Ole Miss Alumni Review - Fall 2016

Ole Miss Alumni Review

fall 2016

ALUMNI REVIEW

fall 2016 Vol. 65 No. 4

Leap of Faith SAM KENDRICKS’ PATH TO OLYMPIC BRONZE

Top alumni recognized for achievement, service UM colleagues united by kidney transplant

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Features ALUMNI REVIEW

20 Leap of Faith

Sam Kendricks’ path to Olympic bronze

By Annie Rhoades

26 From Rebels to Saints

Three distinct alumni paths converge at NFL franchise

By Benjamin Gleisser

32 With Honors

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Top alumni recognized for achievement and service

By Jim Urbanek

38 A Unique Connection

UM colleagues united by kidney transplant

By Edwin Smith and Ruth Cummins

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Contents Vol. 65 No. 4

Departments

2 Chancellor’s Letter

fall 2016

On the Cover

4 President’s Letter 6 From the Circle

18 Calendar

42 Ole Miss Sports

Baseball hits No. 1 in recruiting Mangum joins Legends ranks

46 Just Published

48 Rebel Traveler

52 Alumni News

20 Propelled by a dedication to the sport and the support of his family, Sam Kendricks (BA 15) pole vaults his way to a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio. Cover photo by Bruce Newman/Oxford Eagle

O le M iss A lumni R ev iew Publisher Kirk Purdom (93) Editor Jim Urbanek II (97) jim@olemiss.edu

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Associate Editor and Advertising Director Annie Rhoades (07, 09) annie@olemiss.edu Contributing Editor Benita Whitehorn Art Director Amy Howell Contributors Andrew Abernathy (08, 10), Kevin Bain (98), Ruth Cummins (82), Bill Dabney (89), Mitchell Diggs (82), Sydney DuPriest, Jay Ferchaud, Benjamin Gleisser, Thomas Graning, Robert Jordan (83), Joshua McCoy, Michael Newsom (05), Shelby Nichols, Annie Oeth, Gary Pettus, Edwin Smith (80, 93), Christina Steube (11) Officers of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association Dr. Hal Moore (76) president Bobby Bailess (73, 76) president-elect Augustus L. “Leon” Collins (73, 76) vice president Andy Kilpatrick (87) athletics committee member Deano Orr (93) athletics committee member Alumni Affairs Staff, Oxford Kirk Purdom (93), executive director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst III Allie Bush, web developer Clay Cavett (86), associate director Anne Cofer (07, 08), accountant Martha Dollarhide, systems programmer II Sheila Dossett (75), senior associate director Sunny Eicholtz (09, 11), coordinator of student engagement Port Kaigler (10, 15), assistant director Annette Kelly (79), accountant Steve Mullen (92), assistant director for marketing Annie Rhoades (07, 09), publications editor Anna Smith (05), alumni assistant and club coordinator Scott Thompson (97, 08), assistant director Jim Urbanek (97), assistant director for communications Torie Marion White (07), assistant director Rusty Woods (01), associate director for information services Warner Alford (60, 66), executive director emeritus

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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.

2715

Alumni Review

C hancellor from the

If I could sum up in one sentence what I have learned in the past year on the job as your chancellor, here is what I would say: The University of Mississippi is truly a great flagship university! I have had the opportunity to see it firsthand through my many interactions with members of the Ole Miss family including our wonderful alumni and friends across the state and the country.

Let me take a moment to share some facts and figures with you that reinforce our flagship status.

• In February, we achieved Carnegie R1 Highest Research Activity status, placing UM in the top 2.5 percent of elite institutions in the country.

• In August, we reported our largest-ever freshman class (3,982) with the highest-ever ACT (25.2) and GPA (3.57).

• For the fifth year in a row, we have topped $100 million in private support, shattering the previous record by almost 50 percent.

• We are literally building excellence, with a total of over $1 billion new or recent construction on all our campuses, including the new $74 million School of Medicine, $64 million Translational Research Center and $180 million Children’s of Mississippi expansion in Jackson, and the $59 million Student Union renovation and expansion and $140 million STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) building in Oxford.

• In the summer, Ole Miss had eight athletes plus a head coach competing on the world stage at the Olympics in Rio. • And USA Today’s Reader’s Choice awards named Ole Miss the most beautiful campus in the country.

If we had a graph, it would show you that all the arrows are going up!

The past months have been a busy time for our university. In August, we hosted a Tech Summit on campus with government and technology leaders to discuss ways in which Ole Miss is poised to be a front-runner in producing STEM graduates. Also in August, we held the first-ever universitywide Town Hall meeting that resulted in hundreds of ideas that will guide us in our strategic planning.

In October, we hosted a panel of some of our most successful Ole Miss innovators and entrepreneurs to raise entrepreneurial awareness and guide our students. And in November, we celebrated my investiture, which formally installed me as chancellor and provided the larger academic and civic communities an opportunity to convene and celebrate our shared values.

Sharon and I are truly proud to call ourselves Ole Miss Rebels. I am enthusiastic about working with you to explore all of the university’s potential and our continued commitment to excellence. Few gifts are more important to our university than the interest, energy, trust and contributions by our alumni. You are all a tremendous part of the momentum Ole Miss has right now, and we can’t wait to experience the next part of this journey with you.

Sincerely,

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

President from the

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Alumni Review

It is one of the great honors of my life to serve as president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. I hope to represent you and Ole Miss with dignity and respect for all of our stakeholders.

Chancellor Vitter has made it clear that we are and will continue to be Ole Miss Rebels. Although what that means may have evolved through the years, I would like to point out some examples of leaders who have exemplified the rebel spirit: Dr. Arthur Guyton (BA 39) — who ignored conventional wisdom about the physiology of the heart and went on to author one of the world’s most widely used medical textbooks influencing generations of physicians and physiologists; William Winter (BA 43, LLB 49) — who boldly led the charge for publicly funded primary education and established kindergarten as Mississippi’s 58th governor; Dr. James Hardy (faculty, 1955-1987) — who, in 1963, had the audacity to perform the world’s first human lung transplant; James Meredith (BA 63) — who, at the risk of personal harm, had the courage to rebel against the status quo to attend the state’s flagship university; James Barksdale (BBA 65) — who dared to dream of the business of overnight mail delivery, wireless telephones and the rise of web browsing; Constance Slaughter-Harvey (JD 70) — who never accepted race as a barrier — becoming the first African-American woman to receive a law degree from Ole Miss and serve as a judge in Mississippi, who still fights for the downtrodden and underprivileged; Patrick Willis (BSCJ 07) — who could see beyond the cotton fields to glory on the football field at Ole Miss and San Francisco, and even beyond to the world of cloud technology; Patrick Woodyard (BA 10) — who ventured to think that someone in his 20s could establish a successful international business while at the same time providing fair wages and hope to third-world workers; Chancellors Fortune, Turner, Khayat, Jones, Stocks and Vitter — who dared to raise conversations about the university’s past so that its future could and can be unburdened, bright and limitless.

Let us all continue to rebel in acts of courage, boldness, audacity and daring that bring honor and achievement to Ole Miss, Mississippi and our nation.

Eddie and Rhoda Maloney have been wonderful ambassadors of Ole Miss, and I am grateful for their service and appreciate their friendship. Melanie and I aspire to follow in their footsteps with the same passion and enthusiasm.

Forward Rebels!

Hal Moore (MD 76)

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Circle from the

The l ates t on Ole Miss s tudents, facult y, s taff and friends

Most Accomplished Class

STATE’S FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES RECORD ENROLLMENT

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he University of Mississippi has recorded its 22nd consecutive year of rising enrollment, registering its largest and most academically qualified freshman class ever.

Enrollment at the state’s flagship university hit 24,250 across all campuses, the largest in the state, according to preliminary data. The freshman class of 3,982 students posted an average ACT score of 25.2, surpassing the UM record of 24.7, set last year.

“Students and families across the state and nation are noticing that great things are happening here at the University of Mississippi,” Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter says. “They recognize the academic excellence and outstanding college experience we offer and continue to join us in record numbers.”

Total enrollment is up 412 students, or 1.7 percent, from last fall.

This year’s first-time students include 87 class valedictorians, 54 salutatorians, 94 student body presidents, 92 Eagle Scouts and 13 Girl Scouts who achieved the Gold Award, the organization’s highest youth honor.

The high school GPA of incoming freshmen also increased, growing from 3.54 last year to 3.57, another university record.

Among new freshmen from Mississippi, this year’s ACT average was 24.8, up from last fall’s 24.4.

The progress in freshman ACT scores has been maintained over the past nine years, growing 2.5 points over that span. Several factors have contributed to that success, Provost Morris Stocks says.

“We offer more and more outstanding programs for excellent students,” Stocks says. “For example, the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program is now admitting 30 students per year.

These are honors-quality students planning to be teachers, and they have committed to teach in Mississippi upon graduation.

“Then there’s the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, which brings in 60 top-level freshmen each year who are interested in the intersection of engineering, business and accounting. And over at the School of Accountancy, we’re admitting more students with ACT scores over 30 than we’ve ever had, and a lot of that stems from the school being ranked in the top 10 for several years in a row now.”

Stocks also cited the university’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Croft Institute for International Studies, Chinese Language Flagship Program and the Arabic language and Provost’s Scholars programs for helping attract more high-achieving students.

Out of the total number of Ole Miss students, 59.4 percent are from Mississippi, including students from the state’s 82 counties. The university also attracts students from around the nation and world. Overall, the student body includes representatives from every state, the District of Columbia and 90 foreign countries.

To help accommodate the growing student population in Oxford, the university has opened two new five-story residence halls on the former site of Guess Hall, adding housing space for 603 students.

Work has begun on a $20 million renovation to Garland, Hedleston and Mayes halls, providing space for the School of Applied Sciences.

The university’s new STEM building, which will add 200,000 square feet of education and research space in the Science District for an estimated $135 million, will boost the university’s capacity to address workforce needs and enhance UM’s status as a Carnegie R1 Highest Research Activity institution.

Photo by Kevin Bain 6

A l umni R eview

from the Circle

SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS EGGLESTON EXHIBIT AT UM MUSEUM

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he Beautiful Mysterious: The Extraordinary Gaze of William Eggleston,” presented by the University of Mississippi Museum, features 36 works from the fine art photographer in an exclusive exhibition of the museum’s permanent collection.

The exhibition, sponsored by Friends of the Museum, runs through Jan. 14, 2017. An opening reception was held on Oct. 6.

To further highlight Eggleston’s remarkable color and blackand-white photographs, the museum hosted a symposium Oct. 7 at UM’s Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics, featuring notable panelists across different disciplines.

“The University of Mississippi Museum and the Friends of the Museum are exceptionally pleased to present this convening of distinguished panelists and scholars, offering an exploration of the career and influence of the extraordinary William Eggleston,” museum director Robert Saarnio said.

Photo courtesy of UM Museum

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‘The Beautiful Mysterious: The Extraordinary Gaze of William Eggleston’ is on display at the UM Museum through Jan. 14.

Legacy Award Honorees Announced GILLOM SISTERS’ SUCCESS IS CELEBRATED

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he Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy Award will be presented at an elegant dinner on the floor announced that legendary Ole Miss women’s bas- of The Pavilion, the perfect venue for these basketball stars ketball stars Jennifer Gillom (BAR 87) and Peggie whose images decorate its walls.”

Established in 2000, by a group of female leaders and Gillom-Granderson (BSW 80) are the Legacy Award honorphilanthropists, the Ole ees for 2017.

Miss Women’s Council for An awards presentation Philanthropy is committed to and dinner will take place nurturing the development of April 22, 2017, at the Ole Miss University of Mississippi stuPavilion. C Spire will again be dents with a desire to improve the presenting sponsor for the the quality of their communievent. ties by serving in positions of The Gillom sisters are leadership. The mission has recognized as two of the all-time been to promote philanthropy top Ole Miss women’s basketball to sponsor innovative proplayers. Both originally from grams that attract and develop Abbeville, they have gone on students through leadership, to lead successful basketball scholarship and mentorship. careers worldwide. The Gillom Sponsorships and preferred sisters join a prestigious, nationt ab l e s are n ow av ai l ab l e , ally recognized list of Legacy with limited seating for this Award recipients, most recently expected sell-out event. For including Chancellor Emeritus Peggie Gillom-Granderson (left) and Jennifer Gillom information on the April 22 Robert Khayat (BAEd 61, JD 66).

“We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of these Legacy Award sponsorships, tickets or for Rose Society two outstanding ladies and to highlight their tremendous membership questions, contact Kate Rosson (BA 03, MA 05) success and philanthropic involvement,” says Elizabeth with OMWC at 662-915-2527 or krosson@olemiss.edu, or Randall (BBA 03, MBA 05), 2017 Legacy chair. “The Legacy visit omwc.olemiss.edu/legacy. fa ll 2 0 16

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from the Circle

Change Agent

SCIENTIST FINDS NEW CALLING AT OLE MISS

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niversity of Mississippi graduate student Yelda Serinagaoglu grew up in Ankara, Turkey, with a deep love for science. She was an active student when her life suddenly and completely changed at the age of 15.

She was in a car accident that broke her back, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Her major injuries caused her to take a year off from school, postponing her education.

“I had to learn everything all over again, and when you’re out of high school for a year, everything is a little foggy,” she says.

But there still was no question that she would attend college. In 2001, she earned a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and genetics from Middle East Technical University in Ankara.

“I loved science and I’m inquisitive by nature,” she says. “I want to answer questions and dig deep into things. Genetics was always one of my favorite subjects.”

Naturally her curiosity motivated her to pursue further education. After completing her bachelor’s work in Turkey, Serinagaoglu moved to the United States to earn her doctorate from Ohio State University in 2007.

She then relocated to Memphis to work as a postdoctoral research scientist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Although she loved her work as a scientist, she also l ov e d i nt e r a c t i n g w i t h people.

“I realized one of the best experiences I had was interacting with graduate students,” she says. “I just wanted to be in a university environment.”

This led her to Ole Miss to pursue a master’s degree in higher education and student personnel.

“I drove to the Ole Miss campus one day and fell in love,” she says. “I didn’t even apply anywhere else.”

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“She has already made an impact on our campus and in students’ lives,” says Robin Yekaitis, a UM disability specialist. “Her desire to connect with people is what makes her perfectly suited to be a change agent and influence positive growth and understanding on our campus.”

Through her entire educational experience, accessibility hasn’t been much of an issue. Although rules weren’t previously in place in Turkey as they are in the United States, accessibility was created for Serinagaoglu because people genuinely cared for her. Elevators and ramps were constructed in her departments at her university to allow her to easily get around.

At Ohio State, accessibility was very structured with ADA accessible residence halls and shuttles to classes. At Ole Miss, Student Disability Services has made campus completely accessible for her as well.

However, since her accident, she feels some people act differently around her, which is why the “Allies for Inclusion: Ability Exhibit” is so important.

“I sometimes get a feeling that people don’t want to make eye contact with me, which I don’t understand,” she says. “There’s no special way to act around me, but I notice it’s awkward for them.”

She says the education provided by the Ability Exhibit allows the campus community to understand how to become allies for those with disabilities.

“Knowledge is power, and when you know about someone, you’re relaxed around them. That’s why we need this type of program — to get people to know each other.”

The exhibit was hosted by Student Disability Services on Sept.

19-21 at The Inn at Ole Miss.

Serinagaoglu is working to connect with students as she works on a master’s degree at Ole Miss.

Photo by Jeremy Scruggs

Alumni Review

from the Circle

Winning Pitch

MADISON NATIVE WINS GRAND PRIZE IN DELTA PITCH COMPETITION

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Lee Ingram gives his pitch for HigherLearning LLC at the Delta Regional Authority pitch competition at the UM Innovation Center at Insight Park. Ingram, a master’s student in accountancy at Ole Miss, won a $40,000 Delta Entrepreneur Network fellowship and free airfare to a 2017 national meeting in New Orleans.

The second-place fellow was Pontus Andersson, for his On the Wall Inc., an interactive information software designed to connect smartphones to smart mirrors. Peter Grumbles, owner of Bootsie’s Delta Funk BBQ, was the third fellow selected.

Thomas Matlock’s “Interactive Languages,” a virtual

reality software for learning other languages, was chosen as an alternate.

“Five other Ole Miss students and I created MYRA, My Reflective Assistant, in response to the needs of females ages 18 to 35,” says Andersson, a senior from Ridgeland who is majoring in marketing information systems. “With this funding, we move one step closer to launching the prototype, patenting and selling the product.”

Photos by Robert Jordan

University of Mississippi accountancy student with a growing tutoring agency was the big winner during the Delta Regional Authority pitch competition in September at the UM Innovation Center at Insight Park.

Lee Ingram’s HigherLearning LLC was selected from among five participants in the contest, which was co-hosted

by Insight Park, the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation.

The Madison native, who is enrolled in UM’s Master of Accountancy program, was among three competitors to win a Delta Entrepreneur Network fellowship. He also won free airfare to the 2017 national meeting in New Orleans. With the fellowship, winners get $40,000 in small business development training and access to national investors.

“I put a lot of preparation into my business and my pitch,” Ingram says. “I’m happy people can see my vision and support it this way. This definitely put me on track for the next level of growth and expansion.”

Since Ingram began HigherLearning a little over a year ago, he has seen the tutoring business swell by leaps and bounds.

“Students who need tutoring can go online and book an experienced tutor for about $40 per hour,” he says. “Our services really come in handy for professors who refer these students to us after they initially come to them for assistance.

Those we’ve helped to succeed also tell their friends about us.”

Lee Ingram (second from left), founder and owner of HigherLearning, is congratulated by (from left) Clay Dibrell, executive director of the UM Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Alan Kurr, vice president of the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation; and Justin Burch, program manager for small business and entrepreneurship for the Delta Regional Authority.

A junior finance major from Jackson, Matlock came up with “Interactive Languages” as a means to help children and young adults master learning foreign languages faster.

“The idea is to immerse them in the culture through the virtual reality software,” he says. “A prototype of the software is on the drawing board. These funds will definitely assist us in developing the actual product.”

The fifth competitor was David Flynn, a sophomore marketing information systems major from Louisville, Kentucky, who created Hangaround LLC, an aviation social network.

Participants had an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. During the three-minute pitch, entrepreneurs addressed the critical questions of each category, while maintaining the flow, pace and consistency of a good business pitch. Entrepreneurs then had one minute to answer questions from the judges.

Fellows are invited to participate in a special segment of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 2017. While at NOEW, they have access to seminars, workshops and mentorship from panelists and industry experts as well as opportunities to showcase their company to a panel of investors. fa ll 2 0 16

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from the Circle

All Inclusive

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICIALS PRAISE UM DIVERSITY EFFORTS

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mpressed and moved” is how Undersecretary of Education Ted Mitchell described his reaction to a visit to the University of Mississippi in September.

Mitchell, a part of the U.S. Department of Education’s seventh annual back-to-school bus tour across the country, spent the morning learning about UM efforts to increase inclusion and identify the challenges universities face in creating opportunities for all students. He made his comment after talking with student leaders on the Ole Miss campus.

He met with UM administrators before joining the students for a panel discussion, which was moderated by Brandi Hephner LaBanc, UM vice chancellor for student affairs.

“It was a great honor and opportunity for Ole Miss to host the Department of Education and showcase how our administration and students embrace the tenets of the UM Creed in our diversity and inclusion efforts,” Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter says.

Following the group of students sharing their stories about the work they do on campus, Mitchell says he plans to take lessons from Ole Miss with him to pass on to other universities and also to education leaders in Washington. One particular aspect of the university’s approach stood out to him.

“One of the reasons we are here is we think Ole Miss is a place where really tough issues of race, class and gender and all kinds of identity formation are not ignored, but embraced as part of what one needs to learn as part of the college experience,” Mitchell says.

Mitchell was joined by Kim Hunter Reed, who serves as deputy undersecretary of education; Jaye Espy, chief of staff for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges

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and Universities; and Elyse Jones, confidential assistant for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The group heard from students from different backgrounds. They talked about working to recruit and mentor minority students, facilitate open dialogue on sensitive topics and promote understanding and tolerance.

A continuing theme of the students’ remarks was how they’ve seen campus leaders address tough issues such as the removal of the Mississippi state flag, which contains the Confederate battle flag, from campus.

They note removing the flag, which they say doesn’t embody the values of diversity and inclusion the university wants to convey, was entirely student-led. The Associated Student Body voted to remove the flag, and its recommendation received the support of the Faculty Senate and Staff Council before administrators followed their wishes in 2015.

Eloise Tyner, a senior public policy major from Oxford, is also an intern with the university’s William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation. One thing the university gets right when dealing with controversy is making sure those who support the losing side of a decision aren’t marginalized, she says.

“What I love about (WWIRR’s) work is, and this is reflected at Ole Miss as well, they are very concerned with making sure the whole group moves forward, that no one is left behind, that even if you feel like your ideological argument has lost, you’re not excommunicated from the community,” Tyner says.

UM students meet with U.S. Department of Education officials to talk about how the university is creating a culture of inclusiveness.

Photo by Robert Jordan Alumni Review

from the Circle

BENTLEY HONORED FOR TEACHING, CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION

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ohn P. Bentley, professor of pharmacy administration, was named the recipient of the 2016 University of Mississippi Faculty Achievement Award.

At the Aug. 26 fall faculty meeting, Provost Morris Stocks called Bentley one of the university’s finest.

“His pharmacy research helps the world understand the roles that pharmacists play in medication therapy and how the medication consumption experience affects patients,” Stocks said. “His biostatistics research and proficiency have a direct benefit to our students, faculty and research scientists here at the University of Mississippi.”

Selection for the award is based on achieveBentley ment in teaching, research, service and involvement in the classroom.

“I could think of no more deserving person for this award than John Bentley,” says David D. Allen, UM pharmacy dean. “His contributions have had a tremendous impact on our school, from creating an engaging and supportive environment for students to

consistently enhancing health and patient care with his research. I am incredibly thrilled to call him a co-worker and a friend.”

Bentley has a passion for advising graduate students, which earned him the Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award from the university’s Graduate School in 2014.

“He has been a mentor who has helped me find my passions and be my own independent researcher,” says pharmacy doctoral candidate Sujith Ramachandran. “Several times during these past few years, it felt like he understood me better than I did myself.”

In letters of recommendation, Bentley’s colleagues, both past and present, praised his aptitude for teaching, his contributions to the school and his dedication to the profession.

Pharmacy students also detailed his dedication to their studies and educational experience. He is the faculty adviser for two pharmacy student organizations and serves as an adviser for one of the school’s professional development advising teams.

New Top Dog on the Force DIOS, UM’S K-9 COP, JOINED FORCE IN SEPTEMBER

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he University of Mississippi Police Department has added a well-trained, sociable new officer, but this one isn’t typical. He has four feet, is covered in fur and is only a year old.

Dios, the university’s new K-9 officer, was sworn in at a campus ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 in the Lyceum. The Belgian Malinois from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana, was certified Aug. 12 and is already working on campus.

Dios spends about 80 percent of his time working with the community alongside his designated handler, Officer Justin Watson, UPD Chief Tim Potts says. Only about 20 percent of Dios’ time is spent on training and response to police calls.

“As far as our department, we are excited the K-9 team has returned to campus,” Potts says. “While Dios certainly provides the ability to detect narcotics where humans fail, Dios and Officer Watson do so much more for the university.”

The team plans presentations for the Department of Student Housing, as well as any other campus groups that want to learn more about the team and what it offers.

The university developed a new policy on how the K-9 team is used in residence halls, which includes collaboration with the Department of Student Housing and the university’s general counsel. The team also works with fraternities and sororities when requested.

Photo by Thomas Graning

Dios answers all drug complaints while on duty, and is also used to help assist the Oxford Police Department and the Lafayette County Sheriff ’s Office.

He is a valuable educational ambassador to students on behalf of UPD, says Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor for student affairs.

“The core of UPD’s mission is to enhance safety – that begins with knowledge,” she says. “Dios provides a unique opportunity for his handler and other officers to talk with students about the dangers of drug use.”

Rosa Salas pets University Police K-9 Dios during Coffee with a Cop on the Union plaza. The University Police Department’s new K-9 officer was sworn in Sept. 6.

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from the Circle

Leap for Literacy

UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH USM TO EXPAND JUMPSTART

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new collaboration between the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi will expand Jumpstart, a national organization that helps children develop the language and literacy skills needed to excel in kindergarten.

This ongoing effort to expand Jumpstart statewide is led

by UM’s Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction. Last fall, the university announced a similar partnership when CELI staff helped expand Jumpstart into the Columbus area by partnering with Mississippi University for Women.

“We have a goal of having a Jumpstart presence at all IHL campuses statewide,” says Angela Rutherford, CELI director.

“The University of Mississippi will be the ‘central hub’ for Mississippi Jumpstart as we help grow the program.”

Jumpstart opened its first Mississippi chapter in 2012 at Ole Miss. The program recruits undergraduate students from all academic disciplines and provides volunteers with specialized training and placement in pre-K classrooms where students provide support to existing education centers.

“Jumpstart is a great hands-on experience and a lot of it,” says Olivia Morgan, CELI literacy specialist and the state program manager for Jumpstart. “The experience is not just beneficial to education majors but anyone who wants to work

with children or have children of their own one day.”

Volunteers complete at least 300 volunteer hours in an academic year between training and teaching as part of the program. Students also receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be applied toward education expenses.

“Children in Hattiesburg need this kind of exposure to rich vocabulary and social skills,” says Laura Beth Hull, the new site manager for the USM chapter and a graduate student in speech pathology there. “Jumpstart is here to help bridge that gap, and our students want to be a part of it.”

Mississippi does not offer universal public pre-K education, though state data suggest a significant need for it. A 2015 assessment conducted by the Mississippi Department of Education found that about 64 percent of Mississippi children do not possess the literacy skills needed for entering kindergarten.

According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, multiple studies show quality preschool programs can produce lasting gains in academic achievement, including gains in reading. Studies also show communities could reap an estimated $7 return on every $1 invested in public pre-K education in the form of long-term cost savings.

CELI hopes to identify new partnerships for the expansion of Jumpstart in the coming year.

Jumpstart recruits college students from a variety of academic majors to teach language and literacy skills in pre-K classrooms.

Photo by Nathan Latil 12

Alumni Review

from the Circle

Environmental Influences

NIH GRANTS $1.9 MILLION TO FUND CHILDREN’S HEALTH RESEARCH

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Photo by Jay Ferchaud

he University of Mississippi Medical Center has institutions to share data and findings. received a National Institutes of Health grant for more ECHO will create a pediatric clinical trials network, than $1.9 million to support research into how envi- leveraging existing infrastructure to address gaps in access ronmental factors from conception through early childhood to health care for rural children. Children’s of Mississippi influence the health of children and adolescents. pediatric clinics around the state would be a part of that The funds, from the NIH Environmental Influences system, helping connect clinical trials with children and on Child Health Outcomes, or ECHO, program, will be families, Annett says. distributed over four years to create a research infrastructure at UMMC, opening the door to increasing pediatric clinical trials in Mississippi, particularly among traditionally underserved populations. “ This will help children’s research in Mississippi step up to a new level,” says Dr. Robert Annett, professor of pediatrics and director for research and education at UMMC’s Center for the Advancement of Youth. “This will ultimately help pediatric clinical research have a positive impact upon the health of children across the country.”

Annett and Dr. Rick Barr, the Medical Center’s Suzan B. Thames (BA 68) professor and chair of pediatrics, are principal investigators in the project, which brings together a team of pediatric clinical researchers to address four focus areas: upper and lower air way health; obesity ; pre-, The team of medical experts involved in the National Institutes of Health ECHO grant to peri- and postnatal outcomes; and UMMC includes Dr. Richard Summers (left), Dr. Norma Ojeda, Dr. Rob Annett, Dr. Rick Barr and Dr. Whitney Herring. neurodevelopment.

“Mississippi has many health care challenges, and they can all have a profound impact Children’s of Mississippi is an umbrella organization upon our children,” Barr says. “Through research, we seek that includes Batson Children’s Hospital and all UMMC to improve children’s health from the womb to adulthood, pediatric care. meaning future generations will have the care they need to The program seeks to promote best practices for chilreach their greatest potential.” dren’s health.

Co-investigators include Annett in neurodevelopment; Dr. LouAnn Woodward (MD 91), vice chancellor for Dr. Norma Ojeda, associate professor of pediatrics; Dr. Mark health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, sees Majure, professor of pediatric pulmonology; and Dr. Whit- pediatric research as central to the Medical Center’s mission. ney Herring (MD 10), an assistant professor of pediatrics “What could be more important than researching how specializing in childhood obesity. children can lead healthier lives?” she says. “Studies that can “We are bringing together the best minds and are be life-changing are at the heart of our purpose, and we thank embracing experts from around the state,” says Annett, the National Institutes of Health for supporting the work of noting that UMMC will also be collaborating with other our researchers.”

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from the Circle

Health Professions Survival 101 STUDENT COUNSELING & WELLNESS CENTER OPENS AT UMMC

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Photo by Jay Ferchaud

he 291-page University of Mississippi Medical Center Student Bulletin, with its mile-long lists of classes, might seem that it could not possibly have left anything out.

But it did: introduction to eating less pizza and more vegetables, the basics of getting more than four hours of sleep a night and the fundamentals of staying connected to loved ones.

While students could improve their chances of survival in school with those lessons, many fail them miserably.

“Students are experts at delayed gratification,” says Dr. Scott Rodgers, chair of the UMMC Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. That’s not necessarily a good thing — they need to take care of their mind and body, their relation-

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offers something different: a physical place for students to go to.

“It provides accessibility and convenience,” says Danny Burgess, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, who will co-direct the counseling center with Dr. Philip Merideth (BA 82, MD 87, JD 91), professor of psychiatry.

Students can continue to turn to UMMC’s Student and Employee Assistance Program, an outsourced call-in help line known as LifeSynch.

Jefferson Parker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and the department’s vice chair of clinical affairs, organized the new counseling center, set up its website, umc.edu/scwc, and recruited Burgess and Merideth.

“The earlier we have the chance to intervene, the better, instead of waiting until there’s failure in the classroom or a dissolving of relationships,” Parker says.

The sessions are free, although there will be a charge for assistance, such as formalized testing, when needed. In all cases, privacy is a priority, Parker says.

“There is a firewall between us and what happens in the students’ academic life. No one in this center will ever have a role in evaluating them as students.”

While enrollees from all six campus schools are invited to tap into the center, it opened on Aug. 15 with what Rodgers calls a “soft rollout” for the School of Medicine, whose graduates have identified mental health services as an area in need of improvement.

Philip Merideth, M.D. (left), and Danny Burgess, Ph.D., are co-directors of the new Student “Medical students often don’t get Counseling & Wellness Center, which opened Aug. 15. enough sleep,” says Jerry Clark, Ph.D., the school’s chief student affairs officer and ships; we need to help them take care of themselves.” associate dean for student affairs. They may not practice Looking for a way to fill that pothole in the curriculum healthy eating habits or get regular exercise. narrative, the department opened the Student Counseling & “Certainly, they have tremendous pressures related to Wellness Center in August and brought in two mental health time management and academic achievement. It’s easy to professionals to support students who could benefit from see how stress or depression can take hold in a student’s life.” their services.

Merideth, who is board certified in adult, child and “We know from the literature that students from health forensic psychiatry, will provide medication evaluation and professions experience a higher rate of depression, anxiety management, while Burgess, recently a private-practice psyand even suicide compared to nonmedical populations in chologist and a psychologist with Methodist Rehabilitation the same age group,” Rodgers says. “The hope is to avoid the Center, will focus on psychotherapy. stigma attached to mental health issues and allow students “The goal of the center is not to eliminate stress but who are suffering to come in for assistance.” help students manage it,” Rodgers says. “If you take care of In contrast to formal mental health services at the Medi- yourself, you can take better care of your patients. You need a cal Center, the new Student Counseling & Wellness Center reserve, and that reserve comes from wellness.”

Alumni Review

from the Circle

Hands-on Help

$2 MILLION GRANT FUNDS ‘FIRST HANDS’ RURAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE

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Enhanced communication and medical training, Williams says, would greatly benefit his officers.

“Most have had first aid and CPR, but not beyond that,” he says.

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

hen a four-wheeler flips or a tornado touches down in a rural area, those who are first on the scene — a volunteer firefighter, a local police officer, perhaps a state trooper — can make the difference between a victim living or dying.

Their ability to use technology to communicate with emergency dispatchers and get professional medical care started is paramount, but for many, training is limited.

A program developed by the University of Mississippi Medical Center to provide that education for first responders isn’t just a resource for the state. It’s being recognized as a model for the nation.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is boosting UMMC’s ongoing First Hands program with a $2 million grant to carry out a rural emergency medical communications demonstration pilot project. The goal is to enhance emergency communications and response capabilities and help develop a national emergency communications plan by using existing technology.

“It’s a marriage that is perfect to promote medical care in rural America and to solve mortality challenges throughout the country,” says Dr. Damon Darsey, UMMC assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical director for the Mississippi Center for Emergency Services.

First Hands was developed over the last three years by UMMC’s emergency services team to improve the statewide public safety communications system and extend its use to better support rural medical care and communications, Darsey says. That system includes nearly 30,000 public safety users of the Mississippi Wireless Information Network mobile radio system, known as MSWIN. First Hands will develop and implement the training programs for the funded initiative, the Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project.

“When you have a volunteer firefighter, law enforcement or nonmedical professional pull up on an accident in the middle of nowhere, they get there first. The professional responders arrive behind them. It’s a layered system,” Darsey says.

“The program will allow these people to get training on how to collect data and communicate findings early in the process — to provide the best care possible but also communicate that care downstream so that whatever hospital the patient goes to will have the best information possible.”

Bolton Police Chief Michael Williams and his nine police officers respond to accidents in their rural west Hinds County corner — most of them caused by motor vehicles, four-wheelers and farm equipment.

“Normally, we’re the first ones there,” Williams says. “Any accident, we get it, and then we make the 911 call.”

Clinton Fire Marshal Richard Hanks and American Medical Response EMT Amanda Hopkins load gear into an ambulance in preparation for their next run. The Clinton Fire Department has at least one paramedic on duty 24/7, and its 53 firefighters are all trained as EMTs.

Coordination of communication is key, says Dr. Alan Jones, professor and chair of the UMMC Department of Emergency Medicine.

“Any time you can improve communication from the time of entry into the medical care system all the way through, you will improve the patient’s experience and care,” he says. “This training will help get all of the potential medical care providers on the same page of communication.”

The grant money won’t be used to purchase radio communication equipment, but the training it funds “helps us get all of the individuals on the MSWIN network so that everyone can talk to each other on the same frequency and in the same way,” Jones says.

“Not only are we using the public safety training through the Medical Center and emergency communications partnerships through MSWIN, but we can collect data on how the technology is used. That can help us better predict ways to provide resources to all rural communities.” fa ll 2 0 16

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from the Circle

Keeping in Touch

UMMC TELEHEALTH ENTERS NEXT CHAPTER OF REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING

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s the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s heralded pilot program to remotely monitor Delta diabetes patients wraps up, lessons learned already have improved care for hundreds enrolled in UMMC’s telehealth network.

The same model used to bring care to patients in the Diabetes Telehealth is now being deployed — with significant technology upgrades — for patients coping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, kidney disease and a number of other conditions that require chronic disease management. That’s in addition to adult and pediatric diabetes.

“A lot of our patients hadn’t touched technology before the Diabetes Telehealth Network,” says Michael Adcock, administrator of the Center for Telehealth at UMMC. “Many didn’t have internet, but once they found out how easy it was and how useful the information is, they embraced it.”

The Center for Telehealth was created in 2003 to meet the dire need for specialized care and other public health services for Mississippi’s rural areas. Its Diabetes Telehealth Network kicked off in early 2014 in around 20 Delta counties. The program allowed doctors and other health practitioners to treat patients remotely, in real time and at home, using online streaming video technology and other tools for two-way live communication. Participants were trained on tablet computers loaned at no cost and requiring a WiFi connection.

The program abundantly met its goals of improving clinical outcomes and care coordination for managing diabetes, increasing access to care and conveniently bringing health care resources into patients’ homes, Adcock says.

“The benefits were verified through initial data on the first 100 patients in the pilot — results so encouraging that there was no need to wait for final data to expand remote patient monitoring to those coping with other chronic illnesses,” Adcock says. “What we’ve learned has prompted us to change the technology a bit. We now use an iPad Mini instead of a larger tablet, and we’re using Bluetooth so that they don’t have to plug anything into their device.”

That’s the case with Jackson resident Thomasene Bennett, who in July had a kidney-pancreas transplant at UMMC. She’s quickly adapted to a twice-daily routine of using her iPad Mini to transmit information to her Medical Center caregivers so they can more closely monitor her recovery.

“It’s very convenient,” she says. “I get up around 7 and check my vital signs. I turn on the tablet, and it says, ‘Good morning, Thomasene,’” says Bennett, 46. “I check my vital signs and then push a button, and it tells me my blood

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Alumni Review

Photo by Jay Ferchaud

pressure, sugar and temperature. I push another button, and it automatically goes into the system to save the information.”

In Mississippi, residents in 53 of 82 counties must drive more than 40 minutes to see specialists. The center has recorded more than 500,000 patient encounters since 2003, and today has 218 service locations with a menu of 35 medical specialties for both adults and children. It’s delivered to local clinics, rural hospitals and for chronic disease management, to patients’ homes.

The specialty care includes Telemergency, which places nurse practitioners in the emergency rooms of 15 rural hospitals throughout the state in addition to UMMC’s campuses in Holmes County and Grenada. Emergency room staff connects via live video to emergency medicine physicians in UMMC’s Emergency Department.

Services being replicated from the Diabetes Telehealth Network model include scheduled live video health sessions and coaching on diet, exercise and adherence to medications. Diabetes Telehealth Network patients also took and reported their own vital signs. If they failed to check in each day or their vitals weren’t in a healthy range, a health practitioner would contact them.

Not one patient was hospitalized or visited an emergency room because of complications from diabetes. And, providers found nine cases of diabetic retinopathy that might otherwise have gone undiagnosed. Many avoided sugary desserts because they knew their telehealth caregiver would pick up on it through their vital signs. Patients overall also stayed off the roads more than 9,000 miles rather than driving to Jackson specialists or those across state lines.

“We’re addressing health disparities that have to be addressed,” Adcock says. “Our team is dedicated to helping health care organizations deliver better care and access to more patients at a lower cost.”

Instead of traveling to a doctor’s office, Jackson resident Thomasene Bennett uses telehealth to take and transmit her blood sugar and vital signs via Bluetooth and iPad Mini technology.

©2016 UMMC

With Mississippi’s only children’s hospital plus clinics statewide, we’re here for every Mississippi kid.

Children’s of Mississippi is part of the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Learn more at mississippikids.org

Calendar Dec. 3

November

20

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. High Point. The Pavilion, 2 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

24

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Montana. The Pavilion, 3 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

24 25

Thanksgiving Day

Women’s Volleyball: Ole Miss vs. South Carolina. The Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

30

ServSafe Food Safety Class: UM Nutrition Clinic, Lenoir Hall, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 662-915-8662.

30

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee State

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Alumni Review

University. The Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

December

1

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Jackson State. The Pavilion, 11 a.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

1

Law Alumni Reception: Gulfport Yacht Club, 5:30-7 p.m. Call 662915-7375.

3

Office of Admissions Open House: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Prospective students and guests can sign up online. Visit www.admissions.olemiss.edu/visitingthe-university-of-mississippi.

3

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Memphis. The Pavilion, noon. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

3

Performance: “Miracle on 34th Street.” Ford Center, 3 p.m. A holiday musical tale by Valentine Davies, made famous by the 1947 movie of the same name. Call 662-915-7411 or visit www.fordcenter.org.

8

Law Alumni Reception: Cleveland, Delta Meat Market, 5:30-7 p.m. Call 662-915-7375.

10

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

The Pavilion, 1 p.m. Visit www. olemisssports.com.

14

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Oregon. The Pavilion, 6 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

15

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Murray State. The Pavilion, 7 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Photo by Thomas Graning

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Memphis

Calendar

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11

19

12

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Virginia Commonwealth University. The Pavilion, 1 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Bradley. The Pavilion, 8 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Georgia. The Pavilion, 6 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, the Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra and other idols of the 1940s. Call 662-9157411 or visit www.fordcenter.org.

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Tennessee. The Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

25

Rifle: Ole Miss vs. Kentucky & Murray. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center, 8 a.m. Visit www. olemisssports.com.

27

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M. The Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

20

14

22

16 17

28

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Tennessee. The Pavilion, 8 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

18

29

ServSafe Food Safety Class: UM Nutrition Clinic, Lenoir Hall, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 662-915-8662.

31

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Austin Peay. The Pavilion, noon. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

South Alabama. The Pavilion, 8 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

25 28

Christmas Day

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi Valley State.

The Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit www. olemisssports.com.

29

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Kentucky. The Pavilion, 6 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

January

1 1

New Year’s Day

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Arkansas. The Pavilion, 4 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

22

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Alabama. The Pavilion, 2 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

23 24

Spring semester classes begin.

Performance: “In the Mood, a 1940’s Musical Revue.” Gertrude C. Ford Center, 7:30 p.m. “In the Mood” celebrates America’s “Greatest Generation” through the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie

-29 Basketball Alumni Reunion: Time and location TBD. Call 662-915-7375.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Baylor. The Pavilion, 5 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs. Georgia. The Pavilion, 2 p.m.

Visit www.olemisssports.com.

Men’s Basketball: Ole Miss vs.

Mississippi State. The Pavilion, 6 p.m. Visit www.olemisssports.com.

For a complete and latest listing of Ole Miss sports schedules, visit www.olemisssports.com.

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

Performance: ‘In the Mood, a 1940’s Musical Revue’ Jan. 24

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A l umni R eview

By Annie Rhoades

Sam Kendricks’ path to Olympic bronze s alumnus and Team USA men’s pole vaulter Sam Kendricks (BA 15) stood on the podium at the 2016 Olympics to receive the bronze medal for men’s pole vault, he recalled the years of hard work and intense training required to get to Rio. Just a few years prior, Kendricks proudly competed in the Rebel jersey, winning one competition after another. His back-to-back USA Championship wins after turning professional in 2014 were only the beginning of his journey to the Olympics.

“If someone told me [in summer 2014] … you’re going to get professional experience [that will] give you everything you need to medal at the Olympic games — I would have called them crazy. Who wouldn’t? It’s a ludicrous notion that you could do all of that, not having done it before.”

But that’s exactly what he did.

Kendricks, with his father and coach, Scott Kendricks (BA 83), by his side, made the tough decision as a reigning national champion in 2014 to leave the Ole Miss track-andfield team he loved and forgo his senior year of college eligibility with the hopes of starting a successful professional pole vaulting career.

Photo by Bruce Newman/Oxford Eagle fa ll 2 0 16

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“He loved Ole Miss, and honestly I loved being a part of it,” says Scott “Coach K” Kendricks, former Oxford High School track-and-field coach. “I was on the Ole Miss team 30 years ago myself, and part of me will always be a Rebel and love being a part of the program. The decision [for Sam] to leave his senior year was very hard. As a father, for about a month prior to him making that decision, I just about prayed my knees off trying to find the answer. Then he walked up to me one day and said I think we need to do this.”

Hometown Hero

Born and raised in Oxford, Sam Kendricks took to track and field at a very young age. Being a coach’s kid and “track baby” meant spending numerous afternoons, evenings and weekends hanging out at the track. Among the many events he showed a keen interest in was pole vault.

“I might have been really young the first time I did a pole vault, but the first year I really started to learn was when I was 13 years old,” Kendricks says. “In middle school, I was having fun pole vaulting with the girls’ team, so I started pole vaulting with the equipment my dad made, out at the high school track.”

At the time in Mississippi, girls’ pole vault did not exist competitively. Once it was officially added as a sport in the Mississippi High School Activities Association, a small budget for girls’ equipment was created and, by connection, for small boys as well.

“My dad did magical things over the years — it wasn’t a football budget,” Kendricks says, laughing. “There wasn’t equipment for a guy my size, so once girls started pole vaulting in Mississippi, it really gave me a huge chance to learn more in the event.”

Once Kendricks began learning the skills it took to succeed in the sport, he earned a spot on the high school track team

and kept jumping higher and higher. During his junior year of high school, he broke the school record jumping 13 feet, 7 inches, one inch higher than the previous school record held

by Kelly Drury for six years.

“I had already been the bronze medalist twice at the state meet when I finally broke the school record,” Kendricks says.

“That was a really fun day in my life as an athlete, because I had my name on a record board that I had watched change a whole lot in my lifetime. That was truly a product of the time and effort my father allowed us to put in the event.”

Kendricks continued to progress and grow in strength after breaking the Oxford High School pole vault record. Just a short time later that same year, he won the state championships and then secured a silver medal at the New Balance Nationals meet in the emerging elite category jumping 15 feet, 4 inches.

“I can only compare it to the Olympics at that time period in terms of what it felt like,” Kendricks says. “I went there and jumped a personal best. It really started the trend of my dad and me being a duo in the event. We came by ourselves to track-and-field meets and didn’t look like anything special, but when I would take off my warm-up suit and Coach K would stand up out of his chair — we would make something happen that most people hadn’t seen before. It was cool because we really had a niche.”

Dynamic Duo

Kendricks began to move away from team competitions during his senior year of high school to focus on competing at the collegiate level.

The son of a U.S. Marine Corps officer, Kendricks had his heart set on being both a soldier and athlete and realized that Ole Miss offered the best of both worlds.

“That was a big choice to make,” Kendricks says. “I loved

Kendricks and Coach K at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

22

Alumni Review

Photos by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics

Kendricks competing in the 2013 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

being an athlete and had already made plans to be a soldier as well. I saw that Ole Miss Army ROTC would help me with my tuition as well as allow me to compete on the Ole Miss trackand-field team, so I signed a letter of intent to walk on with a book scholarship.”

Kendricks enrolled at Ole Miss in fall 2011 and completed his freshman year under the final year of Head Coach Joe Walker’s tenure – the same man who coached his father during his college career.

The Ole Miss track-and-field coaching staff underwent dramatic changes during Kendricks’ sophomore year, which left the program without a pole vault coach. With his father close by at Oxford High still coaching him every step of the way, the two saw an opportunity that on the surface appeared quite risky.

“I talked to my dad and said I know this is a big thing, but if you want to help me, I would love it,” Kendricks says. “He saw a need and took a great financial risk to himself in making the decision to help me again. He handed off his position as track coach to a new generation of athletes he had coached and in 2012 became a volunteer assistant coach on the Ole Miss track team for pole vaulters.”

The two got to work, putting together team workouts and organizing jump days during which Coach K assisted his son after spending a full day teaching. The days were long and tiring, but the hard work paid off seven months later on March 27, 2013, when Kendricks jumped a personal best 19 feet, 3/4 inches at the Texas Relays at only 19 years old.

“Oh my goodness, this was probably the single most exciting day in my vault career because 19 feet had not been jumped by an NCAA competitor in over a decade,” Kendricks says.

“That’s when my Olympic dream became an Olympic plan. It’s kind of a benchmark that says, OK, this jumper could potentially jump very high in the future and might be a contender for the USA in the future.”

Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics

A contender indeed. By comparison, Kendricks’ Olympic bronze medal jump in Rio was 19 feet, 2 1/4 inches – only 1 1/2 inches higher than his jump at the Texas Relays.

Wheels in Motion

That meet in Austin set the wheels in motion for much to come. That same year, Kendricks won the NCAA Championship, which he won again in 2014 along with the SEC Championship and the USA Championship during his junior year.

Kendricks credits all of that success to the coaching of his father and the support of his family.

“When I made the decision to leave Oxford High School, where I had won 11 state championships, it was a big sacrifice,” Coach K says. “As a coach, it was an opportunity. I talked to my wife [Marni Kendricks (BE 90, BSCvE 05, MS 10)] about it and said he can be at the Olympic level, but I’m going to need to help him every day. She and I agreed that it was worth the sacrifice to leave my high school career that I loved and come over to Ole Miss for no salary.

“Sam and I used to say all the time, ‘for the love of the game.’ It wasn’t about money or me hoping to be a highly paid collegiate coach one day.”

Soon it was Sam Kendricks’ turn to take a leap of faith and make the tough decision to leave his career as a title-holding collegiate athlete behind to focus on going pro during his senior year.

Days after winning the USA Championship in summer 2014, he left his family and sport behind in Oxford for the first time in his life to complete a six-week Army training stint at Fort Knox in Kentucky. The time away was filled with a mix of emotions that ultimately led him to make a big decision.

“When I came back, it seemed like everything was different; your life flies by quickly, and things happen and you have fa ll 2 0 16

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to be ready to say yes when the time comes,” Kendricks says.

“You pray about it, think about it, write about it and think about it some more to make sure what you’re doing is the right call. So we made the call that September to give up our last year of eligibility, become a professional and really pursue that next stage of competition.”

That next stage included securing a contract to become an official Nike athlete and finding his agent, Jeff Hartwig, all within weeks of leaving Ole Miss and declaring pro status.

Hartwig, a former collegiate pole vaulter and record holder,

Photo by Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

a list of only 24 jumpers.

“That feeling of being on the bubble was kind of hard,” Kendricks says. “To just sit there when you’ve been progressing so much, but it allows you to really focus and come back stronger.”

And come back stronger he did, not only winning but also setting a new record at the 2016 Olympic trials of 19 feet, 4 3/4 inches in July. A month later, he recorded a jump of 19 feet, 2 1/4 inches, securing a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics.

“When you finally step on the field of the Olympic games, you realize all the stairs you’ve stepped on to get here, whether it be USA Championships or training in the Mississippi heat for three months in the hottest part of the day, when nobody else was out there, because you knew it would give you an edge — when you throw all of that into a basket and put it on your back going into the Olympic games, you really have a lot of confidence,” Kendricks says. “When I stepped on the field at the Olympics, it didn’t really feel like the Olympic games because I’d been there and done that before. It was a lot of fun for me to see this as the pinnacle of my career to this point, but it’s by no means the end.”

As he sits in his hotel room on an Army base in Fort Lee, Virginia, serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, Kendricks looks forward to completing his military studies and improving his Team USA’s Kendricks leaping for a bronze medal in the men’s pole vault final at the Rio athleticism before heading to London for 2016 Summer Olympic Games. his next World Championship competition in August 2017. counts Sam Kendricks and his family as good friends.

“I can tell you the truth that it was not a long story but a “Because I was a former vaulter, there’s a natural connec- very special one,” he says. “You don’t dare hope that it can turn tion with all of my athletes I represent because of my ability to out so well going towards 2020, but I think I know the right help them more at competitions, but I’m actually fortunate to decisions to make. I’m not very fast, not very tall, not very say I feel like we’ve developed a real friendship as well as the strong; just a little coach’s kid that started from the beginning business side of our relationship. It’s been a pleasure for me with a key to the track, then made it to the Olympic games and because Sam is such a great person.” won a medal.”

For the next two years, Coach K and his son traveled the world, competing in pole vault competitions that were key to building Kendricks’ résumé and international recognition.

“Fighting our way to the top of those world lists that track athletes live and die by really sets the precedent for who’s going to make the national teams and come to the Olympic games,” Kendricks says. “We learned more each step of the way, and two grown men living in small hotel rooms together doesn’t work for very long, but we did it. If I could convey to you how rapidly some things move and how incredibly blessed that I am to have stepped the right way each step of the way. … I couldn’t have done it alone.”

Rebel in Rio

Kendricks’ first foray into Olympic competition was supposed to be at the 2012 Olympic trials. However, during his flight to Eugene, Oregon, competitors with heights higher than his joined the trials list, knocking him down to 25th on 24

Alumni Review

Sam Kendricks and his dad, Scott, will be the featured speakers at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes annual breakfast on Feb. 25, 2017, at the Manning Center on the UM campus.

For details, go to www.olemissfca.org

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A l umni R eview

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R e btoe l s Saints Three distinct alumni paths converge at NFL franchise

By Benjamin Gleisser ew Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees grabs the snap, steps back, scans the field and finds a wide receiver heading toward the end zone.

Brees quickly fires a rocket, and the receiver lifts his arms to snag the ball. Just as his fingers touch leather, he’s hit from behind by the safety.

His shoulder hits the ground, and he gasps in pain.

Pass incomplete. Timeout is called, as there’s a man down on the field holding his arm at a bad angle.

As the Saints medical team springs into action to check on the wounded player, alumnus Beau Lowery (BS 98), director of rehabilitation for the Saints, looks on. He’s seen this type of injury before. Already, he’s calculating how long the player’s going to be out, and what kind of rehab plan he’ll have to formulate after consulting with the team physicians.

Later he’ll discuss the injured player with alumnus Matthew Sharpe (BA 07, JD 10), the team’s workers’ compensation and compliance coordinator. If the injury to the receiver turns out to be more severe than it looks and surgery is required, Sharpe will arrange surgery and begin the paperwork for the insurance company.

“During the season, Matthew and I may meet two or three times a day,” Lowery says from his office at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. “We’re usually discussing someone’s treatment and insurance issues. We generally don’t have much time for catch-up about the Rebels or our time at the University of Mississippi.”

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Photos by Michael C. Hebert/New Orleans Saints fa ll 2 0 16

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But alumnus Ben Hales (BA 96), senior vice president of marketing and business development for both the Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, is always ready to talk about Ole Miss when he runs into his fellow alumni in the corporate hallways. The two sports franchises are owned by the same company, with Lowery and Sharpe working solely for the Saints.

Big Plans Going into the 2016 season, Hales was especially busy planning special events to commemorate the Saints’ 50th year and the Pelicans’ 10-day goodwill tour to China.

The football franchise’s anniversary celebration is all about the fans. The team invited its followers to digitally record their memories and upload the videos to the Saints’ website for all to see. The videos also play on the scoreboard during home games.

The team plans to build a monument at the stadium to honor the 850 season ticket holders who bought their passes in 1967 and have kept their seats for half a century.

“I’m proud that my family is included in that group,” Hales says. “For sure, many of our original holders were businesses, but lots of families have supported the team, which means so much to the people of this city.”

The city’s NBA franchise means a lot to the people too, Hales adds. Sports fans were excited when the Charlotte Hornets relocated to New Orleans before the 2002 season, but when Hurricane Katrina damaged the Smoothie King Center arena in 2005, the team was forced to temporarily relocate to Oklahoma City, where it was known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Two years later, the Hornets returned to New Orleans and in 2013, the franchise announced it was renaming itself the Pelicans.

Owner Tom Benson suggested the name change, and Hales went to work selling the team’s rebranding.

While the Pelicans moniker isn’t as forceful as some, like the Timberwolves or Raptors, Hales says the name has important significance for people who love “New Awlins.”

“After Katrina, everyone in the area was struggling, and our sports teams became symbols of our resilience,” Hales says. “It meant so much to residents to see severely damaged buildings in the downtown area being reopened, and houses being rebuilt in neighborhoods that were destroyed by floods. The Saints came back to offer hope and joy when the Superdome reopened, and when the basketball team returned, people celebrated.”

The team faced many issues, and people’s biggest fear was that the basketball team might leave.

“Mr. Benson thought the name ‘Hornets’ could be transported anywhere — they could be the Hornets of Sioux Falls or Charlotte. He knew we needed something residents could identify with, and the pelican is part of our culture.”

As the state bird of Louisiana, the pelican pays homage to the minor league Pelicans baseball team that played from 28

Alumni Review

1887 to 1977 and is also a symbol of coastal preservation and renovation.

“The bird represents our area and shows how resilient we are in the face of all the tough issues impacting our environment,” Hales says.

Injuries to key players last year grounded the Pelicans with a 30-52 record, which was especially disappointing since the squad made the playoffs the season before. But the Pelicans

Ben Hales

are back to full strength now, and Hales has engineered a marketing plan featuring the team’s new coach, new players and a promotional trip to China that had fans flocking to ticket counters.

“The Pelicans provide our sports fans with a great outlet for their passion,” Hales says. “Ticket sales are doing well, and we’ve got a lot of new community partners and sponsors. I’m pleased the way things have gone.”

Hales believes the China trip, where the Pelicans played two preseason games against the Houston Rockets, was a winwin opportunity for the NBA and New Orleans.

“We hope to create international awareness for our team and attract investment to our business community,” he says.

“And, hopefully, move some business here.”

An English major who “loved reading and writing,” Hales says his liberal arts education at Ole Miss prepared him for running the marketing departments of professional sports franchises in ways he never expected.

“My classes stressed different ways of thinking. For example, (the late) professor Chester Quarles taught a class on terrorism that I still think about today, because my job includes planning for security at all our major events. And my ‘History of Blues Culture’ class introduced me to issues that continue to impact us. In addition, I especially appreciated how the dean made time for me, advising me on what I could do to improve as a student and then checking in with me from time to time to see if things were going well.”

After graduation and a stint selling advertising on television, Hales joined the Saints in 2000 as a sales account executive. Two promotions later, he was director of business and marketing operations.

Under his guidance, the Saints won the 2006 Marketer of the Year award from the American Marketing Association’s New Orleans chapter, and his department took the 2007 MAX Award for the team’s advertising campaign.

Besides leading the organization’s marketing efforts and overseeing the day-to-day stadium operations, Hales heads the Saints’ community and youth outreach programs.

His community activism, including serving on the New Orleans City Park Board of Commissioners, earned him the 2013 Young Leadership Council Role Model award.

“I was certainly humbled to win that, especially since my father, a pediatrician, received the same award many years ago,” he says. “I’m fortunate that in my p o s it i on , I’m able to work

in our community with so many industries and so many good people who share a lot of great ideas.”

One of those people he helped bring along was fellow Saints employee and Ole Miss alumnus Matthew Sharpe.

“Matt’s mother, Charleen, works here, and when she told me Matt was going to Ole Miss, I was so excited,” he says.

“I’ve watched him grow up in high school and followed him through seven years at Ole Miss, and he’s turned out to be everything you’d expect from an Ole Miss graduate.”

The Big Picture Sharpe says his mother working in the franchise’s accounting department since 1981 did not guarantee him a job.

“I applied through the team website, just like everyone else.

Though, because of my mother, I had a good understanding of the organization.”

As the workers’ compensation and compliance coordinator, Sharpe is responsible for keeping abreast of all federal and state laws regarding privacy, safety and health insurance. He’s also a respected sports photographer with several of his game-day shots — including a few taken when he was a student at Ole Miss — published in Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine.

“I’ve wanted a career in photography since I was 10 years old, when I spent my birthday money on a Vivitar camera,” he remembers. “My dad gave me an old Minolta, and in high school I took pictures of football games and other events.

When I got to Mississippi, I pestered the editor of The Daily Mississippian until he let me shoot a volleyball game.”

By his senior year, he was the DM’s photo editor, honing his skills covering soccer, basketball and football games. He put himself through law school by photographing weddings and catching an occasional assignment from a national publication.

Sharpe credits his UM law school professors with guiding him along his career path, in particular associate professor of law William W. Berry III. “He advised us to practice law in a lot of areas,” Sharpe says. “He made everything relevant and urged us to research new topics and investigate both sides of an issue.”

Matthew Sharpe

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His job duties vary from day to day, and Sharpe wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I never know what’s coming through the door next,” he says. “People think that just because I’m a team attorney, I’m involved in contract negotiations. They think I’m the antiagent. When I tell them I don’t know who we’re looking at signing, who we’re thinking of drafting or why the coach called a certain play, they act flabbergasted. I have to explain that I’m just an in-house attorney, and my office is on the other side of the building.”

Holistic Rehab Beau Lowery’s interest in medicine began when he fractured his fibula playing football in high school and had to undergo several months of rehabilitation. His school’s athletic trainer got him a job at Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, where he observed surgeries performed by Dr. Lance Line (BA 83, MD 88), who steered him toward a career in physical therapy.

“Ole Miss’ physical therapy program was phenomenal,” Lowery says. “Dolph Woodall, director of the sports physical therapy residence program, had a hands-on approach to teaching that laid the groundwork that allowed me to grow. He brought in different types of physicians to speak and showed us we didn’t have to limit ourselves to one area of sports medicine.”

After graduation, Lowery was a physical therapist at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel. Later he accepted a position as an associate athletic trainer/ physical therapist at Louisiana State University, where

he was also an adjunct professor. During his time there, he helped found the Elite Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Clinic in Baton Rouge before joining the Saints in 2011.

Lowery says the difference between treating athletes at LSU – where he looked after the baseball, football, gymnastics and men’s golf teams, and the cheerleading squad – and those in the NFL is he provided more sports medicine at the college level.

“I took care of everything, from coughs and fevers to lacerations and cervical injuries,” Lowery says. “In the NFL, I deal more with a player’s rehabilitation. The emphasis here is treating the whole person, which means I often work alongside the coaches, team physicians, MRI imaging and pain management professionals, and may even involve psychology and nutrition education.”

Lowery is a great believer in the mind-body connection.

“I connect with guys to help them both physically and spiritually. When they’re injured, in their darkest time, I’m somebody they can rely on to let them know what they’re going through is the process of healing. I show them the steps they’ve got to take, work with them, educate them. I let them know somebody’s right there beside you spiritually, to address the entire person. I go with them each step of the way.”

But perhaps his greatest reward is seeing those players back in action.

“I’m on [the] sidelines with them before the game, and before they run back out on the field, they give me a high-five or a hug,” he says. “It’s very satisfying to know they appreciate what I’ve done.”

Beau Lowery

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Alumni Review

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With HonoRs TOP ALUMNI RECOGNIZED FOR ACHIEVEMENT AND SERVICE

By Jim Urbanek

T

his year’s gala honoring the 2016 distinguished alumni award recipients as part of Homecoming attracted a packed house of nearly 400 alumni and friends for an evening of fellowship, dinner and special recognition of this year’s inductees at The Inn at Ole Miss.

The distinguished alumni awards include the Alumni Hall of Fame, Alumni Service Award and Outstanding Young Alumni Award. A welcome by Eddie Maloney (BBA 72), 2015-16 Alumni Association president, preluded video presentations and acceptance speeches from each inductee.

“This event allows us the opportunity to honor the men and women whose accomplishments and dedication to Ole Miss and their communities exemplify the highest level of achievement,” says Kirk Purdom (BA 93), executive director of the Alumni Association. “It is a privilege for us to show our appreciation and to say, thank you.”

Created in 1974, the Hall of Fame honors select alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their country, state or the University of Mississippi through good deeds, services or contributions that have perpetuated the good name of Ole Miss.

The Alumni Hall of Fame inductees for 2016 are David E. Brevard (BA 78) of Tupelo; James L. Cox, M.D. (63) of Atlanta; Thomas C. Meredith (EdD 71) of Oxford; Thomas J. “Sparky” Reardon (BAEd 72, PhD 00) of Oxford; and Constance Slaughter-Harvey (JD 70) of Forest.

T. Michael Glenn (BBA 77) of Memphis received the Alumni Service Award for service to the university and the Alumni Association over an extended period.

Patrick Woodyard (BA 10) of Nashville, Tennessee, was presented the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have shown exemplary leadership throughout their first 15 years of alumni status in both their careers and dedication to Ole Miss.

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Alumni Review

Hall of Fame David Brevard is president and chief executive officer of B & B Concrete

Co. Inc., a concrete materials supply company with plants located throughout north Mississippi.

He is also vice president of Concrete Industries Inc., a real estate firm with ready-mix concrete plant holdings in north Mississippi.

Brevard is a 1974 graduate of Tupelo High School. At Ole Miss, he was a Carrier Scholar, a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and a member of the Hall of Fame. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia in 1981.

Brevard is a former chairman of the board of Mississippi Methodist Senior Services and the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi. He is a former president of the Northeast Mississippi Community Relations Association, Tupelo Kiwanis Club and Mississippi Concrete Industries Association. He also is a former founding board member of the Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity.

Brevard is active in First United Methodist Church of Tupelo. He is a past president of the District One Ole Miss Alumni Club and the University of Mississippi Alumni Association. He served as chairman of The Inn at Ole Miss campaign committee; member of the Chancellor’s Trust and Pacesetters Committee for the Commitment to Excellence campaign; member of the Campaign/Committee Chairs for the MomentUM campaign; and as an executive committee member for the University of Mississippi Foundation. He received the Alumni Association’s Alumni Service Award in 2009.

Brevard is married to the former Shawn Robson Stewart of Glendale, Ohio. They have two daughters.

James Cox was born and raised in Fair Oaks, Arkansas. He was recruited to Ole Miss by Johnny Vaught and, from 1960 to 1964, played baseball and freshman basketball, was president of Alpha Epsilon Delta and was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. After turning down baseball contracts from the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, he enrolled at University of Tennessee Medical School in 1963. He received his medical degree in 1967 and was awarded outstanding student in his graduating class.

Cox trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Duke University. He spent most of his career as the first Evarts A. Graham Professor of Surgery and chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. In 1997, Cox became chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Georgetown University. He later became chairman and CEO of the World Heart Foundation.

During his surgical career, Cox was the 81st president of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery, director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and board member of numerous professional organizations.

Cox is best known for his work in the field of cardiac arrhythmia surgery and the development of the eponymous “Cox-Maze procedure” for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Variations of his procedure are performed in over one-half million patients per year worldwide.

Cox received several scientific achievement awards throughout his career. He lives in Atlanta and serves as a senior consultant to eight medical device companies and on the board of directors of four of them. fa ll 2 0 16

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Hall of Fame Thomas Meredith has served as the head of three university systems

and as a university president during his 41-year career in higher education. He has been commissioner of higher education for Mississippi’s eight universities; the chancellor of the University System of Georgia, responsible for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities; the chancellor of the University of Alabama System; and president and professor of education at Western Kentucky University. He also served as a vice chancellor at the University of Mississippi. Since 2008, Meredith has served as a senior fellow for the Association of Governing Boards in Washington, D.C., helping university presidents and governing boards in 23 states and Puerto Rico.

Meredith holds a B.A. from Kentucky Wesleyan College, an M.A. from Western Kentucky University, an Ed.D. from the University of Mississippi, and he completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and the Higher Education Roundtable at Oxford University.

He was president of the National Association of System Heads, an organization composed of the chief executive officers of the 52 public higher education systems in the United States. He also served as chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the first head of a university system to serve in that capacity.

Meredith holds two honorary doctorates and has been recognized by his alma maters including the naming of a building in his honor at Western Kentucky. He has twice been selected as the Ole Miss School of Education Alumnus of the Year.

Meredith’s wife, Susan (BA 72), and sons Dr. Mark Meredith (BS 97, MD 01) and Matthew Meredith (BA 00) are an Ole Miss family.

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A 1968 graduate of Clarksdale High School, Sparky Reardon served the University of Mississippi in several positions within the area of student affairs. Most notably, he served as dean of students from 2000 until 2014. Previously, he served as coordinator of pre-admissions, assistant director of student activities, associate director of student services and associate dean of students. Reardon received his B.A.E. from Ole Miss in 1972 and his Ph.D. in 2000. Additionally, he earned an M.Ed. from Delta State University in 1976. He retired from Ole Miss in 2014.

As an undergraduate, Reardon served as sports editor and managing editor of The Daily Mississippian, vice president of the senior class and president of the Order of Omega.

Reardon has spoken to thousands of students at numerous universities, conferences and conventions.

He received the Bob Schaeffer Award for long-term outstanding service to fraternities and was named the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference Advisor of the Year. He has received the Kappa Alpha Order Interfraternal Accolade and the Phi Kappa Psi Ralph E. “Dud” Daniel Award.

In 2008, Phi Delta Theta inducted him into the Legion of Honor, and Reardon presently serves as a member of the general council of the organization.

He was featured in History Channel’s “History of Fraternities.”

Reardon initiated the adoption of the Ole Miss Creed in 2000 and served as co-chair of the Creed Committee. He received the initial Thomas Frist Award for outstanding service to students and was honored by the Class of 2008 with a scholarship in his name.

He resides in Taylor and serves on several local, regional and national boards.

Alumni Review

Hall of Fame

Photos by Bill Dabney

Constance Slaughter-Harvey, former assistant secretary of state and general counsel, is founder and president of Legacy Education and Community Empowerment Foundation Inc. Slaughter-Harvey was the first African-American woman to receive a law degree from the University of Mississippi and first African-American woman to serve as a judge in Mississippi. The Black Law Student Association at the University of Mississippi School of Law was named in her honor, and she received the law school’s Public Service Award, thus becoming the first woman and first AfricanAmerican to be so honored. She was adjunct professor at Tougaloo College for more than 36 years. She is Scott County Bar president and Scott County Youth Court prosecutor.

She is the recipient of the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award and Mississippi Bar’s Susie Buchanan Award, which are the highest honors bestowed on female attorneys; the R. Jess Award, National Legislative Black Caucus Nation Builder Award and Woman Lawyer of the Year. SlaughterHarvey is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Magnolia Bar Association/Foundation, National Bar Association, American Bar Foundation, Mississippi Bar Foundation, NAACP and Girl Scouts.

She was inducted into the halls of fame of Tougaloo College, the National Bar Association and the UM School of Law. She is featured in a documentary, “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders,” which received recognition at the Kennedy Center in New York in 2004. She received the Rabbi Perry Nussbaum Civil Justice Award in 2016 and the 2016 Heritage Award.

She is the mother of Constance Olivia Burwell and the grandmother of James A. Emmanuel “Tre’” Burwell III.

2016 gala

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alumni Service award T. Michael Glenn is executive vice president of market development and corporate communications for FedEx Corp. He is a member of the five-person Executive Committee, responsible for planning and executing the corporation’s strategic business activities. Glenn also serves as president and chief executive officer of FedEx Corporate Services, responsible for marketing, sales, customer service and retail operations functions for all FedEx Corp. operating companies including FedEx Office.

Before FedEx Corp. was formed in January 1998, Glenn was senior vice president of worldwide marketing, customer service and corporate communications. He joined FedEx in 1981 and, since 1991, has been the chief architect of the company’s marketing and brand strategy.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and his master’s degree from the University of Memphis. Glenn currently serves on the boards of directors for Level 3 Communications and Pentair Inc. In addition, he serves on the board of directors for Madonna Learning Center, a school for special needs children and adults, and Youth Programs Inc., the host organization for the FedEx St. Jude Classic, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Glenn previously served as a member of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association Executive Committee and currently serves on the Athletic Committee. He was inducted into the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008.

Outstanding Young alumni award

Patrick Woodyard is a 2010 University of Mississippi graduate of the Croft Institute for International Studies and Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. He holds a B.A. in international studies (global economics and business) and Spanish. While at Ole Miss, Woodyard was inducted into the Student Hall of Fame and served as Associated Student Body director of community service, philanthropy chair and vice president of Sigma Chi Fraternity, founder/president of Hope for Africa (EDUganda) and founding member of Respect Mississippi.

After graduating, Woodyard pursued an opportunity through Peru Mission to work in microfinance in Northern Peru. While there, Woodyard was introduced to a massive community of shoemakers who possessed remarkable talent yet lacked access to the international marketplace. With a vision to support the Peruvian footwear industry and push the global fashion industry in a new, more sustainable direction, Woodyard co-founded Nisolo in late 2011.

Nisolo’s high quality leather shoes and accessories for men and women have been sold in all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries. Through the ethical production of its products, Nisolo directly supports the livelihoods of more than 325 people across the globe and is considered to be one of the most respected brands on the forefront of the ethical fashion movement.

For his work with Nisolo, Woodyard was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, recognized as an “Innovator Changing the South” by Southern Living magazine and named a Global Accelerator Entrepreneur by the United Nations. Woodyard resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Sally Ward (BA 10), and serves as a founding board member of the Nashville Fashion Alliance and Nashville Social Enterprise Alliance.

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Alumni Review

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Illustration by iStock Alumni Review

UM colleagues united by kidney transplant

By Edwin Smith and Ruth Cummins

Kidney transplant recipient Charlotte Pegues (right) gets a warm embrace from her living donor and friend Leslie Banahan.

Photo by Robert Jordan

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A

crisis situation often reveals who one’s true friends are. University of Mississippi colleagues Charlotte Pegues (BA 92, MEd 94, PhD 01) and Leslie Banahan (BAJ 76, MEd 92) discovered the depths of their friendship when a health crisis for the former brought the latter to her rescue.

Three years ago, Pegues’ kidneys began to fail, eventually placing her in dire need of a transplant. Soon after hearing the news, Banahan volunteered to donate one of her own kidneys. Physicians determined the two were a match, and the successful operation was performed June 9 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“I feel like Leslie is my sister,” says Pegues, assistant provost for academic affairs and registrar. “I want to repay her in some way, but she says this was a gift. It’s a God thing!”

Banahan, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, says she is grateful and honored that she was able to be there for her friend.

“I wouldn’t have done this for just anyone, but Charlotte is an amazing woman, someone I wanted to help so she could live a full, long, happy life with her husband, family and friends,” Banahan says. “We have a special connection now — sisters, really — as we have shared this journey together.”

“She was very intent on helping her friend,” Johnston says. “It’s a very selfless act to give up a kidney. There are risks to the donor, so these are pretty special people who volunteer to do this.”

“It seems like a very short process, but it’s very intensive and very thorough,” Johnston says of the weeks leading up to the transplant.

The day of surgery, Banahan’s kidney was removed by Dr. Mark Earl, associate professor of transplant surgery. It was carried one operating room over, where Pegues was prepped for her own surgery. Within about an hour, Banahan’s kidney was transplanted into Pegues, Earl says.

The entire process took about three hours, Wynn says.

Part of registered nurse Mollie King’s job is to give postsurgery transplant patients emotional support and to answer their questions at any time. Pegues “always talks to me about Leslie,” King says.

“She’s nicknamed her kidney as Carlie — a combination Photo by Marc Rolph/UMMC Public Affairs

Charlotte Pegues (center) talks with registered nurse Mollie King and surgeon Dr. James Wynn during a postop exam at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where Pegues underwent a successful kidney transplant in June.

Because becoming a living organ donor is a life-changing decision, Banahan says it was not a choice that she made quickly or without a great deal of research, prayer and consideration.

“Ultimately, my faith in God and my love for Charlotte led me to be a living organ donor,” she says.

When Pegues was referred to UMMC’s transplant team by her nephrologist in Oxford, she told them that she had a potential live donor, says Dr. James Wynn, professor of transplant surgery who performed Pegues’ kidney transplant.

“That’s the best transplant circumstances — when you can have a living donor,” Wynn says. UMMC’s procedure is to give the person in need of a transplant information to pass on to the potential donor. That person contacts UMMC to say he or she would like to donate a kidney.

That’s what Banahan did.

“We found that she was compatible with (Pegues) and also medically suitable,” Wynn says. “It’s great when that happens.”

Registered nurse Jessica Johnston served as Banahan’s living donor transplant coordinator. She arranged Banahan’s own surgery and preoperative care, and made sure that she fully understood the risks — and that she could change her mind at any time.

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Alumni Review

of Charlotte and Leslie. We joke about how Carlie is doing.

She’s grateful, very knowledgeable, and she wants to know everything about all aspects of her care. She’s had her ups and downs, but she looks good and she feels good. Her transplant is working excellently. Carlie’s working well.”

Pegues’ nephrologist encouraged her to pursue being placed on the transplant waiting lists in December 2013.

Pegues told Banahan and her other friends at that time. She was listed at three centers since 2014, and began peritoneal dialysis treatments at home in January 2016.

“The treatment lasted for eight hours each night, and that doesn’t include time spent connecting and disconnecting to the machine,” Pegues says.

“Charlotte never, never complains about being sick or feeling bad, so it was a surprise when she told me that she was going to need a kidney transplant,” Banahan says.

Banahan says that she prayed that her friend would get a kidney and be healthy once again. But the kidney never came, Pegues’ kidneys failed, and she had to go on dialysis.

“That’s when I first thought about the possibility of giving her a kidney,” Banahan says. “I spoke to a couple physicians

and had several conversations with the living organ donor coordinator at UMMC. I decided not to tell Charlotte I was trying to be her donor until I had passed the first couple of medical tests. When those tests yielded encouraging results, I told her that I wanted to give her a kidney.”

Pegues says she was amazed when Banahan offered the organ donation.

“I felt so grateful that she offered to give me such a generous gift,” Pegues says. “When she told me she had started the process of being tested, I was overjoyed. Even before it was determined that she was a match, I was so touched that she considered doing such a thing for me.”

The main consideration, Wynn says, is that the donor and recipient must have compatible blood types.

Banahan and other live donors are advised on the front end of the risks of surgery. Both donors and recipients go through an evaluation process at UMMC to ensure that the donation is being made freely and without coercion, and that donors are doing it for the right reasons, King says.

“Facing a major operation is a worrisome thing, and a lot of our focus is to allay the fears (of both donors and recipients),” Wynn says. “Because of the precautions we take, it’s the safest operation we do. There’s risk, but compared to any other major operation, it’s extremely safe.

“We have a special connection now — sisters, really — as we have shared this journey together.”

— Leslie Banahan

The matching process took some time because of the extensive testing involved. After it was determined the two were compatible, they set a surgery date that worked with their schedules.

“My husband and family were thrilled, to say the least,” Pegues says. “My husband said that I really have a true friend.”

Before becoming a living organ donor, Banahan conferred with her family.

“I discussed the idea with my two adult children,” she says.

“They were both so encouraging and supportive of my decision.”

Since the procedure, Pegues has been continuing her recovery at home.

“As one would expect, I experienced pain in the days immediately following the surgery,” she says. “I rested a lot because there was not much else I could do. Simple tasks wore me out, but I feel stronger each day.”

Banahan says her first couple of weeks after the surgery were challenging.

“There was quite a bit of pain,” she says. “Then, for me, it was a matter of regaining strength and stamina. At eight weeks after surgery, I feel good and am working full time.”

The two agreed that they received excellent care at UMMC and have learned several things through this process.

“First, there is a state law which grants up to six weeks of leave to an organ donor so that the individual does not have to use personal or medical leave,” Pegues says. “Second, there is a tax credit of up to $10,000 available to donors for expenses they incurred such as travel and hotel accommodations. Third and finally, all medical expenses (testing, hospital services) are charged to the recipient.”

“There has been no financial cost to me at all throughout this entire process,” Banahan says. “I hope our story encourages others to consider being a living organ donor.”

Live donors aren’t uncommon nationally, but it can be difficult to find good candidates in the Deep South.

“Part of our challenge is that we serve a predominantly African-American population, and diabetes and high blood pressure are very common,” Wynn says. “Even when we have family members or friends willing to donate, they frequently have medical reasons for not being able to donate.”

“The more important question is, what’s the lifelong risk to the donor of having only one kidney? We know the risk is not zero, but it’s extremely small. We are careful to make sure we identify the potential donors who have problems that can put them at risk for kidney failure.”

While Pegues and Banahan made a model donation team, at least 700 people are on UMMC’s waiting list for a kidney transplant, Wynn says.

“We did 77 kidney transplants in the first six months of this year,” he says. “That shows there’s a large gap between the number waiting and the number of donations available. Donation is a great thing.”

UMMC is making strides in expanding its live organ donor program.

“It’s a beautiful gift to give upon your death, but we want to make more people aware that there’s the option of live donation,” Johnston says.

Pegues and Banahan have “such a beautiful friendship,” he says. “When you are a living donor, that’s a gift that keeps on giving. Leslie will give this gift to Charlotte every day.”

Fatefully, it was a work crisis that initially brought the two Ole Miss employees together in the mid-1990s.

“Leslie was working in international programs, and I was working in admissions,” Pegues says. “We were assigned to work on a very sensitive student issue.”

“The assignment required us to spend quite a bit of time together, and I was quickly impressed with Charlotte’s intelligence, professional knowledge and skills, and her no-nonsense approach to our work,” Banahan says. “We were a good team, and I knew she was someone I could trust and count on to make good decisions.”

What began as a professional relationship developed into a strong friendship.

“I think we both are fairly optimistic people, and we both chose careers in higher education,” Banahan says. “I’m sure we have disagreed occasionally, but I honestly can’t remember a specific disagreement. While our life stories are very different, we just connected and supported one another.” fa ll 2 0 16

41

Sports Ole Miss

CONNER JOINS MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME by the legendary Peggie Gillom, she formed a formidable inside combination with the younger Gillom, Jennifer.

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

F

ormer Ole Miss women’s basketball great Eugenia Conner (BSW 85) will be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, posthumously, as a member of the 2017 induction class, it was announced in September.

Conner, the lone Ole Miss representative in the 2017 class, is one of six Mississippi greats who will be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Voting was done by a statewide selection committee representing all facets of Mississippi sports.

Conner is one of the most decorated players to ever don an Ole Miss women’s basketball uniform. A Gulfport native, she became the first Ole Miss women’s basketball player to be named All-SEC first team all four years and is still one of just two Rebels to earn that distinction. Recruited to Ole Miss

The two-time SEC All-Tournament team selection scored 1,993 career points and grabbed 1,177 career rebounds, making her one of just three players to complete the

1,000-point, 1,000-rebound feat.

Conner becomes the 75th Ole Miss representative in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, dating back to the inaugural class of 1961. She is the third Ole Miss women’s basketball player in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. She joins former coach Van Chancellor, Peggie Gillom-Granderson (BSW 80) and Jennifer Gillom (BAR 87) as Ole Miss women’s basketball representatives in the Hall of Fame.

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum induction weekend will be held Aug. 4-5, 2017. The weekend’s events include the Drawdown of Champions at the Museum on Friday night, Meet the Inductees at the Museum Saturday morning, and the formal enshrinement and banquet on Saturday evening at the Jackson Convention Complex.

Receiving Recognition

MANGUM NAMED TO 2016 SEC FOOTBALL LEGENDS CLASS

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Alumni Review

A native of Magee, Mangum earned first-team All-America honors in 1996, when he served as team captain for the Rebels. A two-time All-SEC selection, Mangum caught 74 passes for 729 yards and four touchdowns during his three seasons with the Rebels, averaging 9.9 yards per reception. He was named the 1996 SEC Most Outstanding Lineman by the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club, and he finished his collegiate career ranked second among Ole Miss tight ends in passes caught and third in receiving yards.

Mangum enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, retiring after the 2006 season as the fifthleading receiver in franchise history with 151 catches for 1,424 yards and nine TDs and third in team history in games played with 126. He was inducted into the Ole

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

F

ormer Ole Miss All-American tight end Kris Mangum (BPA 96) is one of 14 members of the 2016 Southeastern Conference Football Legends class, a collection of former football standouts who will be honored at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December.

The 2016 Football Legends class includes 14 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions. This year’s class includes a Heisman Trophy winner, All-Americans, All-SEC selections and Academic All-Americans as well as NCAA and SEC record holders. The group represents teams that won national and SEC championships and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame.

Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.

The class will be honored at the 2016 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” Dec. 2-3 in Atlanta. The annual SEC Legends Dinner presented by AT&T will be held Dec. 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, and the group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 3.

tradition starts here.

The Future Alumni Network is the student level of membership in the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

Becoming a member is the first step in beginning students’ lifelong relationship with Ole Miss.

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

Memberships are only $25 annually, or $75 for four years for undergrads!

• Whatever you pay in as a student, you get back as a discount on an alumni Li Life Membership.

JOIN ONLINE AT OLEMISSALUMNI.COM/STUDENTS #thenetwork

Ole Miss Sports

No. 1 Recruiting Class

OLE MISS BASEBALL LANDS AT TOP OF BASEBALL AMERICA’S 2016 RANKINGS Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

T

he 2016 Ole Miss baseball recruiting class came to campus arguably the best class in program history.

Now, that opinion becomes fact after Baseball America ranked Ole Miss No. 1 in the publication’s 2016 recruiting rankings. The top ranking marks the first No. 1 recruiting class in Ole Miss sports history.

“It’s an honor to be recognized

by Baseball America as having the top recruiting class in the country,” s ays Mi ke Bianco, Ole Miss he ad coach. “This is an outstanding class put together by our recruiting coordinator Carl Lafferty and assistant coach Mike Clement. The No. 1 ranking is a testament of their hard work in signing talented players that value education and want to experience college baseball at a high level by playing in the

Southeastern Conference.”

The class consists of 15 freshmen and three junior college transfers, including

four freshmen hailing from Oxford.

Ole Miss appears in Baseball America’s top 25 recruiting rankings for the fourth straight year while also becoming the fourth SEC school to earn the top spot over the last six seasons. The Rebels have been nationally ranked (top 25) in recruiting for 14 of 16 years under Bianco, including each of the last 10. Bianco and his staff have produced eight top 10 classes during his tenure; moreover, with Lafferty in his seventh year as the recruiting coordinator, Ole Miss has put together three top 5 classes, the highest-ranked classes in program history.

The Rebels have also been near the top of other recruiting rankings as Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game both list Ole Miss at No. 2 this year.

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Alumni Review

OLE MISS NEEDS YOU! Do you have children or grandchildren whom you would like to attend Ole Miss?

If so, help us get them here!

Students may sign up to join our mailing list by going online to

olemiss.edu/vip

You can also call the Office of Admissions at 662-915-7226. fa ll 2 0 16

45

Published JUST

The Poetic Therapeutic Guide (Of a Simple Poetic Veteran) b y

Alvin L. Spencer, 202 pages, $22.49 (Paperback), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 9781535176453 This book is the debut of original poetry written by a disabled military veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Characterized as a “simple poetic veteran,” Spencer uses poetry as an avenue for positive selfexpression. The poems are emotional depictions of the author’s internal battle between the redemptive power of love and the destructive power of pain, which allow him a productive and nondestructive form of self-expression and self-therapy.

Alvin L. Spencer (BA 85) was commissioned an officer through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Mississippi in 1984. He served in Iraq in 2004-05. In 2011, he was diagnosed with PTSD as the result of his military service and began treatment for it.

Chasing Rainbows and Beyond: A Spectrum of Life and Hope b y Robert Lewis Berman, 262 pages, $14.95 (Paperback), TriMark Press Inc., 9781943401017 Author Robert Lewis Berman (BA 53) shares his “Final Four” humanitarian rainbows in this memoir. Berman’s “Final Four Rainbows of Hope” are the Hope Scholarship, Hope for Starving Children, Hope for Tolerance and Hope for a Cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). In his book, Berman illustrates a game plan for achieving each effort, providing the blueprint for making these humanitarian projects become a reality.

Berman served as a first lieutenant in the 10th Infantry Division and, after being honorably discharged, received his MBA from Harvard. His other books include More Than Survival: One Man’s Plan to Move Mississippi Forward in the 21st Century and A House of David in the Land of Jesus.

Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God b y Rankin

Wilbourne, 320 pages, $14.02 (Hardcover), David C. Cook, 9781434709387 In Union with Christ, Rankin Wilbourne (BA 94) shares how union with Christ can be accessible and beautiful

46

Alumni Review

for everyone, and that it is not an abstract idea but a powerful reality. He relates that recovering a sense of union with Christ can change everything, like finally putting on a pair of desperately needed glasses. And he invites readers to discover how coming to see their lives through the lens of a union with Christ can help bridge that gap between head and heart and between belief and experience.

Wilbourne is pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church in Los Angeles.

A former commercial banker, he’s concerned with practical theology — drawing connections between what we believe and how we live. Wilbourne and his wife, Morgen, reside in Los Angeles with their three children.

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.

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47

Traveler 2017 REBEL

Amazon River

T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering a number of spectacular trips for 2017.

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 and complete listing of trips and prices on the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s website at www. olemissalumni.com/travel.

MONTE CARLO, MONACO JAN. 13-21, 2017

Ole Miss Travelers Only By popular request, we will be visiting the Principality of Monaco on our traditional Ole Miss winter vacation in Europe. Our base will be the first-class hotel Monte Carlo Bay, where every room has a superb view of the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy visiting the country 48

Alumni Review

of the Grimaldi family, and be often reminded there of the glamorous reign of Princess Grace.

The coastline offers magnificent vistas of landscapes and the fabulous villas and estates of the rich and famous. Day excursions will take travelers to Nice and Cannes, further into the countryside for wine tastings and to snowy mountain villages. Another highlight will be a visit to the historic port city of Genoa in Italy. And not to forget the wonderful meals of French and Italian cuisine we will be enjoying on this trip.

— From $4,690, including airfare

AMAZON RIVER EXPEDITION FEB. 3-12, 2017

This unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime journey features a cruise into the Amazon River Basin aboard the deluxe, allsuite M.V. Zafiro, launched in November 2015, and two nights in historic Lima, Peru, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Led by Peruvian naturalists,

cruise through one of the Earth’s most exotic natural realms and our planet’s largest rainforest ecosystem. Seek rare, indigenous flora and fauna — delicate orchids, towering ceiba trees, pink river dolphins and slow-moving sloths — and visit local villages to observe the traditional way of life of the ribereños (river people). A special post-tour option to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley is offered. — From $5,195

EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA FEB. 9-22, 2017

Join us for this spectacular 14-day journey featuring a nine-night, exclusively chartered cruise to Antarctica, Earth’s last frontier. Cruise aboard the intimate M.S. Le Soléal, one of the finest vessels in Antarctic waters, featuring private balconies in 95 percent of the deluxe, ocean-view accommodations.

Experience the White Continent in its unspoiled state — fantastically shaped icebergs, turquoise glaciers,

2017 rebel Traveler bustling penguin rookeries and breaching whales. Accompanied by the ship’s expert team of naturalists, board sturdy Zodiac watercraft for excursions ashore and observe Antarctica’s abundant wildlife. Spend two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires. Extend your journey with the exclusive three-night Iguazú Falls post-program option. — From $9,395

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS FEB. 12-21, 2017

This incredible 10-day journey features a five-night cruise in the Galápagos Islands, a nature lover’s dream destination and UNESCO World Heritage site, aboard the newly refitted, first-class small ship Santa Cruz II. This exploration vessel is equipped for the complete Galápagos experience, from a fleet of Zodiacs and a glass-bottom boat to certified naturalists and complimentary snorkeling gear.

Visit six islands where the unique wildlife accepts up-close human company like nowhere else on Earth. In Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site,

enjoy deluxe hotel accommodations.

Ecuadorian rainforest eco lodge pretour and six-night Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley post-tour options are offered. — From $5,495

COSTA RICA AND PANAMA FEB. 17-25, 2017

Join this spectacular nine-day journey from the Costa Rican rainforest t hroug h t he mig hty lo cks of t he Panama Canal. Spend one night in a deluxe hotel in San José, Costa Rica.

Cruise for seven nights aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star, all-suite M.V. Star Pride. Explore the terrestrial wonders of Costa Rica’s national parks and wildlife refuges. Experience a daylight passage through the awe-inspiring Pa n a m a C a n a l t o re m ot e i s l a n d paradises and pristine waters home to diverse marine life.

Tour Panama City and visit Panama’s San Blas Islands. Enjoy lectures by exclusive onboard study leaders.

Costa Rica’s Volcanoes pre-program and Panama post-program options are offered. — From $4,795

CUBA: PEOPLE, ART AND CULTURE APRIL 2-10, 2017

Cuba boasts a cache of vibrant culture, fascinating history and heritage, and welcoming locals. This Peopleto-People educational exchange, licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department, is brimming with opportunities to learn and explore. Enjoy authentic experiences as you uncover Cuban culture during presentations by local experts coupled with visits to historic sites, museums, schools and community projects. Begin by exploring Havana’s highlig hts and historic district. Visit Hemingway’s former home, ride in an antique convertible, and meet ballet and Afro-Cuban dancers. Discover Cuban art at a local art studio and the National Museum of Fine Arts. See cigar makers craft Cuba’s most famous export. En route to Cienfuegos, visit a sugar cane factory and talk with former workers.

Then discover local life in Trinidad, and e nj oy a C i e n f u e go s mus i c a l performance.

The program includes round-trip charter flights from Miami, all excursions and interactive activities and talks. Your small-group experience features first-class accommodations and an extensive meal plan including local beverages with dinner. — From $5,495

OUTRAGEOUS OUTBACK APRIL 7-23, 2017

Panama Canal

Discover rugged outback scenery, cosmopolitan cities and whimsical wildlife on this odyssey aboard Oceania Cr uises’ elegant Sirena.

Relax on Eden’s golden beaches, take in Melbourne’s graceful Victorian architecture, and browse the Makers’ Workshop in Burnie, Tasmania. Then cruise the glassy waters of Milford S ound fjord, a magnificent sight with its towering cliffs swathed in verdant forests. Delve into the Scottish heritage of Dunedin, glimpse the fascinating Maori culture of Akaroa, and explore the artists’ galleries and boutique wineries of Nelson. Take a cable car ride to the top of Mount fa ll 2 0 16

49

2017 rebel Traveler

Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo

Victoria, offering stunning panoramic views of Wellington, and admire the art deco architecture of Napier.

Before concluding your adventure in Auckland, laze on Tauranga’s pristine beaches or head to nearby Rotorua, renowned for its steaming geysers and thermal pools. — From $6,799

WORLD WAR I HISTORY CRUISE APRIL 14-23, 2017

During this enlightening river cruise, discover the charm of Amsterdam’s canals, the historic harbors in Dordre cht, and Namur’s enchant ing medieval squares and streets. Explore some of Europe’s most noteworthy cities during guided sightseeing and panoramic tours in Ghent, Antwerp and Maastricht. Visit the battlefields of Ypres and Eastern Flanders. Plus enjoy exclusive on-board lectures by Nigel Jones, British historian and writer, who specializes in 20th-century European history and biography. — From $3,995

INLAND SEA OF JAPAN APRIL 30-MAY 10, 2017

Experience the timeless splendor of Japan and South Korea on this unique itinerary, featuring a seven-night cruise across the full length of the historic Inland Sea of Japan, plus two nights in 50

A l umni R eview

Kyoto. On board the exclusively chartered, five-star, small ship M.S. L’Austral, featuring only 110 ocean-view suites and staterooms, enjoy port calls at captivating points of interest, including five UNESCO World Heritage sites.

From enchanting Kyoto to storied Hiroshima, from Miyajima to the Buddhist wonders of Gyeongju, South Korea, relish the awe-inspiring beauty of historic ports of Japan and South Korea. Tokyo/Kyoto pre-program and Kanazawa post-program options are offered. — From $5,795

MEDITERRANEAN MASTERPIECE MAY 10-21, 2017

Experience an inspiring Mediterranean odyssey, where each port of call is a striking masterpiece. From ancient cities soaked in color and culture to cobbled squares framed by elegant cathedrals, encounter extraordinary sights in Italy, France, Monaco and Spain. From the comfort of Oceania Cruises’ Marina, set sail for Livorno, a gateway to Florence, Pisa and the soulstirring Tuscan countryside.

Then take a journey to Sardinia’s Emerald Coast to discover the beauty of Olbia or Porto Cervo. Stop at Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, an island of lush forests and scenic gorges. Behold

breathtaking panoramas along Italy’s Cinque Terre, and savor the glamour of Monte Carlo and Antibes. Explore Marseille’s vibrant markets, and marvel at Palma’s Gothic cathedral. Before your adventure concludes in Barcelona, take in Valencia’s ultra-futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. — From $2,999

CELTIC LANDS MAY 16-25, 2017

Cruise for eight nights aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star small ship M.S. Le Boréal from Glasgow, Scotland, to Wales, Ireland and France, with guided excursions in each port.

By special arrangement, walk the hallowed beaches of Normandy with Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of former Gen. and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and meet Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, cousin of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. Travel into the Scottish Highlands aboard The Jacobite steam train; visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Caernarfon Castle near Holyhead, Wales; experience the austere beauty of the Inner Hebridean isles; and view Celtic treasures in Dublin. Glasgow/Edinburgh pre-cruise and Paris/Giverny post-cruise options are offered. — From $6,195

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News ALUMNI

Rebel Travelers

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS EXPERIENCE THE WORLD TOGETHER

52

Alumni Review

Photo by Steve Mullen

S

ince 1990, the Ole Miss Alumni Association has offered alumni and friends the opportunity to see the world in style and with their fellow Rebels. From viewing Alaskan glaciers to cruising down the Amazon River, the Alumni Association has a trip suitable for any travel bug.

Donna Ruth Roberts (BA 65) never considered another group travel option. In August, Roberts embarked on her seventh trip with the Alumni Association, this time to Oxford and the English countryside.

Visiting places such as Bletchley Park and Highclere Castle, Roberts says her favorite part of the trip was the visit to Blenheim Palace.

Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, Sir Winston Churchill’s cousin, spoke to the visitors during their lunch at the palace, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“He was very charming, and he told us about life growing up there,” Roberts says.

Though a regular traveler with the Alumni Association, this was Roberts’ first trip that featured an Alumni Association host. Steve Mullen, assistant director for marketing and membership, joined the 11 other Ole Miss travelers. Roberts says Mullen’s presence made the trip easy.

“It was great having Steve join us,” Roberts says. “He made sure we were taken care of, informed about the day trips, and we enjoyed some social time with him to get to know him better.”

Not only did Roberts enjoy the addition of the alumni host to the trip, she also says the Alumni Association’s partnership with different travel agencies makes it so “all you need to do is show up.”

Also on the trip to England were Fred and Jill Sauceman, friends of the Alumni Association.

“We had been contemplating a trip abroad for years,” Fred Sauceman says. “I had visited the European continent twice during my student years, and I always wanted to take Jill across the Atlantic.”

After Jill’s successful kidney transplant in November 2014, they started planning their trip during her recovery. “[Jill] is a ‘Downton Abbey’ fan, so when we got the [Ole Miss Travel] brochure and saw that the tour included Highclere Castle – that sealed it,” Sauceman says.

In addition to Highclere Castle, the couple chose the trip because it combined small towns, medium-sized towns and the big city on the itinerary.

Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill (left), cousin to Sir Winston Churchill, signs a book for Ole Miss travelers Fred and Jill Sauceman at Blenheim Palace. Churchill shared his memories of living in the palace with the group during a private luncheon.

Not only did the trip offer the experience the Saucemans were looking for, traveling with the Alumni Association made planning seamless.

“Both the Alumni Association and Gohagan Travel Agency provided everything we needed to know about preparing to travel abroad,” Sauceman says. “It was so much easier than planning a trip on our own. We let the travel agency book our flight, too, and everything was well coordinated with the tour program.”

The Saucemans say they likely will travel with the Ole Miss Alumni Association again.

“Traveling with a group provided opportunities to see places that tourists on their own would not have access to.”

For more information on Alumni Association travel opportunities, turn to page 48 in this issue or visit olemissalumni.com/worldtravel.

Meet Your Extended Family Take care of your family—then your Ole Miss family.

A simple gift in your will to the University of Mississippi Foundation can ensure the future of your Ole Miss family for generations to come.

• Support students’ education by funding scholarships.

• Help attract the best instructors possible with outstanding faculty support.

• Meet departmental needs campus-wide with unrestricted giving.

Gifts of $25,000 or more can create endowments in your name or in honor of others. To leave a legacy for your Ole Miss family, contact us today.

Call Sandra Guest, vice president, at (662) 915-5208 or visit umfoundation.planmylegacy.org.

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53

ALUMNI News

Class Notes ’40s

LUCIUS BRYAN DABNEY JR.

(JD 49) has been licensed to practice law in Mississippi for 67 years. He operates the oldest law firm in the state, Dabney & Dabney in Vicksburg, which opened before the Civil War.

WILLIAM WINTER (BA 43, LLB 49) was

VARIS BARENIS (BBA 65) retired from

the Louisiana Department of Labor after 32 years and is currently employed by Tangipahoa Parish School System and the Workforce Development Board as auditor and monitor of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs.

honored by the Mississippi Geographic Alliance at the annual MGA Geographic Visionary Awards ceremony in Jackson.

TERRY J. RALEY SR. (BSPh 63) retired after

’50s

’70s

THAD COCHRAN (BA 59, JD 65) was named recipient of the 2016 Advocacy Award by the American Veterinary Medical Association in Washington, D.C., for his many contributions to the advancement of impactful legislation on behalf of the veterinary profession.

’60s

V. GLENN ALDERSON (BPA 63,

JD 66) was honored for his 50 years of service to the Lafayette County Bar Association.

LOUIS F. ALLEN (LLB 64), an attorney at Glankler Brown PLLC in Memphis, was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017.

53 years as owner of Oak Place Pharmacy in Gulfport.

J. RICHARD BARRY (BPA 76

NED CURRIE (BA 73, JD 76), a shareholder

at C u r r i e Jo h n s o n & My e r s PA i n Jackson, was awarded the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was re-elected to the board of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel as a senior board member.

JUDY DANIEL (BA 74) was hired as city pl anner of Oxford by t he B o ard of Aldermen.

JD 79), senior partner in the Meridian law firm of Barry, Thaggard, May and Bailey LLP, was named board chairman of the Mississippi Board of Mental Health. He is also president-elect of the Mississippi Bar Association.

JIMMY HEIDELBERG (JD 77), managing partner of Heidelberg, Steinberger, Colmer and Burrow PA in Pascagoula, was named to the 23rd edition of Best Lawyers in America in seven areas of law.

BARBARA BOONE (BS 77) of Petal was

Mississippi’s secretar y of state, was appointed to co-chair the Standing Committee on Securities for the National Association of Secretaries of State for 2016-17.

presented with the Jess McKee Award for Distinguished Service to Geography Education at the Mississippi Geographic Alliance Geographic Visionary Luncheon in September.

JACK CAMERON (BBA 76) of West Salem,

Ohio, joined Brake Parts Inc. as national sales manager, commercial vehicle.

C. DELBERT HOSEMANN JR. ( JD 72),

JOE FRANK LAUDERDALE (BSCvE 71) was elected president of the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

My interest in painting came from things in my life which have been personally challenging.

www.butterbeanandbird.com

A percentage of each sale goes to the Mississippi Alzheimer’s foundation.

A percentage of each sale of my art goes to the Mississippi Alzheimer’s foundation.

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Alumni Review

ALUMNI News JOHN MILNER (BA 75, JD 78), a member in

the Jackson office of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes PLLC, was elected vice chair of the American Bar Association’s section of Environment, Energy and Resources.

GEORGE NASSAR JR. (JD 79), an attorney at

Glankler Brown PLLC in Memphis, was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America 2017.

RANDY NOEL (JD 78), attorney at Butler Snow in Memphis, s er ve d on t he American Bar Association’s Commission on the Future of Legal Services at the ABA annual meeting in San Francisco.

’80s

ANDREW K. HOWORTH (JD 87) of Oxford was appointed to the Mississippi Bar Complaint Tribunal for a three-year term.

’90s

TIFFANEE WADE-HENDERSON

(JD 98) was promoted to general counsel of litigation in the Memphis headquarters of International Paper Co. JOHN P. KENNEY (BS 96) of Tupelo received the Academy of General Dentistr y’s Fellowship Award during the AGD 2016 Annual Meeting & Exhibits in July. He is the only dentist in Mississippi this year to reach the fellowship level.

ROY MOOMEY (BBA 99) was honored at

the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas football game for his heroic actions while on duty as an Arkansas state trooper. He deliberately c o l l i d e d w i t h a w r o n g - w ay d r i v e r speeding on I-40 in an attempt to save the lives of motorists that were headed in that direction.

DEREK H. MORETON (BA 95, JD 99) is now

an associate with the Oxford office of Harper Whitwell PLLC.

’00s

MATT HEDGES ( M BA 0 4 ) ,

founder of Vino del S ol, earned a spot in Wine Enthusiast’s Top

40 under 40 Tastemakers 2016 for his wine venture. He sells wine in all 50 states and won the Wake Forest Elevator Competition.

BRIAN W. HOPKINS (BS 01, PhD 06) was promoted to deputy CIO for academic t e c h n o l o g y f o r t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f Mississippi.

NICHOLAS J. PIEROTTI (BA 06) of Memphis

was appointed assistant town attorney to serve as an assistant prosecutor in the Municipal Court of Collier ville, Tennessee.

COLLINS TUOHY-SMITH (BA 09) was the keynote speaker at the Union County Women’s Leadership Coalition’s 11th annual conference.

NATHAN SMITH ( B BA 0 6 ) j oi n e d

BancorpSouth as the commercial lender and branch manager at the Jackson Avenue branch in Oxford.

SELENA STANDIFER (BA 01), Mississippi

Department of Transportation public affairs deputy director, was honored during graduation ceremonies for the Mississippi State Personnel B oard’s Mississippi Certified Public Manager Program at the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson.

’10s

BEN MYERS ( JD 11) was

selected to serve as senior trial counsel (prosecutor) for the 25th Infantr y Division and U.S. Army at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Myers is a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

JUSTIN A. PAYNE (MBA 16) joined The

Koerber Co. PA as a staff accountant in Hattiesburg.

Faculty and Friends LIZ LANCASTER of Oxford was chosen as

a 2016-17 Lafayette-Oxford-University ambassador.

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ALUMNI News Photo by Thomas Graning

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CONGRATULATES 2016-17 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

T

he Alumni Association held an ice cream social in September to honor all recipients of the Herb Dewees Alumni Association Scholarship, Ben Williams Minority Scholarship, Wobble Davidson M-Club Scholarship, Clay Waycaster Student Alumni Council Scholarship, Alumni Association Band Scholarship and Grove Society Scholarship. The Association awarded 349 scholarships totaling $291,200 for the school year. For more information on alumni scholarship opportunities, visit www.olemissalumni.com.

56

Alumni Review

ALUMNI News WEDDINGS

IN MEMORIAM

Erin Elizabeth Halford (BA 09, JD 12) and Matthew Elder Rutherford Jr. (BA 08), April 30, 2016.

Louise Gillespie Fraiser (BA 37) of Greenwood, Aug. 29, 2016

Heather Elizabeth Horner (BSES 12) and Dwight Kirkland Hines Jr. (BBA 14), April 9, 2016.

1940s

Mary Houston Matthews (BAJ 13) and Cullen Davis Coker (BA 13), June 11, 2016.

Virginia Stewart Anderson (BA 44) of Fort Worth, Texas, July 29, 2016

Heather Cray (BAJ 15) and Beau David Wilson (BA 12), July 9, 2016.

1930s

James B. Abney (BBA 48) of Spring, Texas, Aug. 20, 2016

Mary Kathryn Sims (BBA 10) and Michael Jake Gibbs (BSCJ 12), May 3, 2015.

Thad Leggett Andrews (BA 48) of Ridgeland, Sept. 13, 2016

Sarah McKenzie Smith (BS 13) and Charles Tyler Moss (BBA 12), June 4, 2016.

Ann Whitten Brame (46) of Batesville, Aug. 25, 2016

Collins Mitchell Tuohy (BA 09) and Cannon Smith, April 22, 2016.

Jane Ross Best (47) of Jackson, Aug. 29, 2016 James Carpenter Crigler (LLB 48) of St. Joseph, La., Aug. 6, 2016 Rita Robertshaw Halbrook (49) of Belzoni, Sept. 13, 2016 Vassar Dewey Hemphill Jr. (BSEA 49) of Tuscaloosa, Ala., July 29, 2016

BIRTHS

Elizabeth Alford Little (BAEd 49) of Nashville, Tenn., July 21, 2016

Samuel David, son of Suzanne Weaver Jackson (BA 08) and Daniel Garrett Jackson (BA 09), Aug. 24, 2016.

Winston Golbold, son of Rebecca McGee Jolly (JD 08) and Robert T. Jolly (BA 02, JD 06), Aug. 22, 2016.

Griffin Weir, son of Sarah Burson Langley (BSFCS 05, BAEd 09, MEd 13) and Skip Langley (BBA 06), March 2, 2016.

Vada Speed, daughter of Arabella Montgomery Moore (BA 06) and James Walter Moore III, March 15, 2016.

Blake Paisley, adopted daughter of Corey Barr-Pulliam (BSW 02) and Derreck Barr-Pulliam (BAccy 02, MAccy 04, PhD 14), Aug. 15, 2016.

Elizabeth Booth, daughter of Frances Carter Valentine (BBA 03, JD 06) and Nelson Lee Valentine (BAccy 03, MAccy 04), June 10, 2016.

Eugenia Bramlett McLaurin (BM 42, MedCert 44, BS 47) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016 Richard Duncan McRae Sr. (BSC 42) of Jackson, Sept. 2, 2016 John Lamar Miller (BSGE 49) of Madison, Aug. 15, 2016

1950s William Dale Bell III (BA 52) of Chevy Chase, Md., July 14, 2016 Joseph Sumner Bigelow (MSS 58) of Jackson, Sept. 9, 2016 Lee Napier Bolen Jr. (BS 59) of Oxford, Sept. 5, 2016 Cynthia Hogan Bonner (52) of Southaven, Sept. 4, 2016 Jimmy Lee Childers (BS 56) of Horn Lake, Aug. 8, 2016

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57

ALUMNI News Robert Eugene Coghlan (MedCert 55) of Aberdeen, Aug. 19, 2016

Alvin Leo Sylvest Jr. (BA 51) of Lakeside, Mont., Aug. 5, 2016

J. Paige Cothren (BBA 58) of Woodland, Sept. 1, 2016

Robert Larry Walters (BA 58) of Coppell, Texas, Aug. 16, 2016

Carl Seldon Downing (BSCvE 56, LLB 63) of New Orleans, La., Aug. 15, 2016 Martha Stone Frey (BA 50) of Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 14, 2016 Lucy Campbell Gillespie (BSHPE 59) of Pounding Mill, Va., Sept. 7, 2016 Norman Burke Gillis Jr. (LLB 50, BA 55) of McComb, Sept. 15, 2016 Dorothy Collins Goolsby (BAEd 56) of Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 5, 2016 Edna Laverne Sanders Hellums (BS 57, MEd 59) of Birmingham, Ala., July 26, 2016

1960s Luther Hugh Aldridge (BBA 61) of Bridgeport, Conn., July 17, 2016 Jack Daniel Berry (BSPh 61) of Prentiss, July 25, 2016 George Edward Black (BBA 61) of Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 23, 2016 Robert Churchill (BBA 66) of Oxford, Aug. 19, 2016 Joseph N. Corsale Jr. (JD 65) of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., July 8, 2016 Della Davis Dawkins (BAEd 66) of Hattiesburg, Sept. 16, 2016

Dick Dye Hendrix (BBA 55) of Helena, Ark., July 20, 2016

Paul Augustus Dent (BBA 63) of Nokomis, Fla., Aug. 22, 2016

James Matthew Hood Jr. (59) of Houston, Sept. 18, 2016

Andrew Robert Dill (MD 63) of Columbus, July 29, 2016

Henrietta Crosby Levings (BAEd 53) of Hot Springs, Va., Aug. 7, 2016

William R. Gambrell Jr. (BAEd 64) of Canyon Lake, Texas, Aug. 22, 2016

William Harry Liston (LLB 58) of Winona, Aug. 10, 2016 William Thomson Lowry (BBA 51) of Slidell, La., Aug. 13, 2016 Frank Boyd Manning (BBA 57) of Vernal, Utah, Aug. 3, 2016 Ira Gene McClusky (BBA 58, MBA 59) of Tupelo, Sept. 1, 2016 Harold Dewey Miller Jr. (LLB 59) of Madison, Aug. 24, 2016 Joseph Edward Roberts (BS 54, MedCert 54) of Asheville, N.C., July 23, 2016

Percy H. Kaigler II (BBA 67) of Gulfport, Sept. 3, 2016 Frank Yao-Wu Liao (MS 69) of Lawrenceville, N.J., Aug. 29, 2016 Donald Butler Morrison (LLB 60) of Flowood, Aug. 1, 2016 Bobby Gerald Perry (LLB 64) of Southaven, July 30, 2016 Cary Alton Phillips (BBA 65) of Flora, July 30, 2016 Joyce Roye Plunkett (BAEd 63, MEd 77) of Okolona, July 22, 2016

Jean Stockett Rosatti (50) of Clarksdale, Aug. 19, 2016

Mary Edgemon Potts (MEd 65) of Longview, Texas, Aug. 27, 2016

Janice Springer Sartor (MA 59) of Ripley, Aug. 16, 2016

John Lloyd Putman (MA 63) of Hanceville, Ala., Aug. 25, 2016

William Clifton Smith Jr. (LLB 53, BA 53) of Jackson, Sept. 11, 2016

William Eugene Root (BSCvE 60) of Kennesaw, Ga., Sept. 18, 2016

Mary Black Strode (BBA 50) of Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 1, 2016

Faber David Sandidge (MEd 60) of Houston, Aug. 16, 2016

For Everything Red and Blue

Ole Miss Clothing & Gifts Visit us!

662-234-5993

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Alumni Review

Oakwood Plaza

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ALUMNI News

Together Again

T

he Alumni Association hosted the annual Past Presidents Dinner on Sept. 11, at The Inn at Ole Miss, for past presidents of the Alumni Association, their spouses and guests. Past presidents in attendance were (seated, from left) David Brevard, Bill Renovich, Dr. Paul Moore, Mary Sharp Rayner, Trentice Imbler, Jan Farrington, Rose Flenorl, Dr. Briggs Hopson, Chance Laws, Sherman Muths; (standing, from left) Bob Siebels, Raymond Brown, Robert Elliot, Jon Turner, Larry Bryan, Charles Clark, Howard McMillan and Dr. Bryan Barksdale.

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59

ALUMNI News James Walter Simmons Jr. (MD 62) of San Antonio, Texas, Aug. 1, 2016

Michael Ray Morton (BBA 73) of Boerne, Texas, Aug. 1, 2016

Mary Jane Weaver Still (MLS 66) of Calico Rock, Ark., July 26, 2016

Georgina Louise Pace (BBA 72) of Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 15, 2016

Albert Gayden Ward Jr. (BA 66) of Jackson, Sept. 9, 2016

Beverly Box Papizan (BA 73, MCD 74) of Canton, July 28, 2016

John Rufus Ward (MEd 65) of Holly Springs, Sept. 13, 2016

Steven Wayne Reeves (BSCvE 79) of Jackson, Sept. 1, 2016

Nancy Roberson Wilkie (BAEd 67) of Oxford, Sept. 1, 2016

Robert Sidney Tarver (MD 78) of Brandon, Sept. 6, 2016 Hubert Lane Tutor Jr. (BAEd 71, MA 74) of Senatobia, Aug. 20, 2016 Luther William Wade II (72) of Greenwood, Aug. 5, 2016

1970s Roy Jackson Bailey (MBEd 78) of Vicksburg, Sept. 9, 2016 Kerry Elizabeth Culp (BA 71) of Whiteville, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2016 Joseph Presley Harris (BBA 77) of Germantown, Tenn., Aug. 26, 2016 Susan Gunn Harris (BAEd 77) of Germantown, Tenn., Aug. 6, 2016 Martin Lewis Henderson (BM 78) of Falkner, July 27, 2016 Joyce Odessa Jenkins (BAEd 71, MEd 72) of North Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 18, 2016

Mary Eggert Wienandt (MM 77) of Rainier, Wash., Aug. 5, 2016

1980s Janet Watson Collins (BAccy 85) of Madison, April 7, 2016 Kurt Myles Fox (BSEE 89) of New Albany, Ohio, Sept. 10, 2016 Cynthia Franzen Good (BAEd 83) of Kernersville, N.C., March 29, 2016 Jay Perritt Mayfield Sr. (BPA 88) of Paragould, Ark., Aug. 29, 2016

Kelly Stroupe Jordan (BBA 73) of Holly Springs, Aug. 29, 2016

John Butler Moss (JD 83) of Fleming Island, Fla., Aug. 25, 2016

Robert Earl McKinney (BAEd 76, MEd 78) of Fulton, July 21, 2016

Ollye Brown Shirley (PhD 88) of Jackson, Sept. 10, 2016

Lou Hall Miskelly (MEd 70) of Columbus, July 27, 2016

Walker Tucker (MEd 81) of Ashland, Aug. 24, 2016

Stephen Owen Moore (JD 71) of Meridian, Aug. 23, 2016

Tobby Warren Turner (80) of Aberdeen, Aug. 1, 2016

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Alumni Review

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

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

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

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61

ALUMNI News Peggy Robinson Wood (BSN 84) of Tupelo, Sept. 17, 2016

2010s Blake Nicholas Caummisar (BBA 15) of Germantown, Tenn., Aug. 22, 2016

1990s Kimberly Westerfield Perry (BSN 96) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016 Michael McConnell Perry (BS 95, DMD 99) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016 Angela Roark Poole (BA 94) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016 Linda Barrentine Traylor (BAEd 91) of Olive Branch, Aug. 14, 2016

2000s Jennifer Hargett Barefoot (BA 01, MEd 06, SpecEd 08) of Charleston, Aug. 8, 2016

Ralph Hindman Doxey Jr. (BBA 12) of Tupelo, Aug. 4, 2016 Zachary Tyler Hodges (16) of Olive Branch, Sept. 10, 2016 Jillian Porter Sanders (BSCJ 13) of Oxford, Aug. 27, 2016 Kelvin Wayne Sweezer (BS 10) of Jackson, July 14, 2016 Rebekah Newell Tettleton (BA 11) of Oxford, Aug. 31, 2016

Faculty and Friends Johnnie Harris Bowie of Lucedale, Aug. 26, 2016

Toby Warren Boatright (MEd 09) of Gulfport, Aug. 22, 2016

Richard L. Carroll of Olive Branch, Sept. 9, 2016

Lauren Johnson Chase (BSFCS 06) of Tupelo, Aug. 7, 2016

Dale A. Englund of Menominee, Mich., Feb. 16, 2016

Jason Perry Farese (DMD 02) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016

Joshua Caleb Grantier of Jackson, Aug. 20, 2016

Lea Montgomery Farese (DMD 04) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016

Charles L. Henry Jr. of Cordova, Tenn., Sept. 10, 2016

Austin Henry Poole (DMD 02) of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016

Judith Timbs Huff of Memphis, Tenn., June 4, 2016

William Brian Risher (MA 03) of Flora, Aug. 1, 2016

Joyce Johnson Luna of Germantown, Tenn., Aug. 24, 2016

Christopher John Simcoe (08) of Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 31, 2016

Carol McKibbon Moree of Sumrall, July 20, 2016

Ole Miss Alumni Association

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Alumni Review

ALUMNI News Jerry Stokes Morgan of Grenada, Sept. 6, 2016 Barbara Himel Mullins of Laurel, Aug. 12, 2016 Harris F. Powers Sr. of Coila, Aug. 17, 2016 Richard Daine Pride of Madison, Aug. 2, 2016 Aaron David Puckett Jr. of Jackson, Aug. 18, 2016 Carolyn J. Ramsey of Hattiesburg, Aug. 29, 2016 John Robert Rayburn of Oxford, Aug. 14, 2016 Charles Monroe Turner of Moss Point, Aug. 28, 2016

Due to space limitations, class notes are only published in the Alumni Review from active, dues-paying members of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. To submit a class note, send it to records@olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848. Class notes also may be submitted through the Association’s website at www.olemissalumni.com.

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

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63

ALUMNI News Photo by Jim Urbanek

From left, Kirk Purdom, Leon Collins, Dr. Hal Moore, Bobby Bailess, Andy Kilpatrick and Deano Orr are the Ole Miss Alumni Association officers for 2016-17.

New Leadership

T

he Ole Miss Alumni Association announced its officers for 2016-17 on Oct. 1, as part of Homecoming festivities on campus.

Dr. P.H. “Hal” Moore of Pascagoula was named president, a one-year term that changes each Homecoming. Moore is president of Singing River Radiology Group. He serves on the board of directors of Merchants & Marine Bank and formerly served on the boards of the Mississippi State Medical Association and Belhaven University.

Bobby Bailess (BBA 73, JD 76), attorney and former president of the Warren County Bar Association in Vicksburg, was named presidentelect. Augustus L. “Leon” Collins (BBA 73, JD 76), of Madison, chief executive officer for MINACT Inc., a major job development and training corporation, was elected vice president.

Athletics Committee members include Andy Kilpatrick (BBA 87) of Grenada and Deano Orr (BBA 93) of Bartlett, Tennessee. Kilpatrick serves as counsel for the Mississippi State Board of Architecture. Orr serves as executive director of International Paper Foundation in Memphis. Kirk Purdom (BA 93), Ole Miss Alumni Association executive director, serves as treasurer.

64

Alumni Review

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