Ole Miss Alumni Review - Spring 2011 by Ole Miss Alumni Association

Spring 2011 Ole Miss Alumni Review Sprin g 2011 Vol. 60 No. 2

The Blues Trail Starts Here Markers convey Mississippi blues story

New law center welcomes students Alumni turn law office into live-music stage

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Spring 2011

Vol. 60 No. 2

features

18 MITH-Makers Alumni share Oxford music with the world by Rick Hynum

Place 24 Majestic to Study New law center welcomes students by Rebecca Lauck Cleary

30 Key to the on the cover

Highway

Markers tell Mississippi blues story By Tom Speed

38 Radio for

Rebel Fans Football alumni bring 24-hour sports talk to Oxford By Johnny McMillan

departments 6 From the Circle

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

14 Calendar 42 sports

Travel with the Rebels

46 arts and culture 48 travel 52 alumni news

On the cover: Bill “Howl-n-Madd” Perry is a blues guitarist and vocalist from Abbeville. For booking information, call 662-832-0504. Photo by Robert Jordan

Ole Miss Alumni Review Publisher Timothy L. Walsh (83) Editor Jim Urbanek II (97) jim@olemiss.edu Associate Editor and Advertising Director Tom Speed (91) tom@olemiss.edu Contributing Editor Benita Whitehorn Editorial Editorial Assistant Assistant Brandon Irvine Irvine Brandon Designer Art Director EricMcCustion Summers John Correspondents Correspondents Kevin Kevin Bain Bain (98), (98), Tobie Tobie Baker Baker (96), (96), Rebecca Lauck Lauck Cleary Cleary (97), (97), Jay LexiFerchaud, Combs, Rebecca Mitchell Diggs (82), Jay Ferchaud, Robert Jordan (83), Barbara Lago (82), Michael Harrelson, Rick Hynum, Robert NathanJordan Latil, (83), Nathan Latil, JackMcMillan Mazurak, (02), Jack Mazurak, Johnny Deborah PurnellPurnell (MA 02) Elaine Pugh, Deborah (MA 02), Edwin Smith Smith (80), (80), Matt Matt Westerfield Westerfield Edwin Officers of of The The University University Officers of Mississippi Mississippi Alumni Alumni Association Association of Bill May (79), Bill May (79), president president Richard Noble (68), Richard Noble (68), president-elect president-elect Larry Bryan (74), Larry Bryan (74), vice president vice president Mike Glenn (77), Mike Glenn (77), athletics committee member athletics committee member Sam Lane (76), Sam Lane (76), athletics committee member athletics committee member Alumni Affairs Staff, Oxford Alumni Affairs Staff, Oxford Timothly L. Walsh (83), executive director Timothy L. Walsh (83), executive director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Clay Cavett (86), associate director Clay Cavett (86), associate director Martha Dollarhide, systems programmer II Martha Dollarhide, systems programmer II Sheila Dossett (75), senior associate Sheila Dossett (75), senior associate director director Julian Julian Gilner Gilner (04), (04), assistant assistant director director Sarah Sarah Kathryn Kathryn M. M. Hickman Hickman (03), (03), assistant assistant director director for for marketing marketing Port Port Kaigler Kaigler (06), (06), alumni alumni assistant assistant and and club club coordinator coordinator Annette Annette Kelly Kelly (79), (79), accountant accountant Tom Tom Speed Speed (91), (91), publications publications editor editor Scott Scott Thompson Thompson (97), (97), assistant assistant director director Jim Jim Urbanek Urbanek (97), (97), assistant assistant director director for for communications communications Rusty Rusty Woods Woods (01), (01), assistant assistant director director for for information information services services James James Butler Butler (53), (53), director director emeritus emeritus Warner Alford (60), 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. AA-11501 AA-10504

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fromthe

Chancellor Dear Alumni and Friends,

With spring comes a sense of renewal, and for me it is time to renew even more fervently my commitment to The University of Mississippi. Alumni commitment to Ole Miss is evident throughout our campus. Without the commitment of alumni, the majestic new Robert C. Khayat Law Center could not have been built. The building truly is state of the art, built for the needs of this century and should inspire the law students who inhabit it to meet its excellence. The center is aptly named for Chancellor Emeritus and former law professor Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66), who has accomplished so much for this university. In a feature on the new law center building, W.C. “Cham” Trotter III (BA 69, JD 72) says, “Older alumni may know Robert Khayat as a colleague and professor, and younger alumni may know him as a former chancellor. But for everyone, he has been a friend.” I could not agree more, and I hope that you were able to attend the dedication of the center on April 15 or can make time to stop by and tour the building. While six buildings on campus have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) registration, the new law center building was the first on campus to receive such a designation and is expected to receive LEED certification in a few months. I agree with School of Law Dean Richard Gershon when he says, “The university should play a role in protecting the environment as an educational institution. So, it’s very important that we have LEED certification.” This issue of Alumni Review also renews my faith that our faculty is doing important work and that our graduates go on to find or create careers that allow them to do the things they love. One story features the important work of the people at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, who are researching and writing the essays for the blues trail markers placed throughout Mississippi, which preserve the state’s blues history and heritage. Another story features Terrance Metcalf, Todd Wade and Derrick Burgess, former Ole Miss football players, who, after careers in the NFL, started the first full-time sports talk radio station in the local area. With Commencement approaching, I hope our soon-to-be graduates also will go on to do important work, to help others wherever they go, and to find careers that allow them to do the things they love. With the knowledge that you, the graduates before them, have found success, I feel certain they will. Sincerely,

Daniel W. Jones Chancellor

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President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

For decades, Alumni Association presidents have written this column, sharing their hearts and love for Ole Miss and encouraging us to do the same. Thankfully, thousands of Ole Miss alumni and friends have shown their great love for Ole Miss through donations of their time, talent and money, and the Ole Miss of today reflects their devotion. The excitement and progress that permeates Ole Miss can be felt the moment one steps onto campus. Construction of the new Robert C. Khayat Law Center is complete, and its dedication will be a high watermark in the history of our university. The ongoing renovations and additions to our School of Engineering, School of Pharmacy and other academic buildings, combined with new construction of dormitories, are visual examples of the continued growth and expansion of Ole Miss. Record enrollment highlights the university’s appeal to students from Mississippi and the rest of the world. As our club season begins and we join together in locations all across the country, I invite you to reflect on why you love Ole Miss so much. I am confident that the experiences you had on campus will recreate the passion that you have for your alma mater. Your Alumni Association is working hard to serve our almost 24,000 active alumni and to inspire our inactive alumni to join or rejoin our association. Please invite friends to rejoin or apply for membership in the Alumni Association. It is the easiest way we can show our support for our university. I am proud to report that The Inn at Ole Miss continues to be a wonderful asset and a great place to stay in Oxford. If you haven’t been by the Inn, I invite you to do so and plan your next trip to campus to include a stay at our beautiful facility. While there, you might notice that a new fitness center is under construction as another asset to our hotel. The more I am around Ole Miss people, the more I realize that we are family—all different but united under a common umbrella. We are served by a committed and dedicated chancellor, as well as a talented group of administrators, faculty and staff. I am also grateful to the men and women who serve on the Alumni Association executive committee and board of directors. I also thank our club presidents for their time and commitment to our university. Baseball games, tennis matches, softball games, and track and field events await us on campus along with some of the greatest performances and programs anyone could hope to find. Pick something that interests you, and come to campus and savor it. Stroll the Grove in the springtime, walk the sidewalks, and visit with the students, or just ramble through and reminisce. Whatever you do, reconnect to this place that we love so dearly. And love Ole Miss—always. It is an honor and privilege to serve you, and I hope to see you in Oxford soon. Yours very truly,

Bill T. May (BA 79, JD 82)

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fromthe

ircle C

The latest on Ole Miss students, faculty, staff and friends Photo courtesy of Martha Dalton

Martha Frances Dalton of Corinth, a senior biology major at the University of Mississippi, dives off the coast of Southern Africa and uses a laser device to measure the size of marine life. The exercise was part of her research internship in southern Africa.

Tracking Sharks BIOLOGY MAJOR’S OCEANS RESEARCH INTERNSHIP INCLUDES BREAKING WORLD RECORD

ar tha Frances Dalton of Corinth, a senior biology major at The University of Mississippi, interned in southern Africa last summer with the Oceans Research program, which provides and facilitates research relevant to the management and conservation of marine life. Dalton was stationed for a month at Mossel Bay, South Africa, where her team collected data to monitor the abundance and behavior of great white sharks, which are at the top of the food chain and frequent the bay to hunt for resident Cape fur seals and the numerous species

6 Alumni Review

of pelagic fish. On this charge, she was on a research team that broke the world record for the longest manual acoustic tracking of a great white. “We tracked Pinocchio, a white female, for 106 consecutive hours,” she says. “Though this was definitely a highlight of my experiences, it was a demanding goal that required long work hours and several cold all-night shifts on our research vessel.” Prey-predator interactions also were observed, including hunting strategies of great whites and avoidance strategies

used by seals. A natural predatory interaction occurs when the mammoth great white leaps clear of the water to snare a resident Cape fur seal at the surface, “which is a rare strategy that only takes place in a select, few places in the world,” Dalton says. “We were stationed in an area where observing a white shark breach in a predation attempt is fairly common in the winter, and being present for such a natural phenomenon is something I will never forget,” she says. AR

Returning Home PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR JOINS FACULTY

ulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford, one of the country’s most respected and honored fiction writers, will join The University of Mississippi creative writing faculty this fall. His wife, Kristina, will accompany him at Ole Miss as a visiting professor of public policy leadership. Richard Ford, a Jackson native, says he is thrilled to return to his home state. He will teach a graduate fiction seminar in fall 2011 and a graduate class on form, craft and influence during the spring 2012 semester. “I need Mississippi much more than Mississippi needs me,” Ford says. “Mississippi has a reputation and a history of being a place of good writers, and it seems to me to be wonderfully worthwhile to carry that pennant further.” Kristina Ford is a distinguished city planner, academician and author. She was the executive director of the New Orleans city planning commission for eight years and has written three books on community-planning issues. “Richard has taught at Trinity College (in Dublin, Ireland) and at Princeton, and he certainly could teach anywhere in the world,” says Beth Ann Fennelly, an

acclaimed poet and UM associate professor of English, who was chair of the search committee for the position. “But he wanted to give something back, and he felt he had something to give to Mississippi, so he chose to come here.” For more information on the UM Department of English, visit www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/. AR Richard Ford

Photo ©Robert Yager

UM REACHES PLATINUM LEVEL IN HEART ASSOCIATION FITNESS MOVEMENT

old is nice, but platinum is better. So says the American Heart Association in recognizing The University of Mississippi as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company. UM is the only university in the state and one of only two universities in the seven-state Greater Southeast Affiliate to be honored by the association. Other states in the affiliate are Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana and Georgia, plus Puerto Rico. Of the eight awardees in Mississippi, Ole Miss also is one of only two platinum recipients.

The goal of the Start! Fit-Friendly Companies program is to help companies make their employees’ health and wellness a priority. Employers that achieve platinum-level status have implemented at least nine criteria outlined by AHA in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and wellness culture. They also have demonstrated measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness. “I am pleased to see The University of Mississippi providing leadership and a good example in personal health,” says Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75), who is

a former AHA president. “It is my hope we will continue progress in being healthier in every way.” Start! is sponsored nationally by Subway Restaurants. For more information about the program, contact Gay Smith at gay. smith@heart.org or visit http://startwalkingnow.org. AR

Spring 2011 7

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Circle

Photo courtesy of the Civil War Ar chive from the Ann Ra yburn collection

Old and New

CIVIL WAR ARCHIVE AVAILABLE ONLINE

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University of Mississippi English professor received one of the Modern Language Association of America’s most prestigious honors at its national convention in January. Robert E. Cummings (MA 99) was awarded MLA’s Mina P. Shaughnessy Prize for his book Lazy Virtues: Teaching Writing in the Age of Wikipedia (Vanderbilt University Press, 2009). The prize is given for an outstanding work in the fields of language, culture, literacy or literature with strong application to the teaching of English. “ To k n o w that the prize committee of t h e M LA n o t only read the book but found it worthy of this award is truly humbling,” says Cummings, director of UM’s Center for Writing and Rhetoric. “I hope that Cummings this acknowledgment will bring more attention to the work we need to do to incorporate electronic environments into the college-writing classroom. “Bringing electronic audiences into the writing classroom is exactly the kind of work we are undertaking at the Center for Writing and Rhetoric,” he says. “By selecting writing as a focus for our QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan), Ole Miss has shown once again that we are a special place dedicated to student learning, not afraid of taking on the toughest challenges in academia. I am proud to be part of such a community.” For more information about the UM Center for Writing and Rhetoric, go to www.olemiss.edu/cwr/. AR

Photo by Kevin Bain

a re , u n i q u e d o c u ments from the Civil Wa r a r e a v a i l a b l e online, thanks to The University of Mississippi’s Special Collections Digital Initiative in the J.D. Williams Library. The Civil War Archive is an online collection comprising 762 items housed in the library’s Archives and Special Collections. Documents can be viewed online as one would do with the physical documents. Patrons can search through the collection by title, groups, subject or This photo of location. Confederate Gen. Joseph Wheeler was “While the majority of taken in 1865 and is available on the online Civil War Archive. items concern the Confederacy, the papers of Thomas Reber consist of U.S. Army documents,” says Jason Kovari, special collections digital initiatives librarian and assistant professor. “They are primarily ration returns and requisitions from the 88th O.V.I. [Ohio Volunteer Infantry] at Camp Chase, Ohio, and the 196th at Fort Federal Hill, Md.” Another standout collection is the Gage Family Papers, which have received some note over the years. “Part of the University Greys, Jeremiah Gage was a member of the C.S.A. [Confederate States of America] 11th Mississippi Company A,” Kovari says. “Then there’s the Kinloch Falconer Collection, which features wartime correspondence, field dispatches, orders and circulars [among] various Confederate generals of the Army of Tennessee.” The Falconer pieces primarily concern the Battle of Resaca fought May 13-15, 1864. To view the Civil War Archive, visit http://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/archives/. For more information, call 662-915-7639. AR

WRITING DIRECTOR WINS COVETED PRIZE FOR RELEVANT BOOK

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

Superb Seniors OUTSTANDING STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO 2010-11 HALL OF FAME

Sen. Eugene “Buck” Clarke and his daughter, Ellen Clarke, PT2. Matt Eubanks (left), PT1, Heather Greer, PT1, and Michael Brown, PT1, look on.

FUTURE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS PROMOTE PROFESSION AT CAPITOL

Photo by Kevin Bain

hysical therapy student Ellen Clarke has seen state politics up close, literally. With a senator for a father, she has watched the political process unfold from the floor of the Senate chamber. And now, her classmates have gotten their own taste of politics after visiting the state Capitol to practice advocacy on behalf of their future profession. On Jan. 27, the entire first- and second-year physical therapy classes spent the morning in the Capitol rotunda participating in the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association’s Legislative Day 2011. Along with MPTA members, the students offered blood pressure, balance and gripstrength tests to passing lawmakers, using the activities as a conversation starter to answer questions and educate them on how physical therapists help people. After a morning of mingling and handshaking in the rotunda, students filed into the Senate gallery to watch lawmakers in action. Before the session was called to order, they received an official welcome by the chamber and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. “With my dad being in politics, I know that lawmakers can’t know about every issue in every health care field,” says Clarke, a second-year student. “That’s why it’s important for us to be available and to reach out.” For many of the students, advocating for their healthcare profession boils down to forging relationships with the policymakers. One of the people it’s good to know is Sen. Eugene “Buck” Clarke of Hollandale—Ellen Clarke’s father—who announced the students during session. Clarke, who serves on a number of committees, including the Public Health and Welfare Committee, said that the deadline was approaching for bills to come out of committee. He said having students at the Capitol “is a good way for UMMC to help us because every agency competes for those dollars.” AR

en University of Mississippi seniors have earned entry into the school’s 2010-11 Hall of Fame, one of the university’s highest honors. Chancellor Dan Jones (MD 75) bestowed the honor in a campus ceremony in February, noting that the selection is based on a student’s academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities and potential for future success. The Ole Miss Hall of Fame has recognized students with outstanding achievements since 1930. “The selection of these outstanding students into the Hall of Fame is a reflection of their impact on life at this university,” said Jones. “They will continue to make an impact on their communities and the world as they take their talent, skills and commitment to the next phase of life. I join the entire university community in congratulating them.” Students receiving the honor this year are Jessie James Austin of Jackson, Katherine Virginia Burke of Charleston, Mo., Chelsea Kate Caveny of Hattiesburg, Johnna Lauren Childers of Booneville, Christin Nicole Gates of Kosciusko, Mary Katherine Graham of Germantown, Tenn., Nickolaus Damon Luckett of Drew, Jeffrey Tyler New of Olive Branch, William Harold Rosenblatt of Jackson and John Stephens Worley III of Jackson. AR

Members of the 2010-11 Hall of Fame at the University of Mississippi are (front, left to right) Jeffrey Tyler New, Katherine Virginia Burke, Mary Katherine Graham, Nickolaus Damon Luckett, Chelsea Kate Caveny and (back, left to right) Johnna Lauren Childers, Christin Nicole Gates, William Harold Rosenblatt, John Stephens Worley III and Jessie James Austin. Spring 2011 9

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Circle Flatout Fast ENGINEERING STUDENT MODIFIES HOT ROD, FULFILLS DREAM OF RACING AT BONNEVILLE

effrey Ferguson never thought he would race on the legendary Bonne ville Salt Flats in Utah. He also never thought he would set a land speed record at the 62nd Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week in August, but that’s what the 23-year-old Olive Branch native did. “It was the most surreal experience in my life. I felt like I was in a movie,” says Ferguson, a junior mechanical engineering major at The University of Mississippi. “My desire to build hot rods is why I

decided to study mechanical engineering. It seemed like the perfect match,” Ferguson says. “But, I’ve gotten so much more from being here. Studying engineering has shown me how cars and engines work.” Ferguson’s new understanding of engineering, coupled with his innate ability, led him to the Bonneville Speedway in August with friend George “Bucky” Gallimore, a radiologist in Memphis and former drag car racer. Gallimore had purchased a 1979 Trans Am on eBay and gave Ferguson an

all-access pass to work his magic. In Utah, Ferguson and Gallimore worked their way up to an AA license, which meant they could race up to 300 miles per hour. After making a record backup run at 249 miles per hour, they were named official members of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. “We were blown away when we received our red caps after joining the club. It’s an honor. There are more people who have climbed Mount Everest than who are in the 200 MPH Club,” Ferguson says. AR Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Ferguson

University of Mississippi mechanical engineering major Jeffrey Ferguson (left), with racing partner George “Bucky” Gallimore, realized his dream last summer when he raced a 1979 Trans Am at the Bonneville Speedway in Utah. 10 Alumni Review

Ph.D. candidates from colombia finish at Ole Miss

Architectural rendering of the pharmacy practice building at The University of Mississippi Medical Center

A Place to Call Their Own STUDENTS, FACULTY LOOK FORWARD TO NEW PHARMACY PRACTICE BUILDING

or 38 years, pharmacy practice students and faculty have been learning and working at The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson without a building of their own. That will change this fall, when the twostory structure going up on University Drive is complete. The new building includes 17 small classrooms, a student lounge, offices for faculty, a laboratory and clinical research space. An attached 160-seat auditorium will be equipped for lectures, seminars and sharing live video with the Oxford campus. “This state-of-the-art educational facility for students will place them in the heart of UMMC’s academic corridor daily and provide more interaction with students in other health-related professions,” says Leigh Ann Ross (BBA 93, PharmD 98), associate dean for clinical affairs and chair of pharmacy practice. Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students split their seven-year degree program between Oxford and Jackson. In Oxford, students spend three years in

pre-pharmacy and two in the professional pharmacy program. Then they head to UMMC for a year of active learning and early practice experiences, followed by a year of advanced practice experiences. With the pharmacy school’s plans for increasing enrollment, as many as 115 students will be learning in Jackson in their third professional year. A similar number will be enrolled for their fourth professional year in Jackson and at other clinical sites across Mississippi and in Tennessee. The new $10 million building will amply accommodate these numbers. The school has secured some federal funding for construction, as well as a commitment from the university, but more funds are needed. They are being raised through Promises to Keep, the pharmacy school’s first capital campaign. Alumni and corporate partners alike have committed to a variety of naming designations, but many opportunities are still available. For more information about them, contact Sarah Hollis (MA 04) at 662-915-1584 or shollis@olemiss.edu. AR

he University of Mississippi School of Engineering and the National University of Colombia are working together to help faculty at the latter institution complete their much-needed doctoral programs. The Colombian university recently signed an agreement with the Southern Universities Engineering Consortium to enable seasoned faculty to earn terminal degrees in engineering at either Ole Miss or the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “Developing collaborative programs with top institutions of higher education abroad is at the heart of the university’s, as well as the School of Engineering’s, internationalization agenda,” says Alex Cheng, UM engineering dean. “This particular collaboration will bring highly qualified, externally funded students from Colombia to our doctoral engineering programs.” Under the terms of the partnership, Colombian faculty members will retain their positions at home while studying in the United States. Due to the limited number of doctoral training programs as well as increased higher education participation rates because of the nation’s rising affluence and middle class, Colombia has an acute shortage of people with terminal degrees. To address this issue, Colombia has launched a national capacity-building campaign in science, technology and engineering fields. For more information about UM’s School of Engineering, go to http://engineering.olemiss.edu/. AR Spring 2011 11

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Circle Giving It a Shot UM RESEARCHERS AIM TO TAME ITCHY POISON IVY RASH

12 Alumni Review

licensed the technology to a company for development. Two of the new derivatives have been selected for continued development at NCNPR, ElSohly says. They have good long-term stability in aqueous solution, and they will be administered intramuscularly, like a flu shot. The next step, he says, is to determine the minimum dose that produces desen-

sitization in humans and, in conjunction with the company that licensed the technology, complete required preclinical studies, then move on to clinical trials. For more information on research programs at NCNPR, go to www.pharmacy.olemiss.edu/ncnpr/index.html. AR

NEW GRANT EXPANDS UMMC’S RESEARCH VISION

$2 million training grant will help UMMC researchers in the Center for Excellence in Cardiovascular-Renal Research attract top young scientists from across the United States, free up money for additional research and possibly lead to more training grants. “Getting this training grant frees up that money for other uses [such as] experiments and equipment,” says Dr. Joey Granger, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and director of the Cardiovascular-Renal Center. The grant, which funds graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and is limited to U.S. residents and green card-eligible foreign residents, already is being used to recruit promising new scientists. “We have ads in major journals, on the American Physiological Society listserv, and we’re talking about it at meetings. We also aim to recruit more minorities and are working with Jackson State University and Tougaloo College,” Granger says. Granger credits several accomplishments for helping to bring back a training grant to UMMC: a record of producing scientists who rise to leadership positions such as department chairs at the Medical Center and other universities and presidents of the APS, 225 students trained and more than 750 manuscripts published in the last decade, and the renown of a worldleading Department of Physiology and Bio- Front row: Dr. Sydney Murphy (left), Dr. Drew Pruett; back row: Dr. Eric George (left), Marilyn Burke, Dr. Kedra Wallace physics. AR and John Clemmer received training grant funds.

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

ach year nearly 50 million Americans develop an annoying skin rash after coming in contact with poison ivy. But University of Mississippi researchers are working on a pharmaceutical product to rein in the allergic reaction in people already sensitive to the plants and prevent it altogether in those who aren’t. The product contains chemical derivatives of urushiol (u-ROO-she-ol), the oily substance in poison ivy, oak and sumac that causes skin to become inflamed. “It certainly works in guinea pigs, the closest model you can find to humans,” says Mohammad K. Ashfaq, a veterinarian and senior scientist in the National Center for Natural Products Research at the UM School of Pharmacy. The mastermind behind the product is NCNPR research professor Mahmoud A. ElSohly, who is president and director of ElSohly Laboratories Inc. of Oxford. The compounds were produced by ELI’s synthetic chemist Waseem Gul, and development studies were conducted at ELI and NCNPR with more than $800,000 from the National Institutes of Health Small Business Technology Transfer Program, or STTR. ElSohly worked on a similar product in the 1980s, when he and two other Ole Miss scientists developed an oil-based prophylactic treatment. It, too, worked in guinea pigs and was licensed to a pharmaceutical company before hitting a snag. “The problem we ran into was that the licensee wanted to use an oral route for delivery, and the compounds didn’t work well when administered orally,” ElSohly says. ElSohly recently went back to the drawing board and came up with the idea for the new urushiol derivatives, which are water-soluble, and the university filed for a new patent and

Twelve percent of the U.S. population suffers from migraines, and insomnia is relatively common among those with the condition.

Lessening the Intensity UM PSYCHOLOGIST STUDIES MIGRAINES, INSOMNIA LINK

innesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin missed dozens of practices and a football game this past season because of migraine headaches. Many fans complained, saying a young, strong NFL player should “suck it up and play,” but a University of Mississippi clinical psychologist says fans should give the 2009 Rookie Offensive Player of the Year a break. Migraines are far more than simple headaches and definitely can be debilitating, says Todd Smitherman, UM assistant professor of psychology. “To put the pain in perspective, consider how intense the pain is after eating ice cream too quickly,” Smitherman says. “Migraines are also extremely painful, but unlike the typical ‘ice-cream headache’ that fades within moments,

migraines can last for hours, even days.” With 12 percent of the U.S. population suffering from migraines, the condition costs Americans an estimated $15 billion annually in treatment costs and lost workdays. But a proposed study led by Smitherman eventually may bring some relief for migraine sufferers. The researcher is studying whether a non-medication therapy targeting insomnia can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. The work shows such promise that the Migraine Research Foundation (MRF) has awarded Smitherman a $50,000 grant for it. It was among only seven grants from the foundation awarded around the world. “We are thrilled with the caliber of the investigations in this proposal,” says

Cathy Glaser, MRF co-founder and president. “It represents a novel approach to unraveling the mysteries of migraines.” Insomnia is relatively common among migraine sufferers, particularly those with frequent migraine attacks, Smitherman says. Indeed, doctors determined that insomnia triggered Harvin’s much-publicized migraine attacks. Through his research, Smitherman hopes to develop a set of validated techniques that physicians can share with patients to help decrease the frequency and severity of their migraines. He hopes to share his recommendations with doctors following the one-year study. For more information on the UM Department of Psychology, go to www. olemiss.edu/depts/psychology/. AR Spring 2011 13

Calendar Double Decker Arts Festival April 29-30

APRIL

Ole Miss Luncheon Series: Memphis. The University Club, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Ole Miss Club Season: Central Arkansas Ole Miss Club. Home of Mark and Leslie Lee, Little Rock, Ark., 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Communiversity: Wellness Naturally: Tools to find Quiet in a Noisy World. The Depot, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: $35. Call 662915-1299, or visit www.outreach.olemiss.edu to register.

-29 Accountancy Weekend 2011. Hall of Fame Banquet scheduled for the 28th. Various times and locations. Call 662-915-6815.

Golf Tournament: 2nd Annual Ole Miss

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MBA Golf Tournament. Ole Miss Golf Course, 8 a.m. Call 662-915-7375, or visit www.olemissalumni.com.

Meeting: Ole Miss Alumni Association board of directors spring meetings. Various times and locations. Call 662-915-7375.

Ole Miss Outdoors: Swamp Stomper Adventure Race. Co-ed teams of three will embark on an all-out race (mountain biking, trail running and canoeing) for victory. Prerace meeting April 28. Sardis Lake. Cost: $35 per person. Call 662-915-6735, or e-mail omod@olemiss.edu.

-30 Double Decker Arts Festival. Oxford Square. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Visit www.oxfordcvb. com/doubledecker for schedule of events.

MAY

Double Decker Spring Run. Oxford. Events start at 7:30 a.m. Visit www.oxfordms.net/ doubledeckerspringrun for registration information.

Ole Miss Club Season: Lee County Ole Miss Club. Tupelo Country Club, Tupelo, 5:30-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Communiversity: Wellness Naturally: Tools to find Quiet in a Noisy World. The Depot, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: $35. Call 662-9151299, or visit www.outreach. olemiss.edu to register.

Celebration: The School of Applied Sciences celebrates 10 years of success. The Inn at Ole Miss Ballroom, 6 p.m. Call 662-9157375, or visit www.olemiss足 alumni.com.

School of Education Annual Awards Ceremony, The Inn at Ole Miss Ballroom, 6 p.m. Call 662-915-7375, or visit www. olemissalumni.com. Ole Miss Club Season: Newton County Ole Miss Club. East Central Community College, Mabry Cafeteria, Decatur, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Performance: Oxford Civic Chorus Spring Concert. North Oxford Baptist Church, 7 p.m. Cost: $10 adults, $5 students/children. E-mail brookebagley2@ gmail.com.

Ole Miss Club Season: Jackson/George County Ole Miss Club. Grand Magnolia Ballroom, Pascagoula, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Communiversity: Wellness Naturally: Tools to find Quiet in a Noisy World. The Depot, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: $35. Call 662915-1299, or visit www.outreach.olemiss.edu to register.

West Point, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Ole Miss Club Season: North Delta Ole Miss Club. Hopson Commissary, Clarksdale, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Ole Miss Club Season: Northeast Louisiana Ole Miss Club. WP Grill, Monroe, La., 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375. Ole Miss Club Season: Twin Cities and the Northland Ole Miss Club. Hilton Garden Inn, Bloomington, Minn., 6:30-9 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Graduation Day Brunch. The Inn at Ole Miss, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Reservations are required. Cost: $16.95 for adults, $9.95 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under. Visit www.olemissalumni.com to register.

Ole Miss Club Season: Atlanta Ole Miss Club. Location and time TBD. -June 17 Summer Academy: Programs giving students entering the 8th, 9th and 10th grades a taste of college life. Sessions also offered June 19-July 8 and July 10-July 29. Call 662-915-7621.

Ole Miss Club Season: Golden Triangle Ole Miss Club. The Ritz,

-18 Piano Discoveries Camp: Ole Miss campus. Sponsored by the Department of Music. Call 662-915-1282.

Reception: School of Pharmacy reception at MPhA Convention in Destin, Fla. Sandestin

Commencement May 14

-3 Continuing Legal Education: Basic Mediation Skills Training. E.F. Yerby Conference Center. Call 662-915-1354.

Ole Miss Club Season: Mid Delta Ole Miss Club. Vinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant, Leland, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

-July 12 Oxford Shakespeare Festival: Various locations. Call 662915-7411.

-17 Communiversity: Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction Summer Reading Camp for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Oxford Middle School, 8:30 a.m.noon. Cost: $10 per week. E-mail aaparker@olemiss.edu.

2 3

Ole Miss Club Season: South Mississippi Ole Miss Club. Fernwood Country Club, Fernwood, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

JUNE

Commencement: Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III will be the commencement speaker. The Grove, 9 a.m.

Park Bandshell, 72nd Street at Fifth Ave., noon-6 p.m. Visit www.nymspicnic.com.

-5 LOU Ole Miss Club 2nd Annual Tennis Invitational. John Leslie Tennis Complex, Oxford. E-mail loutennistournament@gmail.com.

Ole Miss Club Season: New York Ole Miss Club. New York City. Location and time TBD. Call 662-9157375. -12 Academic Traveler: City Arts: New York. Call 662-915-6511.

Mississippi Picnic in Central Park. Join alumni and friends for the 32nd annual Mississippi Picnic in Central Park. Central Spring 2011 15

Calendar Hilton, 6:30 p.m. Call 662915-7375, or e-mail jovon@ olemiss.edu.

Ole Miss Club Season: Washington, D.C., Ole Miss Club Reception. The Capitol-S-207 Mansfield Room. Call 662915-7375.

6th graders. Oxford Middle School, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $10 per week. E-mail aaparker@olemiss.edu.

Atlanta’s Mississippi in the Park. Chastain Park, Atlanta, Ga., 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call 662915-7375.

JULY

-16 Alumni Events: School of Law and Lamar Order events at the annual Mississippi Bar meeting in Destin, Fla. Includes presentation of the school’s Law Alumna/Alumnus of the Year award. Call 662-

Mississippi on the Mall. Washington, D.C., Henry Bacon Ball Field, 3-7 p.m. Call 662915-7375. -24 Communiversity: Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction Summer Reading Camp for 4th, 5th and

915-7375, or e-mail jovon@ olemiss.edu.

Memphis. Location and time TBD. Call 662-915-7375.

-21 Conference: 38th Annual Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference: Faulkner’s Geographies and Southern Literary Geographies. Oxford campus. Cost: Before July 1: $150 for students, $250 for Friends of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, $275 for everyone else. After July 1: $175 for students, $275 for Friends of the Center, $300 for everyone else. A deposit of $50 is required with your registration. Call 662-915-5993.

38th Annual Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference July 17-21

16 Alumni Review

Ole Miss Club Season: Rebel Club of

Ole Miss Club Season: Central Mississippi Ole Miss Club. Jackson Convention Center, 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Ole Miss Club Season: TriState Rebel Club. Town and Country Furniture, Iuka, Miss., 6-8 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

Reception: School of Pharmacy reception at MSHP annual meeting. Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom in The Inn at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m. Call 662-915-7375, or e-mail jovon@olemiss.edu.

An Academic Medical Center is a unique kind of health care. When life sets us back, we count on them to move us forward again. To bring us compassion and care, coupled with innovation and expertise. And to answer lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest challenges with scienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest hope. This is not ordinary health care. This is University of Mississippi Health Care.

Learn more at umhc.com or call 888.815.2005.

7097-1_UMHC_Charlie_OleMSAlum_7x4.75.indd 1

3/8/11 1:35 PM

MITH-Makers alumni share Oxford music with the world

by Rick Hynum photos by Michael Stanton

18 Alumni Review

Renowned songstress Shannon McNally moved from New Orleans to the Oxford area post-Katrina and has performed at Music in the Hall twice, including the fourth show in May 2009 and 15th show in August 2010.

invitation“It’sonlya sit-down-and-shut-up, music show that we host in the hallway of our office building. ” Daniel Morrow

Spring 2011 19

Valley Gordon (BSN 99) (pictured) and singersongwriter Taylor Hildebrand of Jackson played the 19th Music in the Hall in November 2010.

20 Alumni Review

had always talked about there being a need for “Steve more early music shows for people [who] didn’t want to wait until 10 o’clock at night to go … see a show. ” Daniel Morrow

aniel Morrow (99) can’t play a lick on the guitar. Piano lessons bored him to tears as a kid. And if he can carry a tune, you’d probably never know it because he won’t sing a note in public. But the 34-year-old IT professional’s lack of musical talent hasn’t kept him from becoming a well-known—and increasingly influential—impresario on Oxford’s nighttime entertainment scene. As one of the masterminds behind the popular Music in the Hall series, Morrow has introduced fans to a wide range of gifted bands and singer-songwriters hailing from as far away as Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Minneapolis. And the acts just keep coming. Music in the Hall, the brainchild of Morrow and his friend and fellow UM alumnus Steve McDavid (BA 83), has become one of the hottest tickets in town. A small, intimate live-music showcase focused on the Americana and folk-roots genres, Music in the Hall (MITH) has spotlighted performers ranging from Jimbo Mathus (formerly of the Squirrel Nut Zippers), Luther Dickinson (Black Crowes, North Mississippi Allstars) and Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) to Blue Mountain, Shannon McNally, Sanders Bohlke, Amy LaVere, and Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, to name just a few. It’s one of the few concert series of its kind in the nation, bringing in talented musicians who otherwise play mostly

bars and juke joints to emphasize the music rather than draft beer specials and tabletop dancing. “It’s a sit-down-and-shut-up, invitationonly music show that we host in the hallway of our office building,” Morrow explains, in his laidback East Mississippi drawl. That’s right—an office building. Specifically, it’s attorney McDavid’s own second-story law office building on Van Buren Avenue, a 19th-century edifice that just happens to boast the sort of natural, booming acoustics that any studio engineer would kill for. One night a month, Morrow tucks away the desks and office equipment into a side room and fills the long, wide hallway with folding chairs, transforming an otherwise ordinary business space into a mini concert hall. Every performance is recorded and videotaped by paid professionals using state-of-the-art equipment, with footage of each full show posted on the MITH website (www.musicinthehall.com) for paid subscribers (along with free sample clips for everyone else) and sold in DVD format internationally. McDavid first thought of the MITH concept a decade ago when guitarist Claire Holley played for him and a few of his friends one night in the office. A music lover himself, he wanted to create a video archive of local and regional musicians and preserve their live performances for posterity. “I’d thought about doing a show like this at that time, but then, you know, we

all got busy, and that was that,” McDavid says. “Then, Daniel came to me eight years later and said, ‘Let’s do it here, and here’s how we can do it.’ So it only took 10 years to make it happen,” he adds with a laugh. Morrow, a software developer, had spent hours working alone at night in McDavid’s office. With music always playing on his laptop, he noticed that the building’s high ceilings and hardwood floors lent a powerfully resonant quality to the tunes playing on his computer’s speakers. As an unabashed devotee of local live music, Morrow realized he was sitting in a perfect concert venue of his very own, right there at work. Like McDavid, Morrow, too, wanted to capture Oxford’s musical history on video. He also wanted to give the artists— many of whom he counts as friends—an opportunity to promote themselves, creating video footage of their performances in order to get booking agents’ attention and land more gigs. Additionally, Morrow recalls, “Steve had always talked about there being a need for more early music shows for people with kids who didn’t want to wait until 10 o’clock at night to go out and see a show. I’d also been going to some house concerts, and it made me think, ‘We can hire a band, invite some friends and have a show right here. It’s the perfect space.’ ” Music in the Hall’s premiere, held by invitation only on Nov. 6, 2008, featured the outlaw bluegrass sounds of the Mayhem String Band. About 35 people turned Spring 2011 21

up at the starting time, but more began to performance—but, rather, keeping the trickle in, with about 85 folks filling the show financially viable. Video production hall to capacity by the evening’s end. isn’t cheap, even though Morrow has Every show, typically beginning at 7 reduced the costs over time by handling p.m., features two or three performers, much of the post-production editing. including touring acts from out of town Season packages, which cover six months that already have shows in other Oxford per year, sell for $100 for individuals and bars that same night. They’re happy $150 for couples. Additional revenue is to squeeze in an extra gig at MITH in derived from subscribers to the MITH exchange for free promotional use of the website who pay $4.95 a month for unfetvideo footage and a share of DVD sales. tered access to all online video content And older fans with day jobs don’t have and also get discounted seats for $5 at the to burn the midnight oil to catch a show door and $10 for guests. from local favorites such as Rocket 88 and To broaden their reach beyond Van Young Buffalo or out-of-towners such as Buren Avenue, Morrow and McDavid Caroline Herring, Alvin Youngblood Hart have shaped the MITH website into an and Mister Baby. online destination for Americana music Shortly before showtime, the musicians fans around the country and the world. tote their guitars, fiddles and banjos, set up It’s the only site on the Web where in the rear of the hallway and run a quick professional-quality audio/video footage sound check. Once the crowd has packed of some performers can be found, offering in, Morrow makes a brief introduction, crisp, clear colors and the warm, intimate and, with little fanfare, the cameras roll sounds of a private performance in your and the music commences. Most of it own living room. is laid-back, folksy, with a dash of Delta Many of the songs, in fact, are brand blues, hillbilly rock or Nashville country new. In one scene from an early 2010 thrown in for good measure. The audience show, Luther Dickinson debuts an sits quietly, attentively, applauding only at instrumental piece he’d just written, pickthe song’s end—a far cry from the noisy, ing expertly on a scratched and battered boisterous commotion that plays out every Gibson acoustic guitar, then admits to the night at the college bars and clubs just a few audience that he hasn’t thought of a name doors away. for the song. Surprisingly, the calm atmosphere poses a challenge to some performers, Morrow says. “They love it, but some of them Steve McDavid aren’t used to playing to an audience t h a t ’s a c t u a l l y listening. It raises the stakes a little higher “I think I’m gonna call that one when the crowd is paying attention to every ‘The Birds of the Moon,’” he says. “Or word, every note.” ‘Tallahatchie.’ What do y’all think? ‘TalBut the series’ smaller-is-better strategy lahatchie,’ right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, that pays off for the fans, says Derek Moreton one’s better.” (BA 95, JD 99), who has attended many With about 25 shows under his of the MITH shows. belt, Morrow has brought in more than “It’s underground, which makes it 50 bands and artists, many of them a little bit cooler. You’ve got to have an doing repeat shows, with every moment invitation to get in. And the people who captured on video. In 2009, he began do attend are true music fans. A lot of holding MITH shows in other local them are artists themselves.” venues, such as Southside Gallery and For Morrow and McDavid, the main Bottletree Bakery, and videotaping them challenge is not packing the room—usu- as well for the MITH website. (Tickets to ally a few extra tickets are available for any those shows are for sale to the public after

MITH members’ RSVPs are processed.) To generate more quality content, he recently launched a MITH video podcast that intersperses band performances with interviews conducted by Oxford’s own Ron Shapiro. Each podcast is posted for one week to be viewed at no charge, then stored in the site’s video archive that’s available only to paid subscribers. It’s all part of Morrow and McDavid’s mission to share Oxford’s bounty of music with the world. “It doesn’t matter how our content is relayed, whether by DVD, online streaming or podcasts,” Morrow says. “It all boils down to creating good content and getting it into people’s hands.” And it’s working, too. MITH site members hail from around the United States and overseas, with fans from as far away as Germany, Sweden and Australia. “Somewhere between 20 and 30 percent of our DVD sales are to overseas members,” Morrow notes. “They have a great appreciation for our music. I don’t know why, but Germans really love southern U.S. music for some reason. They dig it.” McDavid digs it, too, and says he has absolute faith in Morrow’s ability to discover new or lesser-known artists with bright futures. As a UM student in

One of the main reasons I was interested in this is “because of historical preservation [of the music]. ”

22 Alumni Review

the ’80s, McDavid, now 50, was a fan of Delta rockers The Tangents and recalls catching their shows regularly. “One of the main reasons I was interested in this is because of historical preservation [of the music],” McDavid says. “I remembered all the great bands that have come through Oxford over the past 30 years and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we had video of Beanland, the Kudzu Kings or Blue Mountain in their heyday?’ I wanted to capture these moments so that, 10 or 20 years from now, it’ll be preserved as part of our history.” AR

Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three from St. Louis, Mo., recently won Best Americana Album of the Year at the Independent Music Awards. They brought their ragtime blues to the hall in December 2010.

Spring 2011 23

 Majestic



 

P l a c e

24 Alumni Review

t o

S t u d y



By Rebecca Lauck Cleary Photos by Robert Jordan



Spring 2011 25

26 Alumni Review

New School of Law welcomes students This year’s law school class has

Most important to any educational facility are entered doors from the past and into the future. the classrooms. In the new 165,000-square-foot, Students began law school in August 2010 in three-story School of Law, the classrooms for the the Lamar Law Center, a building rich in his- 516 students are designed to encourage active tory and tradition, where many of the top attor- learning and accommodate the increasing use of neys in the state have earned their degrees and technology. They are audiovisual enabled, draw lectured. Then, in January 2011, they switched natural light and allow more space for laptops over to the new, dignified Khayat Law Center. and other materials. An assortment of classroom Named for UM Chancellor Emeritus and sizes offers a broad range of learning possibilities. former law professor Robert Khayat (BAEd Law students are enjoying their own dining 61, JD 66), the state-of-the-art learning facility room, café and courtyard. Being on the south has been designed specifically to facilitate com- edge of campus means easier access, as well. munity interaction among students and faculty. Other building features include a lecture The building also is designed to enhance clini- theater that seats 220; a state-of-the-art library cal experiences for students and to host confer- with a reading room, special collections room ences for lawyers, judges and legal scholars. and computer lab; group study rooms; a “The fact the building is named for former distance-learning room; Career Services interChancellor Khayat really helps because he is view rooms; suites for student organizations, the so beloved, and it was also a smart way to raise money for the building, to recognize that many people would want to pay tribute to him,” says School of Law Dean Richard Gershon. The building is LEEDregistered and is awaiting certification, which should happen in the next four-to-six months, according to Ian Banner, university architect and director of facilities planning. LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Classrooms are audiovisual enabled and allow more room for laptops and Design and is a green building other student gear. rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. “We did not go for [LEED] points [but], Mississippi Law Journal, the Civil Legal Clinic rather, a well-designed, efficient building. How- and Moot Court; and a student lounge. ever, it is likely that the building will achieve The School of Law recognizes more than enough points to be rated ‘gold,’” Banner says. 20 active student organizations that enjoy wide Design for the new school started in 2005, participation from the student body, including and construction started in May 2008. On the Delta Theta Phi, the Mississippi Association for site of university housing, the previous apart- Justice and the American Constitution Society, ment buildings’ brick, concrete and aluminum to name a few. were ground down or melted and reused. Banner says he hopes the architecture supOrientation of the new building was situated so ports the students’ learning, but, more than the path of the sun assisted in the illumination that, he hopes it celebrates it. of interior spaces. High-quality window glass “Some of the study spaces look exciting to be was selected to reduce heat loss and sunlight in, no matter what the subject. I hope [they help glare. Many materials were chosen from manu- students] to ask more questions about archifacturers within a 500-mile radius of Oxford. tecture as a social art, about responsible use of The building’s architecture blends in well with resources and about construction,” Banner says. the beauty of the Ole Miss campus, with stately “We know the graduates are likely to be influcolumns intermingling with steel and glass. ential people in their lives and careers. I hope



Students, faculty, staff and visitors enter the new law center by way of the grand, wide-open space of the atrium.

Spring 2011 27

The Khayat Law Center better articulates what it means to be an Ole Miss law student and graduate. It is a dignified building, which is certainly fitting considering its namesake.”



Jaklyn Wrigley, Third-year law student

 28 Alumni Review

they will become discerning clients who demand good buildings—buildings that aren’t short-term, disposable commodities that clog landfills in 20 years or so.” One of those students says that the new law school is a fantastic addition to the experience at Ole Miss. “The facility is state of the art and exceeds what is necessary to equip the law program to progress into the 21st century,” says third-year student Chad Medders. “Prospective students will be hard-pressed to find comparable facilities not only on a regional basis but on a national level as well.” Jaklyn Wrigley, also a third-year law student, says some of her favorite memories are from the law school’s former home, in the Lamar Law Center, but she is glad for the change. “The Khayat Law Center better articulates what it means to be an Ole Miss law student and graduate. It is a dignified building, which is certainly fitting considering its namesake,” says Wrigley, an Ocean Springs native. “I am proud to be a member of the first graduating class, to be part of the committee planning [the center’s] dedication, and to have been both a law student and undergraduate student under the man for whom it is named.” Wrigley, president of the Law School Student Body Association, was one of the students who toured the new School of Law with Dean Gershon in December before it was finished. Her first impression of the building was that it was “majestic,” and she knew then it was a place that would produce top legal scholars. “My experiences have definitely been different in the new building. Although I felt like the old facilities adequately facilitated the classroom experience, when you throw more comfortable chairs in the mix, things can only get better!” she says. “Plus, the new classrooms are equipped with more advanced technology, are designed to maximize space and are just The library and other rooms in the new law building are conducive to study.

overall more attractive. We also have a café in our new Law Center, which is great. It provides us both a place to congregate and grab a bite on campus.” Cary Lee Cluck (BA 93, JD 96), assistant dean for student affairs, says having a bigger building has been a boon for students. “I think the new space better serves the law students. They have more community space scattered throughout the building,” Cluck says. “Furthermore, the technology in the building will better serve the law students as well.” Four specialized law centers are housed within the building, including the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law; the National Sea Grant Law Center; the National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law; and the Mississippi Innocence Project. Three clinical programs also are located there: the Civil Legal Clinic, which combines classes with real-world, pro bono representation of indigent clients; the Criminal Appeals Clinic, where students and practicing attorneys receive the specialized training necessary to represent citizens awaiting review of their criminal convictions by appellate courts; and the Prosecution Externship Program, which prepares students for careers as prosecutors. W.C. “Cham” Trotter III (BA 69, JD 72) has been through the new School of Law during the construction phase and in its finished grandeur. “On behalf of the law alumni, we are terribly excited about the new building. Ole Miss has had a law school since 1854, and I understand this is our sixth building. It is well located and [is] going to be the jewel of the southwest portion of campus,” says Trotter, who is the 2010-11 law alumni president. Trotter is eager about the prospect of using the building to its fullest potential. “The new location makes it convenient for alumni to have access to the law school’s facilities for legal research,” he says. Honoring Khayat in the naming of the law center is appropriate for the legal community, the law school and the university, Trotter says. “Older alumni may know Robert Khayat as a colleague and professor, and younger alumni may know him as a former chancellor,” he says. “But for everyone, he has been a friend.” AR

Q & A with Dean Richard Gershon • What was the main reason for constructing a new law school? I think this was good strategic planning by the university. The undergraduate population has grown and continues to grow, and there’s really not enough space to properly house the educational needs of that population. So instead of building something for the undergraduates, it made sense to build a new building for the law school in a different part of campus. It is a great place for professional students to be, while allowing the undergraduate students the use of a really good building—the old Lamar Law Center, right on the Grove. So it was perfect. • Why was it important that the building be LEED certified? I think the LEED certificate is about leadership. The university should serve as a leader for the entire state, and so LEED certification is about the environment and sustainability. The university should play a role in protecting the environment as an educational institution. So, it’s very important that we have LEED certification. • Do you have a favorite part of the building? The atrium is my favorite. You walk in and it’s so open, and you see people talking, and you see students in the comfortable seats, and it builds a better sense that we are one community. The old building was much more segmented.

move was critical, and it took up much of the first semester. In the long run, what I want to accomplish is to help my colleagues continue to be great teachers and to help those outside of Mississippi understand what a great law school this is and what an undervalued law school program this is. • What do you think are the law school’s greatest strengths? A faculty that is known not only throughout the state and has great contacts with the Bar but who are known internationally as well. They are having an impact anywhere from the Vatican to China. It’s the people here who make the law school great. • W h e r e d o y o u s e e t h e f u t u r e o f l a w education?

This is just a great school, and I had heard so much about The University of Mississippi and all the wonderful programs going on here. I knew of the work being done by the centers as well, and it was a really appealing place. That, combined with the fact that my wife is editor for Garden and Gun magazine, which featured a city portrait on Oxford and the university last year. She turned to me while she was editing that piece, and she told me: ‘That’s where I want to move because of the great literary community and the great college town that Oxford is,’ so it’s been the perfect move for both of us.

We’re still a professional school, and the first thing we always have to remember—and I don’t think this is going to change—is that our primary role is to help educate students who want to enter the legal profession. I think that will be what the vast majority of our students want to see from us. But I think legal education needs to create other opportunities as well, because a law degree actually educates [people] in a way that broadens their experience in general. If they go into business, health care or government service, a law degree is of tremendous help. We’re also going to have to look at technology and the way it impacts what we do. We’re going to have to see what extent distance education plays into the way we train our students. For example, we could bring in leading experts from around the country via distance to teach a class and interact. We’re also going to look at graduate and certificate programs as more of a specialization.

• What is something that people might be surprised to know about you?

• In regard to their time and talent, what can alumni do to help support the law school?

I used to play hockey. I grew up around Atlanta, and a bunch of us decided we wanted to learn to skate and play hockey. I also played on a couple of teams when I lived in Florida.

The most important thing they can do is hire our graduates. The greatest way to give back to this law school is to help someone who is beginning [his or her] career find a place and start [his or her] profession. We also want our alumni to help us with externship programs and placements for training and mentoring our students.

• What was it about UM that made you want to be dean here?

• What was on your list to complete in your first year as dean, and what do you hope will be your most important achievement? First of all, I wanted to get to know my faculty colleagues and get to know as many alumni as possible. And the

Spring 2011 29

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Most every blues aficionado or even casual fan knows the

legend of the crossroads, the tale in which bluesman Robert Johnson went

to a dusty, rural crossroads, where he met and sold his soul to the devil in exchange for supernatural musical ability. A few of those fans even know that this mythical event supposedly took place in Mississippi. Fewer still would know where in Mississippi this was, or, if they did, what to do if they went on a pilgrimage there. “Everyone knows that the blues is from Mississippi, but what do you do when you get here?” says Scott Barretta, host of the blues radio show “Highway 61.” Despite the blues being a musical form that has a fanatical and loyal following across the globe, only recently has a concerted effort been made to provide much help to would-be blues pilgrims. The change occurred in 2003, when Martin Scorcese’s multipart PBS documentary “The Blues” was aired. It brought the musical form back into public consciousness and drummed up new interest. Congress then declared 2003 to be the “Year of the Blues,” the Mississippi Legislature followed, and then-Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (BBA 78, JD 81) created the Mississippi Blues Commission. The Blues Commission is a body of 18 appointed commissioners and is chaired by an appointee of the governor. Its stated goal is to “promote authentic Mississippi blues music and blues culture for purposes of economic development.” Before the commission was established, Mississippi had done very little to promote blues tourism. Yet neighboring states had long made musical heritage a keystone of their tourism promotion. Tennessee is a well-known and frequent destination for music lovers with Music

20 21 22 23

Mississippi Blues Trail Markers

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1. Charley Patton (Holly Ridge), Dec. 11, 2006 2. Nelson Street (Greenville), Dec. 11, 2006 3. WGRM (Greenwood), Dec. 11, 2006 4. Riverside Hotel (Clarksdale), Jan. 18, 2007 5. Peavine (Boyle), Feb. 7, 2007 6. Rosedale, Feb. 7, 2007 7. Corner of Highways 10 & 61 (Leland), March 29, 2007 8. Honeyboy Edwards (Shaw), April 13, 2007 9. Muddy Waters (Stovall), April 13, 2007 10. Jimmie Rodgers (Meridian), May 3, 2007 11. Robert Johnson (Greenwood), May 16, 2007

31 32

Blues lovers have a lot of ground to cover when they venture to see all of Mississippi’s blues trail markers.

12. Subway Lounge/Summers Hotel (Jackson), May 30, 2007 13. Son House (Tunica), June 18, 2007 14. Willie Dixon (Vicksburg), June 28, 2007 15. Hickory Street (Canton), July 17, 2007 16. Blue Front Cafe (Bentonia), Aug. 21, 2007 17. Magic Sam (Grenada), Aug. 28, 2007 18. Howlin’ Wolf (West Point), Aug. 30, 2007 19. Memphis Minnie (Walls), Sept. 27, 2007 20. Columbus Mississippi Blues (Columbus), Sept. 28, 2007 21. Rabbit Foot Minstrels (Port Gibson), Oct. 9, 2007 22. Tommy Johnson (Crystal Springs), Oct. 19, 2007 23. Bo Diddley (McComb), Nov. 2, 2007 24. Broadcasting the Blues/ABN (Gulfport/Biloxi), Nov. 3, 2007 25. Trumpet Records (Jackson), Nov. 17, 2007 Spring 2011 33

26. Otis Rush (Philadelphia), Dec. 6, 2007 27. Robert Nighthawk (Friars Point), Dec. 13, 2007 28. Elvis and the Blues (Tupelo), Jan. 8, 2008 29. Robert Johnson (Hazlehurst), Jan. 31, 2008 30. James Cotton (Tunica), Feb. 13, 2008 31. “Livin’ at Lula” Bertha Lee, Sam Carr, Frank Frost (Lula), Feb. 13, 2008 32. Mississippi John Hurt (Avalon), Feb. 23, 2008 33. The Red Tops (Vicksburg), March 28, 2008 34. Elks Lodge (Greenwood), March 28, 2008 35. Malaco Records (Jackson), April 8, 2008 36. Natchez Burning/Rhythm Club (Natchez), April 18, 2008 37. Birthplace of the Blues? (Dockery), April 19, 2008 38. Pinetop Perkins (Belzoni), May 3, 2008 39. Hubert Sumlin (Pillow Plantation, Greenwood), May 6, 2008 40. Highway 61, northern end (Tunica), May 8, 2008 34 Alumni Review

41. “Cotton Pickin’ Blues” Hopson Plantation (Clarksdale), May 9, 2008 42. Alamo/Dorothy Moore (Jackson), May 22, 2008 43. Jimmy Reed (Dunleith), June 19, 2008 44. Big Walter Horton (Horn Lake), June 20, 2008 45. Hill Country Blues (Holly Springs), July 3, 2008 46. Black Prairie Blues, Aug. 19, 2008 47. Blind Boys of Mississippi, Sam Myers (Piney Woods), Aug. 29, 2008 48. B.B. King’s birthplace (Berclair), Sept. 11, 2008 49. Church Street (Indianola), Sept. 13, 2008 50. Freedom Village (Greenville), Sept. 17, 2008 51. Skip James (Bentonia), Sept. 18, 2008 52. Arthur Crudup, T-Model Ford (Forest), Sept. 26, 2008 53. McCoy Brothers (Raymond), Oct. 4, 2008 54. Harold “Hardface” Clanton (Tunica), Oct. 8, 2008 55. Roots of Rock ’n Roll (Hattiesburg), Oct. 18, 2008

Photo by Stefano Marise

The establishment of the B.B. King Museum in Indianola served as a catalyst for the development of the Mississippi Blues Trail marker program (B.B. King pictured left).

Row and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and Beale Street and Graceland in Memphis. Likewise, New Orleans is world renowned as a musical mecca, and resulting tourism contributes substantially to Louisiana’s economy. Armed with that inspiration and the twofold goal of drawing tourism dollars to the state while also serving the important role of documenting historical events for posterity’s sake, the folks at the Blues Commission created the Blues Trail Marker system. It’s an ongoing program that places markers at locations of historical importance. The markers provide historical context for the topic specific to that location and, typically, will commemorate a specific blues musician. Some of them highlight the importance of the location such as Stovall Plantation. Others still are more abstract, emphasizing the importance of railroads, the river or religion on the development of blues music. It’s an effort that has gained attention and continues to grow. And Ole Miss scholars are at the forefront of the initiative. Under the auspices of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Living Blues magazine and the “Highway 61” radio show play an important role in reporting on and promoting the Blues Trail markers. “Highway 61” host and former Living Blues editor Barretta has been a member of the Blues Commission since day one and continues to play an important role. He and Living Blues founding editor Jim O’Neal make up the Mississippi Blues Trail writing and research team. By statute, the director of UM’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture, currently Ted Ownby, is always one of the members of the Blues Commission. Other statutory members

56. Big Joe Williams (Crawford), Nov. 3, 2008 57. Bobby Rush (Jackson), Nov. 11, 2008 58. Muddy Waters’ birthplace (Rolling Fork), Dec. 3, 2008 59. Sam Mosley/Bob Johnson (New Albany), Dec. 8, 2008 60. Shakerag (Tupelo), Jan. 8, 2009 61. Rube Lacy (Pelahatchie), Feb. 13, 2009 62. Documenting the Blues (UM, Oxford), Feb. 27, 2009 63. Sonny Boy Williamson II (Glendora), Feb. 28, 2009 64. Highway 61, southern end (Vicksburg), March 12, 2009 65. Club Desire (Canton), March 31, 2009 66. Queen of Hearts (Jackson), April 16, 2009 67. Jack Owens (Bentonia), April 17, 2009 68. Little Milton (Inverness), April 17, 2009 69. ’27 flood & Big Bill Broonzy (Scott), April 21, 2009 70. Charlie Musselwhite (Kosciusko), April 24, 2009

include representatives from the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division and the Mississippi Arts Commission. Meanwhile, the Blues Archive, a program of the UM Department of Archives and Special Collections, remains one of the most preeminent repositories of blues memorabilia and documentation anywhere (see sidebar, p. 37).

Making the Mark

More than 120 Blues Trail markers have been placed so far, including one at Barnard Observatory on the Ole Miss campus that honors the university’s commitment to “documenting the blues.” Mississippi has a rich history of this music, and many of the most well-known and heralded blues musicians in the world hail from the state. They are the giants of the genre, so it’s no surprise that names such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon were among the first to be honored. But because the blues markers are designed to attract tourists, their selection is sometimes driven more by the economic goals of the commission than by documentarian goals. “There was this romantic notion if you’re not from here,” says Mark Camarigg, managing editor of Living Blues, “of juke joints that you can find in any town, and there’s always stuff happening and people playing. Then you get down here and realize, while there is a lot of activity, it’s not nearly as prevalent as you might hope.” Thus the markers constitute a “trail” in that they are designed so that one can travel from marker to marker.

71. Mississippi Fred McDowell (Como), May 7, 2009 72. Memphis, May 8, 2009 73. Denise Lasalle (Belzoni), May 9, 2009 74. “Beale Town Bound” (Hernando), May 27, 2009 75. Abbay & Leatherman Plantation (Tunica), May 28, 2009 76. Son Thomas (Leland), June 5, 2009 77. Chicago, June 11, 2009 78. Chrisman Street (Cleveland), June 22, 2009 79. Po Monkey’s (Merigold), June 22, 2009 80. Baptist Town (Greenwood), July 14, 2009 81. Sam Cooke (Clarksdale), Aug. 7, 2009 82. Otha Turner (Como), Aug. 29, 2009 83. Papa Lightfoot (Natchez), Sept. 4, 2009 84. Club Ebony (Indianola), Sept. 7, 2009 85. Charles Evers and the Blues (Fayette), Sept. 23, 2009 Spring 2011 35

Further on up the Road

“The idea was that, hopefully, it’ll attract people to drive here and after driving 40 miles to stop at one place, then 50 miles to another place, they’ll realize they need to spend a few more days Though the creation of the Blues Commission established the here,” Barretta says. “Hence, more meals, rental cars, souvenirs, goal of promoting blues tourism, it wasn’t until some time later that the program got the kick-start it needed. going to concerts and clubs.” Barretta became involved with the development of the B.B. The concept was modeled, in part, after an initiative of the King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, which Clinton Administration called the Millennial Heritage Trail. “We started off with four adjoining counties in the Delta,” opened in 2004. It was a multimillion dollar project that was Barretta says. “We wanted to put up nine or 10 markers. To be funded by private investment but also obtained funding through called a trail, it was made up of markers that you could drive the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and around to, from one to another, hence the four adjoining coun- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). As his team learned ties—Washington, Sunflower, Coahoma and Leflore—all of the ropes of applying for these grants, it also created a parallel movement to seek funding for the Blues Trail. which already had an interest in blues tourism.” With funding from An effort also was the NEA, the first nine made to place markers markers were placed. Subthroughout the state. sequent funding would “When the Legislacome from the NEA ture approved it, [it] did and the NEH, but it was so under the provision determined that the local that it wasn’t going to be Mark Camarigg community had to help a Delta thing,” Barretta fund each marker, too. says. The Legislature “That they have to pay means they have to take interest and, mandated that half of [the markers] had to be outside of the Delta. “It’s one way we can get people to visit these places they ultimately, have some sort of investment in it,” Baretta says. “It’s probably wouldn’t go to otherwise,” Camarigg says, “because not the state arbitrarily placing a marker.” So while the administration of the Blues Commission is there might not be a club there. Maybe the bluesmen that were there just aren’t there anymore. Maybe they made their name in funded by the state, the actual markers are not. These economic realities often dictate where and when a marker is placed as much Chicago, or maybe they passed away.” The first three markers—Charley Patton’s grave site in Holly as its cultural importance. For instance, John Lee Hooker is one Ridge, Nelson Street in Greenville and WGRM in Greenwood— of the prominent blues legends, yet he did not receive a marker were installed in December 2006. The commission has been adding until 2010. “The reason John Lee Hooker just got one has nothing to do them ever since. From the Bo Diddley marker in McComb to Hill with his importance,” Barretta says. “He’s not the 120th most Country Blues in Holly Springs, the markers dot the landscape. Part of the selection process is helping to make the trail make important. But the fact that it’s so delayed is because he is from Quitman County. If he had been from Coahoma County or sense geographically for travelers. “We will look at what might be in between Laurel and Merid- Clarksdale, it probably would’ve gone up years ago. For certain counties, paying $2,000 is really a hardship.” ian or Gulfport and Meridian, for example,” Barretta says.

It’s one way we can get people to visit these places they probably wouldn’t go to otherwise.

86. Sam Chatmon and Hollandale strip (Hollandale), Oct. 2, 2009 87. Ace Records (Jackson), Oct. 5, 2009 88. Helena, Ark., Oct. 9, 2009 89. Bukka White (Houston), Oct. 16, 2009 90. Aberdeen, Miss., Blues, Howlin’ Wolf (Aberdeen), Oct. 16, 2009 91. Roma Wilson & Leon Pinson (New Albany), Oct. 26, 2009 92. Gold Coast/Cross the River (Brandon), Oct. 27, 2009 93. Summit Street (McComb), Nov. 6, 2009 94. Scott Dunbar, Lester Young (Woodville), Nov. 18, 2009 95. W. C. Handy (Tutwiler), Nov. 25, 2009 96. Harlem Inn (Winstonville), Dec. 4, 2009 97. Henry Townsend (Shelby), Dec. 4, 2009 98. Marcus Bottom (Vicksburg), Dec. 9, 2009 99. Muscle Shoals, Ala., Jan. 6, 2010 100. Cassandra Wilson (Jackson), Jan. 7, 2010 36 Alumni Review

101. Eddie Taylor (Benoit), Feb. 1, 2010 102. Hi-Hat Club and Chitlin Circuit (Hattiesburg), Feb. 10, 2010 103. Joe Callicott (Nesbit), March 11, 2010 104. Ishmon Bracey (Jackson), April 5, 2010 105. WROX (Clarksdale), April 16, 2010 106. O. J. Turner’s Drug Store (Belzoni), May 15, 2010 107. Ferriday, La., May 22, 2010 108. Biloxi Blues/Jelly Roll Morton (Gulfport/Biloxi), May 27, 2010 109. Johnny Winter, June 6, 2010 110. Mississippi to Maine (Rockland, Maine), July 8, 2010 111. Ike Turner (Clarksdale), Aug. 6, 2010 112. Grafton, Wis., Sept. 18, 2010 113. Parchman (Drew), Sept. 28, 2010 114. Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones), (Greenwood), Oct. 1, 2010 115. Queen City Hotel and 7th Avenue (Columbus), Oct. 2, 2010

In some instances, other musicians pitch in to help with the costs. Blues aficionado Robert Plant, of Led Zeppelin, helped secure a trail marker in Tutweiler and even made an appearance at the dedication ceremony. Guitarist Bonnie Raitt is said to have helped secure a marker honoring Mississippi Fred McDowell. NEH and NEA funding also plays a role in what does and does not get a marker. “They demanded that it not just be hero worship, but that there is a focus on what we call humanities themes,” Barretta says. “So the markers acknowledge things like the role of religion, the role of the river, the role of the highway, the role of the railroad, cotton, gambling. There are a number of other themes, so we address things both in terms of great musicians but also thematically. For instance at Hobson Plantation over in Clarksdale, we say this is where cotton was first produced mechanically in the 1940s, and it happens that Pinetop Perkins was one of the tractor drivers.” Barretta and O’Neal write the essays on the markers—usually about 450 words about the topic. The marker includes high-resolution maps and photos on one side and the essay on the other side. Plans are underway to eventually include audio players in the markers. Markers are unveiled sometimes as often as twice a month. A schedule of upcoming dedications can be found on the c o m m i s s i o n’s website at www. msbluestrail.org.

116. Scott Radio Service Co. (Jackson), Oct. 18, 2010 117. Otis Clay (Waxhaw), Oct. 22, 2010 118. Gatemouth Moore (Yazoo City), Nov. 8, 2010 119. Tallahassee, Fla., Nov. 20, 2010 120. Pop Staples (Winona), Dec. 16, 2010 121. GRAMMY Awards (Los Angeles), Feb. 10, 2011 122. John Lee Hooker (Vance), Feb. 16, 2011 123. Bud Scott (Natchez), Feb. 18, 2011 124. Capt. John Handy (Pass Christian), March 4, 2011 125. Jessie Mae Hemphill (Senatobia), April 8, 2010 126. Wade Walton Barbershop (Clarksdale), April 15, 2011 127. Laurel area (Laurel), April 21, 2011 128. Eddie Shaw (Stringtown), April 27, 2011 129. Ealey Brothers (Natchez), April 29, 2011

Blues Archive holds surprises

blues enthusiast would be hard-pressed to find a greater collection of blues music and memorabilia than at the Blues Archive in The University of Mississippi’s J.D. Williams Library. Established in 1984, the Blues Archive acquires and preserves blues and blues-related materials in a variety of formats. Greg Johnson, curator of the Blues Archive, says he is proud of the size and shape of the university’s collection of sound recordings. “We have over 60,000 [recordings] in a variety of formats,” Johnson says. “We have LPs, compact discs, native digital files. We have older formats—78 rpm discs, 45s; we have a number of Edison cylinders in the collection. Several of them came from B.B. King when he donated his record collection to us.” Johnson says visitors will find a few surprises in King’s donated record collection. “You know you expect to see jazz and blues in there, which there‘s a lot of, but there are also 50 foreign-language courses on LP. When he went on his first world tour, he wanted to be able to say, ‘How y’all doin’?’ [and] ‘Thank you,’ in the native language of whatever country he was performing in,” Johnson says. The archive also has collections of music and memorabilia donated by the old Trumpet Records label from Jackson and copies of old blues magazines such as Blues Unlimited, Soul Bag and Living Blues, the latter which is now produced by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss. One of the Blues Archive’s current projects is digitizing its collections and making them available online. Archive faculty members recently purchased a new server that will allow them to offer some of the collections to stream via the Web to any computer in the world. “There are a few that we have already digitized or created digitally initially that we have rights to stream worldwide, so anybody can access them as soon as we get the streaming server up and running,” Johnson says. The UM Blues Archive is located within the Department of Archives and Special Collections on the third floor of the J.D. Williams Library on the Oxford campus. Patrons can access audio and video recordings in the Special Collections media room but cannot check them out. The Blues Archive is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except during selected university holidays.—Brandon Irvine

Spring 2011 37

Radio

f o r R e b e l Fa n s Football alumni bring 24-hour sports talk to Oxford

By Johnny McMillan

T he 1999

Ole Miss football team had, by many standards, a successful year. The talented 8-4 Rebels ended the season in the top 25 after knocking off Oklahoma in the Independence Bowl. Among their ranks were now iconic names such as Eli and Deuce, names that will resonate among the Ole Miss faithful for many years to come. They were not alone. In fact, 10 players from that 1999 team went on to play in the NFL; several of them had exceedingly successful careers. Although none of these athletes was from Oxford, many have returned to the area and now call it home. Terrence Metcalf (01), Todd Wade (BA 00) and Derrick Burgess (03) are three such players. With a combined 28 years in the NFL, they could have lived anywhere but chose to come back to their old college stomping grounds and put down roots. Metcalf, a former All-American at Ole Miss and third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, is now raising his five children in Oxford. For him, the decision was easy. “I knew this was going to be home for me for a long time,” he says. “I met my wife during my sophomore year; we got married going into my junior year, had two kids right away, and that was it. I didn’t care about going anywhere else.” The sense of family that Ole Miss and Oxford offer played a great part in his decision. The university family and the community are intertwined in many ways, and each offers an important sense of belonging. “When you find a community that’s so involved with kids, it makes it that much easier. It becomes about your family,” Metcalf says. “I grew up in some difficult places. There’s no better community [in which] to raise a family than Oxford.” Oxford offers many advantages for young families. Spor ting events, and educational

opportunities, world-class entertainment and cultural resources are unparalleled for a town of Oxford’s size. One thing Oxford was lacking, however, was a 24-hour sports talk radio station focusing on the Rebels. Metcalf, along with friend David Johnson, decided to change that. In August 2010, the pair created Game Time Rebels magazine, a full-color monthly published by College Sports Publishing, LLC, and the companion radio station soon followed. The Metcalf/ Johnson partnership originated when Johnson coached the Cleveland, Miss.,

part of our success,” Johnson says. FM 102.1 Reb Sports Radio went live in North Mississippi on Jan. 10. Affiliates include FM 101.3 in Grenada and 1240 AM in Jackson, and shows also are broadcast via the Web at rebsportsradio.com. Besides being the only 24-hour sports talk radio station in the area, Reb Sports Radio offers several hours a day dedicated to covering Ole Miss sports through analysis, discussion and listener phone calls. In a few short months, it already has a healthy following of vocal fans. For the former players, being a part

“ It’s the greatest thing in the

40 Alumni Review

world to be able to come in here and talk Ole Miss sports for a living.” —David Johnson

peewee football team against Metcalf ’s son’s team. A few short meetings later, both a friendship and publishing company were formed. Johnson, a longtime editor for newspapers in the Delta, says the radio station had been planned for some time. The duo recruited Wade and Burgess to host a pair of shows, along with account executives Brent Phillips and Hailey Nutt (BSCJ 10), one of football Coach Houston Nutt’s twin daughters. “Hailey’s been with us since last summer,” Johnson says. “She worked on the magazine, and we’re lucky to have her on the radio now. She’s been a hard worker and an invaluable asset to us.” Other business partners include selfprofessed number cruncher and “grandfatherly wise counselor” Tom Hall, as well as Andy Hodges, also a station co-owner, who helps in day-to-day operations. “We’ve been blessed with having a great group of talented people walk through those doors, and they’re a large

of the radio station just felt right. It also gave them another way to give back to the community and school of which they had become a permanent part. “If you’re going to get in the magazine business, why not make it about Ole Miss?” Metcalf says. “If you’re going to get into the radio business, why not make that about Ole Miss, too? We could have made it news or music. I don’t have a background in broadcast journalism, but I know Ole Miss, and I can talk about that.” “It’s the greatest thing in the world to be able to come in here and talk Ole Miss sports for a living,” adds Johnson. “Who wouldn’t love that?” The opportunity to see the other side of the media has been a blessing to the former players, too. “You’ve gotta love this stuff,” Metcalf says. “You become the media, and you get an understanding of why the media say what [they say] about the Rebels. It’s not because we’re vindictive or anything like that; it’s because we have such a passion

Player Bios

Todd Wade OL

Wade played in more than 100 games over nine seasons in the NFL. He was drafted in the second round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, and he remained with that team for four seasons. He played in three playoff games for the Dolphins. He also played for the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins for two years each before ending his pro football career with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008. Wade started 96 NFL games during his tenure.

for the team. Sometimes we’re critical of the team, and other times we get to pat [it] on the head and say, ‘Good job.’ But, as a player, it’s hard to understand that because all you’re doing is going out there and busting your tail.” Around the station office in Oxford, optimism is high, and Wade foresees the radio station expanding. “We’re going to cover pre- and postfootball games, and I’d like to see us [broadcast] live in the Grove. It’s always evolving, and we’re really looking forward

Terrence Metcalf OL

Metcalf played nine NFL seasons for the same team that drafted him in 2002—the Chicago Bears. Metcalf’s best season came in 2005 when he started 13 games at right guard for a Bears team that went 11-5 and won the first of back-to-back NFC North Division titles.

to the future,” says Wade, who, by the way, also is compiling a set of children’s books featuring SEC mascots, which he expects to be available this fall. In addition, he works in real estate and owns Rock Star Taxi & Limo service. “I think it’s a great thing for Oxford, and we hope to get better and better,” Wade says. “I have strangers come up and say, ‘We appreciate what you’re doing.’” Metcalf has high hopes for the station’s future as well. When he’s not managing or lending

Derrick Burgess DE

Heralded as a pass-rush specialist, Burgess’ NFL career was highlighted by two pro bowl selections while with the Oakland Raiders. Burgess was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2001 draft and remained with them for four years, capped by an outstanding performance in Superbowl XXXIX. He then played three years for the Raiders and one for the New England Patriots before returning to the Eagles to close out his career in 2010.

his voice to the station, Metcalf devotes a lot of his time to working with numerous churches and with children. “As a former NFL player, you get a chance to talk to these kids,” he says. “There are a lot of misguided ones out there. I grew up in some less than perfect areas, but we were good. I lived in North Milwaukee just down the street from the gang, but I never got involved in it. When Mama said, ‘Don’t go outside,’ I didn’t go outside. Mama didn’t play that. You need somebody to give you that focus.” AR Spring 2011 41

Sports

Hoops Honors BASKETBALL PLAYERS GRAB SEC AWARDS

Ole Miss senior guard Chris Warren was voted to the All-SEC first team in March by the SEC coaches.

le Miss senior guard Chris Warren was voted to the All-SEC first team by the Southeastern Conference coaches, and sophomore forward Reginald Buckner was chosen to the SEC All-Defensive team, the league office announced in March. Warren is the first Ole Miss player to receive first-team honors since Justin Reed in 2004. Warren was a second-team selection a year ago. Warren ranks third in school history with 1,958 career points and has a chance to become just the fourth player in SEC history to reach 2,000 points and 400 assists. He is the school’s all-time leader with 322 3-pointers made, which ranks fifth in SEC history. He is the league’s active leader in career points, assists, 3-pointers and 20-point games. With another record-breaking season of blocked shots, Buckner earned a spot on the five-man All-Defensive team. The Memphis, Tenn., native ranks second in the SEC and ninth in the country with 3.1 blocks per game. In just his second year, Buckner already ranks second in school history with 156 blocks in his career. He is 24 blocks shy of the career record, set by Sean Murphy (BA 91), who had 180 blocks in 117 games from 198891. Buckner also tied Ansu Sesay’s (98) school record for blocks in a game with eight at Arkansas and has recorded five or more swats in nine games this year. Buckner is the Rebels’ first representative on the All-Defensive team since it began in 2008. AR

Winning Play-by-Play ‘VOICE OF THE REBELS’ NAMED MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

he National Spor tswriters and Sportscasters Association named Ole Miss Rebels’ playby-play sports commentator David Kellum (BA 80) as the Mississippi Sportscaster of the Year. Kellum has won the award five times in his career. NSSA members annually elect one print and one radio/television winner from each of the 50 states. Rick Cleveland of The Clarion-Ledger was selected as the Mississippi Sportswriter of the Year. Winners will be introduced at the 52nd annual NSSA convention May

42 Alumni Review

14-16 in Salisbury, N.C. Longtime play-by-play announcers Brent Musburger and Bob Uecker, and Bob Ryan, a 42-year veteran of the Boston Globe, also will be inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame. Kellum, a native of Oxford, is in his 23rd season as the “Voice of the Rebels” and has been associated with Ole Miss broadcasts for 34 years. He became the play-by-play announcer for Rebel baseball as a freshman at Ole Miss in 1978, and he is one of only a few announcers in the SEC handling play-by-play for football, men’s basketball and baseball.

Kellum

In addition, Kellum is the host of the coaches’ weekly radio and television shows and has been the master of ceremonies for countless Ole Miss events, both athletically and academically. AR

Sports

California Dream Trip FRESNO STATE a HIGHLIGHT of 2011 FOOTBALL TRIPS

eservations are being accepted for this fall’s off-campus football game lodging, with a special travel package to Fresno for the Rebels’ first-ever road trip to California. The Alumni Association has reserved blocks of rooms for four road games during the season, including Vanderbilt, Auburn and Kentucky, in addition to Fresno. For the Rebels’ first trip to Fresno, alumni guests will stay at The Piccadilly Inn-University, which offers 190 beautifully appointed guest rooms in three individual buildings, each surrounding an exquisite garden courtyard with a refreshing pool and spacious spa. The Piccadilly Inn is within walking distance of Bulldog Stadium on the campus of Fresno State. Two- and three-night packages are available and include a deluxe continental breakfast each morning and a Friday evening reception. Airfare deals are available round trip from Memphis and Jackson, and an optional wine tour is offered as well.

Hotel rooms have been reserved for Rebel fans who would like to see Coach Nutt and crew in action out of town.

Travelers have the option to participate in the Madera Wine Trail Tour on Friday, Sept. 30, with participants spending the day exploring the trail and tasting magnificent Californian wines. The tour includes visits to the San Joaquin Wine Co., Quady Winery, Chateau Lasgoity and the Birdstone Winery. The price is $60 per person. In addition to the Fresno trip, rooms have been reserved at the MarriottNashville (two-night minimum) for the Vanderbilt contest on Sept. 17, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery for the Auburn game on Oct. 29 and at the Hilton Suites in Lexington for the Kentucky game on Nov. 5. Charter buses will be available for round-trip transport

to the games for Auburn and Kentucky. Reservations for hotel rooms and seats on charter buses may be made now and must be guaranteed with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Room reservations cancelled by June 30 will incur no penalty. Every effort will be made to accommodate, but smoking preference cannot be guaranteed. Bus seats are nonrefundable. For more information or to reserve your room for those games, please fill out the registration form available on the Alumni Association website, or contact Port Kaigler at 662-915-1874 or port@ olemiss.edu. AR

On the Drawing Board NEW FOOTBALL TEAM MEETING ROOM PLANS ANNOUNCED

he UMAA Foundation announced in February that plans for a new football team meeting room have been finalized. In addition, the Vaught Society has surpassed the $10 million mark in major gift fundraising for Ole Miss Athletics. “We are thrilled to surpass the $10 million mark and very excited to begin construction on the new team meeting room,” says Danny White, UMAA Foundation executive director. “Our

44 Alumni Review

donors have really stepped up, and we are extremely grateful for their support.” Proceeds from the Vaught Society go toward the state-of-the-art athletics facilities recently constructed, as well as the continued effort to enhance these facilities. “The new team meeting room will be a great addition to what is already a wonderful facility,” White says. “It will provide our team a centralized meeting space, and I know Coach Nutt and the rest of his staff

The new football team meeting room will be connected to the north end of the Indoor Practice Facility.

are very excited about this.” Using architectural designs by Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons, construction of the new team meeting room is planned to begin in late 2011, with an estimated cost of $2.2 million to $2.5 million. AR

Great Pace REBELS SHINE INDOORS WITH ALL-AMERICA HONORS

ive student-athletes on the Ole Miss track-and-field team were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Indoor All-America teams, the organization announced in March. Three members of the men’s team and two members from the women’s team earned the All-America honors. The men’s team narrowly missed a top 10 finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, taking 11th overall, while the women’s team nearly cracked the top 20, finishing 23rd. Sophomore Mike Granger earned first-team All-America honors with his second-place finish in the 60 meters with a time of 6.55. The Hickory, Miss., native set a school record with a 6.59 in the prelims before breaking that record in his very next race. The old record of 6.60 had stood for 17 years. Sophomore Ricky Robertson also garnered first-team honors with his second-place finish in the high jump (7-03.75). Robertson is a three-time SEC champion in the high jump and now is a two-time NCAA runner-up. Junior Caleb Lee took home second-team All-America

honors with his 15th-place finish in the long jump with a mark of 24-03.75. On the women’s side, junior Sofie Persson, who finished third overall at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 800 meters, also earned first-team All-America accolades. She ran a 2:04.89, and her third-place showing is the top 800-meter NCAA finish in school history. Senior Juliana Smith recorded a fifth-place finish in the weight throw (66-11.50) to garner first-team honors. The mark broke Smith’s own school record and gives her the distinction of being the first female in school history to score points in the weight throw at the NCAA Championships. AR Sofie Persson

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Spring 2011 45

arts &

Culture Oxford, where he teaches journalism and is a fellow at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at Ole Miss.

The Fall of the House of Zeus: The Rise and Ruin of America’s Most Powerful Trial Lawyer by Curtis Wilkie, 400 pages, $25.99 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780307460707 The Fall of the House of Zeus tells the story of Dickie Scruggs (BA 69, JD 76), arguably the most successful plaintiff ’s lawyer in America. Scruggs made a fortune taking on mass tort lawsuits against “Big Tobacco” and the asbestos industries. He was hailed by Newsweek as a latter-day Robin Hood and portrayed in the movie “The Insider” as a dapper aviator-lawyer. Scruggs’ legal triumphs rewarded him lavishly, and his success emboldened both his career maneuvering and his influence in Southern politics. But it came at a terrible cost, culminating in his spectacular fall, when he was convicted for conspiring to bribe a Mississippi state judge. Based on extensive interviews, transcripts and FBI recordings never made public, The Fall of the House of Zeus exposes the dark side of Southern and Washington legal games and power politics: the swirl of fixed cases, blocked investigations, judicial tampering and a zealous prosecution. Curtis Wilkie (BSJ 63) is the author of Dixie and coauthor of Arkansas Mischief. He and his wife, Nancy (BAEd 67), live in 46 Alumni Review

I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to The Blind Side and Beyond by Michael Oher (with Don Yaeger), 272 pages, $26 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9781592406128 Michael Oher (08) is the young man at the center of the true stor y depicted i n “ T h e Bl i n d Side” movie (and book) that swept up awards and accolades. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Oher had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto and into a world of opportunity. While many people are now familiar with Oher’s amazing journey, this is the first time he shares his account of his story in his own words, revealing his thoughts and feelings with details that only he knows, and offering his point of view on how anyone can achieve a better life. Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Oher talks about the goals he had for himself in order to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction and hopelessness that trapped his family for so long. He recounts poignant stories of growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity. Michael Oher is a former Ole Miss football player who currently plays for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Ever y Day by the Sun: A Memoir of the Faulkners of Mississippi by Dean Faulkner Wells, 288 pages, $25 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780307591043 In Eve r y Da y by t h e Su n , De a n Faulkner Wells (BA 58, MA 75)—niece of author William Faulkner—recounts the

compelling story of the Faulkners of Mississippi, a family whose legacy includes pioneers, noble and ignoble war veterans, three never-convicted murderers, the builder of the first railroad in North Mississippi, the founding president of a bank, an FBI agent, four pilots, a Nobel Prize-winning author and the women who shared their lives. Covering a span of years from the 1920s to 1962, the book also explores the changing culture and society of Oxford, while offering a rare glimpse of a notoriously private family and an indelible portrait of a national treasure. Wells reveals entertaining and intimate stories and anecdotes about her family, in particular her Uncle William. Wells lives in Oxford with her husband, Larry (PhD 75), and two dogs, Shakespeare and Lizzie. From Chicaza to Chickasaw: The European Invasion and the Transformation of the Mississippian World, 1540-1715 by Dr. Robbie Ethridge, 352 pages, $35.70 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780807834350 In this sweeping regional history, anthropologist Robbie Ethridge traces the metamorphosis of the Native South from first contact in 1540 by Hernando De Soto to the dawn of the 18th century, when indigenous people no longer lived in a purely Native world but rather on the edge of an expanding European empire and in a new social landscape that included a large population of Europeans and Africans. Despite the fact that thousands of Indians died or were enslaved, and virtually all Native polities were radically altered in these years, the collapse of this complex Mississippian world did not extinguish the Native peoples of the South but rather transformed them.

Using a framework that Ethridge calls the “Mississippian shatter zone” to explicate these tumultuous times, From Chicaza to Chickasaw examines the European invasion and the collapse of the pre-contact Mississippian world, and the restructuring of discrete chiefdoms into coalescent Native

societies in a colonial world. The story of one group—the Chickasaws—is closely followed through this period. Dr. Robbie Ethridge is a professor of anthropology specializing in historic Southeastern Indians, environmental anthropology and cultural anthropology at The University of Mississippi.

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

There is jusT someThing abouT #74 There is jusT someThing abouT #74

Ole Miss Rebel Michael OheR ’08 Offensive Tackle fOR The balTiMORe Ravens find OuT his ReMaRkable jOuRney fROM hOMelessness, TO The blind side, and beyOnd The insTan new yORk T TiMes besTselle R

available nOw wheReveR bOOks aRe sOld Gotham Books is a member of Penguin Group (USA) • www.penguin.com

Spring 2011 47

Travel planner 2011-12

he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips for 2011 and 2012. Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change until booking. Airfare is not included unless noted. For a brochure or more information, contact the Alumni office at 662-915-7375. You also can find the most current listing of trips and prices on the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s website at www.alumni.olemiss.edu. MEDITERRANEAN INSPIRATION CRUISE JUNE 2-13, 2011 Discover some of the Mediterranean’s most fascinating ports of call while sailing on the beautifully appointed Oceania Cruises’ Nautica. Depart from enchanting Venice, a city of weaving canals, with your first ports of call in the countries of Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. Behold the Venetian-tinged architecture of Dubrovnik, stroll the pink-paved streets of medieval Kotor, and revel in the glorious scenery of Corfu. Departing Greece, sail along the beloved and scenic west coast of Italy, stopping in some famous ports of call, including the ancient Sicilian towns of Taormina, Amalfi and Positano with their charming harbors and brightly colored fishing boats, and Florence with Brunelleschi’s extraordinary Duomo and its world-renowned artwork. Admire the picturesque Italian towns of Cinque Terre before your voyage makes a stop in glamorous Monte Carlo, then concludes in legendary Rome via Civitavecchia.—From $7,398 CRUISING THE BALTIC SEA AND THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS JUNE 9-20, 2011 Experience the cultural rebirth of the Baltic States and the magnificent imperial riches of St. Petersburg while cruising for 10 nights under the spectacular “White Nights of Summer” aboard the exclusively 48 Alumni Review

chartered, deluxe M.S. Le Boreal. By special arrangement, enjoy enriching speeches by former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and former president of Poland Lech Walesa. Sail across the Baltic Sea from cosmopolitan Stockholm, Sweden, to the magnificent fjords of Norway, with shore excursions in Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, Gdan’sk and Copenhagen. A Stockholm pre-cruise option and Bergen post-cruise option are offered.—From $7,295 **This program is now sold out. Please be advised that additional booking requests will be on a priority wait-list basis.

Glacier Express Bridge

GREAT JOURNEY THROUGH EUROPE JUNE 11-21, 2011 Cruise along the fabled Rhine River aboard a deluxe vessel of the Amadeus Premium Fleet, ride aboard three legendary railways, and visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites on this unique 11-day journey. Wind through Holland, Germany and France: Walk the streets of medieval Heidelberg, stand before the twin spires of Cologne Cathedral, and enjoy a refreshing glass of Riesling in Strasbourg. Travel the Swiss countryside in the shadow of the Matterhorn, cross the mountainous backbone of Switzerland aboard the Gornergrat

Bahn and the Glacier Express, stroll along Lucerne’s covered bridges, and take in panoramic Alpine vistas from Mount Pilatus. An Amsterdam pre-program option is offered. —From $3,595 ITALY–TUSCANY, CORTONA AND FLORENCE JUNE 28-JULY 7, 2011 From the innovations of the Etruscans to the enlightenment of the Renaissance, Tuscany is a region steeped in history and human achievement. Let the charming village of Cortona be your base as you travel through the surrounding Tuscan hill country, admiring the beauty of the land. In Siena, navigate narrow cobblestone streets lined with Gothic buildings, visit the magnificent Duomo, and stroll the Piazza del Campo, one of the loveliest squares in Italy. In the Umbria region, explore medieval Assisi, home to the exquisite Basilica of St. Francis, and Perugia, an ancient Etruscan city-state. Then, journey to tiny Montepulciano, set in the heart of Chianti country, and the delightful town of Pienza. Conclude with two nights in Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, and experience its brilliant artistic and architectural heritage.—From $2,795 CRUISING ALASKA’S GLACIERS AND THE INSIDE PASSAGE JULY 7-14, 2011 Join this magnificent cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia, through the pristine Inside Passage, to Seward, Alaska, aboard the six-star, all-suite M.V. Silver Shadow of the Silversea fleet, voted “World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line 2008” by Travel + Leisure. Fly free* from one of 22 gateways, and enjoy complimentary beverages throughout the cruise, gourmet dining, included onboard gratuities and personal butler service. Pass towering mountains, and watch for whales, sea lions and eagles. See Sawyer and Hubbard glaciers, and call at the historic towns of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka. Join the two-night Vancouver pre-cruise option and/or the extraordinary five-night Denali National Park and Fairbanks post-cruise option. *Subject to change and availability.—From $8,895, including airfare from 22 cities DANUBE RIVER AND THE CULTURAL TREASURES OF CENTRAL EUROPE JULY 14-27, 2011 This exclusive 14-day journey through the heart of Central Europe, once the

Tuscany

glorious realm of Habsburg emperors, features visits to five UNESCO World Heritage sites on your way from Passau to Budapest, Prague and Kraków. In Passau, embark a deluxe vessel of the prestigious Amadeus Premium Fleet, and cruise the Danube River, stopping in Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Spitz, Vienna; and Melk, Austria. This comprehensive itinerary includes time in the medieval gems of Prague (three nights), Ceský Krumlov and Kraków (two nights), as well as a scenic rail journey across the Czech Republic and into Poland. A two-night Munich pre-program and a two-night Warsaw post-program are available.—From $3,495 ALASKAN ADVENTURES AUG. 24-31, 2011 Set sail on the elegant Oceania Cruises’ Regatta to some of Alaska’s most captivating attractions. This deluxe vessel comes complete with upscale amenities, exceptionally attentive service, lavish staterooms and the finest cuisine at sea. Explore some of the last frontier’s most stunning sights, and revel in the rugged

splendor of an unspoiled land as you visit the historic towns of Wrangell, Skagway, Kodiak, Sitka and Ketchikan, and savor the majestic beauty of ancient glaciers, icy-blue fjords, soaring granite cliffs and unique wildlife. Let Alaska’s unrivaled landscapes enchant you.—From $3,999 CHICAGO–AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE AUG. 30-SEPT. 4, 2011 Once a small settlement and a military base, today Chicago is one of the world’s leading cities in business and the arts. From the fashionable department stores of Michigan Avenue to the impressive exhibits at world-renowned museums, from the history at Jackson Park to the dazzling modern architecture at Millennium Park, Chicago has something for everyone. Planned excursions include visits to the famed Art Institute to view its stunning works and Hyde Park to see the impressive architecture of the University of Chicago and the home of President Barack Obama. An exclusive series of discussions with Chicago insiders highlights the city’s famous politics, architecture, art and living in Chicago today. Best of all, ample Spring 2011 49

Santorini

leisure time gives you the freedom to explore other sites at your own pace from your city-center hotel.—From $1,995 JOURNEY FROM PROVENCE TO THE LIGURIAN SEA SEPT. 13-24, 2011 Join us for a unique journey that combines a delightful sojourn in Provence with a spectacular cruise on the four-star tall ship S.Y. Star Flyer along the French and Italian Riviera. Spend three nights in deluxe accommodations in Avignon; see Provence’s inspiring landscapes, palaces, monuments and ruins; walk in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh; and enjoy specially arranged wine tastings. From Cannes, sail to the seldomvisited islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Giglio and on to the stunning coast of the Italian and French Riviera. During the cruise, choose from a program of attractively priced shore excursions, such as a visit to Florence to marvel at Michelangelo’s iconic David.—From $3,995 ISLAND LIFE IN ANCIENT GREECE AND TURKEY SEPT. 19-27, 2011 Cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. L’Austral, a state-of-the-art 50 Alumni Review

vessel launching in 2011, from the mythical relics of Athens, Delos and Troy, across the glistening waters of the Aegean, to the bustling bazaars and sparkling mosques of Istanbul. Visit Greece’s history-rich islands Pátmos, Rhodes, Delos and Santorini. Along Turkey’s enchanting coast, stroll the marble-paved boulevards of Greco-Roman Ephesus, and visit the site of fabled Troy. Extend your journey with a pre-cruise option in Athens and a post-cruise option in Istanbul or Cappadocia.—From $3,295 CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND, FALL FOLIAGE-OCEANA CRUISES (NEW YORK TO MONTREAL) SEPT. 30-OCT. 12, 2011 Experience the vibrant fall colors of New England and Canada on the beautifully appointed Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. Lose yourself at sea in the comfort and luxuries of fine cuisine, upscale amenities, staff devoted to your every need and lavishly appointed staterooms. Visit historic cities and picturesque ports in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec. This memorable cruise offers colorful landscapes, historic attractions and renowned landmarks.—From $3,799

FRENCH ALPS AND PROVENCE OCT. 20-29, 2011 Experience the joie de vivre in provincial France in the Rhône River valley on this unique 10-day journey from the tranquil beauty of the French Alps through the timeless allure of Burgundy and Provence. Enjoy deluxe lakeside accommodations for three nights in charming Annecy, the gem of the French Alps, and view snowcapped Mont Blanc. Cruise for five nights aboard the intimate M.S. Rembrandt past rolling hills and lush family-owned vineyards. Enjoy a private wine tasting in a medieval castle; savor the world-renowned cuisine of Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France; visit medieval Avignon; and explore ancient Arles. Join the exclusive two-night Aix-en-Provence post-program option.—From $3,595 CRADLE OF HISTORY–OCEANIA CRUISES– ISTANBUL TO ATHENS (PIRAEUS) NOV. 1-14, 2011 Sail through thousands of years of history as you cruise the Mediterranean on Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Marina. Lose yourself at sea in the comfort and luxuries of fine cuisine, upscale amenities and lavishly appointed staterooms. Immerse yourself in the ancient legends, traditions

and cultures of Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, each destination with a different story to tell. From pyramids to palaces, discover the cradle of history.— From $4,299, including airfare ROME–AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE NOV. 7-15, 2011 Travel back in time with a walk through the Coliseum and Roman Forum, marvel at the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, and examine the amazing network of the catacombs. Travel to Orvieto for a cooking class and the chance to explore this vibrant hill town. Delve into unexpected Rome with a special visit to Studio Cassio, which has restored ancient mosaics for more than 100 years. In addition, travel to the ancient port of Ostia to view its impressive shrines and temples, all remarkably well-preserved. A unique program of planned excursions and free time, plus centrally located accommodations for a seven-night stay, gives you the opportunity to discover the Eternal City’s treasure trove of must-see sights at a relaxed pace.—From $2,495 TAHITIAN JEWELS JAN. 5-17, 2012 Join us for 11 nights aboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta sailing through the Tuamotu Archipelago, with historic and scenic ports of call including the islands of Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Nuku Hiva and others. On board enjoy a large heated pool, three whirlpool spas and a state-of-the-art fitness center, a private

welcome reception, a complimentary bottle of wine and free round-trip airfare from select Oceania Cruises cities.—From $2,799, including airfare AROUND THE WORLD BY PRIVATE JET Jan. 7-29, 2012 and Jan. 29-Feb. 20, 2012 Climb the terraced steps, and touch the seamless walls of the ancient Inca citadel Machu Picchu. Feel the protective gaze of the Easter Island moai statues. Bask in the radiant beauty of lush tropical Samoa. Immerse yourself in the underwater splendor of the Great Barrier Reef. Welcome

the sun among Angkor Wat’s astoundingly beautiful temples, and watch it set amid Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania. Stand enthralled before the majesty of the Taj Mahal. Come face-toface with the mysterious Sphinx in the company of the ancient Pyramids. Explore the colorful souks and treasures of Berber kings in the celebrated medina of Fez. To learn more about this extraordinary expedition or to make a reservation, please call our tour operator, TCS & Starquest Expeditions, at 800-454-4149 or 206254-0228. —From $64,950 AR

Bora Bora

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Spring 2011 51

News alumni

Leading the Way

NEW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN HELPING COMMUNITIES L e o n C o ll i n s ( B B A 8 2 ) serves as the special assistant to the president and CEO of MINACT Inc. He spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard. He commanded the 155th Brigade Combat Team from Mississippi and mobilized the brigade to the Iraqi theater of operations in 2005â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the largest mobilization of a Mississippi military force since World War II. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in Iraq, making him the first African American to achieve the rank of general officer in the history of the Mississippi National Guard. He retired from the Army in 2007 and lives in Madison with his wife, Debra. They have two sons, William and Benjamin. T. Michael Glenn (BBA 77) is

executive vice president of market development and corporate communications for FedEx Corp. He serves as president and chief executive officer of FedEx Services and is on the board of directors of Pentair, Inc., Renasant Bank, Autism Speaks and the United Way of the Mid-South. He is also chairman of the board of Madonna Learning Center, a school for special-needs children. He lives in Memphis with his wife, Donna Hatley Glenn, and they have three children: Hatley, Tucker and Katherine. Hardy P. Graham (BA 64, MA

65) is president and chairman of the Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Co. He also is a partner in Union City (Tenn.) Coca-Cola and is a former Mississippi Bottler of the Year and president of the Mississippi Soft Drink Association. He is a co-owner of Bonita Properties of Meridian, a commercial real estate development company. He also has served as a board member of The University of Mississippi Foundation. Graham is a member 52 Alumni Review

of St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal Church and is the father of two children, Hardy Jr. (88) and Lee Graham Morphis. Louis Jackson Jr. (BBA 83) is a

senior client manager analyst for Bank of America in Memphis, Tenn. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the Ole Miss football team, M-Club, and Lambda Sigma honorary, and treasurer of the Eta Zeta chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He is active with Jack and Jill of America (Memphis chapter) and Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven. He and his wife, Catresa, have two children, Louis III and Arina Victoria. Andy Malmo (BBA 78) is pres-

ident and CEO of Flint Hydraulics, Inc. in Memphis, Tenn. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and was selected as a member of Order of Omega. He serves on the Ole Miss Sigma Nu House Corp. board of directors. He is past president of the Rebel Club of Memphis and past member of the Ole Miss Business School Advisory Council. He is a member of the Holy Communion Episcopal Church in Memphis. He and his wife, Nancy, have two children, Donnie (BAccy 10) and Kirk. Holt McMullan (BBA 73) is

the Hattiesburg president of Trustmark National Bank. He is on the Ole Miss Banking and Finance Advisory Council, the advisory board of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the board of the Pine Burr Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is past president of the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association, the Area Development Partnership and past board member of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. He and his wife, Lynn, are active members of the Trinity Episcopal Church. They have two children, Arlean (BS 99) and Will, and three grandsons.

Romaro Miller (BA 03) of

Olive Branch is a sales representative for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in East Hanover, N.J. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the football team and later played with the Minnesota Vikings. After a two-year stop in the Canadian Football League, Miller settled down in DeSoto County. He is a member of the Rebel Club of Memphis and is on the board of the DeSoto County Rebel Club. He is active in the local community through numerous social clubs. He also is a member of Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Helen Graeber Overstreet

(BBA 81) is a retired accountant and real estate broker. In 1982, she helped establish Kappa Alpha Theta at Ole Miss, as she had been a member at Southern Methodist University. She is married to Mike Overstreet (BBA 70) and has two children, Rob and Rebecca Cornelius. She is a member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Oxford. Joe Roberts (BBA 79, JD

82) is a partner in the law firm of Pittman Germany Roberts & Welsh, LLP in Jackson. While at Ole Miss, he was a member and officer of Kappa Alpha Order. Roberts has served as chairman of the Lamar Order and is a member of the Vaught and Lyceum societies. He is a communicant at St. James Episcopal Church. He and his wife, Joanna (BBA 79), reside in Jackson. They have three children, John (BA 07), Jason (BA 09) and Jennifer, who will graduate from Ole Miss in 2011. Brian Sanderson (BBA 95,

JD 98) is a partner with the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC in Biloxi. Sanderson received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Ole Miss in 2008 and served

as president of the Mississippi Bar, Young Lawyers Division in 2007. Sanderson is the 2011 co-chair of the United Way of South Mississippi Capital Campaign and on the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Business Council. He and his wife, the former Marie Thomas, live in Ocean Springs and are parishioners of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Candie Simmons (BBA 02) is

a regional marketing director for Regions Financial Corp. in Jackson. She is active in a number of civic and community organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., whom she represented in the annual Cure Sickle Cell Walk/Run, the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women. She has served on the board of directors of former New Orleans Saints star Deuce McAllister’s Catch 22 Foundation, the Central Mississippi Ole Miss Club, and

serves on the Mississippi Council on Economic Education and is chair of the Jackson State University Entrepreneurship Advisory Council. Suzan B. Thames (BA 68)

serves as co-chair of the Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Research Center at The University of Mississippi Medical Center. She practiced audiology for 34 years in the Jackson Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. She has participated on the advisory panel for the Mississippi Children’s Cancer Clinic Building Committee and as the chair of Friends of Children’s Hospital board of directors at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children. A member of the UM Foundation board of directors, she is married to Tommy Thames. They have three daughters and five grandchildren. She is a member of Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson.

Marty Tucker (BS 80, MD

84) is a partner with Jackson Healthcare for Women. He has been in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology and maternal/fetal medicine for more than 20 years. He has served in numerous capacities with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at the state, regional and national levels. He is a past chair of the Governor’s Infant Mortality Task Force, a past president of the UMMC Medical Alumni Chapter, and is a member of the board of trustees at Jackson Academy. He and his wife, Robin (BSN 83), reside in Jackson and have four children: Ann Robin, Mary Grace, Clara Beth and Sarah Martin. J o dy Va r n e r (BAccy 85, MAccy 86, JD 88) is a partner in the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower and Hewes, PLLC in Jackson. While at Ole Miss, he was a member

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of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He is chairman of the board of trustees of Jackson Academy, was president of the Country Club of Jackson and served a three-year term on the Ole Miss Alumni Association board of directors. He attends Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson. Varner and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Ashley and Will. Mary Ellen Bebin Warner (BSN 79) is a criti-

cal-care nurse. She held positions at UMMC as manager of the surgical ICU and ICU nurse educator. She taught in the Arkansas State School of Nursing. She has served as president of the Jonesboro Heart Guild, the American Heart AssociationJonesboro Chapter, the Jonesboro Garden Club (charter member), Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro, ASU Museum board, and the Arkansas State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She and her husband, Bob (BA 79, MD 83), volunteer at the Jonesboro Church Health Center. They are members of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. AR

All-alumni attorneys from left: Phillip Sykes (JD 95), Julie Chaffin (BA 80, JD 84), Daniel Mulholland (BA 82, JD 85), Tom Tardy (JD 73), Fred Krutz (BA 72, JD 77), Trey Watkins (BA 98, JD 01), W.G. Watkins (BA 76, JD 78), Steve Hendrix (BAccy 83, MAccy 84, JD 86), Tanya Ellis (BA 01), Ren Wilkes (JD 88), and Marcy Croft (JD 98).

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Class Notes ’60s

Gerald W. Chatham Sr. (BPA 66) has taken office as a circuit court judge in Mississippi’s 17th Judicial District. Marianna Black Habisreutinger (BAEd 63) was named the 2011 South Carolina Mother of the Year. Habisreutinger is the third woman from Spartanburg to receive the honor since it was established in the state in 1942. Robert A. Herring III (BA 69) was promoted to professor of management in the School of Business and Economics at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.

’70s

Fred Krutz (BA 72, JD 77) of Forman, Perry, Watkins, Krutz & Tardy LLP was presented with the 2010 Outstanding Organization Award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal

Reform for his work with the firm in uncovering fraud and abuse in asbestos and silica litigation.

She also was elected to a three-year term on the Mississippi Board of Bar Commissioners.

Keith McKey (BBA 73) established the Accountancy M-Club Scholarship Fund to benefit accountancy students at The University of Mississippi who have a parent or grandparent who is or was a member of the M-Club.

Mark Byrne (BA 81) represented the Central Washington Fish Advisory Group at the fall 2010 meeting of the National Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in Fairhope, Ala.

Vivian Dean Taylor (BS 72) was honored by both the Wayne County Baptist Association and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States Auxiliary for her service to both groups. She has served the Wayne County Baptist Association as association secretary/ministry assistant for 30 years, as well as serving as president of the EANGUS Auxiliary for the past two years.

’80s

Cheryn Netz Baker (BA 88) joined the Legal Department of Hancock Bank in Gulfport as corporate counsel.

Robert Livingston (BAccy 85, MAccy 86) was named vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort in Phoenix, Ariz. Mary Lucy Sennett (EdD 81) was named the MSED science specialization coordinator for the Richard W. Riley College of Education & Leadership at Walden University in Minnesota. John Stroud (BSPHE 82, MEd 86) led the New Albany High School girl’s basketball team into the USA Today Top 25 and most recently to the 4A championship in March.

Centennial Celebration

JOURNALISM PLANS student newspaper’s 100TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

he Meek School of Journalism and New Media will commemorate the 100th anniversary of The Daily Mississippian, the student newspaper of The University of Mississippi, with a slate full of events throughout the weekend of June 17-18, 2011. “The student newspaper has been an important part of university life for a century,” says Charlie Mitchell (JD 86), assistant dean of the School of Journalism. Founded in 1911 as The Mississippian, the paper has had a storied history, including its coverage of the 1962 admission of James Meredith (BA 63) and, more recently, the 2008 presidential debate. The paper also has been consistently named by The Princeton Review as one of the best collegiate newspapers in the country. “Through the decades, The Daily Mississippian has been known for its excellence in reporting, in good times and bad,” Mitchell says. While the newspaper is intended to be the focus of the event, Mitchell notes that Ole Miss’s student media operation has expanded beyond just the paper. “It is our hope that many who chose to participate through the years will return for fellowship and to ‘catch up’ with their classmates’ activities,” he says. Mitchell says that the event is not intended to be exclusive to journalism alumni, just as student media at Ole Miss are 56 Alumni Review

not limited to journalism majors. “When Mississippian and student media alumni gather, they will meet other alumni who have pursued many different careers and served their community, state and the world with great distinction,” says Will Norton, dean of the School of Journalism. “This event will increase respect for the Student Media Center, reinvigorate journalism and media education, and inspire each of us to be good stewards of our remaining days.” Events planned for the weekend are focused around the chance for alumni to meet and talk about their experiences working in student media. Events include a walking history of DM facilities, a reception and dinner hosted by Norton, a catfish cookout, a video presentation on the history of student media, panel discussions on the future of journalism and the Delta Project, and entertainment throughout the weekend. In addition, a special commemorative edition of The Daily Mississippian will be produced. “This will be a time to celebrate,” Norton says. “It will be a time to celebrate the centennial of a student newspaper [and], more importantly, the lives of those who made the newspaper a major part of the community we call Ole Miss.” For more information, contact Julian Gilner (BA 04, MA 07) in the Alumni Association office at 662-915-1868 or julian@olemiss.edu or Charlie Mitchell at cdmitch1@ olemiss.edu. —Brandon Irvine

WATERFRONT Dr. James D. Ward (BA 80) was elected to the National Council of the American Society for Public Administration. Trent Watts (BA 87) published One Homogeneous People: Narratives of White Southern Identity, 1890-1920. He is associate professor of American studies at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

’90s

Dennis Craven (BAccy 93) joined Chatham Lodging Trust as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Joey Grisham (BA 97) was hired by Peachtree City, Ga., to serve as that city’s first full-time economic development coordinator. William Lee Hon (JD 90) is president-elect of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. Christopher J. Latimer (BA 95) of the Columbus office of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A., was named a shareholder of the firm. Stuart Maxey (BAccy 97, MAccy 99) was named a partner with Maynard, Cooper & Gale in Birmingham, Ala. Debra Patterson Northart (PhD 97) has served as director of operations at Merch Engines/Deluxe Corp. since August 2010. Peter O. Watts (BA 99) of Jordan Schrader Ramis PC, Attorneys at Law, was elected to the Oregon Law Foundation board of directors for a four-year term. Quentin Whitwell (BA 95, JD 98) was elected to the Jackson City Council for Ward

1, winning a special election in February with 89 percent of the vote. Cory Wilson (BBA 92) joined the Willoughby Law Group and Fidelis Policy Group, LLC.

’00s

C. Hays Burchfield (BA 04, JD 10) opened a law office in Eupora. David Lenoir Carney (BBA 01, JD 04) was elected as secretary/treasurer of the Madison County Bar Association.

Capt. Andrew Higgins (MA 07) returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom and is a Battalion Adjutant at Fort Bliss, Texas. Jennifer Kimble (JD 05) of Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, LLC, was named co-chair of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Scholarship Committee for 2011 and co-social chair of the association’s Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section.

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Jordan Russell (BA 09) joined U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee’s staff as constituent services liaison. Russell manages the mail program of Nunnelee’s Washington office and provides responses to all incoming constituent mail. Ryan Trimm (BA 02) was nominated for Best New Chef in Food and Wine Magazine. He is owner/head chef at Sweet Grass in Memphis, Tenn. Julie Ward (BA 08) was invited to participate in the 2011 Leadership UAB Program, which aims to enhance the understanding of its members regarding the vision and mission of The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, duespaying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. WEDDINGS Kata Rose Ainsworth and Lee Andrew Taggart (BA 08), Feb. 19, 2011.

Emerson Belle, daughter of Allison Knestrick Dossett and William Matthew Dossett (BAccy 01, MTax 02), Nov. 22, 2010.

Quinnyn Leigh Grace (BA 98) and Brian E. Grainger, Nov. 6, 2010.

William Craig III, son of Amy Sojourner Eversole and William Craig Eversole Jr. (BBA 99), Feb. 8, 2011.

Margaret Louise Harbison (BS 10) and John Turner Goggans Jr. (BBA 09), July 10, 2010. Terry McAlister (BAEd 08) and Jeremy Lee Boler (BAEd 05), Nov. 13, 2010. Nancy Rebecca Williams (BSME 06) and Troy Edward Zeidman, Aug. 28, 2010. BIRTHS John Kettig, son of Laura Kettig Beasley (BAEd 03) and Kenneth Taylor Beasley, Sept. 20, 2010. Charles David, son of Susan Russel Dickinson (BAEd 04) and Anthony Dickinson, Aug. 31, 2010.

Cooper Michael, son of Jamie Tingle Franklin (BS 07) and Michael Sloan Franklin (BAEd 07), Sept. 8, 2010. Longstreet Minor, son of Elizabeth Minor Gates (BSW 00, JD 05) and Hugh William Gates IV (BBA 04, BA 04), Nov. 3, 2010. Hamilton Payne, son of Dana Dale Jones (MD 01) and Henry Lee Jones (BSME 95), Feb. 11, 2011. Brandon Lee, son of Leigh Frisbee Lenz (BSFCS 00) and Scott Richard Lenz, July 12, 2010.

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Spring 2011 57

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Patton Wallace, son of Stacy Chamblee Meek (BA 93, BAEd 96) and Glenn Randal Meek (BSChE 92), Nov. 3, 2010.

Gaines Lassabe Cooke (BA 40, MedCert 41) of Grenada, Dec. 12, 2010

Jacob Lance, son of Rachel Phelps and Gregory Lance Phelps (BSChE 04), Nov. 29, 2010.

Warner Settle Currie (40) of Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 28, 2010

Barron Waller, son of Katherine Barron Rosson (BA 03, MA 05) and Brett Waller Rosson, Aug. 10, 2010. Samuel Ming, son of Samantha Tran Woo and Mack Davison Woo (PharmD 98, MD 05), Oct. 10, 2010.

Sammy Herrington Crawford (BA 48) of Mount Olive, Dec. 23, 2010 Claire Lambert Damron (BA 48) of Scottsdale, Ariz., April 6, 2010 Margaret McWilliams Dickson (BA 43) of Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 11, 2011 Joyce Benson Fedric (BA 49) of Clarksdale, Dec. 29, 2010 Samuel William Fuller Sr. (BA 40, LLB 46) of Tallahassee, Fla., Feb. 14, 2011 Frances Clark Graeber (BAEd 41) of Marks, Dec. 4, 2010

IN MEMORIAM 1930s Helen Battaile Jaubert (BA 36) of Lafayette, La., Dec. 22, 2010 Frank Pinson Jones (37) of Drew, Nov. 29, 2010 Eleanor Ham Roessler (38) of Clarksdale, Nov. 29, 2010 William McCants Stallworth Jr. (BSC 34) of Meridian, Oct. 24, 2010 1940s Sara Swanson Belcher (MA 48) of Tallahassee, Fla., July 9, 2010 Reuben W. Boydstun Jr. (LLB 49) of Vicksburg, Nov. 30, 2010 James Murray Brock Sr. (BA 41, MedCert 42) of McComb, Feb. 4, 2011 Robert Joseph Francis Bucci (BA 48, MedCert 50, BS 50) of Canyon Lake, Texas, Jan. 16, 2011 Van Robinson Burnham Jr. (BS 41, MedCert 42) of Clarksdale, Dec. 4, 2010 Frederick Thomas Carney (JD 48) of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 19, 2010

Patricia Hendon Hawkins (48) of Tunica, Dec. 17, 2010 Martha Dean Hederman (BSC 42) of Jackson, Jan. 23, 2011 Jean Evans Hoffman (43) of Madison, Feb. 10, 2011 Ronald Clarence Keel (BBA 48) of Alabaster, Ala., Dec. 23, 2010 Rosebud Stone Leatherbury (BAEd 44) of Pascagoula, Nov. 30, 2010 Robert M. Logan (BA 40) of Lake, Jan. 25, 2011 Raiford Newell Long (BBA 48) of Ripley, Dec. 18, 2010 Fredna Batson Madden (BAEd 49) of Wiggins, Jan. 14, 2011 Floyd Adren McCoy Jr. (BA 49) of Crystal Springs, Dec. 16, 2010 Eleanor Myers McLean (BA 40) of Bossier City, La., Dec. 16, 2010 Robert Norwood McNutt (LLB 48) of Tupelo, Dec. 17, 2010 Linwood Graham Miller (44) of Holly Springs, Jan. 21, 2011 Mercedes Scully Moseley (47) of Lexington, S.C., Feb. 11, 2011

GOAL: 24,000 ACTIVE MEMBERS Only you can help your Ole Miss Alumni Association reach this important milestone! Make your Alumni Association the strongest in the SEC and the nation by renewing your alumni membership each year and encouraging classmates, friends, neighbors, fans and Ole Miss supporters to also join and remain active. Even fans who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t graduate from Ole Miss can join as Associate Members with full benefits. Single Membership __$40 Annual __$800 Life __$850 Life Plan ($170 x 5 years) Joint Memberships __$50 Annual __$995 Life __$1,050 Life Plan ($210 x 5 years) 58 Alumni Review

Last Name: ________________________First:_______________________ Middle Name: __________________Maiden Name: ___________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ City, State, Zip, Country: ________________________________________ E-mail: ________________________Phone:_________________________ Window Decal Preference: Inside _____

Outside _____

Go online to renew your membership and update your contact information at <www.olemissalumni.com> or fill out this form and mail to Membership, Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677. Phone 662-915-7375 CODE: REV

FroMThe GuysWho BroughtYou City Groceryand Bouré Paul Nash Nunnery Sr. (LLB 48) of Madison, Jan. 19, 2011 Joyce Litton Phillips (BSC 45) of Saltillo, Nov. 18, 2010 James Edwin Pollard (BBA 49) of Point Clear, Ala., Dec. 12, 2010 William Bryant Ridgway (BA 40) of Madison, Dec. 13, 2010 Edward Burke Roberts Jr. (BA 49) of Latta, S.C., Dec. 1, 2010 Ida Sue Barner Robinson (45) of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 5, 2010 Harvey Turner Ross (BA 41, LLB 46) of Clarksdale, Dec. 22, 2010 Josephine Stratton Schneider (49) of Jackson, Dec. 6, 2010 Iris Kleban Schwartz (BA 41) of Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 22, 2011 Annie Childress Sharbrough (48) of Holly Bluff, Jan. 22, 2011 Hugh E. Smith Sr. (46) of Orangeburg, S.C., Nov. 19, 2010 Julia Murray Stribling (47) of Rogers, Ark., Feb. 15, 2011 Joseph K. Turner Jr. (BSC 42) of Philadelphia, Feb. 13, 2011 Betty Creekmore Walker (BA 48) of Madison, Dec. 29, 2010 Camille Summers Wilkinson (BA 40) of Ridgeland, Feb. 6, 2011 Lee Smith Williams (48) of Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 31, 2011

Robert Lacey Crook (53) of Florence, Jan. 26, 2011 John Waldron Curran (BSGE 53, MS 63) of Abingdon, Va., Nov. 10, 2010 Thomas Watkins Elliott (BSCvE 56) of Oxford, Jan. 21, 2011 James Leonce Farragut Sr. (BA 55) of Pascagoula, Jan. 24, 2011 Thomas Clarke Graves III (BBA 51, MBA 53) of Grapevine, Texas, Jan. 28, 2011 Jack Edwin Green (MEd 50) of Bluff City, Tenn., Dec. 27, 2010 Lee Augustus Grimmig (BBA 58) of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 31, 2010 William Bolivar Hutto Jr. (BSPh 53) of Bay Springs, Oct. 6, 2010 Warren Dean Jenkins (BSHPE 59) of Catlett, Va., Nov. 4, 2010 Charley Mac Jones (52) of Madison, Feb. 9, 2011 Ann Lipsey Kane (MA 53) of Hewitt, Texas, March 18, 2010 Frank A. Lagrone (BBA 55) of Baton Rouge, La., March 18, 2010 Daniel D. Lanshe (BSHPE 51) of Hampton, Va., May 3, 2010 Frances Fields Leake (BA 51) of New Orleans, La., Sept. 17, 2010 David Beekly Lyon (BA 52) of Roswell, Ga., March 12, 2010

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C. Patrick Massey (BBA 53) of Mountain Brook, Ala., Sept. 17, 2010 Anne Gee McGee (BA 58) of Greenville, Dec. 27, 2010

1950s John Adams Aldridge (50) of Madison, Feb. 14, 2011

William Henry McGee (52) of Louisville, Dec. 21, 2010

Richard Charles Anderson Sr. (MS 52) of Huntsville, Ala., Sept. 30, 2010

Frances Lee McGinnis (MEd 51) of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 25, 2010

William Estes Bailey (MBA 55) of Monroeville, Ala., March 18, 2010

Don William Moore (BAEd 57) of Water Valley, Nov. 17, 2010

Jack Thomas Brett (BA 50) of Columbus, Feb. 13, 2011

John Paul Moore (BBA 57, LLB 59) of Starkville, Jan. 28, 2011

C. Patrick Brogan (BSCvE 55) of Highlands, N.C., Oct. 4, 2010

Dan Stewart Murrell (BA 56, JD 68) of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 5, 2010

Fred Marshall Bush Jr. (LLB 50) of Tupelo, Jan. 26, 2011

Adolphus P. Nance (BAEd 58) of Ripley, Nov. 30, 2010

Robert Wilburn Canzoneri (MA 51) of Westerville, Ohio, Dec. 4, 2010

Carlos Ray Nanney (MBEd 57) of Fulton, Feb. 10, 2011

William O. Carter Jr. (LLB 50) of Jackson, Jan. 30, 2011

Eugenia Franks Perkins (BAEd 55) of Senatobia, Dec. 4, 2010

Barbara Riley Cosentino (BSPh 58) of Sarasota, Fla., Nov. 20, 2010

Homer Hayes Powell (BSPh 56) of Mount Olive, Jan. 1, 2011

William Luther Cox Jr. (MedCert 53) of Henderson, Nev., Oct. 26, 2010

Keith Tanner Reeves (BAEd 57) of Stanton, Tenn., Dec. 18, 2010

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Club Spotlight: Atlanta Ole Miss Club

s the sole Ole Miss alumni club in the state of Georgia, the Atlanta Ole Miss Club serves as a de facto club for the entire state. Headquartered in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Southeast, the club enjoys a large and active group of participants. In 2009, members of the Atlanta Ole Miss Club provided the springboard to establish an annual meeting for not only Ole Miss alumni but also for native Mississippians living in the area. Thus was born the now-annual Mississippi in the Park event. The third incarnation is set to take place at the Four Grill Pavilion of Atlanta’s Chastain Park on Saturday, June 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The locale is the same as the previous events, but the picnic has grown from its beginnings. “We expected about 200 [people] the first year and ended up with 400,” says Camille Yahm (BA 60), who helped spearhead the creation of the picnic and serves as its publicity director. The following year, more than 500 people attended. Yahm expects an even larger crowd for round three, which again follows the theme of “catfish and blues.” Representatives from several colleges and universities

in Mississippi will be on hand. Sponsors play a major role in the success of the picnic. Coca-Cola provides important funding as well as free drinks. Catfish is provided by Country Select, the same group that supplies similar picnics in New York and Washington, D.C. In addition to catfish, the picnic has a distinctly Mississippi flavor with sweet tea from McAlister’s Deli and caramel cakes from Sugaree’s Bakery in New Albany. Each of these companies serves as a sponsor, along with Harrah’s Casino and others. Sponsorship packages range from a $100 “Honorary” sponsorship to the $5,000 “High Cotton” sponsorship level. With each passing year, the picnic, which is now run by the newly created Mississippi Society of Georgia, is fine-tuned. “The first year, we only had two months [to plan],” Yahm says. “We started it in June and had the event in August. It was very hot, but we had to deal with what was available at Chastain Park.” Now, the group has moved the picnic back to the more temperate June date and kept it at Chastain. “It’s one of the biggest parks but also one of the most accessible parks. It’s

Last year, more than 500 people showed up for the ‘Mississippi in the Park’ event. 60 Alumni Review

quite a spectacular event on this lovely, tree-shaded area,” says Yahm, noting that ample parking is available. Blues musicians perform live during the event. Attendees also are able to participate in raffles, auctions and other special activities, plus purchase commemorative T-shirts. Every Mississippi Picnic in Atlanta features a new T-shirt design. Past picnics have featured raffle items from sports figures; Yahm notes a football signed by Archie Manning and a baseball autographed by her high school classmate Jake Gibbs as particularly successful examples. This year, the group hopes to highlight Mississippi writers. In addition to organizing the picnic, the group has worked hard in recent years to obtain an Ole Miss affinity Georgia state license plate and succeeded— the plate is now available. Each year, it also holds numerous events to help provide scholarship money for Ole Miss students. For more information about the picnic and the Atlanta Ole Miss Club, visit the Mississippi Society of Georgia’s website at www.mssocietyofga. org/ and the Atlanta Ole Miss Club page at www.atlantaolemissclub.com. AR

Pete Holden Rhymes (BA 51, MedCert 54) of Santa Fe, N.M., Jan. 19, 2010 William Eugene Riley Jr. (BBA 56) of Batesville, Feb. 1, 2011 Juliette Carlisle Robinson (BSC 51) of Indianola, Dec. 19, 2010 Rebecca Ruth Johnson Sargent (56) of Jackson, Dec. 11, 2010 Jack Walton Thrift (BBA 56, MBA 57) of Oxford, Jan. 23, 2011 Joseph Wayne Walker (LLB 50) of Mendenhall, Feb. 12, 2011 Rebecca Grisham Weaver (MA 54) of Tullahoma, Tenn., Nov. 16, 2010 Marvin Ross White (MEd 55) of Clinton, Dec. 24, 2010 Sallye Kersh Windham (58) of Houston, Texas, Jan. 16, 2011 Joe E. Woodward (58) of Germantown, Tenn., Feb. 4, 2011

Mary Jim Cunningham (BAEd 63, MEd 68, AMEd 68) of Mansfield, Ohio, Dec. 7, 2010 William Raymond Fowle III (BSChE 63) of Louisville, Ky., May 20, 2010 Charles W. Gullett (BSHPE 60) of Booneville, Nov. 25, 2010 Harriet Rankin Hunter (MA 67) of Brentwood, Tenn., Nov. 11, 2010 Marjorie Haggart Jacks (MEd 61) of Cleveland, Nov. 19, 2010 Patricia Paul Jones (BA 68) of Brandon, Feb. 9, 2011 Jack Brown Jordan (BBA 65) of Flowood, Dec. 6, 2010 John Allen King (MA 64) of Clarkton, Mo., July 4, 2010 Doris Parks Layne (MS 68) of Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 29, 2010

May Lipe Zehnder (BA 51, MA 70) of Oxford, Nov. 22, 2010

Jimmy Britt Lovett (BBA 61) of Morton, Jan. 28, 2011

1960s John Edward Ashcraft Jr. (BA 66, JD 72) of Greenwood, Dec. 1, 2010

Margaret Westbrook Miller (BA 62, Cert 64) of Berkeley, Calif., Dec. 28, 2010

Frank W. Barrett (BSPh 60) of Mendenhall, Nov. 30, 2010 Jerry Dean Bell (MCS 67) of Nebraska City, Neb., June 11, 2010 Gloria Boyd Bennett (61) of Tunica, Nov. 24, 2010 John O. Bronson Jr. (MLS 65) of Easton, Md., Dec. 28, 2010 Samuel David Christ Jr. (BM 68) of Sardis, June 15, 2010 Joe Mirabole Ciccarello (MEd 64) of Tampa, Fla., May 6, 2010 Keith Delane Coates (BSME 61) of Madison, Ala., Feb. 14, 2010 Wayne Peter Comer (BA 67) of Hoboken, N.J., April 30, 2010

Christine Spears McNeel (MA 65) of Pelham, Ala., Nov. 10, 2010 Charles S. Mitchell Jr. (MD 60) of Paradise Valley, Ariz., Nov. 22, 2010 John Brewer Moore Jr. (BAEd 68) of Belmont, Feb. 2, 2011 Patricia Swinney Newcome (BAEd 63) of Portland, Ark., Dec. 12, 2010 John Paul Nix Jr. (BSCvE 69) of Eagle River, Alaska, May 20, 2010 Leonard Gene Rogers Sr. (61) of Water Valley, Feb. 2, 2011 Jay McGrath Russell (MEd 62) of Richmond, Va., Jan. 27, 2011 Mary Nahtoma Sanderson (BSC 63) of Nettleton, Jan. 29, 2011 Harold James Schneider II (BA 62, JD 65) of Clinton, Jan. 8, 2011

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Stephen Milo Smith (MA 68) of Andover, Minn., Sept. 15, 2010

John Edward Hutchins (74) of Corinth, Jan. 24, 2011

David Spiker (MCS 69) of Sebring, Ohio, Dec. 19, 2010

John Downey Jones Jr. (EdD 70) of Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 14, 2011

William B. Spinks Jr. (BA 62, MA 63) of Pooler, Ga., Jan. 18, 2011

Sheila Rene Maynard (BA 76) of Tupelo, Dec. 14, 2010

Avery Martin Springer Jr. (JD 67) of Ocala, Fla., Dec. 20, 2010

Barney Steven McNeely (BA 71) of Lynchburg, Va., Jan. 7, 2011

David F. Stevenson Jr. (BA 64) of Lafayette, La., Jan. 8, 2011

Floyd Miller (MEd 75) of Holly Springs, Jan. 17, 2011

Alonzo H. Sturgeon Jr. (LLB 61) of Woodville, Dec. 17, 2010

Mary Anderson Millwood (BAEd 73) of Port Arthur, Texas, Jan. 15, 2011

James Henry Tilley Jr. (MCS 65) of Zephyr Cove, Nev., Feb. 8, 2011

Matthew Buckner Mitchell (BA 79) of Conyers, Ga., Nov. 30, 2010

William D. Trahan (BBA 64) of Topeka, Kan., Feb. 7, 2011

Margaret Russell Partridge (BAEd 74, MLS 75, SpecEd 81) of Oxford, Jan. 1, 2011

Elvin James Wakham (MSS 66) of San Diego, Calif., Feb. 9, 2010 James Edward Waters (JD 66) of Largo, Fla., Feb. 20, 2010 Gene Walter Weber (EdD 68) of Holmdel, N.J., April 12, 2010 Charles Lee Wilkinson (BSPh 63, MD 69) of Meridian, Jan. 5, 2011 Herald Glen Willard Jr. (BBA 63) of Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 29, 2010

William Arthur Pennington Jr. (PhD 76) of Cleveland, Nov. 29, 2010 Woodrow W. Pringle III (BPA 76, JD 78) of Gulfport, Dec. 14, 2010 Felix Edward Robinson (MEd 78) of Yazoo City, Dec. 11, 2010 John Robert Schoen (MEd 73) of Largo, Fla., Feb. 18, 2010

Donald W. Williamson Jr. (LLB 63) of Duluth, Ga., Oct. 18, 2010

Teresa Ellis Shade (BA 72, MCD 75) of Stem, N.C., Feb. 6, 2011

1970s William Ernest Austin (BSPh 71) of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 12, 2011

Roger Harold Smith (BSPh 79) of Greenville, Ala., Dec. 18, 2010

Brenda Sue Bates (BSN 77) of Maple Grove, Minn., July 8, 2010 Carl Thomas Bauguess Jr. (PhD 70) of Columbia, S.C., Jan. 29, 2011 Thomas Cleveland Birchett (BA 70, MA 79) of Navarre, Fla., Nov. 16, 2010 Nevin David Clark (BPA 78) of Buckatunna, Jan. 7, 2011 Fred Cruse III (BSPh 75) of Carriere, Nov. 19, 2010 Sandra Fulton Custer (BAEd 71) of Charleston, S.C., July 21, 2010 Josie Earline Dorman (BSN 70) of Ridgeland, Dec. 20, 2010 Edwin Rode Flautt (BBA 76) of Swan Lake, Jan. 2, 2011 Elgenia Harris French (BSPh 75) of Weatherford, Okla., Jan. 12, 2011 Gary Wayne Hardy (BSPh 74) of Booneville, Nov. 21, 2010 George Evans Harrell Jr. (BBA 72) of Tupelo, Jan. 14, 2011 Susan Harriet Haynes (BAEd 74) of Jackson, Dec. 3, 2010 Dorothy Crane Holley (MEd 77) of Fulton, Jan. 12, 2011

62 Alumni Review

Tommie Lee Shelby (MA 74) of Oxford, Feb. 3, 2011 Ted Walter Strickland Jr. (BBA 79) of Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 7, 2010 Thomas Henry Suttle Jr. (JD 71) of Jackson, Tenn., Feb. 7, 2011 Jack A. Switzer Jr. (BPA 74) of Jackson, Jan. 4, 2011 Marla Clifft Treece (PhD 71) of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 5, 2011 Wendell Wildes (MEd 70) of Chatsworth, Ga., Jan. 20, 2011 Glen Dean Windham (BSPh 72) of Rolling Fork, Feb. 12, 2011 John Herbert Wright (JD 79) of Houston, Texas, Feb. 15, 2010 1980s Barbara Pearson Cousar (BA 87) of Aberdeen, Dec. 23, 2010 Helene Elizabeth Doxey (BAEd 81, MEd 82) of Waveland, Dec. 28, 2010 Robert Whitten Graves Jr. (BBA 84) of Batesville, Jan. 12, 2011 Casey Hamilton (BSHPE 81) of Ridgeland, Dec. 8, 2010 Stephen Donelson Howell (BBA 86) of Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 7, 2011

Serving Oxford, Lafayette County and the University of Mississippi

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010

INSIDE

142ND Year, No. 169 — 50 CENTS

Run-off solution sought E-Edition booming Erosion problems wash away county officials’ patience BY ALYSSA SCHNUGG Staff Writer

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

produce a plan of action on how it intends to solve erosion issues once and for all at its construction site located across from the Cumberland subdivision. “I need a schedule of how this is going to progress with a time frame I can put my hands on by June 1,” County Engineer Larry Britt said at Monday’s Planning Commission meeting. Williams Equipment started con-

struction in the summer of 2008 on its new home for the commercial business on 4.3 acres of land located on Highway 6 West. Since construction began, neighbors have complained the runoff from the graded property has caused silt to run onto their lawns, destroying grass and bushes, as well as cause local flooding. A year ago, a cease and desist order was issued until erosion problems were handled.

“We have had some problems with erosion out there that we’ve been dealing with for a year and a half,” Britt said. When 3 inches of rain fell in Oxford within 30 minutes last week, the issue resurfaced when silt and water caused erosion on some of the adjoining landowners’ property. See SOLUTION on Page 2

Oxford schools set budget hearing

GRADUATION CELEBRATION

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

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

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

UM GRADS

ONLINE

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

Many of the students graduating from the University of Mississippi earlier this month were from the Oxford area. Turn to Pages 5 and 10 to read the names of the locals who picked up a diploma.

INDEX

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

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

Report: Oversite workers accepted gifts from oil companies

Number 1 Daily in Mississ ippi (Circula

BY GREG BLUESTEIN AND

MATTHEW DALY

Associated Press Writers

Guinness finds Minn. man is tallest in US ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Guinness World Records has recognized a Minnesota man as the tallest man in the United States. The Guinness World Record Association measured Rochester’s Igor Vovkovinskiy (voh-kov-IN’-ski) at 7 feet, 8.33 inches tall during NBC’s “The Dr. Oz Show” on Monday. He edged out Norfolk, Va., sheriff’s deputy George Bell by a third of an inch. The 27-year- old Vovkovinskiy is originally from Ukraine but moved to Minnesota with his mother when he was 7 years old for treatment at the Mayo Clinic for a pituitary disease that spurred his rapid growth. Vovkovinskiy now attends the Minnesota School of Business and is pursuing a degree in paralegal studies. Guinness says the world’s urkey’s Sultan tallest man is Turkey’s Kosen. He measures in at 8 feet, 1 inch tall.

also owned the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. The other three areas of focus for the investigation involve the cementing and casing of the wellhead, which was Halliburton Inc.’s responsibility.

COVINGTON, La. — Oil giant BP said its internal investigation of Assessing decisions the unchecked Gulf oil spill In BP’s release, Chief is largely focused on work Executive Tony Hayward done by other companies as stopped short of assigning a new government report responsibility. President today showed workers at the Barack Obama has blasted federal agency that oversees executives from the compaoffshore drilling accepted nies for blaming each other sports tickets, lunches and during Congressional hearother gifts from oil and gas ings this month. companies. “A number of companies BP PLC said in a release are involved, including BP, that an initial investigation and it is simfound mulply too early tiple control “...it is simply — and not mechanisms too early — and not up to us — should have to say who p r e v e n t e d up to us — to say who is at fault,” the accident is at fault.” Hayward that started said. with an oil — TONY HAYWARD G e n e rig explosion Chief Executive, BP Beck, a April 20 off petroleum the coast engineer of Louisiana that killed 11 at Texas A&M at College workers. Station who worked in the Seeking the cause drilling industry for two BP, the largest oil and decades, said the list of gas producer in the Gulf, Gulf problems BP is investigating listed seven areas of focus appears exhaustive. But he as it hunts for a cause. Four said the company also needs involve the blowout pre- to look at decisions made by venter, venter a massive piece of people on the rig. machinery that sits atop the “That needs to be inveswellhead and should have tigated: Why did they do acted as a safety device what they did?” Beck said. of last resort but did not. “They need to ask themThat was manufactured selves that very very, very serious by Cameron International question: ‘Why did we make Corp. and owned by these choices?”’ Transocean LTD, which

PATRICK SEMANSKY/AP

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

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

Staff Writer

Worst-case scenario

tion Belo w 9,000)

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

BY MELANIE ADDINGTON

Members of the Oxford School Board set a public hearing for June 14 at 5 p.m. for the public to discuss the district’s 2010-2011 budget. Despite continued budget cuts from the state during the past several months, the Oxford School District has put together a budget for the coming school year that ensures no jobs will be cut. The school board has a proposed $29 million budget that, while not yet finalized, won’t cut jobs and won’t raise the tax rate. On Monday, Gov. Haley Barbour signed the FY 2011 education funding bills, House Bill 1622 and House Bill 1059, Mississippi Department of Education Superintendent Tom Burnham said. “HB 1622 is the primary funding bill that we recommend (districts) develop the FY 2011 budget around,” Burnham said. “HB 1059 is contingent upon the passage of federal legislation that would extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage provided for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.”

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the latest report “deeply disturbing” but stressed that it only covered a period from 2000 to 2008. He said he wants the investigation expanded to include agency actions since he took office in January 2009. BP filed its site-specific exploration plan for the Deepwater Horizon in February 2009. The Obama administration has come under increasing pressure as frustrations build, oil washes up in delicate Louisiana wetlands, and efforts to cap the well prove unsuccessful.

City school officials are basing their budget on the funding equation that provides Oxford the lowest amount of state funds. The board will not request any increase to the city’s tax rate, but the district still expects to experience an increase in revenue collections due to the additional taxes it projects to increase from new homes. Revenue is expected to be up about $420,000 from 2009-2010 for a total of $29.5 million. Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding is slightly down to $12.54 million from $12.56 million the year before. Ad valorem tax collections will go up from $14.1 million to $15.4 million. With athletic admission tickets expected to be down about $10,000, the district may have to dip deeper into its reserve funds. After the hearing, the board will vote on the budget. In other business, the school board: — Approved salary scales for employees, teacher assistants and administrators. — Approved a resolution in memory of the late Patricia P Aschoff SPED teacher at Aschoff, Oxford Learning Center. Marcia Cole accepted the plaque and resolution on family behalf of the family. —melanie@oxfordeagle.com —melanie@oxfor

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News alumni

Cora Miner Jordan (JD 81) of Oxford, Jan. 10, 2011

Mary Shelton Currie of Black Mountain, N.C., Dec. 10, 2010

Thomas David McDonald Jr. (JD 87) of Roanoke, Va., April 17, 2010

Joseph L. Drew of Cordova, Tenn., Dec. 12, 2010

Judith Harrelson Myers (MEd 81) of Calhoun City, Feb. 7, 2011

Barbara Fournie of Tupelo, Feb. 9, 2011

Tami Carter Phillips (BAccy 88) of Franklin, Ky., May 8, 2010

Irwin L. Freiberger of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Dec. 28, 2010 John Pinkney Henderson of Jackson, Feb. 7, 2011

1990s Sharon Green Coats (MEd 92) of Booneville, Dec. 5, 2010

John Philip Hester of Oxford, Dec. 11, 2010 Dean Emerson Hill of Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 10, 2010

Keith Ellis (DA 95) of Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 9, 2010 Phyllis Andrews Graham (BAEd 98, MEd 05) of Eupora, Feb. 8, 2011 Nancy Loveless Johnson (MEd 94, SpecEd 06) of Booneville, Jan. 13, 2011

Virginia J. Kesler of Oxford, Feb. 2, 2011 James R. Knight of Warsaw, Va., April 25, 2010

James Clark McCurley (BA 94) of Wilmington, N.C., March 16, 2010

Betty Coker Marston of Germantown, Tenn., Dec. 27, 2010

Julie Anne Moulds (BS 97) of Meridian, Oct. 2, 2010

John T. Matlock of Germantown, Tenn., Dec. 25, 2010

Charles Gregory Thomas (BBA 90, JD 93) of Fairhope, Ala., Dec. 1, 2010

Thurman Delano Mullins of Senatobia, Jan. 31, 2011

Craig Warren-Marzola (BA 97) of Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 29, 2011

Halis J. Odabasi of Saint Paul, Neb., Feb. 7, 2011

2000s Eric Wayne Cash (MA 03, PhD 05) of Tifton, Ga., Dec. 18, 2010 Karsten Merrick Dugger (07) of Horn Lake, Jan. 15, 2011

Shelton Glenn Smith of Woodville, Feb. 15, 2011 Lester E. Taylor of Mobile, Ala., Oct. 31, 2010

Jared Maddox Hall (08) of Denver, Colo., Dec. 29, 2010

Robert Gene Thompson of Oxford, Dec. 15, 2010

Patricia K. Wilkerson (06) of University, Jan. 20, 2011 Cynthia Lynn Wilson (BA 06) of Texarkana, Ark., Dec. 10, 2010 2010s Peyton Hovious Houchins (10) of Jackson, Dec. 29, 2010

Aubrey W. Walker of Oxford, Jan. 9, 2011 Frank Howell Wilson of Madison, Jan. 18, 2011 To submit a class note, send it to records@ alumni.olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848. Class notes also may be submitted through the association’s website at www. olemissalumni.com. The association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

David Randall Rorie (BFA 10) of University, Dec. 6, 2010 Faculty and Friends Edith Proctor Allison of Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 11, 2011 Kay Gunter Brewer of Oxford, Dec. 23, 2010 Sara Adams Burnett of Tupelo, Jan. 29, 2011 Jane Luter Comfort of Brandon, Dec. 15, 2010

John M. Seiner of Smithfield, Va., Oct. 31, 2010 Walter E. Stokes III of Greenville, Dec. 12, 2010

Pedres Finley (BBA 04) of Como, Feb. 9, 2011

A SSISTED L IVING

Robert H. Samuels of Beebe, Ark., Dec. 22, 2010

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