Know someone who should be recognized in Forever Maroon? Send an email to alumnus@msstate.edu.
Marth Estes Gordon (B.S. social studies education, ’74) 69, Okolona – She was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Lanier Club, the Chuquatonchee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee, the Okolona School Board, Itawamba Community College board of trustees and the Okolona Chamber of Commerce. – Dec. 26, 2015 Howell Holmes Gwin Jr. (B.A. English, ’59; M.A., Ph.D. history, ’60 ’62 ) 78, Beaumont, Texas – Was a member of the history faculty at Lamar University for 53 years, including several years as professor emeritus. He was an active cultural historian researching medieval medical education, leprosy, art and architecture. – Sept. 3, 2015 Robert Charles Hickman (B.S. physical education, ’68) 70, Middleton, Wisconsin – An member of the Army Reserve, he worked for U.S. Steel in Chicago for two years before joining Xerox Corp. from which he retired as a sales manager. – Sept. 5, 2015 Benjamin Franklin Jarman (B.S. banking and finance, ’49) 88, Greenwood – He served in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He joined Leflore Bank and Trust following his graduation from Mississippi State and became president in 1975. He retired from Deposit Guaranty in 1989. – Jan. 4, 2016 Bert Jenkins (attended) – 90, Hattiesburg – An Army veteran
and World War II prisoner of war, he was a member of Heritage United Methodist Church and a devout Mississippi State University fan. – Sept. 23, 2015 Francis Donald “Frank” Joffrion (B.S. electrical engineering, ’49) 88, Charlotte, North Carolina – He graduated from Mississippi State after spending more than two years in the Navy during World War II. He had a 39-year career with Southern Bell and BellSouth beginning as a lineman and culminating as operations manager of independent relations for four states. Throughout his life, he was active in his communities serving numerous organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Rotary Club and Habitat for Humanity. – June 17, 2015 Bernard Kastenbaum (attended) 95, Richmond, Virginia – He attended Mississippi State on a football scholarship. Later, he served in the intelligence section of the 1st Air Division Headquarters in England during World War II. He received a Distinguished Service Award as a member of 303rd Bombardment Group Combat Team. He spent three decades as a manufacturer representative and professional salesman for Personal Sportswear. – Oct. 26, 2015 Robert W. Keirs (former staff) 89, Starkville – A native of Illinois, he joined the Navy at the age of 16 and served aboard the USS Nautilus submarine during World War II. He earned three battle stars and a commendation
signed by both Generals Nimitz and MacArthur. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 1954, which started his 63-year career in the field. He joined the poultry program in Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 where his research helped hatchery success rates approach 100 percent. He holds a spot in both the Mississippi and U.S. Department of Agriculture Poultry halls of fame. – Nov. 13, 2015 Jo Ann S. “Charlie” Koonce (B.S. marketing, ’56) 81, Woodbury, Tennessee – She and her late husband Billy Lee Koonce both served as cheerleaders at Mississippi State. She was named Miss MSU her senior year. She spent 20 years in the apparel business as a buyer for a variety of retailers across the Southeast and remained an avid Bulldog fan throughout her life. – Nov. 28, 2015 Curtis Langley (B.S. management, ’65) 72, Mantachie – A veteran of the National Guard, he worked in human resources for Futorian, Mahasco, Barcalounger, Heartland and Tecumseh until his retirement in 2000 when he became a realtor. He was a Mason and a Shriner. – Dec. 14, 2015 William R. Meredith Jr. (B.S., M.S. agronomy, ’56, ’57) 84, Greenville – He was a research geneticist for the federal government at Stoneville for 46 years. After receiving his degrees from Mississippi State, he went on to earn a doctorate in plant genetics from Cornell. He taught
at MSU for two years before moving to the Delta. He was the only twice-awarded recipient of the Cotton Genetics Award by Cotton Inc. In 2001, he was recognized as Senior Research Scientist of the Year. He served as deacon chairman and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist in Greenville. – July 2, 2015 Jo Ann Lindsey Owens (B.S. education, ’57 M.S. education, ’64 ) 85, Starkville – Following her graduation, she spent most of her career teaching in Starkville public schools for 40 years. In retirement, she tutored Bulldog student athletes and devoted much of her time to delivering meals, flowers and friendly company to those in need. – Nov. 13, 2015 Edna Ruth Rider Pate (B.S. industrial arts education, ’62) 85, Pine Bluff – A retired school teacher of 20 years and a real estate agent, she was an active member of the Church of God. – Jan. 2, 2016 George “Carey” Revels (B.S. industrial engineering, ’71) 70, Hattiesburg – During his 34year career as a financial adviser, he worked for Revels Securities, Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. Always involved in his community, he served his church and many other organizations, including the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, and the board of the Asbury Foundation. – May 19, 2015 Thomas Slough Jr. (M.S. aeronautical engineering, ’59) 88, Madison – A World War II veteran, he began his professional
Evan Ragland III (B.S. electrical engineering, ’49) 88, Diamondhead – A veteran of the U.S. Navy, the namesake of the Mississippi State University Evan Ragland Advanced Physics Laboratory began his engineering career with Victor Electronics following his graduation from the university. He also held positions at Motorola and Friden before starting American Regitel, one of the first systems port-of-sale companies. He was awarded numerous patents for developments in areas including the daisy print wheel, bar code technology and cold fusion. But despite his technological achievements, he considered himself a businessman first, engineer second and physicist third. – Sept. 15, 2015 ALUMNUS.MSSTATE.EDU
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