel Choir and old friends for a catered, picnic-style tailgate lunch. It also includes games, a bounce house, door prizes and special guest host.

“We are looking forward to hosting the 2018 reunion and hope this group of alumni returning to campus will enjoy the many planned events,” says Kirk Purdom (BA 93), executive director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. “Torie and the Black Alumni Advisory Council have spent a lot of time and hard work putting together what we expect to be a wonderful weekend.” White, who joined the alumni staff in 2015, sees the reunion as both an opportunity to stay connected and give back to future generations. “I believe it is our duty as alumni to create opportunities for young and aspiring students who want to blaze their own successful paths after college,” White says. “That’s why programs like our Reunion Awards Gala are so important. We all had people who helped us along the way, and now we are charged to do the same for those students coming behind us.” The Black Alumni Awards Gala starts at 6 p.m. on March 3 in the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss. The banquet will celebrate the organization’s history, honor outstanding alumni and offer classmates from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s a chance to reunite. Awards to be presented that evening include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Leadership Award, Dr. Jeanette Jennings “Trailblazer” Award, Rev. Wayne Johnson Community and Civic Award, Alumni Achievement Award, Celebrated Athlete Award and the Living the Legacy Award. “The Black Alumni Reunion was not and will never be your average reunion,” Terry-Malone says. “Most of those who have attended understand that they represent the ‘substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen’ by so many who came before them. They personify positive change by occupying


tradition starts here. The Future Alumni Network is the student level of membership in the Ole Miss Alumni Association. Becoming a member is the first step in beginning students’ lifelong relationship with Ole Miss.

Get special gifts and perks: • FREE PRINTING AND SCANTRONS in Triplett Alumni Center • Special events throughout the year just for student members • Receive special gifts every year • Access to MEMBER ZONE on home football game days • Discounts and special offers at local and national retailers • Meet prominent alumni and learn valuable career advice at our networking events

Memberships are only $25 annually, or $75 for four years for undergrads! • Whatever you pay in as a student,you get back as a discount on an alumni Life Membership.

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Sports OLE MISS

Cheerful News

OLE MISS CAPTURES UCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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opportunity to give the rest of the cheer community a taste of the Ole Miss atmosphere and what makes the school so special. “I always think of national competitions as a way to show other schools what makes our university so unique,” Siple says. “This is our voice. To win the first-ever Game Day National 42

ALUMNI REVIEW

Championship means so much more than I ever thought it would. It means not only did we recognize what we could do as one family to represent Ole Miss, but we showed others exactly what this school is all about.” In addition to topping the mountain in the all-girl competition, Ole Miss brought home the bronze in the Co-ed Game Day division, narrowly being edged by champion Cincinnati, as well as Minnesota. “I was very pleased with the co-ed team’s performance,” continues O’Connor. “They faced a lot of adversity in the Photos courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

hen the Ole Miss cheerleading team returned to Oxford from the Universal Cheerleaders Association College National Championship in Orlando, they didn’t do so alone. They brought home the title in the Division IA All Girl Game Day category. In just its second championship meet and fourth year of existence, the Rebel all-girl squad lays claim to being the only champion in history, with the UCA adding the Game Day category in 2018. “It’s my first year with the program and the first year to ever have this competition, so to have all-girl winning is a huge deal,” says head coach Ryan O’Connor. “It had a lot of attention around it, because it was the first year so the UCA was blowing up our result.” In the Game Day format, teams are evaluated on their ability to lead the crowd, proper game-day skill incorporation, execution of skills, motion technique and overall routine. In a competition focusing on program traditions, Ole Miss was particularly lauded for its “D-Fins” signs, highlighting the Rebels’ Landshark moniker. “It was really cool to be in a category where they’re judging our game-day traditions and being able to beat teams like Minnesota, where cheerleading began, as well as UNLV, which is another great team that always places well,” O’Connor says. “It was really great for the students to be able to take what we do at the Grove and on the sidelines and show off our traditions.” For junior Talia Siple, the Game Day format provides an

weeks leading up to the competition, replacing four different people on our competition mat. We were hoping that it would all come together at the right time, and thankfully it did. We were the first team to ever compete in the new venue at the Wide World of Sports, so we’ll always have that with us.” Following the high of the results from the first day of competition, Ole Miss returned to the Wide World of Sports for the second day of competition. Despite a mistake made in the closing seconds of their routine, the Rebel co-ed team garnered seventh in the DIA finals, while the all-girl team finished as a semifinalist. “Co-ed had a great routine in the semis that took us to finals,” O’Connor says. “We did have a mistake in the finals that allowed us to slip to seventh, but it’s always great to finish in the top 10. In all-girl, our routine was a top-five routine, we just didn’t execute and ended as a semifinalist. I think that will motivate us to do better next year.” While results from the second day may not have been quite what the Rebels were hoping for, the squad was able to leave the Sunshine State with an experience and memories none of them will soon forget.


OLE MISS Sports

O-U STADIUM/SWAYZE FIELD EYES APRIL COMPLETION Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

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le Miss’ latest renovations to Oxford-University Stadium are on track by all accounts and will be finished in April of this year. The $20 million project is part of the Forward Together campaign, and this particular project is geared more toward the student-athletes. “From a fan standpoint, it is fantastic,” says Joe Swingle, associate athletics director for facilities and game operations. “Now what we are doing is making it for the student-athlete. From a recruiting standpoint and getting kids here, I would now put ours up against anyone in the country.” The newly erected 42,000-square-foot baseball building is the bulk of the project and the part that will benefit the players the most. It will provide a new locker room, equipment room, hitting and pitching tunnels, new weight room, a lounge, a nutrition center and a new film room. The 3,200-foot dugout club will add 330 seats behind home plate with a suite-like area below the seats, similar to the lower portion of the south end zone at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Upon the new baseball building’s completion on the first base side of the stadium, roughly 170 more seats will be added atop the building as part of the rooftop plaza. That seating will primarily consist of letterwinners.

Ole Miss will most likely switch dugouts from the third to first base side upon the completion of the new locker room. That portion of the project is expected to be completed in mid-April.

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OLE MISS Sports

Open for Business

GILLOM ATHLETICS PERFORMANCE CENTER DEDICATED

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fter $13.8 million of renovations, Ole Miss Athletics cut the ribbon to the 57,000-square-foot, state-of-theart Gillom Athletics Performance Center with a ceremony on Dec. 1. Several people spoke, including executive associate athletics director Lynnette Johnson (MEd 90), former women’s sports information director Treadway Pearson, current head volleyball coach Steven McRoberts and senior volleyball student-athlete Lexi Thompson — along with the namesakes of the Gillom Center, Ole Miss legends Peggie (BSW 80) and Jennifer (BAR 87) Gillom. “I pray that all the athletes and coaches who enter this building can work together and fight alongside one another, and build and learn and love one another,” says Peggie Gillom. “This is a special place.”

“I hope that every athlete who practices and plays here is inspired to work hard and to accomplish all their goals,” says Jennifer Gillom, who was unable to attend but sent along a statement on a video message. “This is a great honor for Peggie and I and our entire family, and I thank you all so much.” Also dedicated at the ceremony was the new Pearson Lobby, which honors Diane Pearson, the first woman to be named to the Ole Miss Athletics Committee. A fund was recently established in conjunction with the School of Accountancy, the Diane Pearson Opportunity Fund, which will allow others to donate specifically toward women’s athletics at Ole Miss. The fund will serve as an endowment with accounting, and gifts made to athletics will support unique student-athlete development opportunities each year. Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

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Charitable Gift Annuity Strengthen Your Future and Ours If you are 60 or older and looking for a simple way to make a charitable gift to Ole Miss that won’t leave you worried about your future financial security, a charitable gift annuity (CGA) could be your solution. In exchange for your gift, you will receive dependable fixed payments for the rest of your life as well as valuable tax benefits. Your Benefit: • • • •

Fixed payments for life for up to two individuals. Relief from investment worries or responsibilities. A partial current income tax deduction. Capital gains tax savings on appreciated securities you donate. • The satisfaction of giving back to Ole Miss.

We Can Help Our Planned Giving team will work closely with your professional advisors to ensure your gift complements your personal financial situation and goals. Please contact us today at 662-915-5208 or visit umfoundation.planmylegacy.org/charitable-gift-annuities

Hit a grand slam with a true financial partner. Trustmark is proud to partner with communities across the South to enrich the lives of others. Supporting our community isn’t just something we do—it defines who we are. After all, we want to be more than just another bank. We want to be a partner you can count on. People you trust. Advice that works. We are proud to support Ole Miss Athletics as a true financial partner in the renovation of Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

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OLE MISS Sports

Receiving Record Holder A.J. BROWN WINS 2017 C SPIRE CONERLY TROPHY

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the SEC and ranks sixth nationally in receiving yards per game (104.3). His six 100-yard receiving games are tied for best in a single season, equaling Laquon Treadwell’s mark in 2015. Brown finished third on the single-season record charts in receptions (75). Brown becomes the seventh Rebel, eighth time overall, to win the prestigious award. It also marks the first time Ole Miss has won the award in back-toback seasons. The six former Rebels to win the Conerly Trophy include Stewart Patridge (1997), Deuce McAllister (1999), Eli Manning (2001, 2003), Patrick Willis (2006), Bo Wallace (2012) and Evan Engram (2016).

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

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n Nov. 2 8 , Ol e Miss w i d e receiver A.J. Brown won the 2017 C Spire Conerly Trophy as Mississippi’s most outstanding college football player this season. Now in its 22nd year, the C Spire Conerly Trophy is named after the late Charlie Conerly, the only football inductee in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame who was an All-American at a Mississippi university, an NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL All-Pro member and quarterbacked a team to a world championship. Brown, a sophomore from Starkville, finished the 2017 season as the Ole Miss single-season record holder in receiving yards (1,252) and tied for the top spot in receiving touchdowns (11). He leads

A.J. Brown


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Published JUST

Oxford, Mississippi: The Cofield Collection b y John Cofield, 310 pages, $44.95 (Hardcover), Cofield Press, ISBN: 9780999358603 A pictorial history of Oxford, Mississippi, with John Cofield’s unique style of telling the town’s tale. Featuring photographs from the Dain, Meek, Leslie and Cofield collections, as well as many private collections. Archie Manning, Miss America 1960 Lynda Lee Mead, James Meredith, Patricia Lamar, and, of course, Faulkner himself make appearances in the book, alongside old men whiling away the hours on benches and playing dominoes on the Courthouse lawn. John B. Cofield grew up in Oxford. He is a writer for HottyToddy.com and one of Oxford’s leading folk historians. He is the son of renowned university photographer Jack Cofield. His grandfather, J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and for decades was the Ole Miss annual photographer.

(led by powerful mixedblood families) were forced to give up the last of their Mississippi lands and move west. We see settlers flocking to the land (billed as cotton’s last empire), buy ing l and, bui lding and establishing institutions. The 1850s issued in a golden age of great prosperity but ended with a destructive war. After the war, a culture reformed itself. Throughout the decades, a literar y strain was developing. Under the influence of this peculiar history and the problems of race emerged a great genius and his creation — Yoknapatawpha. This is Hubert H. McAlexander’s (BA 61, MA 66) 12th book. He has

Mississippi football coach Jim Carmody, offers readers a detailed account of Carmody’s remarkable coaching career and includes anecdotes from former players, including Brett Favre. Carmody was head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi from 1982 to 1987. He led the Eagles to a 38-29 victory over Bear Bryant’s Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa in 1982, breaking the Tide’s 56-game home winning streak. He also scheduled a 1987 game against Jackson State University that broke a long-standing race barrier. Carmody also served as an assistant coach at Ole Miss, Mississippi State University and the University of North Carolina. Ron Borne, professor emeritus of medicinal chemistry at the University of Mississippi, served Ole Miss for 37 years. His titles included chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, member of the university’s athletic committee, and vice chancellor for research. Borne retired in June 2004 and wrote three books, The Great College Coaches Cookbook, Beginnings and Ends and Troutmouth: The Two Careers of Hugh Clegg. Borne died unexpectedly Oct. 17, three days after completing Big Nasty.

written biographies of the writers Sherwood Bonner and Peter Taylor, and published historical works on North Mississippi including A Southern Tapestry and a history of Strawberry Plains Audubon Center.

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.

From the Chickasaw Cession to Yoknapatawpha: Historical and Literary Essays on North Mississippi b y Hubert H. McAlexander, Jim Carmody, Big Nasty: Missis338 pages, $24.95 (Paperback) Nautilus sippi’s Coach b y Ron Borne, 344 pages, Publishing Co., ISBN: 9781936946785 This work offers glimpses of North Mississippi from the time the Chickasaws

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Traveler 2018 REBEL

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he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips in 2018. 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. Prices and dates are subject to change. Visit the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s website at olemissalumni.com/travel for the most up-to-date information.

GATEWAY TO SUNSHINE APRIL 6-22, 2018

The sunny scenery of Central America awaits you after you embark the luxurious Marina in iconic Los Angeles.

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Explore the famous San Diego Zoo; the unique desert coastline of Cabo San Lucas; and the glamorous resort town of Acapulco, a magnet for celebrities from Elvis Presley to Elizabeth Taylor. Admire Puerto Quetzal’s astounding volcanoes, the awe-inspiring rainforest canopies of San Juan del Sur and the rare virgin tropical dr y forest of Puntarenas before traversing the Panama Canal, a marvel of engineering named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Dive into Spanish naval history in Cartagena; scan the clear turquoise waters of George Town, for the rare green sea turtle is bred on its palmfringed shores; and finally disembark the Marina in Miami, a melting pot of Latin and Caribbean cultures. — From $3,599, including airfare

THE WONDERS OF PERU, FEATURING AN AMAZON CRUISE APRIL 12-23, 2018

Tap your sense of adventure surrounded by Peru’s wondrous scenery, from the Amazon region’s unspoiled beauty to ethereal Machu Picchu perched among misty Andean peaks. In Lima, see its impressive highlights and savor a homecooked Peruvian dinner at a landmark private residence. Then cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, intimate Delfin III for three remarkable nights. Glide in skiff boats on wildlife-watching excursions and hike into the rain forest. Fly to Cusco, and journey to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. High in the Andes, visit a remote village and learn about daily life from residents. After a panoramic train ride to Machu Picchu, meander through


2018 REBEL Traveler this spectacular Incan complex with an expert guide. In Cusco, tour ancient religious buildings and intriguing Incan ruins. This 10-night journey includes free economy airfare, round-trip between Miami, Florida, and Lima, Peru, as well as expert local guides, a travel director and generous meals with wine at dinner. For solo travelers, the single supplement is waived. — From $5,995, including airfare

DUTCH WATERWAYS MAY 2-10, 2018

Experience a captivating seven-night cruise through Holland and Belgium’s lovely waterways and canals. As you alight in waterfront towns, customize your cruise with a choice of excursions. In Amsterdam, delight in a vividly colorful tulip garden, pedal through the scenic countryside or admire the Rijksmuseum’s masterpieces. Discover The Hague, the Dutch government’s cosmopolitan center, walk through Delft’s romantic old town and select from museum tours featuring fine art or Delft porcelain. Stroll across Bruges’ tiny cobbled bridges, and then visit an art museum, family brewery or chocolatier’s shop. Other included excursions take you cruising down Amsterdam’s picturesque canals, floating through fairytale Giethoorn and walking through Antwerp’s medieval streets. Your travel director handles all the logistics, while local guides and lecturers enlighten you on the region’s history and culture. Enjoy the simplicity of unpacking once aboard a first-class ship, where your welcoming crew provides exceptional service and delicious meals, including wine and beer with lunch and dinner. For solo travelers, the single supplement is waived. — From $2,695, including airfare

TIMELESS BEAUTIES MAY 2-10, 2018

Embark on your luxury cruise in cosmopolitan Barcelona, Spain’s gem of art and architecture. Travel to Valencia to taste paella in its birthplace, stroll the cobbled streets of Palma de Mallorca’s old quarter, and take in the impressive Gorges du Prunelli in Ajaccio. The great masterpieces of the Renaissance —

Apulia, Italy

Brunelleschi’s Duomo, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Michelangelo’s “David,” the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery — await you in Florence, while Portofino, nestled on a botanically rich peninsula along the scenic Italian Riviera, offers stunning scenery. See where Picasso lived and painted at the Picasso National Museum in Antibes before heading to the last stop in your luxury cruise, Monte Carlo, with its famous Grand Corniche and the 12th-century Prince’s Palace of Monaco. — From $2,499, including airfare

MAJESTIC PASSAGE MAY 8-23, 2018

Connect New World settlements with their Old World roots on your journey from Canada to the United Kingdom. Embark aboard the Marina in Montréal, which blends North American char isma w it h Europ e an char m. Founded in 1634 but devastated by fire in 1908, Trois-Riviéres is now a modern city with a deep sense of history. Discover Québec City’s classic European style before sailing to Saguenay, home of Canada’s only navigable fjord. Explore marine artifacts and aboriginal cultures in the Corner Brook Museum; immerse yourself in Gaelic culture in Saint Pierre and Miquelon; and learn the secret of Saint John’s curious Reversing Falls. Cross the Atlantic, and dive into Irish culture from both the port town of Cobh and the thoroughly

cosmopolitan capital of Dublin. Hike the Welsh countryside from Holyhead and England’s dramatic Jurassic Coast from Portland before disembarking in London, Britain’s timeless capital. — From $4,199, including airfare

APULIA: UNDISCOVERED ITALY MAY 9-17, 2018

Whet your appetite for Italy’s southern region during this seven-night program in Apulia. From your base in Polignano a Mare, explore the fascinating architecture, alluring villages and craggy coastlines of this renowned destination. Experience Bari, a vibrant, storied seaport with a charming old town. View Lecce’s Roman amphitheater, and admire Ostuni’s intricate, alabaster facades. Visit Trani, the Pearl of Apulia; sample freshly pressed oils at an olive mill; and interact with locals during an open-forum discussion. Travel through the countryside to see Alberobello’s conical trulli dwellings, and follow lanes bordered with unique cummerse in Locorotondo. Visit the sassi districts of Matera, the 2019 European Capital of Culture, and learn about the region’s dramatic history. Local guides and expert speakers provide insight during included excursions and interactive talks. This Alumni Campus Abroad program features first-class accommodations and an extensive meal plan including wine with dinner. For solo travelers, there is no single supplement. — From $2,595, including airfare W I N TE R 2 018

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2018 REBEL Traveler GEMS OF THE DANUBE MAY 14-24, 2018

Welcome aboard the Scenic Amber, a lavish, cutting-edge and spacious ship staffed by expert cruise directors with an attention to the finer details. With its large, spacious suites, the 1-3 staff-toguest ratio and the pairing of a private butler with every guest, on board the Scenic Amber, comfort and luxury is a top priority. It’s hardly surprising that one of Europe’s longest waterways has so many wonderful attractions along its banks. Every aspect of this trip’s itinerary will surprise and delight you, starting with a three-night hotel stay in Prague to help you prepare yourself for the wonder of your five-star, luxury river cruise. Explore Nuremberg, famous for many landmark events in history; Vienna, with its remarkable array of elegant buildings; and Budapest, often cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Discover the treasures of each port-of-call by foot, e-bike or with Scenic’s renowned Freechoice and Enrich programs, and revere Europe’s historic river system during this nine-night land tour and river cruise. — From $4,749, including airfare

SCOTTISH ISLES AND NORWEGIAN FJORDS MAY 17-25, 2018

Join us for a comprehensive seven-night journey to Scotland’s Orkney and Shetland islands and Norway’s majestic fjords. Cruise from Glasgow, Scotland, to Bergen, Norway, aboard the exclusively

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chartered, five-star small ship Le Boréal. Travel in the wake of Viking explorers, cruising into ports accessible only by small ship. Highlights include two of the world’s most scenic rail journeys — the Jacobite steam train through the Scottish Highlands and the Flåm Railway through Norway’s fjordlands. Enjoy a special presentation by the Ness of Brodgar archaeological site director and head archaeologist in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney and a tour of Bryggen in Bergen. Edinburgh/Glasgow pre-cruise and Norway/Copenhagen post-cruise options are available. — From $4,995

CELTIC LANDS MAY 24-JUNE 2, 2018

Cruise for eight nights aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star small ship Le Boréal from Glasgow, Scotland, to Wales, Ireland and France, with guided excursions in each port. By special arrangement, walk the hallowed beaches of Normandy with Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of former Gen. and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and meet Allen Packwood, director of the Churchill Archives Centre at the University of Cambridge. Travel into the Scottish Highlands aboard the Jacobite steam train; visit the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Caernarfon Castle near Holyhead, Wales; experience the austere beauty of the Inner Hebridean isles; and view Celtic treasures in Dublin. Glasgow/Edinburgh pre-cruise and Paris/Giverny post-cruise options are available. — From $6,395

EASY COMPANY-WWII: ENGLAND TO THE EAGLE’S NEST MAY 27-JUNE 8, 2018

Made famous by The New York Times best-seller Band of Brothers and the critically acclaimed miniseries that followed, Easy Company members shared their stories with National WWII Museum founder Stephen E. Ambrose, who immortalized their lives from jump training to the war’s end. On this unforgettable, 13-day travel experience, you will follow in the footsteps of Easy Company, part of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne. Led by historians and curators from the National WWII Museum and joined by “Band of Brothers” cast member Michael Cudlitz (Sgt. Denver “Bull” Randleman), this tour takes you from the hedgerows of Normandy, along “Hell’s Highway” in the Netherlands, through the foxholes surrounding Bastogne, and atop the Eagle’s Nest — immersing you in the lives of Easy Company. — From $5,995

ISLES OF ENCHANTMENT JUNE 7-18, 2018

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News ALUMNI

Class Notes

’40s

BETTYE JENKINS (47), owner

BILL OLIVER (BBA 74) of Hattiesburg was

GEORGE WARDLAW (MFA 55)

LAWRENCE PRIMEAUX (BA 71, JD 73) of

of Vidalia Dock and Storage, received the Natchezian Woman of the Year award at the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce Gala.

’50s

celebrated his 90th birthday and the opening of his exhibition, “Then and Now,” in New York at the UMass NYPOP space in Chelsea.

’60s

Meridian was elected vice chairman of Mississippi’s Conference of Chancery Judges at the fall Trial and Appellate Judges Conference in Jackson.

JAMES A. PEDEN JR. (BA 66,

CONSTANCE SLAUGHTER-HARVEY (JD 70) was named a legal trailblazer by the Metro Jackson Black Women Lawyers Association.

M. RONALD DOLEAC (JD 72) of

MICHAEL HICKS THOMPSON (BBA 71) of

JD 70) of Jackson was named the recipient of an Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

’70s

honored with the Hub Award for contributions to the community, commitment to excellence and dedication to public service.

Hattiesburg was elected chair of Mississippi’s Conference of Chancery Judges at the fall Trial and Appellate Judges Conference in Jackson.

Memphis won the religion and fiction category for his book The Actress at the fifth annual International Beverly Hills Book Awards.

LARRY W. EDWARDS (BBA 70), brokerowner of the Smith-Edwards Co. in Ridgeland, was elected to the board of trustees of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson.

JON C. TURNER (BBA 78), a partner in the Jackson office of BKD LLP CPAs and Advisors, was elected chairman of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson.

GLENN GALEY (BBA 70) of Hattiesburg was recognized for service as a board member for the French Camp Academy board of trustees.

elected secretary-treasurer of Mississippi’s Conference of Chancery Judges at the fall Trial and Appellate Judges Conference in Jackson.

ROBERT Q. WHITWELL (JD 72) of Oxford was

’80s

MARK BYRNE (BA 81) won two bronze medals in 2017 on the track at the Pacific Northwest International Track Championships and on the road at the World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, in the 40K Individual Time Trial.

GLENN COFIELD (BAcc y 83) re cent ly

founded Cofield Press LLC of Oxford and released the company’s first book, titled Oxford, Mississippi, The Cofield Collection.

MARY YERGER DUNBAR (BA 81), who cofounded a public relations firm in Mississippi in the mid-1980s, was elected secretary of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson. G. DEWEY HEMBREE III (BBA 83, JD 86), attorney with McGlinchey Stafford PLLC in Jackson, was named to Mid-South Super Lawyers, the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2017 Leadership in Law class and one of the “Top Ten” Mississippi’s Leading Attorneys. JOHN MARK MCKENZIE (JD 80) was named

senior vice president of Pinnacle Financial Partners in Nashville.

HUGH E. TANNER (BBA 80, JD 85), litiga-

JAMIE G. HOUSTON III (BBA 74, JD 76), an attorney and certified public accountant, was elected vice chairman of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson.

PATRICIA D. WISE (BAEd 73, MCD 76, JD

tion partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in Houston, Texas, was elected the 10th chairman of the Little League International board of directors.

ARCHIE MANNING (BPA 71) was honored

CHARLES WRIGHT JR. (JD 76) of Meridian was appointed circuit court judge of the 10th Circuit District by Gov. Phil Bryant.

J. CARTER THOMPSON JR. (JD 84), a shareholder in the Jackson and Memphis offices of Baker Donelson, was elected to a threeyear term as a member of the national board of directors of the Defense Research Institute.

as part of the inaugural Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame class at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

54

ALUMNI REVIEW

84) was named a legal trailblazer by the Metro Jackson Black Women Lawyers Association.


ALUMNI News

LAW, PHARMACY ALUMNI TO BE HONORED

T

he selection committee for the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame award recently met and chose members of its 2018 class. The induction ceremony will take place as part of Law Weekend, March 23-24. Inductees in this year’s class include John Robin Bradley Jr. (LLB 62), Aleita Sullivan Fitch (JD 65), Harold D. “Hal” Miller Jr. (LLB 59) [posthumously], Edwin Lloyd Pittman (LLB 60) and N.S. “Soggy” Sweat Jr. (BSC 46, LLB 49) [posthumously]. Festivities will begin with a 6 p.m. reception in the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss on Saturday, March 24, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public, and registration information will be available soon.

The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy 2018 Distinguished Pharmacy Alumnus of the Year award will be presented to William Percy Malone (BSPh 65). He will be recognized during the Pharmacy Awards Banquet, which will take place as part of Pharmacy Weekend, April 20-21. The Awards Banquet will take place in the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss starting with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. This event is open to the public. Registration for this event and others throughout Pharmacy Weekend will be available soon. For more information, please contact Scott Thompson at 662-915-1878 or thompson@olemiss.edu. W I N TE R 2 018

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ALUMNI News In Oxford...

KEVIN WEEKS (BBA 87) is ranked No. 45 on Golf Digest’s prestigious 2013-14 America’s 50 Best Teachers and is ranked No. 3 on Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Illinois.

’90s

STEPHEN T. BAILEY (JD 94), a

partner in the Tupelo law firm of Evans & Bailey, was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant as chancery court judge for the First Judicial District. BROOKE BOOTHE (BSHEC 91) opened

...Choose O.U.R. Places! 2 Minute Walk to Grove 6 Minutes to Square 424 S. 5th Street @ University Ave. Sleeps 8 • Best porch in town! Weekends • Yearly VRBO #588923

Oxford University Rentals Call (662) OLE-MISS

Nantucket Monogram in New Canaan, Connecticut.

J. SCOTT CORLEW (BA 92, JD 96) was

appointed to the Jackson County Port Authority by Gov. Phil Bryant. LOUISE DAVIS (BBA 90), PGA teaching pro-

fessional with Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Illinois, is ranked No. 14 on Golf Digest’s Best in State list.

JAMEY DIGGS (BPA 94) of Orlando was

named director of residential trade for the state of Florida with Ferguson Enterprises Inc. S. TRENT FAVRE (JD 99) was named the first county court judge for Hancock County by Gov. Phil Bryant.

In Oxford...

...Choose O.U.R. Places! 2 Minute Walk to Grove 5 Minutes to Square 510 University Ave. Sleeps 8 • Fabulous Deck! Weekends • Yearly VRBO #588908

Oxford University Rentals Call (662) OLE-MISS

J. HOGAN GIDLEY (BA 98) of South Caro-

lina was named deputy White House press secretary.

’00s

DREW CLELAND (BBA 03), a vice president and portfolio manager at Trustmark Investment Advisors Inc., achieved the designation of Chartered Market Technician. BEN CRADDOCK (BA 02) recently opened

the Westin Jackson to help rebuild the economy and strength of Jackson.

NATHAN FORD (MA 02) accepted the position of social studies teacher at Gulf Breeze High School in Florida. BRAD KADUE (BAccy 00, MAccy 01) was

named president of Precision Associates Inc. in Minneapolis.

CHRISTY VINSON MALATESTA (JD 09) was

named shareholder in the Jackson office of Daniel Coker Horton & Bell.

ROBERT SAVOIE (BBA 07), attorney with McGlinchey Stafford in New Orleans, was recognized in Louisiana Super Lawyers 2018.

’10s

AUSTIN B. ALEXANDER (BA 11)

joined the Birmingham office of Balch & Bingham LLP as an associate.

BARBARA HOWARD (BA 92, MEd 94) of

Jackson released her book Wounded Sheep: How to Heal Church Hurt.

DR. LEE MORRIS (BA 96, MD 00), neonatol-

SYLVESTER “SLY” LEE (BSPh 10, MS 12) of

HENRY N. “HANK” REICHLE JR. (BAccy 98),

SPENCER RITCHIE (JD 10) joined the Jackson office of Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP as an associate.

ogist in Huntsville, was part of a delivery team of 40 doctors, nurses and technicians who delivered sextuplets at Huntsville Hospital in Alabama.

executive vice president at Staplcotn in Greenwood, joined Regions Bank’s board of directors for north Mississippi.

ham was recognized as a litigation star in the 2018 edition of Benchmark Litigation.

ALUMNI REVIEW

Westin Jackson to help rebuild the economy and strength of Jackson.

BETTYE BUTLER (BAEd 17) of Oxford recently completed her bachelor’s degree from the School of Education after a 38-year hiatus from the University of Mississippi.

WYNN M. SHUFORD (BA 90) of Birming-

56

JOSEPH SIMPSON (97) recently opened the

Los Angeles was named to Forbes’ prestigious “30 Under 30” list for a breakthrough in augmented reality technology.

JESS WALTMAN (BAccy 13, JD 16) joined the law firm of Davis & Crump PC in Gulfport as an associate.


ALUMNI News SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SHEILA DOSSETT RETIRES

A

fter 16 years of service to the Alumni Association and the University of Mississippi, Sheila Dossett (BAEd 75), senior associate director, retired at the end of December. Dossett had been a member of the Alumni Affairs staff since 2001 and began her career with the university as an advancement associate for the School of Applied Sciences. Among her many responsibilities, she directed the alumni activities for the schools of Applied Sciences and Education and served as adviser for the Student Alumni Council, where she mentored countless students. “Sheila graciously led the Association as interim executive director for a year after [Tim Walsh’s] retirement, much longer than she expected after accepting the role, while the university conducted searches for both a chancellor and executive director,” says Executive Director Kirk Purdom (BA 93). “Though Sheila will be greatly missed, she is leaving us well prepared.”

In Oxford...

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WEDDINGS Elizabeth Lowell Hoke (BSES 14, MS 17) and Robert Jake Raulston (BSGE 13), Nov. 11, 2017.

In Oxford...

Bailee Renee Johnson (BAEd 16) and Joshua Andrew Williams (BA 16), June 9, 2017. Mary Margaret Johnson (BA 13) and Charles Shelby Jenkins (BSCvE 14, BA 14), Nov. 11, 2017.

BIRTHS Harrison Grant, son of Mary Virginia Sewall Cavett and John C. Cavett Jr. (BBA 12), Oct. 14, 2017. Franklin David, son of Meredith Cleland Johnson (BA 00) and Chad Lane Johnson (BSPh 98, PharmD 00), Dec. 5, 2017.

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ALUMNI News

Nominate Someone Great OMAA SEEKS ALUMNI HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS

T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association annually inducts a few of its most distinguished alumni into the Hall of Fame. The ceremony is part of Homecoming Weekend festivities and will be held this year on Oct. 6. Regular nominations are encouraged to ensure that the selection committee always has a broad range of worthy individuals to consider for each class. All alumni are eligible for consideration. From the nominations submitted, not more than five outstanding alumni are chosen by a seven-member committee and are inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. For alumni to be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame on any given year, nominations are required on or

before April 1, though nominees remain in the selection pool for three years. Anyone may submit the name of a University of Mississippi alumna or alumnus to be nominated. Criteria and eligibility information can be found on the Alumni Association website at olemissalumni.com, along with a complete list of information and materials needed for nomination submissions and list of past recipients. It is essential that all materials pertinent to the nominee be submitted, as the Hall of Fame Committee will do no further research. Materials may be submitted via email to alumni@olemiss.edu and/or mail to Hall of Fame Committee, Triplett Alumni Center, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848.

Criteria and eligibility information can be found on the Alumni Association website:

olemissalumni.com

R A Y P O O LE I N S U R A N CE · R E NT A L S ,

CO NDO S , HO M E , A U T O , L IF E , E T C ·

“W e W a n t Y o u r Bu s i n e s s !” 662·563·7721

RA YP O O L E . C O M 58

ALUMNI REVIEW

662·234·7574

W I L L P O O L E SF . C O M

334·365·1800

T RE YP O O L E . C O M


ALUMNI News IN MEMORIAM 1940s

Jerry Neal Boone (BA 49) of Oxford, Dec. 13, 2017 Elsie McCoy Bornman (BAEd 42) of Tupelo, Nov. 20, 2017 Mary Jean Sealy Chapman (BS 44, MCS 69) of Oxford, Nov. 28, 2017 Margaret Boland Ellis (BA 46) of Vestavia Hills, Ala., Dec. 25, 2017 Ann Hopkins Gresham (49) of Indianola, Nov. 4, 2017 Pauline Cato Harper (41) of Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 28, 2017 Annie-Glenn Johnson Howell (BAEd 43) of Batesville, Dec. 29, 2017 Jane Middleton Jones (44) of Greenville, Dec. 29, 2017 Gloria Dandridge Kelley (BAEd 49) of Gulfport, Dec. 28, 2017 Melvin Marvin Kraus (BA 47, MS 48, MedCert 50) of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 20, 2017 Lois Pepper Latham (46) of Lakeland, Fla., Nov. 24, 2017 John Earl McDade (48) of Lafayette, La., Dec. 17, 2017 Lila Nosser McRight (BSHPE 46) of Greenville, Nov. 14, 2017 Lynn Reid Nixon (BA 47) of Iuka, Jan. 1, 2018 Jean Lott Peyton (BAEd 49) of Cordova, Tenn., Oct. 29, 2017 James Duane Pope (BAEd 49) of Arlington, Tenn., Dec. 8, 2017 Robert S. Scott (BAEd 49, MBA 50) of Germantown, Tenn., Dec. 21, 2017 Bob Delwyn Suddath (BBA 48) of Katy, Texas, Nov. 12, 2017 Rosamond Myers Thornton (BA 42) of Chapel Hill, N.C., Aug. 1, 2017 Curtis J. Walden (BBA 47) of Charlotte, N.C., Nov. 9, 2017 Mary Brown Weldon (BAEd 45) of Williamsburg, Va., Dec. 12, 2017 William H. West Jr. (BSPh 47) of Jackson, Oct. 31, 2017

1950s

Nora Kemp Albaugh (BAEd 52, MEd 57) of St. Petersburg, Fla., Oct. 30, 2017 Ann Lum Ballew (BBA 51) of Natchez, Dec. 24, 2017 Jerry Franklin Bates (BBA 55) of Gulfport, Nov. 17, 2017 Howell Gene Box (55) of Tupelo, Nov. 22, 2017 Raymond Lloyd Brown (BBA 58, LLB 62) of Gautier, Dec. 25, 2017 Edsel Wayne Conwill (BBA 57) of Nettleton, Nov. 25, 2017 Robert Ellis Dickinson Jr. (BBA 52) of Clarksdale, Oct. 28, 2017 Jack Francis Dunbar (LLB 57) of Oxford, Dec. 20, 2017 John Anderson Dupre Jr. (BA 57) of Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 31, 2017 Peggy Martin Egan (51) of Smithfield, Va., Nov. 19, 2017 Mary Byrd Elmore (BAEd 51) of Goodlettsville, Tenn., Dec. 31, 2017 Nita Percival Ervin (BA 52) of Bartlett, Tenn., Nov. 5, 2017 Martha Nicholas Farris (BSC 55) of Oxford, Oct. 28, 2017

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ALUMNI News

EXPLORING FLORENCE AND TUSCANY le Miss alumni and friends enjoyed a unique vacation in January during an exclusive eight-day “Ole Miss Only” trip to Florence and Tuscany. The trip was part of the Alumni Association’s travel program. For more information on upcoming travel opportunities, visit the Rebel Traveler department on page 50 of this issue, or visit olemissalumni.com/worldtravel.

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ALUMNI News Thomas Patrick Goggin Sr. (BSEA 52) of Leesburg, Va., Oct. 28, 2017

Leslie Caine Campbell (MA 64, PhD 67) of Hoschton, Ga., Oct. 20,

Madeline Phillips Hare (BA 50, MedCert 53) of Slidell, La., Dec. 29, 2017

2017

Mildred Rutherford Holliday (MEd 56) of Ripley, Dec. 16, 2017 Russell Eugene Hudson Jr. (BBA 56) of Taylors, S.C., Dec. 25, 2017 George B. Jackson Jr. (BBA 58) of Aiken, S.C., Nov. 21, 2017 Troy Neal Lambert (BBA 51) of Hot Springs, Ark., Nov. 29, 2017 Harry Lewis Loflin Jr. (BSChE 52) of Austin, Texas, Nov. 24, 2017 James Erwin Magee (BBA 53) of Land O’ Lakes, Fla., Nov. 1, 2017 Claude D. Malone Jr. (BBA 55) of Kettering, Ohio, Oct. 27, 2017 Herman Lamar McKenzie (MEd 58, MCS 62) of Madison, Nov. 18, 2017 Patricia Peeples Miller (BSC 53) of Coffeeville, Dec. 10, 2017 Cecil Wood Puckett (BSHPE 52) of Kingsport, Tenn., Dec. 5, 2017 Louis Herbert Ramsey (BSPh 51) of Pontotoc, Nov. 12, 2017 Dorothea Natalie Rau (MEd 51) of Hickory, N.C., Oct. 28, 2017 Mary Bounds Russell (MEd 56) of Meridian, Oct. 1, 2017 James A. Sheffield (BS 53, MedCert 54) of Gulfport, Dec. 13, 2017 James Wayne Spears (BBA 59) of Jackson, Oct. 28, 2017 John Carter Stamm (BBA 53) of Vicksburg, Dec. 30, 2017 Creighton Lemaster Wilson Jr. (BA 50, MedCert 53, BS 53) of Gainesville, Fla., Nov. 26, 2017 Andrew Jackson Yates III (54) of Ridgeland, Nov. 24, 2017

James Patrick Coll (BA 69) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 31, 2017 Frank Fernandez Jr. (MCS 67) of Coffeeville, Nov. 20, 2017 John Paul Fox (LLB 61) of Houston, Dec. 19, 2017 Benjamin MacArthur Gaines Sr. (BA 64) of Iuka, Nov. 8, 2017 Roger Eugene Gower (BSEE 62) of Nashua, N.H., Oct. 25, 2017 Elsie Hart Johnson (MA 61) of Canton, Dec. 8, 2017 John Kimbrough Johnson Jr. (BA 64) of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 7, 2017 George Wesley McKellar (BSChE 60) of Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 9, 2017 John Ulrich Miller III (JD 66) of Brentwood, Tenn., Oct. 28, 2017 Robert Patrick Myers (MD 60) of Columbus, Dec. 14, 2017 Arthur Eugene Nute (BSHPE 67) of Brighton, Tenn., Nov. 15, 2017 Jerry Strickland Pierce (MA 69) of Monette, Ark., Oct. 28, 2017 Mary McCarter Roberts (MA 69) of Columbus, Nov. 24, 2017 Paul Daniel Rogers (BA 62) of Crystal Springs, Oct. 21, 2017 Bettye Middleton Sandifer (MEd 61) of Madison, Nov. 3, 2017 David Eugene Shands (BA 67, JD 70) of Fort Collins, Colo., Nov. 11, 2017 Dorothy Chapman Smith (69) of Dyersburg, Tenn., Dec. 8, 2017 Lee Hudson Still (BAEd 66, MEd 67) of Batesville, Sept. 25, 2017

1960s

Evelyn Ayers Strong (BSN 65) of Richland, Dec. 24, 2017

March 5, 2017

Lucille Wall Travis (MLS 69) of Tupelo, Dec. 28, 2017

William Louis Brunckhorst (MCS 65, EdD 71) of Whitewater, Wis.,

Terry Stephen Swalm Jr. (BBA 65) of Bogue Chitto, Nov. 2, 2017

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ALUMNI News Robert Edward Turner Jr. (BBA 63) of Windsor, Conn., Oct. 22, 2017

Vernon Lothaire Richards II (BA 73, MEd 90) of Oxford, Sept. 12, 2017

Larry J. Whitener (BBA 69) of Farmington, Mo., Oct. 20, 2017

Wayne Sims Rutherford (71) of Tupelo, Dec. 26, 2017

William Brown Williford III (MBA 61, BSCvE 61) of Palm Springs,

Phillip Daniel Skelton (EdD 79) of Conway, Ark., Oct. 23, 2017

Calif., Oct. 9, 2017

Richard Arnold Sneed (BBA 74) of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Oct. 22, 2017

1970s

Cathy Northcutt Alexander (MEd 79) of Belmont, Nov. 30, 2017 Janice Garner Allison (BAEd 72) of Ridgeland, Nov. 30, 2017 Oscar Bobby Barnes (BPA 74) of Marietta, Dec. 28, 2017 John Lee Genin Sr. (BPA 70, JD 73) of Bay St. Louis, Dec. 17, 2017 Deborah Drury Gould (BA 75) of Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 28, 2017 Thomas Finley Hewes (MD 71) of Gulfport, Nov. 27, 2017 Danny Lawrence Iupe (BPA 76) of McComb, Oct. 26, 2017 Carolyn Aden Jarshaw (BSPh 78) of Edmond, Okla., Dec. 2, 2017 Carolyn Buttles Mills (JD 73) of Jackson, Dec. 29, 2017

William Montrose Tapscott (BBA 73) of Nettleton, Nov. 6, 2017 Faye Noland Thomas (BS 74) of Toomsuba, Nov. 21, 2017 Roger McKey Tubbs (BSME 70, JD 86) of Tupelo, Dec. 6, 2017 Nelda Patton Wallace (BS 72) of Pontotoc, Nov. 25, 2017 Terry James Walters (BAEd 73) of Independence, Va., Sept. 12, 2017 Polly Fife Widner (BAEd 74) of Manassas, Va., Dec. 14, 2017 Edward Floyd Zuber (EdD 75) of Woodland, Calif., Nov. 27, 2017

1980s

Charles Ray Baker (BSChE 85) of Little Rock, Ark., Dec. 3, 2017

Robert Spencer Moore Sr. (BBA 77) of Southaven, Dec. 18, 2017

Thomas Andrew Damisch (JD 89) of Fleming Island, Fla., Dec. 8, 2017

Charles Edward Moss Jr. (77) of Covington, Tenn., Dec. 1, 2017

Barbara Smith Gadd (BM 82) of Nettleton, Dec. 25, 2017

Perry Eugene Phillips Jr. (76) of Henderson, N.C., Dec. 11, 2017

Marshall Ellisor Gilmer (PhD 80) of Milton, Fla., Dec. 10, 2017

Show your Ole Miss pride Show your loyalty to Ole Miss by owning an official University of Mississippi license plate. Mississippi residents pay an additional $51 a year for the affinity plate, $32.50 of which returns to the university and is applied toward student scholarships and keeping the Grove and University Circle green and vibrant.

Ole Miss affinity license plates also are available in some other states, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Washington D.C. For more information visit olemissalumni.com. 62

ALUMNI REVIEW


ALUMNI News Susan Harper Grissom (BBA 83) of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 7, 2017

Andrew Thomas Mason (BSHPE 91, MS 94) of Huntsville, Ala., Oct. 26, 2017

John Winn Hoffman (BSPh 83) of Columbia, Nov. 11, 2017

John Max McDaniel Sr. (BA 90) of Madison, Dec. 12, 2017

Wayne Saunders House (BA 81) of Southaven, Dec. 2, 2017

David Wayne Mercer (MD 97) of Bettendorf, Iowa, Dec. 6, 2017

Leslie Adam Kelley (JD 85) of Christiansted, Virgin Islands, Oct. 27, 2017

Robert Christopher Wall (BSW 92) of Water Valley, Nov. 27, 2017

Tom Frank Kirkpatrick Jr. (BBA 87) of Starkville, Dec. 10, 2017

William Alan Williams (MFA 99) of Rockford, Ill., Dec. 27, 2017

Elizabeth Rowan Neely (BAEd 82) of Jackson, Dec. 14, 2017 William Scott Phillips (BBA 82, JD 87) of Columbia, Oct. 29, 2017 Robert Joseph Trout (BBA 88) of Flowood, Oct. 16, 2017 Thomas Wesley Vanderslice (BA 80, BA 80) of Memphis, Tenn., Dec.

2000s

Jon David Wilson (BSGE 00, MS 03) of Madison, Ala., Dec. 9, 2017 Felecia Witherspoon Bush (MEd 06) of Olive Branch, Dec. 18, 2017

20, 2017

2010s

1990s

Trent Elliott Allen (BBA 95) of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 4, 2017 Lelon Olester Davidson (PhD 91) of Oxford, Nov. 6, 2017 Donna Michelle Turner Eaton (BSPh 91) of Jackson, Tenn., Oct. 26, 2017 Kevin Russell Killough (MD 95) of Elida, Ohio, Dec. 30, 2017

Austin Devin Berlin (16) of Madison, Nov. 12, 2017 Kayle Anne Griffith (17) of Clinton, Dec. 11, 2017 Sydney Elyse Pucheu (BS 17) of Gulfport, Nov. 13, 2017

Faculty, Staff and Friends

Barbara Jo Archer of Corinth, Nov. 22, 2017

Drucilla Trent LeGrand (90) of Oxford, Nov. 8, 2017 Anthony Gabrie Mansoor Jr. (BBA 92) of Madison, Dec. 15, 2017

Benedict Byron Bertrand of Porter, Texas, Nov. 18, 2017

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ALUMNI News Aubrey Lee Boone of Winona, Nov. 8, 2017 Clyde Samuel Bosarge Jr. of Vancleave, Nov. 4, 2017 Christa Klauke Byars of Oxford, Nov. 29, 2017 Eddy H. Caffee of Shannon, Nov. 6, 2017 Robert Frank Carter Jr. of Ocean Springs, Nov. 28, 2017 David Edwin Cook of Madison, Dec. 5, 2017 Sally Walthall Cribbs of San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 28, 2017 Cola O’Neal Emmons of Hattiesburg, May 6, 2017 Elizabeth Arnold Epting of Tupelo, Nov. 19, 2017 Imogene Caney Fair of Louisville, Nov. 4, 2017 Muriel Green Grantland of Troy, Ala., Nov. 21, 2017 Barbara Harmon Hays of Brandon, Nov. 7, 2017 Naomi Roll Leavell of Athens, Ga., Oct. 20, 2017 Jonathan Roy Lewis of Oxford, Nov. 8, 2017 Dorothy Hooks McDuffie of Nettleton, Nov. 7, 2017 Gary Lynn Merritt of Saltillo, Dec. 20, 2017

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PAST PRESIDENT RAYMOND BROWN, 1936-2017 Raymond L. Brown (BBA 58, LLB 62), 81, of Pascagoula and Gautier, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 25. Brown served as president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association during 1991-92. A longtime practicing attorney in Pascagoula, he was inducted into the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame in 2017, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, the Ole Miss Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2000 and the M-Club Hall of Fame in 1988. His death came a week prior to his induction as a charter member of the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame.

Eldon Lynn Miller of Oxford, Sept. 7, 2017 Jere B. Nash Jr. of Greenville, Dec. 30, 2017 Dorothy Winstead Robbins of Hattiesburg, Dec. 31, 2017 James L. Shaw of Abbeville, Dec. 3, 2017 Sadie E. Tallie of Oxford, Dec. 28, 2017 Kenneth E. Vaxter of Taylor, Dec. 25, 2017 George Barrett Watson of Tupelo, Dec. 14, 2017 Janie Hudson Womble of Clinton, Nov. 28, 2017

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 olemissalumni.com. The Association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

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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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