Ole Miss Alumni Review - Fall 2009

Ole Miss Alumni Review

Fall 2009

FALL 2009 Vol. 58 No. 4

Food & Wine magazine heralds chef as bright new star Remembering a historic victory over LSU and the “lawsuit” it sparked

Getting to Know

Dr. Dan Jones UM’s new chancellor brings unique perspective to his job

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A Part of Our Heart and Soul William H. Morris, Jr.

Over 250 beautiful, full-color photographs spanning 20 years of Grove Gatherings, Square Settings, Football Frenzy, and More

A book to be cherished by all who love this wondrous place Available in November from your favorite bookstore or amazon.com Heart & Soul Publications, Inc. • www.heartandsoulpublications.com

William Faulkner • Cotton BoWl • Double Decker arts Festival • NeilsoN’s DepartmeNt store

the hoka • yocoNa river • hotty toDDy • laFayette couNty • the square

Walk oF champioNs • vaught-hemiNgWay staDium • the egg boWl • lyceum • taylor’s grocery

reD aND blue • the grove • roWaN oak • rebels • square books

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

RevolutionaRy ReseaRch

at t h e u n i v e R s i t y o f M i s s i s s i pp i

ACOUSTICS

C O M PU TATI O N A L M O D E LIN G

DIS A S TER PREPA REDNE S S E N V IR O N M E N TA L S T E WA RD S HIP

GLOBAL SOUTH MINERAL RESOURCES

G E O S PAT I A L

H E A LT H D I S PA R I T I E S

PA RTICLE PH YSIC S

PHARMACEUTICALS

F

S O U T H E R N C U LT U R E

or information on research being conducted at Ole Miss or to become involved by helping support a particular research effort, please contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at 662-915-7583 or changeagents@research.olemiss.edu.

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EVIEW

Fall 2009

Vol. 58 No. 4

features

20 The Doctor on the cover

Is In

Dr. Dan Jones begins a new era as UM’s 16th chancellor by mitchell diggs

26 Chef du Jour

Food and Wine recognizes Ole Miss alumnus as one of America’s top new talents in the kitchen by tom speed

31 In Good Company Top alumni of 2009 recognized by jim urbanek

36 Guilty as Charged Ole Miss Rebels incite emotionally charged legal protest following 1969 victory over LSU

On the cover: Chancellor Dan Jones Photo by Robert Jordan

departments 6 From the Circle

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

18 Calendar 40 sports

Former Ole Miss women’s basketball star to serve as Rebels assistant coach during WNBA offseason

44 arts and culture 46 travel 48 alumni news

The Inn at Ole Miss introduces additions and enhancements

Ole Miss Alumni Review P ublisher Warner L. Alford (60) Timothy Walsh (83) Editor ditor E Jim Urbanek Urbanek II II (97) (02) Jim jim@olemiss.edu jim@olemiss.edu Creative Director A ssociate Editor and Sabrina Brown A dvertising Director Tom Speed (91) Designers ? tom@olemiss.edu

Editorial A ssistant Holly Mayatte C orrespondents Kevin Bain (98), Tobie Baker (96), Harry Briscoe, Mitchell Diggs (82), A dvertising R epresentative Michelle Edwards, Jennifer Farish Cristen Hemmins (MA 96) (01), Jay Ferchaud,662-236-1700 Tina Hahn, Jen Hospodor, Robert Jordan (82), Barbara Lago, Erin Officers TheEdwin University Parsons, Elaine of Pugh, Smith (80), of M ississippi A lumni A ssociation Matt Westerfield Chance Laws (63), president Officers of The University M ississippi A lumni A ssociation David McCormick (77), president-elect Charles Clark (72), president Rose Jackson Flenorl (79), viceMay president Bill (79), president-elect John T. Cossar (61),

Richard Noble (68), athletics committee member vice president Roger Friou (56), Sam Lane (76), athletics committee member athletics committee member A lumni Karen A ffairsLee Staff , O xford (73), Warner Alfordcommittee (60), executive director athletics member Wendy Chambers Carmean (97), Aassistant lumni Adirector ffairs Sfor taff , O xford marketing Timothy L. Walsh (83), executive director Clay Cavett (86), associate director Joseph Baumbaugh, systems analyst Josh Davis (99), assistant director I Sarah Kathryn M. Hickman (03), II Martha Dollarhide, systems programmer assistant director marketing Sheila Dossett (75), for assistant director and membership Annette Kelly (79), accountant Clay Cavett (86), associate director David Gilmore, systems analyst I Josh Davis (99), assistant director Robert Radice, manager, Martha Dollarhide, programmer II The Inn atsystems Ole Miss Sheila Dossett (75), Scott Thompson (97), senior alumniassociate assistant, director club coordinator Jim Kelly Urbanek (02), Annette (79),IIaccountant assistant director communications Tom Speed (91),for publications editor Tim Walsh (83), senior associate director Scott Thompson (97), assistant director Rusty Woods (01), Sovent Taylor (03), alumni assistant, club assistant director for information services coordinator James Butler (60), director emeritus Jim Urbanek II (97), Herbert E. Dewees Jr. (65), assistant director for communications executive director emeritus Rusty Woods (01), assistant director for information services A lumni A ffairs Staff, Jackson Geoffrey Mitchell (70), alumni director James Butler (53), director emeritus Ginger Roby Daniels assistant director Warner Alford (60),(77), executive director emeritus The Ole Miss Alumni Review (USPS is published by The561-870) Ole Miss Alumni Reviewquarterly (USPS 561-870) The University of Mississippi Alumni is published quarterly

by The University of Association and Association the Officeand of Alumni Mississippi Alumni the Office Affairs.

Association offices are of AlumniAlumni Affairs. Alumni Association offices located at Triplett Alumni Room are located at Triplett AlumniCenter, Center, Room 172, University, MS 38677.

Telephone 662172, University, MS 38677.

Telephone 915-7375.

662-915-7375.

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2 Alumni Review

Chancellor Dear Alumni and Friends,

Creative Director Editorial ssistant Sabrina A Brown Macaulay Knight Designers C orrespondents Rachael Davis ?

Eric Summers

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fromthe

It is my privilege to address you in the pages of this issue of the Alumni Review as the 16th chancellor of The University of Mississippi. I welcome this opportunity to thank you for all that you have done for our university, to praise the work of former Chancellor Robert Khayat and to showcase a few of the challenges and opportunities that await us this academic year.

Under the visionary leadership of Chancellor Khayat, our university achieved goals that included sheltering a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, establishing an honors college, enhancing campus facilities, maintaining quality athletics programs, increasing alumni involvement and increasing our endowment.

These achievements reflect the deep commitments, talent and resourcefulness of Ole Miss students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

The smooth transition in leadership and the very warm welcome you have extended to Lydia and me is a gift, not only to us but to the entire university family. You have my commitment that I will give my full effort to working with all of you to maintain this wonderful momentum.

While we enjoy the luxury of having a well-functioning university during this time of leadership transition, we are facing challenging economic times. Nationally, we are in the midst of a deep recession, and our state is experiencing this recession with declining tax revenues, reductions in appropriations to state agencies including the institutions of higher learning, mid-year cuts in budgets and necessary planning for further reductions in appropriations for the future. Thus far, Ole Miss has weathered the impact of the recession better than some.

We’ve been fortunate to have a productive faculty, strong financial leadership, good planning by our entire leadership team, continued strong private support and increases in enrollment that enhance revenue. However, the potential for less state funding for the next one to three years is a real possibility.

And yet, even in a difficult economy, I believe we have the opportunity to build our priorities around the needs of our state, region, nation and world. It is my hope that we will identify these needs and that they—not the economy—will shape our priorities and mission.

This year, I plan to engage in meaningful conversation with all of the university’s stakeholders to explore specific opportunities to enhance existing programs and create new programs to address the major challenges of our state.

We face some substantial challenges in the days ahead, but we are also blessed with an abundance of enthusiastic students, dedicated and resourceful faculty and staff, and a spirited, generous and loyal alumni group. There is no place I would rather be than here on the Oxford campus this fall. I am happy to be a part of The University of Mississippi, and I am grateful for the support of alumni and friends.

Warmest regards,

Daniel W. Jones Chancellor

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President Dear Alumni and Friends, Last year Ole Miss Alumni Executive Director Tim Walsh said I had a coronation instead of an installation as president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association. This has been a wonderful year. I started my year as president with five football wins and a Cotton Bowl victory. The Alumni Association hosted our first New Year’s Eve party, and booked 80 rooms and 30 buses to support our football team in the Cotton Bowl.

Next on the agenda was travel to alumni meetings. We had record turnout at many meetings across the country this year.

When Chancellor Robert Khayat announced his retirement, the phone began to ring. Alumni wanted to ensure our new chancellor believed in and supported our objective of joining the circle of elite universities in America. They asked for a leader with vision and outstanding academic credentials. Alumni wanted a person with a passion for Ole Miss and Mississippi. I had the opportunity to serve on the university’s Search Advisory Committee. I am proud of the selection of Chancellor Dan Jones as our 16th chancellor.

He is a servant leader who meets all the criteria you listed.

This year, Ole Miss announced Rhodes, Gates and Truman scholars. We celebrated the opening of our first Residential College and the Ed and Becky Meek School of Journalism and New Media.

I find great joy in meeting with our students. I have especially enjoyed working with our Student Alumni Council. You can be very proud of the quality of students attending your alma mater.

Charles Clark and his wife, Ginger, will be great leaders for our university. Charles has worked for many years supporting Ole Miss. He will take our association to new heights.

Thanks to the chancellor, faculty and staff of Ole Miss for your support during my tenure. A special thanks to Tim Walsh and the dedicated alumni staff who worked with me daily to ensure I got the job done.

I believe you get what you expect. Richard and I expected love and support from raving Ole Miss fans. It’s exactly what we received.

Dear Alumni and Friends, I am honored and humbled to serve as your new president. I cannot think of a more exciting time to be granted this privilege. However, I admit some trepidation, knowing that I am succeeding one of our most inspirational leaders, Rose Flenorl. On behalf of all alumni and friends, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to Rose and Richard for their tireless service.

The IHL Board and all who were involved in the search for a new chancellor are to be commended for the selection of Dr. Dan W. Jones. I am confident that under Dan’s leadership the momentum will continue and that Ole Miss will reach new heights.

One of our primary goals this year will be the renovation of the Triplett Alumni Center (TAC). The TAC experienced a water-pipe break last spring that resulted in severe damage and the discovery of an asbestos problem.

This forced the Alumni Association staff to relocate to the Oxford Mall. Rather than restoring the TAC as it was, your Executive Committee decided to accelerate this renovation, which was anticipated in The Inn expansion plans.

This project is estimated to cost between $1.8 and $2 million. We need your help to complete this project.

Another area of emphasis is the continuous effort to increase our active membership, currently more than 23,000. We launched sustaining life memberships earlier this year. This category gives special recognition to life members who make annual contributions and has been well-received.

One last area that I will mention is the desire to form a closer bond with the members of our Student Alumni Council (SAC). I am recommending we adopt a joint community project with the SAC that will allow us to work together. Such a project will allow us to get to know each other better, while also providing an opportunity to give something back to the local community.

Ginger and I look forward to working with Tim Walsh and the rest of the Alumni Association staff in serving you and getting to know more of you over the coming year— what I will term “The Year of the Rebel!”

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Rose Jackson Flenorl ( BAEd 79)

4 Alumni Review

Charles C. Clark (BBA 72)

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fromthe

Circle

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

No Brag, Just Fact

“experience amazing” marketing campaign announced

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Banners on campus are one of the most visible signs of the university’s new marketing campaign. Photo by Robert Jordan

6 Alumni Review

new marketing campaign at The University of Mississippi aims to show the world what its alumni and students already know: When you come to Ole Miss, your experience will be amazing.

For example, did you know the university has 100 percent job placement for graduates in pharmacy and accountancy?

Or that the National Center for Physical Acoustics on campus is conducting groundbreaking research on land mine detection?

Those are the types of amazing stories that will be identified and shared through the “Experience Amazing” campaign being developed by a team of university marketing and communications professionals. Led by new UM Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Jim Ebel and Director of Brand Marketing Wendy Carmean (BA 97), the campaign seeks to elevate the academic, service and research reputation of the university by telling stories that are amazing from a state, national and global perspective.

Ebel comes to the university with more than 25 years of experience and has positioned well over 170 familiar brands.

He says the names “Ole Miss” and “The University of Mississippi” carry different meaning for most UM students and alumni.

“As we interviewed constituent groups in a very rigorous qualitative research process, consistently they spoke of Ole Miss as being something that they had

experienced—physically, emotionally and even spiritually,” he says.

On the other hand, the name “The University of Mississippi” drew more formal responses that did not carry the same level of emotion.

“So we began to tell students, parents, alumni and faculty about the things that were happening on campus in the areas of research, academics and service. And you know what? They were amazed. It became clear that we had the basis for a strong positioning within the phrase ‘experience amazing.’”

FoxNews anchor Shepard Smith has signed on to voice the new television advertising campaign that will run extensively during football season. Campus visitors will see new banners that will also serve as a kind of map. For example, in front of the new UM School of Journalism in Farley Hall, a banner will proclaim “experience amazing journalism.”

Whitman Smith, director of student recruitment, says the new campaign is a perfect way to highlight stories that will impress potential students and their families. “Many of them just know the university through reputation and football; and that impression, while often fun, is not what every day here is like,” he says. “I think they will be blown away by the things that their flagship university is doing. I am, and I work here every day.”

To find out more about how “amazing” Ole Miss really is, go to <experience amazing.com>. AR

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fromthe

Circle

70 Years and Still Seaworthy Research vessel Kit Jones keeps sailing right along

T

hrough the last seven decades, t he ocea n-going vessel Kit Jones and her various crews have weathered storms, taken pleasure cruises and, most recently, made it possible for scientists to conduct important research. The wooden-hulled ship has plowed the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, among other bodies of water, and even survived Hurricane Katrina. And no one sees her nautical adventures coming to an end anytime soon.

Currently operated by UM’s Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute, the Kit Jones “has been through a lot, but she’s still going strong,” says Andy Gossett, one of the mechanical systems engineers who maintain the vessel’s seaworthiness Gossett remembers that the longest distance the vessel ever sailed was an eight-day trip from Biloxi to Atlantic City, N.J.

“We had three separate jobs along the East Coast: in Atlantic City; San Louis, Del.; and Ocean City, Mass.,” he says. “It was the farthest away from home she’d ever traveled, and she pulled it off without a hitch.”

“

... [W]e had to endure a nine-hour storm in the Mississippi Sound. It was the worst storm I’ve ever been in, but the Kit Jones rode it out.

—Matt lowe

”

Such praise is well-deserved. Those who have served on her crews over the years have marveled at her ability to go the distance—both figuratively and literally.

MMRI Mechanical Systems Engi-

The Kit Jones’ longest voyage was from Biloxi to Atlantic City, N.J. 8 Alumni Review

neer Matt Lowe recalls some rough times on board the Kit Jones. “ We d i d a c or e s a mpl i n g j o b around Little Lake on the MississippiLouisiana line,” Lowe says. “I remember, while trying to sail back to Biloxi,

we had to endure a nine-hour storm in the Mississippi Sound. It was the worst storm I’ve ever been in, but the Kit Jones rode it out.”

The vessel even survived the catastrophic destruction wreaked by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the storm left the Kit Jones beached hard aground, her crew went down to Biloxi to repair her extensive damages.

“They did a fabulous job to revive her,” says Carol Lutken, interim MMRI director. “Services were not available, no one had air conditioning, temps were 100 degrees-plus, and the mosquitoes were indescribably thick.”

The crew hauled the ship out of the mud, turned her right side up and relaunched her into her home on the Mississippi Sound.

The Kit Jones has not only served MMRI but has also been employed in research projects by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Navy, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Mineral Management Service, industry and various components of Mississippi’s state government. AR

Dream Teams fantasy sports have real benefit for students’ math scores

I

f your middle-school student needs more of a workout in math, a little baseball or football might be surprisingly effective—as long as it’s fantasy baseball or football.

That’s according to the results of a national research study conducted by a University of Mississippi professor.

Data from the study, which surveyed elementary and secondary teachers and students, showed that math test scores increased nearly 50 percent among middle-school students whose math teachers integrated fantasy sports in their curricula.

“This is huge. Across the board, both boys’ and girls’ test scores are up dramatically,” says Kim Beason, associate professor of park and recreation management, who teamed up last summer with Dan Flockhart, a former California middle-school teacher and math textbook author, to examine the impact of using fantasy sports in mathematics education.

Fantasy sports are games in which students draft and manage fantasy teams of professional athletes who earn points based on their statistics from real games. Students track their teams’ progress by reading box scores in newspapers or online. Each week, students compute the points earned by their players and construct a variety of graphs based on their teams’ performance.

Judging by overall math test scores in the U.S., an innovative and effective method of teaching mathematics is sorely needed.

Since 2003, math scores of 15-yearolds across the U.S. have remained stagnant and continue to trail those recorded by students in many countries, including Finland, China and Estonia, according to a recent U.S. Department of Education study. Flockhart says he believes fantasy sports can help solve the problem.

“Sixty-nine percent of eighth-grade students in America are not proficient

in math. I believe fantasy sports can play a significant role in eliminat ing mat h i l literac y in ou r c ou nt r y,” says Flockhart, who in 2005 authored Fantasy Sports and Mathematics, a series of math textbook s that addresses nine nationa l mat h s t a nd a rd s a nd mor e than 50 national math expectations.

A l g e br a , p e rh a p s the least favorite subject of students due to its abstract nature, is the gateway to higher education, Flockhart says. “ F a nt a s y s p o r t s links math in the classroom to math in the real world. If ‘T’ equals the number of touchdowns, t he n s t u d e nt s k now what they are dealing with,” he says.

Flock ha r t’s belief appears to be supported The growing popularity of fantasy sports is paying dividends in

by Bea son’s prelimi- the classroom. Photo by Nathan Latil nary research at UM. T he st udy i nd ic ate s that three out of four teachers surveyed who purchased the textbook, then believe their students understand math- there are another three or four possibly ematical concepts better after relating using it in their own class,” Beason says. them to fantasy sports in the classroom. “There could be as many as 80,000 stuIt also shows that nearly eight out of 10 dents learning math through fantasy students surveyed said they enjoyed les- sports.”

Fantasy sports originated in the late sons in math more with the innovative 1960s and early ’70s. Beason started teaching method.

Among the teachers surveyed, fan- studying the consumer behavior aspects tasy sports is not treated as a stand-alone of fantasy sports in 2001, and, according educational tool in their classrooms but to his research, 20 million Americans instead is employed to augment other play fantasy football alone, the largest resources. Based on textbook sales, segment of an $800 million industry. thousands of teachers across the coun- For more information, visit <http:// try are using fantasy sports in their math fantasysportsmath.com>. AR classes.

“If there’s one teacher in a school Fall 2009 9

fromthe

Circle

new museum director emphasizes acquisitions, traveling exhibits

W

illiam Pittman Andrews is a frequent traveler into the world of art, but to him it’s a two-way street.

The new director of The University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses makes an annual pilgrimage to New York City to view the works of the great masters and rising contemporaries. While he finds such sojourns to be personally rewarding, he also stops along the way to encourage people to explore the valuable and renowned collections found within the halls of his latest workplace, and he invites noteworthy artists to visit and exhibit their work.

“O l e M i s s i s a c u l tural mecca; the museum and its collections definitely drew me to accept the position here,” Andrews says. “The museum’s Robinson Collection of GrecoWilliam Andrews Roman sculpture, the MilPhoto by Kevin Bain lington-Barnard Collection of Historic Scientific Instruments and the repository of Southern folk art were like a triple home run for me.”

Besides attracting exhibitions and increased traffic to the museum, Andrews has two primary objectives in his new position. “I want us to regularly send out quality exhibitions. The works of artists like Theora Hamblett, Luster Willis and Sulton Rogers should all be traveling to great exhibiting institutions beyond the South.

“I also want the museum to continue acquiring the very best representations of various artists, genres, styles and periods for our collections. Because acquisitions are a critical part of the museum program, we need new additions to remain vibrant and vital.”

Well-known in the art community statewide and beyond for his own artwork, which includes paintings, drawings and sculpture, Andrews was named the 2008 Mississippi Arts Commission Visual Arts Fellow. He has had solo exhibitions in Ellisville, Greenville, Columbus, Laurel and Meridian. He has also participated in group exhibitions in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Brooklyn and Little Rock. AR 10 Alumni Review

Dr. Owen “Bev” Evans. Photo by Jay Ferchaud

Caring for Kids

wish list fulfilled, pediatrics chair steps down

N

ot many people can wear a SpongeBob SquarePants tie and still be taken seriously. Dr. Owen “Bev” Evans is the exception. No matter the statement his tie makes, the message he communicates is how dedicated he is to helping children.

As chair of the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Evans has worked for 20 years with a singular mission—to create a state-of-the-art facility for children that is the best in the state. Now that his wish list for Mississippi’s children is nearing fulfillment as plans for a new pediatric emergency department enter the final stages, Evans has made the difficult decision to step down as chair.

“One reason I took this job was that I had this clear vision of what needed to be done, such as bringing on new programs and subspecialists and building the facilities necessary to provide comprehensive care for children in the state,” Evans says.

The Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children is recognized statewide for its high-quality pediatric care. When the new pediatric emergency department opens, no trace of the older facilities will remain. Evans believes the next step is to develop a stronger pediatric research program.

“This is a good time to make the transition in leadership so that the new chair will have the opportunity to recruit for this growth,” he says.

Evans will serve as interim chair until a candidate is selected.

Once that happens, he plans to continue his clinical work at the Medical Center and spend more time with his grandson. He attributes his success to strong support from his family and the many talented people with whom he works.

Although Evans wears many hats, his favorite is that of superintendent of the Children’s Hospital School System.

“It reminds us that taking care of kids is not always about medicine,” he says, which is exactly why he wears that SpongeBob SquarePants tie. AR

Electrifying Social Media

New technology for reporting energy use has ole miss ‘twittering’

O

le Miss administrators are using social media for a very serious purpose: reducing the amount of electricity used on campus.

As part of its Red, Blue and Green campaign, the university is partnering with SmartSynch Inc., a smart grid infrastructure company, to publish realtime data about power consumption in campus buildings on Facebook, Twitter and RSS feeds. The data will be gathered and reported electronically by SmartSynch SmartMeters.

Sixteen of the meters have already been installed in buildings around campus—including the Lyceum, John Davis Williams Library, Gillom Sports Complex and parts of the football stadium and Indoor Practice Facility—and more installations are planned. Each building will eventually have its own profile on the social media sites.

“Ole Miss is offering a new twist on green operations by allowing students, faculty and anyone else to witness actual power consumption levels for select campus buildings,” says Smart-

Campus sustainability coordinator Jim Morrison shows one of UM’s new smart meters.

Photo by Robert Jordan

exemplify visionary green leadership.”

By deploying SmartSynch Smart-

“

Ole Miss is offering a new twist on green operations by allowing students, faculty and anyone else to witness actual power consumption levels for select campus buildings.

”

—Stephen johnston Synch CEO Stephen Johnston. “Energy users reduce the unnecessary use of lighting, appliances, climate control and other devices when they have access to immediate energy-consumption data.

By installing SmartSynch SmartMeters across campus and leveraging social networks, UM will unlock this powersaving function and, in the process,

Meters, UM hopes to identify a detailed pattern of electricity usage in its buildings and, using the meter data, determine methods to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions. In addition, the university will be able to track building power performance over time, compare building energy usage and monitor the impact of weather on

energy use. By using an online dashboard tool, university officials can track each building’s energy consumption in real time and archive data for analysis and comparisons.

The Red, Blue and Green campaign is a green initiative overseen by the university’s Off ice of Campus Sustainability. Its mission is to build institutional learning capabilities that support improvements in building design and operations, landscaping, procurement, energy and water conservation, waste minimization, recycling and services.

Once registered online at <www. olemiss.edu/green>, students, faculty, building administrators and others will be able to access smart meter data and receive updates on the university’s energy usage.

For more information about UM’s green and sustainability efforts, contact Jim Morrison at 662-915-1678 or go to <www.olemiss.edu/green>. AR

Fall 2009 11

fromthe

Circle Candid Camera robotic craft takes photos of ocean floor divers can’t reach

The Mola Mola, an autonomous undersea vehicle, can dive to ocean depths of up to 1-1/4 miles.

M

ost people don’t expect to spot a sophisticated unmanned underwater research vehicle around north Mississippi hill country, but two of the robotic crafts are housed at The University of Mississippi Field Station when they’re not out mapping a seabed.

As part of the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology, a new autonomous undersea vehicle, or AUV, was delivered in late May, just in time for its maiden voyage to Lee Stocking Island in the Bahamas for a coral reef study. Built by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, this double-hulled vehicle, named Mola Mola, is designed 12 Alumni Review

to produce high-resolution digita l images of the ocean floor.

The Mola Mola can dive to ocean depths of 2,000 meters, or about 1-1/4 miles. Hovering at 3 meters above the seafloor as it moves along a route programmed into its built-in computer control, the craft takes high-resolution photos of the seafloor every three seconds.

These photographs can then be combined to form a detailed photomosaic, or photomap, of study sites in areas much too deep for divers with cameras.

The AUV’s namesake aquatic creature is t he Mola mola, common ly known as ocean sunfish. The name is particularly fitting because both the

AU V and this remarkable pelagic fish can dive to 2,000 meters and both have a markedly vertical build—tall but narrow.

The new AUV is an important addition to NIUST’s research capabilities, says Director Ray Highsmith.

“We have long wanted to add photographic capability to our vehicles, and the acquisition of Mola Mola is the result of extensive planning and budgeting efforts

by Vernon Asper [director of NIUST’s Undersea Vehicle Technology Center based at the University of Southern Mississippi] and myself,” Highsmith says. “High-quality photo layouts of a site provide much more information about a location than acoustic maps. For example, you can see animals living on the seafloor.

“It’s sort of like comparing an X-ray with a photograph of a person. The photograph provides a more satisfying experience, but together they provide much greater understanding of the whole person.”

The Mola Mola joins NIUST’s other AUV, the Eagle Ray, which does acoustic mapping of larger seafloor areas such as Hudson Canyon, and a remotely operated vehicle that is attached to a support ship by a tether for control by a pilot rather than an internal computer.

NIUST is a partnership between The University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi. For more information on NIUST, go to <http://niust.org/>. AR

um physicists contribute to research on early universe

Heads Up

combined enrollment tops 18,000 for the fall

F

or 13 consecutive years, The University of Mississippi has broken enrollment records, but when this fall’s preliminary enrollment reached 18,344 students, a sense of excitement began spreading across the Oxford campus.

Preliminary enrollment figures show UM’s total unduplicated head count represents 743 more students enrolled this fall than last on all its campuses, a 4.2 percent increase.

“We like to think this milestone—growing to 18,000-plus students—is because college-bound students are learning that The University of Mississippi is the place to go if you want to experience amazing opportunities,” says Morris Stocks, UM provost.

“Think about it. How many universities hosted a presidential debate last year? How many universities produced Rhodes, Truman, Gates and Marshall scholars last year? We also have a wide array of diverse academic degree programs that appeal to top students, and we enable hundreds to study abroad each year. These achievements, in concert with extremely affordable tuition, make Ole Miss a tremendous academic and economic value.”

UM has been focusing its enrollment efforts on two fronts: strengthening access to Mississippians and continuing to attract students with high academic and leadership abilities. This year’s enrollment gains reflect both, says Dan Jones, UM chancellor.

“We’ve not only enrolled our largest class of new freshmen but also our largest class of honors students and our most diverse student body,” Jones says. “We have also recorded a 64.8 percent increase in Booneville and 57.5 percent increase in Grenada, where we’ve added education classes, so more residents have access to our academic programs.”

The Oxford campus welcomed 2,576 new freshmen, an 8.4 percent increase over last fall. Among them are 36 National Merit and National Achievement finalists, and 12 National Merit and National Achievement semifinalists, says Max Miller, associate director of enrollment services.

UM’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College has enrolled 860 students, up from 780 last fall. Among them are a record 283 freshmen (including 44 high-school valedictorians), who recorded a median ACT score of 30.

A record 2,412 students are enrolled at The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, which has expanded the size of its first-year medical class, and has added the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a degree program in radiologic sciences.

Enrollment also is growing at satellite campuses in Tupelo (up 14.6 percent), where 822 students are enrolled, and Southaven (up 6.9 percent), where 960 students are enrolled. AR

A

team of UM physicists has contributed to newly reported research that advances understanding of the early evolution of the universe and sets new limits on gravitational waves that could have come from the theorized big bang.

The investigation by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, and the Virgo Collaboration sets the most stringent limits yet on the amount of gravitational waves—ripples in the fabric of space and time produced by violent events in the distant universe—that could have come from the Big Bang in the frequency band where LIGO can observe. Analyzing data taken from 2005-07, the scientists have refined details of how the universe looked in its earliest moments.

“While the evolution of the universe after it was a few minutes old is well understood, there is little observational data probing the evolution prior to that epoch,” says Marco Cavaglia, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and principal investigator on the Ole Miss LIGO team. “By setting limits on the amount of gravitational waves today, we can compute how much gravitational radiation was present in the past. This gives us information on the characteristics and the evolution of the primordial fluctuations that eventually gave birth to the galaxies we see today.”

The research, which appeared in the Aug. 20 issue of the journal Nature, also constrains models of cosmic strings, objects that are proposed to have been left over from the beginning of the universe and subsequently stretched to enormous lengths by the universe’s expansion. The strings, some cosmologists say, can form loops that produce gravitational waves as they oscillate, decay and eventually disappear.

“The existence of gravitational waves was predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 in his general theory of relativity,” Cavaglia says. “The LIGO and GEO600 instruments have been actively searching for the waves since 2002; the Virgo interferometer joined the search in 2007.”

The LIGO Scientific Collaboration is a group of 600 scientists at universities around the United States and in 11 foreign countries.

For more information about the Ole Miss LIGO team, visit <www.phy.olemiss.edu/GR/ ligoteam/>. AR Fall 2009 13

fromthe

Circle

Veteran journalist named director of student media

V UMMC is offering one of the nation’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. Photo by Jay Ferchaud

Advancing Practice school of nursing’s new dnp program spotlights evidence-based care

A

dvanced-practice nurses now have the option to continue their education beyond the master’s degree level while keeping the focus on patient care. An alternative to the research-intensive Ph.D. emphasizes a higher level of expertise.

In August, the first crop of students began course work in the School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, a degree program that’s not only new to The University of Mississippi Medical Center but also a new concept nationally.

“This has been talked about in nursing for five, six, seven years,” says Dr. Barbara Boss, professor of nursing and director of the program. “It has become—in a very short period of time—a very hot issue.”

Boss says the nation’s first DNP classes graduated in the last couple of years. The idea is so new that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) began the accreditation process for DNP programs in the fall of last year, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

The concept is simple: Ever-expanding scientific knowledge coupled with an increasingly complex health-care climate demands more training and preparation of staff nurses. The DNP is geared toward advanced-practice nurses such as nurse practitioners, midwives and nurse anesthetists—professionals who already have their master’s degrees—but Boss says nurse administrators have shown a great deal of interest in the program as well.

Although the program currently accepts only students who already have their master’s degrees, Lobert says they hope to make it available for baccalaureate students within five years. AR 14 Alumni Review

eteran journalist Patricia Thompson has been named director of the S. Gale Denley Student Media Center at UM. Will Norton, dean of the new Meek School of Journalism and New Media, says Thompson was chosen for the post because of her experience in the field of journalism and in the classroom.

“She’s known throughout the nation as an outstanding journalist and journalism educator,” he says. “She’s considered first-class.”

Thompson’s duties include supervising both the editorial and business operations of the center. Her title also includes assistant professor, and she will begin teaching in the spring.

“I was very much attracted by the mult imedia emphasis at the Media Center,” Thompson says.

“I like the combined n e w s r o o m, w hi c h foster s collaboration among all the students.

“This is a great oppor tunit y to be able to work with students. The industry is Patricia Thompson reeling right now and having major problems. Maybe we can help steer things in the right direction, try some new things and really make sure that students get the kind of information they need to get good jobs in this challenging environment.”

After earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri, Thompson began her career as a staff writer at The Washington Post. She then worked as an assistant professor for the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, followed by 15 years as an editor at the San Jose Mercury News. Most recently, she was deputy managing editor for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, where she was the senior editor of the Sunday paper and responsible for key coverage areas including the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, the economy and health care. Her staff won state, regional, national and international awards for their work. AR

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THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

UM’s Luckyday Second residential college named for donor who believed in investing in young people

A

gift from the Luckyday Foundation for UM’s second residential college further extends the commitment of late Ole Miss alumnus Frank Rogers Day (BBA 53) to ensure educational opportunities for Mississippians.

To honor the Luckyday Foundation’s commitment, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning has approved “Luckyday Residential College” as the name of the new building. Construction has begun and is scheduled to be completed in August 2010.

“Frank Day had a noble vision about investing in young people and their education,” says Holmes S. Adams, chairman of the Luckyday Foundation board of managers. “The foundation strongly believes that Luckyday Scholars at Ole Miss will benefit significantly from living together in a smaller community near the Grove. We want to do whatever is necessary to achieve our ultimate goal of academic success and a college diploma for each of our scholarship recipients.”

UM Chancellor Dan Jones called the impact of the Luckyday Foundation on Ole Miss “phenomenal,” adding that this impact “has been evident for years through scholarship opportunities provided to students who’ve gone on to make amazing contributions to the state and beyond. We are profoundly grateful to the Luckyday Foundation for its past support and for this generous gift to further transform student life at The University of Mississippi. We are honored that one of our residential colleges will bear the Luckyday name.”

This August the university opened its first residential college. The facility is also the first of its kind in the state. Luckyday Scholars are among the inaugural 450 undergraduate residents, and the second residential college will focus primarily on Luckyday Scholars.

The goal of the residential colleges is to create a living environment that nurtures and broadens the scope of learning. A faculty fellow will live in and lead each college, and other UM faculty members will be involved with students on an informal basis. Each residence will feature its own library, dining hall, computer center and fitness center.

For more information about contributing to the residential college program and other initiatives at UM, go to <www.umfoundation.com/makeagift>. AR

The new Luckyday Residential College, adjacent to the existing Residential College, will open in 2010.

Remember Me, East Village Opera & Parsons Dance OCTOBER 27

IRIS Orchestra, featuring Jeremy Denk NOVEMBER 15

Camelot

NOVEMBER 24

American Stars Christmas featuring former American Idol Stars DECEMBER 5

SCROOGE, in Concert DECEMBER 18

Tickets available at 662.915.7411 or www.olemiss.edu/fordcenter Fall 2009 15

8/25/

fromthe

Circle Silver Blues Archive celebrates 25 years of collecting material related to American art form

W

hen Ole Miss opened its Blues Archive to the public in 1984, it was touted as on its way to becoming “the finest of its kind in the world.”

Those familiar with the many treasures sheltered in the archive say it’s a dream come true. “With the exception of the Library of Congress, I know of no other such archive in the world that surpasses it,” says Greg Johnson, blues curator and associate professor in the J.D. Williams Library. “Every year, fans from around the world visit to examine commercially unavailable audio and video recordings of their favorite blues performers.”

Johnson is curator of “Still Got the Blues: A Silver Anniversary Exhibition,” an exhibition celebrating the archive’s 25th year. Scheduled for a yearlong run, the exhibit is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Visitors who want to add another dimension to their tours of the exhibit can sign out portable audio/video players on site to hear musical selections and view interviews with the featured artists.

The elaborate display fills 18 cases in the Faulkner Room and includes rare and historically significant holdings from many of the archive’s audio, visual and print collections. Some of the material will be rotated throughout the year.

The material highlights artists such as B.B. King, Robert Johnson, The Red Tops and James “Son” Thomas, as well as blues collectors/authors including Sheldon Harris, Kenneth Goldstein and

16 Alumni Review

Gayle Dean Wardlow.

Items include original record contracts for Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson, rare sound recordings by Robert Johnson and Charlie Patton, artwork by Lightnin’ Hopkins and James “Son” Thomas and records from the personal record collection of worldrenowned blues icon B.B. King, as well as a recently donated bronze bust of King by Taylor artist William Beckwith, adjunct assistant professor of art.

The exhibition also examines the history of the Blues Archive and follows Living Blues magazine from its 1970 origins in Chicago to its present home in UM’s Center for the Study of South-

ern Culture. The Blues Archive began as the brainchild of the center’s first director, William Ferris. Living Blues’ spring 1984 issue made the prediction that the archive “will be the finest of its kind anywhere in the world….”

Founded by the center, the archive resided with the music library in Farley Hall for nearly two decades before merging with the library in 2002. It comprises more than 60,000 audio recordings, ranging from wax cylinders to compact discs; more than 20,000 photographs; at least 7,000 books, magazines and newsletters; 900 video recordings; and many collections of manuscripts, posters and ephemera. AR

world-class health care. right where you live.

Our leadership and innovation are key reasons why UMHC offers the most comprehensive level of care in Mississippi. As the state’s only academic medical center, we pioneered the first heart transplant in man and worked with NASA to test remote surgery for space missions. We also care for over 150,000 kids every year at Batson Children’s Hospital – the only children’s hospital in Mississippi. This ongoing commitment to the most advanced medicine helps the medical professionals of UMHC provide leading-edge care for every patient, every day.

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Calendar October through Nov. 2 Art Exhibit: “WWI Art— Together We Win!” Powerhouse Community Arts Center, 9 a.m.5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 662-236-6429, e-mail yacoperations@gmail.com, or visit <www.oxfordarts. com>. through Dec. 31 Art Exhibit: “Walter Anderson and World Literature.”

Special Collections/Archives, J.D. Williams Library, regular library hours.

through Aug. 31, 2010 Exhibit: “Still Got the Blues: A Silver Anniversary Exhibition.” Faulkner Room, J.D. Williams Library, regular library hours. Call 662-9157753.

22

Artist Series: “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m.

Call 662-915-2787, e-mail kmeacham@olemiss.edu, or visit <www.olemiss.edu/ fordcenter>.

“Still Got the Blues” through aug. 31, 2010

23

Gatherings Before the Grove Series: “A Legendary Season.” Overby Center, 5 p.m. Call 662-9151692, or e-mail dj@olemiss. edu.

24

Fall Meeting of the Law Alumni Chapter board of directors.

McMillan Boardroom at The Inn at Ole Miss. Call 662915-7375.

24

Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Tailgate. Lawn in front of Faser Hall. Sponsored by The Harvard Drug Group. Call 662-915-7375.

“Remember Me”

East Village Opera and Parsons Dance oct. 27 18 Alumni Review

27

“Remember Me,” East Village Opera and Parsons Dance. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Call 662-915-

2787, e-mail kmeacham@ olemiss.edu, or visit <www. olemiss.edu/fordcenter>.

28

Brown Bag Lecture: “Voices of Mississippi Women.” Tupelo Room, Barnard Observatory, noon.

Call 662-915-5993, e-mail mheh@olemiss.edu, or visit <www.olemiss.edu/depts/ south>.

30-31

The Group Reunion.

Various campus locations.

Call 662-915-1868, or email jsdavis@olemiss.edu.

November

13

Bridging the Gap: Ole Miss’ past and present working together for the future. The Inn at Ole

Miss, 3-5 p.m. Call 662915-7375.

13

Gatherings Before the Grove Series: “Newspaper Wars.” Overby Center, 5 p.m. Call 662915-1692, or e-mail dj@ olemiss.edu.

15

Artist Series: IRIS Orchestra, featuring Jeremy Denk. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 3 p.m. Call 662-915-2787, e-mail kmeacham@olemiss. edu, or visit <www.olemiss. edu/fordcenter>.

14

20

14

20

Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Tailgate. Lawn in front of Faser Hall. Sponsored by Walgreens. Call 662-915-7375.

School of Education Tailgate. In front of Triplett Alumni Center, starting three hours before kickoff. Call 662-915-7375.

Gatherings Before the Grove Series: “Mississippi Revolutionary.”

Overby Center, 5 p.m. Call 662-915-1692 or e-mail dj@ olemiss.edu.

UM Law Scholarship Reception.

Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss. Call 662-915-6819.

UM Law Scholarship Reception nov. 20

21

Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Tailgate. Lawn in front of Faser Hall. Sponsored by Cardinal Health. Call 662-915-7375.

24

Ford Series: “Camelot.” Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Call 662-915-2787, e-mail kmeacham@olemiss. edu, or visit <www.olemiss. edu/fordcenter>.

December Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Tailgate Nov. 14

5

American Stars Christmas featuring former American Idol stars. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Call 662-915-

2787, e-mail kmeacham@ olemiss.edu, or visit <www. olemiss.edu/fordcenter>.

7

UM School of Pharmacy Reception. ASHP Midyear Clinic, Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Rooms 604 and 605, Las Vegas, Nev., 5:30-7:30 p.m. E-mail laross@pharmacy.ums med.edu.

18

Ford Series: “Scrooge,” in concert. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m.

Call 662-915-2787, e-mail kmeacham@olemiss.edu, or visit <www.olemiss.edu/ fordcenter>.

Fall 2009 19

The

Docto Is In Dr. Dan Jones begins a new era as UMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 16th chancellor

b y M i t c h e ll D i g g s

P h o t o s b y ro b e r t j or d a n

20 Alumni Review

Fall 2009 21

P

erched atop a display stand in a prominent corner of the Lyceum’s first floor, a marble bust of a distinguishedlooking man with a steady, thoughtful gaze presides over the chancellor’s formal office.

The first-century Roman bust, which for many years sat on a cardinal’s desk at the Vatican, is dubbed “The Listener.” Dr. Daniel Jones (MD 75) hand-picked the piece from among hundreds of artifacts in the University Museum collection to decorate his work space because it matches the theme of his first few months as chancellor.

“I wanted that bust in my office to serve as a constant reminder that my principal role in my early days of leadership is to listen,” says Jones, who began work July 1 as the university’s 16th chief executive. “I’ve enjoyed listening to a lot of people, and I think I’ve listened to somebody from pretty much every piece of the constituency. I’ve listened to students, I’ve listened to faculty, listened to administrators, listened to staff, alumni, donors, community leaders, state elected leadership and board of higher education leadership.”

It is the same approach Jones has used for years, including his time as vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at The University of Mississippi Medical Center, and even going back to his time as a staff physician at Jones County Community Hospital in Laurel.

“Dr. Jones listens more than he talks,” says Dr. Randy Easterling, a Vicksburg physician and president of the Mississippi State Medical Association. “He’s mature beyond his years, and he defines the essence of leadership. It really is unusual to find a

physician with the leadership characteristics that Dan has.”

Easterling, who has known Jones since they were classmates at Mississippi College, predicts that “Ole Miss is in for a real treat with Dan.” Andy Mullins, executive assistant to the chancellor, agrees.

“He’s a real professional, and he is a really strong administrator,” says Mullins, the only UM administrator to serve under three chancellors. “Before he makes a big decision, he asks a lot of questions; he researches, and he makes sure he understands all aspects of the issue. He and I have had several discussions on how to handle ‘gray’ issues where there is no black or white, right or wrong, and he understands things very quickly.”

The first physician to lead the university, Jones still keeps a black leather doctor’s bag on a shelf in his working office.

Although he says he misses personal contact with patients and the fulfillment that comes from helping people manage and

“ [Dr. Jones is] mature beyond his years, and he defines the essence of leadership. It really is unusual to find a physician with the leadership characteristics that Dan has.

—–Dr . ra n dy e a s t e rl i n g

The first physician to lead the university, Dr. Dan Jones officially assumed the role of UM chancellor on July 1.

22 Alumni Review

”

improve their health, he relishes the challenges of helping the university chart a course to long-term health.

Sick patients are typically very willing to make changes in their lives or to accept whatever treatment their doctors recom-

mend, Jones observes. But patients in good general health—who might just need to eat better and exercise more—often delay taking action or simply ignore the advice of health professionals.

Ole Miss presents a similar challenge for its new doctor.

“The university is in a good place,” Jones says. “It’s a well patient, and part of the challenge we have as a university family is that, while we are doing well, we need to evaluate how we can do better and where we go, having had so much success during Chancellor [Robert] Khayat’s tenure.”

Jones inherits an institution dramatically different from the one Khayat found when he became chancellor in 1995. During Khayat’s tenure, enrollment jumped nearly 44 percent, two capital campaigns generated almost $775 million in private support, and many buildings were built, renovated or expanded.

The university created the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Croft Institute for International Studies, Lott Leadership Institute and Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation. It also secured a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious liberal arts honor society.

During just the past year, Ole Miss hosted a presidential debate, announced its 25th Rhodes Scholar, inaugurated the first black president of its alumni association, trounced Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl and wound down its successful $200 millionplus MomentUM campaign.

In Jones’ first semester as chancellor, enrollment topped 18,000 for the first time, the Chronicle of Higher Education named UM one of 10 “Great Colleges to Work For,” students moved into the first new campus residence hall in nearly 40 years and the Rebels kicked off their football season ranked in the top 10. But, much like the patient who feels healthy overall, Ole Miss must make adjustments to maintain its good health, Jones says.

“We are still the flagship university in the poorest state in this country,” he says. “Although our elected leadership has been faithful to do their best to give priority to education, we still have less funding from the state than many public universities across the country. We have fewer resources from other sources, including tuition, and we are in the midst of a major national recession that is having a huge impact on our state. Our faculty and staff are not compensated at market levels, and that continues to be a chronic problem that must be addressed.

“But what will drive us over the next few years, I hope, is a heightened attention to the needs in our state and in shaping this great university to help our state move forward and address its challenges in education, economic opportunity and health care.”

Jones truly believes that the university’s most critical mission is to improve the quality of life for all Mississippians, Mullins says. “That’s his vision for Ole Miss, and he is committed to helping us achieve it.”

While Jones’ predecessor, Khayat, was naturally gregarious and right at home in the spotlight, Jones is still adjusting to all the attention his new job brings. He does not particularly enjoy the frequent photo sessions that have peppered his first few months in Oxford.

Like a good doctor, Jones is quiet and reassuring. He chooses

Dr. Daniel W. Jones Age: 60 Hometown: Vicksburg, Miss.

E du c at ion B.S. in chemistry, Mississippi College, 1971 M.D., The University of Mississippi School of Medicine, 1975 C ar ee r Staff physician, Jones County Community Hospital, Laurel, Miss., 1978-85 Director, Community Health Department and Hypertension Clinic, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, Pusan, South Korea, 1985-92 Medical faculty, UM Medical Center, 1992-2009 Herbert G. Langford Professor of Medicine, 19982009 Vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the UM School of Medicine, 2003-09 Pe r s onal Baptist Married to Lydia Channell Jones Two children: Jennifer Jones Flechas of Oxford and Jason Jones of Clinton

Fall 2009 23

Chancellor Dan Jones says his principal role during the early days of his leadership has been to listen to people from various constituency groups.

his words thoughtfully, and he inspires those around him, says Dr. Jimmy Keeton, interim vice chancellor for health affairs at the UM Medical Center.

“During the six years that Dr. Jones led the Medical Center, he set up an organizational structure that allowed people to assume a lot of responsibility in their jobs,” Keeton says. “He empowered people to do good work, and people trusted him and respected his integrity as a leader.”

Under Jones’ guidance, the Medical Center restructured its clinical enterprise to create a more agile, market-responsive organization focused on quality, efficiency and clinical leadership.

The work resulted in a turnaround in financial performance and selection as one of the Thomson Top 100 Hospitals in America.

“ During the six years that Dr. Jones led the Medical Center, he set up an organizational structure that allowed people to assume a lot of responsibility in their jobs. He empowered people to do good work, and people trusted him and respected his integrity as a leader.

—–Dr . J i mm y k e e t o n

”

The Medical Center’s enrollment, private funding, research programs and commitment to minority education also increased dramatically.

Jones plans to use his relationships with the health sciences faculty to reinforce the ties between the Oxford campus and the 24 Alumni Review

Medical Center. The resulting synergies will strengthen programs on both campuses and benefit the entire state, he says.

“For many years really there was not a strong motivation at the health sciences campus for a strong visible identity with the university,” he says. “We didn’t need a football team, and there was not a strong academic link. But with emphasis on academic excellence and the real, tangible progress that’s been made here, there are huge advantages to the health sciences campus to be sure that everybody knows that we are part of The University of Mississippi. We are very proud to be affiliated with a Phi Beta Kappa university, one where so many exciting things are going on.”

As a faculty member at the Medical Center, Jones served as the first principal investigator for the landmark Jackson Heart Study, a National Institutes of Health-sponsored research program that focuses on the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in blacks.

A recognized authority in hypertension research, he also has worked for many years with the American Heart Association on scientific conferences, medical journals, treatment guidelines and other patient-oriented initiatives. In 2007, he served as the association’s president.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that Dr. Jones has ‘done it all’ for the American Heart Association in more than 20 years as a volunteer,” says Nancy Brown, the association’s chief executive officer. “He has also provided vision, especially as one of the primary architects of our new strategic goal to improve overall cardiovascular wellness by 2020. No matter what he does on our behalf, Dr. Jones brings an enthusiasm that inspires everyone around him. And no matter who you are within the American Heart Association, he treats you with a humbleness and respect that is genuine.”

Before beginning his teaching career at the Medical Center in 1992, Jones spent seven years as a medical missionary at Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital in Pusan, South Korea. The experience helped shape his career and gave him an opportunity to live out his faith.

“Faith is central in my life, like it is in the lives of many people associated with this university, many people in this state,” he says. “Every decision I make in life is in some way faith-based, but that shouldn’t scare people. I think most Mississippians are driven by the same centrality of faith in their lives.

“Many people did not understand how deeply spiritual a man Robert Khayat is. You have to get to know him up close and personal before you see all of that. He and I talked a lot together about our faith, but because we both have held very public positions in state institutions, we have been careful to be respectful of others’ beliefs.”

Jones enjoys taking walks around campus with his wife, Lydia, and often uses the time to bounce his ideas and concerns off her. He enjoys Korean food, is partial to sushi and admits to being “overly fond” of his wife’s homemade banana pudding. He likes to read for pleasure, particularly Mississippi writers and history, and enjoys golf, while admitting that he’s not as good on the links as many of his friends.

Although he was never a great varsity athlete, he is an avid sports fan. His working office is decorated with several photos and prints of legendary Ole Miss coaches and athletes, including John Vaught, Archie (BPA 71) and Eli (BBA 03) Manning, and Jake Gibbs (BSHPE 61).

“I realize that not everyone understands and appreciates why sports are so important in the life of the university, but they are, and I’m glad they are,” Jones says. “I am so proud of our athletics teams, of all these great student-athletes who have chosen to be a part of the Ole Miss family. I’m proud of our coaches and those who work with our coaches.

“We are coming off some great accomplishments in the last year and have great optimism going into the 2009-10 seasons in all of our major sports, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”

Whether the topic is athletics, academics or simply the beauty of the Oxford campus, Jones is impressed with the passion Ole Miss alumni and fans have for the place. Everyone seems to have a story about their love for the university, and Jones is happy to hear them all.

As he enters a new phase of his own Ole Miss career, he is looking forward to helping write the next chapter in the university’s history. But his approach to this new opportunity is one of humility rather than pride.

“This is an old and distinguished university, and any of us who have the privilege of serving here are merely custodians or caretakers for a time,” Jones says. “None of us owns the university; none of us is going to be the most important or the last of anything in this great place, so I do consider myself to be at a very privileged place. I’m very fortunate and grateful to be affiliated with this great faculty and staff who are doing great and productive work, very happy to be affiliated with our students, our alumni and all those who love Ole Miss.” AR

UM’s New First Lady

W

hen Lydia Channell enrolled at Mississippi College, she never dreamed that a freshman zoology class would change her life.

But that is where she met Dan Jones, a fellow freshman from Vicksburg. “We happened to be lab partners in zoology, and he already knew he was going to go into pre-med, so he tutored me through the class,” she recalls. “I passed zoology, literally, because of his help.”

The two began dating and were married shortly after they graduated in 1971. After stops in Laurel, South Korea and Jackson, she watched with immense pride as her husband of 38 years endured a full day of questions from various constituent groups and was named as The University of Mississippi’s 16th chancellor. Barely six weeks later, she was getting the family settled into their new home on the Oxford campus.

“We’ve felt at home here since day one, and we did not expect that,” she says. “That has been one of my biggest surprises because we loved Hazelhurst so much, and we loved that grand old home we have there. We had found our refuge there, and now we’ve found it here, too.”

A Mississippi native, Mrs. Jones grew up in Florida, where her father was a Baptist minister. He was a Mississippi College alumnus, so, when she graduated from Fort Myers High School, there was no question about where she would attend college.

She enjoys playing piano, having grown up playing for services in her Chancellor Dan Jones and his wife, Lydia father’s churches. She also likes a variety of outdoor activities and loves to cook.

Her culinary specialties include traditional Southern fare and Korean food. She also makes homemade granola, often packing it into plastic bags as gifts for friends.

Wherever the family has lived, Mrs. Jones has been active in church groups and civic organizations such as the Junior Civic League, medical auxiliary groups and, in Korea, the International Women’s Club. But she has not joined any organizations in Oxford just yet.

“Until I see how our lives here are going to unfold, I’m holding off on making commitments,” she says. “I want to make sure that I can support the university and whatever Dan is doing. My life really revolves around him, and I want to make certain that I can do what he needs me to do.”

She looks forward to helping greet and entertain alumni groups and campus visitors, and already has hosted a reception for this year’s Chancellor’s Leadership Class.

The Joneses have two grown children. Their daughter, Jennifer, is married to Jaime Flechas (BBA 95), and lives in Oxford.

Son, Jason, and his wife, Tiffany, live in Clinton. AR

Fall 2009 25

Chef du our J Food & Wine recognizes Ole Miss alumnus as one of America’s top new talents in the kitchen

by

T om

S peed

P hotos by N athan L atil

C

hef Kelly English (BSFCS 02) isn’t in the habit of hearing voices, but two years ago the design in a stained-glass window spoke to him so clearly and convincingly that he changed the course of his life.

What was the message? Take the biggest risk of your life, and do it right here,

This stained-glass fleur-de-lis served as inspiration for Restaurant Iris.

26 Alumni Review

in Memphis, Tenn., in this house.

What was the risk? Leaving a great job with celebrated chef John Besh in New Orleans and creating his own restaurant from scratch.

Most fledgling chefs just three years out of culinary school would have dismissed such a notion as crazy, but not English. He listened to that voice.

And less than two years later, after opening his restaurant in the house with the stained-glass window, he heard another voice. This time it was the senior editor of Food & Wine magazine telling him he’d been named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Top New Chefs of 2009.

But about that stained-glass window.

t he power of a fle u r -d e -lis On the weekend following the 2007

Ole Miss-Florida game in Oxford, English and his wife, Angela (BSW 99), were in Memphis visiting Angela’s parents. During Sunday brunch at a restaurant, the owner talked them into taking a look at the former home of La Tourelle, a celebrated Midtown restaurant that had recently closed. It was there, just inside the front door, that they saw the stainedglass window depicting a fleur-de-lis, which is perhaps best-known as the insignia of New Orleans, English’s hometown.

A less well-known fact, perhaps, is that the symbol draws its inspiration from the iris, the state flower of Tennessee, which happens to be Angela’s home state.

After the tour of the house, they walked outside to see a rainbow. In Greek mythology, the goddess who is the messenger of the gods and the personification of the rainbow is named Iris.

“I promise,” says English, acknowl-

Chef Kelly English was named one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top new chefs by Food & Wine magazine.

Fall 2009 27

edging that this story has more omens and symbolism than a paperback mystery.

During the six-hour drive back to New Orleans that day, he and his wife discussed the uncanny coincidences and their dreams of opening a restaurant. Though his training was impeccable (he received his degree from the Culinary Institute of American in New York in 2004), English wasn’t sure he was ready for the challenge, but ultimately he gave in to what seemed to be fate.

Eighteen months later, Restaurant Iris (Angela came up with the name) opened for business, featuring an ambitious menu that represented English’s finely honed training and sophistication while also honoring his down-home roots.

Cooking had always been a major part of English’s family life when he was growing up.

“My grandmother was a great cook and my dad is a great cook,” English says.

“I remember watching my dad get off work and the first thing he wanted to do was cook something.”

Moving between New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette (English calls his upbringing that of a “south Louisiana nomad”), English was exposed to the intricacies of unique culinary cultures.

“The cool thing about moving around like that,” he says, “is seeing the different micro-cultures. From an outsider’s perspective it’s just Cajun and Creole, but there are very specific nuances, even between each town, even towns that touch each other. The boudin here is not the boudin there, and the gumbo one place isn’t the same as the next place.”

Those myriad influences reveal themselves in Iris’ menu. It is characterized by a decidedly down-home approach to Southern fare with a flair for creative uses of traditional ingredients. A trademark is the “surf and turf ” consisting of a New York strip steak stuffed with fried oysters and blue cheese. Other mainstays include Natchitoches meat pies, shrimp and grits (with Delta Grind grits from Oxford) and lobster sandwiches. The menu is supplemented with an unpretentious but carefully crafted wine list.

fro m t h e m i s s i s s i p p i to th e h u d s o n When he came to Ole Miss, English 28 Alumni Review

English is known for Southern fare with a flair for creative uses of traditional ingredients.

Scallops are one of many popular items on the Iris menu.

planned to follow in his lawyer father’s footsteps and began a pre-law curriculum.

He took part-time jobs in several nowdefunct restaurants, starting at Cedars and later working at Buffalo Café and helping to open Pearl Street Pasta. One day, he had an epiphany. English realized that he enjoyed working in the restaurants much more than he looked forward to attending pre-law classes. After careful consideration and on a bit of a hunch, he decided to switch his major to hospitality management.

“I was mostly scared to tell my dad,” English says with a chuckle. “But he was

A cozy dining room in Restaurant Iris, which is located in a charming old house in Midtown Memphis.

just happy I wasn’t going to be a lawyer.”

After graduating in 2002, English decided to further his studies at the worldrenowned Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York.

“I wanted to learn from the best people I could,” English says. “I wanted to be challenged.”

While the reputation and curriculum alone was reason enough to attend CIA,

English also wanted to seize the opportunity to broaden his horizons by living in another part of the country. He relished the mountainous location in the Hudson River Valley, a short one-hour train ride from Manhattan. But he still longed for home.

Having already received a bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss, English opted for a two-year culinary degree program. While he had grown more serious about his academic pursuits once he changed majors at Ole Miss, at CIA he became even more dedicated.

“I never thought I’d get so interested in what I was studying,” he says. “It was a vast difference from my undergraduate days. I was never late for a class [at CIA], much less missed a class. You finally find out what you really want to do and you get serious about it. I got serious about it at Ole Miss, but I got really serious about it in New York.”

His dedication paid off. A year into the CIA program, English took an externship as part of his training. Through a family connection, he hooked up with Besh. The two of them hit it off so well English ended up staying longer than the prescribed 18 weeks. When English graduated, Besh invited him back to New Orleans to help him open Restaurant Lüke.

loc a l co lo r A hallmark of Restaurant Iris is English’s commitment to using ingredients grown or produced locally. (He even grows his own herbs in a garden behind the restaurant.) A perfect example of this is the strawberry kohlrabi ceviché that showed up on the menu one day.

Not long before, English had been visiting with one of the many local farmers in his network when the farmer presented him with an unfamiliar bulblike vegetable that English describes as looking “kind of like a spaceship.” The vegetable was a kohlrabi, also known as a German turnip. Though English had never seen a kohlrabi, let alone cooked one, after some research and experimentation, he was soon serving a scallop and strawberry kohlrabi ceviché as a special of the day. His loyal customers loved it.

“I’m at the farmer’s market every single Saturday,” he says. “It’s a great way to

support your community and immerse yourself in the community. It’s positive karma in my opinion. I know the person growing it. I know what they’ve done to it.

I’ve been to the farm. I’ve seen where that tomato grew. I know that there was nothing put in the food that’s going to harm people. It might not be the cheapest way to run a restaurant, but it’s the best way.”

An herb garden in the restaurant’s back yard

The wine list reflects the same spirit.

Along with his manager and sommelier, Jeff Srisby, English selects a wide array of lesser-known wines that are chosen as much for the way they are made as they are for the wines themselves. While the main criterion is taste and value, English and Srisby also seek out wines that have a minimal ecological impact.

“We wanted it to be the counterpart to the local farmers,” says English. “We wanted to support vineyards that had low yields. Part of the challenge of having a list like that is that when they are out, they’re done. If they make 200 cases, that’s it.

So our wine list changes frequently. We have a five-course pairing that will change based on the season and the local produce that we can get, so the wines will change with that.”

lu ck y s tar s English says being honored with 10 other outstanding new chefs by Food & Wine for 2009 was a seriously mind-blowing event.

“Everybody wants to be a Best New Chef, but it’s something I never dreamed would actually happen,” he says. “I’m privileged and honored, and I thank my lucky stars every day.”

When senior editor Kate Heddings from Food & Wine came to dine at Restaurant Iris, English had no idea that Besh had nominated him for the honor.

It wasn’t until a month later when he received a phone call that he learned about it.

“Everything went blank,” he says of receiving the news. “She just kept talking, and a few minutes later I told her she’d have to repeat everything she’d said because I hadn’t heard a word.”

Business is now booming for Iris. Reservations are required well in advance, and plans are under way to remodel the upstairs of the building to nearly double the dining space. Construction has already begun on an outdoor patio area.

Much of this added interest has come from the attention and the awards. Some might say the extra attention brings added pressure. But English wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I always want the full house,” he says.

“The pressure has always been there. I’ve always put pressure on myself. Every meal I cook is practice for the next one. I think that anybody who decides they are as good as they are going to get, that’s when you step away and get out of the kitchen.

I feel at home in the kitchen. It’s like my church.”

English says he hopes to be cooking new and inventive meals the rest of his life. In the back of his mind is the idea of opening a restaurant in Oxford to be even closer to his beloved Rebels during football season.

Restaurant Iris might have been born on a hunch, but hard work and creativity have made it a continuing and resounding success that comes with long days and busy weekends for English. But he says the satisfaction of the job trumps anything else.

“You go home and you’re tired, but you did something that made people happy,” he says. “That’s what I really dig. I really love making every guest feel special, and I love seeing smiles on people’s faces.”

AR

Fall 2009 29

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i n g o o d Com pa n y Top alumni of 2009 recognized

by Jim Urbanek

S

ix alumni received the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s highest annual honors as part of Homecoming 2009. Inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame were John Warner Alford Jr. (BBA 60, MA 66) of Oxford; John “Kayo” Dottley (BSPHE 50, MEd 51) of Vicksburg; George E. Hilliard (BBA 77) of Memphis; and William W. Parsons Jr. (BE 79) of Merritt Island, Fla. Created in 1974, the Hall of Fame honors those select alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their country, state or The University of Mississippi through their good deeds, services or contributions, all of which have perpetuated the good name of Ole Miss.

David E. Brevard (BA 78) of Tupelo received the Alumni Service Award for service to the university and the Alumni Association over an extended period.

Tamara Yvette Crawford (BSME 02) of Arlington, Texas, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have shown exemplary leadership throughout their first 15 years of alumni status in both their careers and dedication to Ole Miss.

The Alumni Association held a reception and dinner for the honorees on Friday, Oct. 16, in the Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom at The Inn at Ole Miss.

Hall of Fam e Awards John Warner Alford Jr. retired as executive director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association in 2008, a position he had held since 2004. A former player, coach and athletics director at Ole Miss, Alford earned three letters as a guard on standout Rebel football teams from 1958-60. He was co-captain of the 1960 undefeated national champion team and went on to serve as athletics director for his alma mater from 1978-94.

During Alford’s years as athletics director, Ole Miss experienced tremendous growth in both facilities and fundraising.

Alford also helped expand athletic opportunities for both men and women at the uniFall 2009 31

Will Smith John “Kayo” Dottley is chairman of the board of Dottley’s Spice, a manufacturing firm in Vicksburg.

32 Alumni Review

Kevin Bain

versity during this period, increasing the number of varsity sports from eight to 15.

From 1994-99, he worked as a vice president for Mississippi Diversified Corporation, which provides insurance and related products to more than 300 auto dealers. In 1999, he was named athletics director for The University of LouisianaMonroe and served in that position until he was named vice president and national sales manager of Assurant Group’s Indirect Auto in 2001. Alford returned to Ole Miss and held positions as executive assistant for development for the UM Foundation and coordinator of external programs for the Lott Leadership Institute; he also worked with the Ole Miss First scholars program.

His responsibilities for the Alumni Association included planning, coordinating and directing activities to develop alumni participation in association and university programs. He also led the association during the $21 million expansion of The Inn at Ole Miss.

Alford was inducted into the M-Club Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999 and the

Warner Alford, former athletics director and former Alumni Association executive director

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

A native of McComb, he coached at Davidson College and Georgia Tech before joining Coach Billy Kinard’s staff in 1971. He is married to the former Kay Swayze of Oxford, and they have three children, Thomas Swayze Alford, John Warner Alford III and Phyllis Alford Daniels, and six grandchildren.

John “Kayo” Dottley was born in Birmingham, Ala., and grew up in McGehee, Ark. After graduating from McGehee High School, he headed to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. Dottley graduated with undergraduate and master’s degrees in administrative education in four years.

He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Kappa Sigma, elected Colonel Rebel, selected to the student Hall of Fame and earned numerous awards in football, including All-American honors in 1945 and 1946.

After graduating from Ole Miss, Dottley was drafted by the Chicago Bears and played fullback until a car accident ended his career. During his rookie year, he led the Bears in rushing, was Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie back named to play in the Pro Bowl in NFL history.

Dottley left Chicago for Vicksburg, Miss., where he was owner of Jitney Jungle #4 supermarket. He also worked with his father to found Dottley’s Spice, where he served as president of the company. He currently is president of the board of Dot-

tley’s Spice.

Always interested in the youth of Vicksburg, Dottley was an avid supporter of Little League sports and coached YMCA football for more than 10 years.

Dottley is a member of the Masons and is also a Shriner. He is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and was honored as a living legend by the SEC in 1997. He is a member of the Ole Miss Football Team of the Century and was honored by the American Football Foundation for 50 years of outstanding contributions to football.

He resides in Vicksburg and is married to the former Nina Nosser. They are the parents of three daughters, Nina Rocconi, Debbie Brumitt and Dani Kay Thomas, and two sons, John Albert Dottley Jr. (deceased) and Billy Joe Dottley.

They have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

George E. Hilliard is president and partner in the Memphis independent insurance agency Pete Mitchell and Associates, Inc. As managing partner, he is responsible for the service standards, business practices and profitability of the agency.

A native of Hernando, Miss., he is a 1973 graduate of Hernando High School.

Hilliard is a member of the national, state and local associations for Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). The Tennessee association recognized him as its

member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Hilliard and his wife, Malinda, live in Memphis and have three daughters, Sabrina, Melodia and Brittany. They attend South Germantown Road Church of Christ in Memphis.

William W. Parsons Jr. joined Lockheed Martin Mission Services in October 2008 as vice president of strategic space initiatives in Titusville, Fla. He is responsible for helping to formulate Mission Services’ strategy as it relates to Civil and Defense Space Programs and assists other business units as requested.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Parsons served as the director of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Parsons joined the NASA team in 1990 at Kennedy Space Center in the Shuttle Operations Directorate. In 1997, he was assigned to the John C. Stennis Space Center as the chief of operations of the Propulsion Test Directorate. In 1998, Parsons relocated to NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston to become the director of the Center Operations and Support Directorate.

He was appointed director of the Stennis Space Center in 2002.

In 2003, he was appointed space shuttle program manager to lead the return to flight activities for the agency and played a key role in the success of the Discov-

Courtesy of NASA

2008 Agent of the Year, acknowledging both his professional and personal accomplishments. He is past president of both the Tennessee and Memphis PIA associations and was the first African American to be elected president of both associations.

He holds both the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation and the Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CIPA) designation. He serves as a subject matter expert for Pearson Vue, the firm that administers pre-licensing insurance education and examination for Tennessee.

Hilliard currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Memphis Chamber Foundation and as an executive committee member of the Ole Miss Alumni Association board of directors.

He has served as the fundraising chairman for the Memphis Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., scholarship program for the past two years.

He has received numerous personal awards and honors, including the Memphis Silver Star New Achievers Award; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., African American Male Image Award; Black Business Association of Memphis Special Recognition for Outstanding Board Service; and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Southwestern Regional Bigger and Better Businessman Award.

While at Ole Miss, Hilliard was a

William W. Parsons is vice president of Lockheed Martin Mission Services and a former NASA official.

Robert Jordan

ery STS-114 mission. Soon after that mission, he returned to the Stennis Space Center to lead Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts there and at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. He was soon assigned to a second term as the director of the Stennis Space Center.

Parsons’ awards and honors include the Presidential Rank Award (Meritorious Executive); NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal and Distinguished Service Medal; the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement; and the Silver Snoopy, awarded by astronauts for outstanding performance in flight safety and mission success. He also received the Engineer of Distinction Award from UM and the Alumni of the Year award from the University of Central Florida, where he earned a Master of Engineering Management.

Parsons resides on Merritt Island, Fla., with his wife, Amy, and two children, Sarah and Wil.

Alumni Serv ice Award

Memphis businessman George Hilliard

David E. Brevard of Tupelo, Miss., is president of B&B Concrete Co., a family business engaged in the manufacture and delivery of ready-mix concrete, concrete pipe and pre-cast concrete items. He worked from 1981-84 as an account executive for Oxford Industries, Inc.’s Women’s Sportswear Group in New York City.

Brevard serves on the board of direcFall 2009 33

ent with his wife) and the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Leadership Award.

After graduating from Ole Miss, Brevard earned an MBA from the University of Virginia. He is married to the former Shawn R. Stewart, and they have two daughters, Stewart and Lizzie.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Tamara Yvette Crawford, 31, is a senior aeronautical engineer for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, an aerospace defense company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

Crawford works in the area of mass properties for the F-22 Raptor Program.

As a mass properties engineer, she utilizes the fundamentals of systems engineering processes to accomplish production and modernization tasks on the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft.

Crawford began her career at Lockheed Martin in 2003 as a systems engineer in the area of structural prognostics and health management for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

She was selected as one of only three young engineers from the company to participate in the inaugural cross-training initiative for mass properties. Her areas of expertise include mass properties analysis Robert Jordan

David Brevard serves on the board of directors of Mississippi Methodist Senior Services.

34 Alumni Review

Courtesy of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company

tors of Mississippi Methodist Senior Services, Inc.; the Community Development Foundation; the Yocona Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA); Journal, Inc.; B&B Concrete Co., Inc.; and Concrete Industries, Inc. He is the former chairman of the board of directors of Mississippi Methodist Senior Services, Inc., and the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi. He served as campaign co-chair of the Building on Tradition Capital Campaign for Camp Yocona and is a former vice president for operations for the Yocona Area Council of the BSA. He was a founding board member for Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity.

He is a past president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association and serves on the executive committee and board of directors of the Ole Miss Alumni Association as well as the board of directors of The University of Mississippi Foundation.

He was the chair of The Inn at Ole Miss Campaign Steering Committee.

He has received numerous awards, including the Yocona Area Council’s Silver Beaver Award for Distinguished Service to Youth, the Rotary International Foundation’s Paul Harris Fellow Award, Parent of the Year Award from Church Street Elementary School, the Association for Excellence in Education’s Jack Reed Sr. Advocate for Education Award (co-recipi-

When she joined Lockheed Martin, Tamara Crawford worked on the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. This carrier variant of that aircraft was unveiled in July 2009.

pertaining to the wing, forward fuselage at the Airframe level, and mission systems and weapons integration at the Air Vehicle Design and Integration (AVDI) level.

Earlier this year Crawford was nominated for a Women of Color in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Award in Community Service.

This national award recognizes women of color based on leadership, innovation and outstanding work in the STEM fields. She received the 2009 Women of Color Technology Rising Star Award, which recognizes advancement in shaping technology for the future and demonstrating excellence in the workplace and community.

Crawford is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and was initiated into the Theta Psi Chapter at UM. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss, she received an M.S. in systems engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Crawford is a member of FriendshipWest Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. She currently serves as leader of the Ashanti Community, which is a rites of passage program for girls from ages 8 to 18. AR

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Guiltyas Charged Ole Miss Rebels incite emotionally charged legal protest following 1969 victory over LSU

I ntroduction by H olly M ayatte

I

t’s natural to feel bitter when your previously undefeated team is defeated. But to go so far as filing a class action lawsuit to prevent further harassment of your team?

That’s a bit extreme. Yet that’s what one LSU fan did in 1969 in a case of good-natured rivalry with an Ole Miss fan friend.

The rivalry between Ole Miss and LSU fans is one that runs deep and affects many fans and their families. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ole Miss’ 1969 triumph over LSU in which legendary Archie Manning (BPA 71) led the team to victory with a 3-point win. A friendly rivalry between two Baton Rouge attorneys—one a die-hard Ole Miss fan and the other an equally faithful LSU fan—turned into to a much larger affair than either man expected.

LSU had an impressive football season in 1969. They lost just one game—a 26-23 defeat at the hands of Archie Manning’s Ole Miss Rebels. After the game, Louis G. Baine Jr. (BA 50, LLB 52) made a late-night phone call to taunt his friend and colleague LSU fan Frank J. Polozola. In the wee hours of

the morning after the friendly chide, Polozola drafted a fictitious federal court class action lawsuit and injunction to prevent “further harassment” by Archie to the LSU team. Numerous news outlets, including Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press news wire, picked up the story believing that it was a legitimate civil action. Baine soon was flooded with calls from Ole Miss friends and classmates offering their support for his defense in this “lawsuit.”

The fictional lawsuit became a source of humor over the years for the two friends. One copy was framed and presented to Polozola at his swearing-in ceremony to become a federal judge.

Another was given to Manning.

With the Ole Miss football team’s longstanding rivalry against LSU and the Rebels’ 31-13 shellacking of the Tigers in Baton Rouge last year, the 2009 contest promises to be as heated as the game that inspired the faux lawsuit.

The formal (but fictitious) complaint is reprinted on the following pages.

The photos above are from the 1969 Ole Miss/LSU game where Archie Manning and the Rebels defeated LSU 26-23 in Jackson, depriving the Tigers of a perfect season and sparking a fictitious class action lawsuit in the process.

36 Alumni Review

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ALL DISTRICTS SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE DIVISION FRANK J. POLOZOLA and MIKE T. TIGER, III, Individually And on behalf of others similarly situated versus

DOCKET NUMBER 9-1

OLE MISS REBELS, ARCHIE MANNING, LOUIS G. BAINE, JR., AND RANDY PATTON COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTION AND VICTORY The joint complaint of Frank J. Polozola and Mike T. Tiger, III, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, with respect, represent: FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 1.

This action is brought individually and on behalf of all LSU Tiger fans similarly situated. The number of fans personally affected by the defendants is so great, that a class action is justified.

2.

Jurisdiction for this suit is based on the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and any other statute the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department finds.

3.

On November 1, 1969, the Ole Miss Rebels did beat, harass, and deprive the LSU Tigers of a victory and a perfect season.

4.

More particularly, Archie Manning, one of the defendant Rebels, did personally beat, humiliate, and harass the Tigers by running for three touchdowns and passing for another.

5.

Complaints show that this is not the first time Archie Manning has been guilty of harassment and beat LSU, but show the Court that in 1968, the said Archie Manning performed the same or similar acts in personally beating the Tigers, 27-24.

6.

Archie Manning has violated the rights of LSU and the fans of LSU by his continuous and systematic beatings, and complaintants fear that Archie Manning will continue to beat the Tigers in the future, and more particularly in 1970 unless restrained by this Court.

7.

Complaintants show the Court that Archie Manning trespassed on LSU’s territory on numerous occasions both in 1968 and 1969, and in 1969, he carried a pig skin over LSU’s goal three times, and on another occasion threw a pig skin over LSU’s goal.

Fall 2009 37

8.

Furthermore, the Ole Miss Rebels did intentionally refuse to admit the Tigers to their end zone in violation of the Tigers’ Civil Rights. The Rebels also intentionally took the ball when it was dropped by the Tigers and refused to give it back.

9.

Complaintants state that in 1968, the Rebels performed the same or similar acts as set forth above, and have been continuously performing similar acts since 1965. Unless restrained, the Rebels will continue to act similarly in the future.

10.

The systematic exclusion of the Tigers from the Rebels’ goal line constitutes a violation of the Tigers’ rights.

The continuous and systematic beatings, harassments, and humiliations directed against the Tigers by Archie Manning also constitute a violation of the Tigers’ right to a victory. Unless the above parties are so restrained in the future, they will continue to systematically exclude LSU from their end zone, and will continue to beat, humiliate, and harass LSU. 11.

As a result of the continuous beatings by Ole Miss and Archie Manning, the fans of LSU have been deprived of a victory they were entitled to.

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION

12.

This second cause of action is directed against Louis G. Baine, Jr., of full age and a Rebel fan.

13.

Louis G. Baine, Jr. has constantly harassed the complaintants, and in particular, Frank J. Polozola, and complaintants fear that he will continue to do so in the future unless restrained. More particularly, Louis G. Baine, Jr. has glorified, supported, and cheered the actions of the Rebels, and called for the defeat of the Tigers, and the systematic exclusion of the Tigers from the Rebels’ end zone.

14.

Louis G. Baine, Jr. has also cheered and approved the actions of Archie Manning’s crossing into the Tiger end zone, and has approved and cheered the actions of the other Rebels when they took the ball from the Tigers when the Tigers dropped it.

15.

In the early morning hours of November 2, 1969, around 1:00 a.m. the said Louis G. Baine, Jr. called Frank J. Polozola by long distance to harass and tease him about the beating given to the Tigers by Ole Miss.

He further threatened Frank J. Polozola by advising him that Archie Manning would be back in 1970 to perform the same or similar acts. Complaintants further state that after the 1968 beating, Louis G. Baine, Jr. continuously reminded Frank J. Polozola of the prior beatings of the Tigers, and caused Frank J. Polozola as well as other Tiger fans, great mental pain and suffering.

16.

Unless this Court restrains Louis G. Baine, Jr., he will continue to approve the actions of Ole Miss and Archie Manning, and as a result will deprive Tiger fans of a victory, and will cause Tiger fans, and particularly, Frank J. Polozola, great mental pain and suffering.

38 Alumni Review

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION 17.

This third cause of action is directed against Randy Patton, also a Rebel fan.

18.

Randy Patton has continuously approved the actions of Archie Manning in the past, and will continue to do so in the future unless restrained.

19.

Complaintants state that upon information and belief, Randy Patton should be at the office of Frank J. Polozola Monday, November 3, 1969 to remind Frank J. Polozola and other Tiger fans of the November 1 beating, and unless so restrained will cause them great pain and suffering.

WHEREFORE, complaints pray for an injunction as set forth above.

Complaintants further pray for a victory over Ole Miss.

Complaintants further pray that Archie Manning will not break his ribs in 1970 prior to the LSU game.

Complaintants further pray that Ole Miss GO TO HELL. By attorney:

________________________ Frank J. Polozola in Proper Person

ORDER

CONSIDERING the foregoing, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:

That the Ole Miss Rebels, Archie Manning, Louis G. Baine, Jr. and Randy Patton be and they are hereby restrained from beating, harassing, approving, or in any way causing another LSU defeat; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Ole Miss Rebels are restrained from excluding LSU from the Rebel end zone, from crossing into the LSU end zone, and from taking the ball from LSU when the Tigers drop it and not returning it, or from carrying or throwing a pig skin into the LSU end zone.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Louis G. Baine, Jr. and Randy Patton be and they are hereby restrained from reminding any Tiger fan of the Rebel victory; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Archie Manning be prohibited from breaking his ribs prior to the LSU game in 1970 and from personally beating and harassing the Tigers in the future;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT OLE MISS GO TO HELL. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this 3rd day of November 1969.

________________________ G.O. Tigers, Judge

Fall 2009 39

Sports Double Duty

Former Ole Miss women’s basketball star to serve as Rebels assistant coach

W

hen former Ole Miss Associate Head Coach Peggie Gillom (BSW 80) announced her retirement in 2009 after 22 years on the sidelines, Rebel Head Coach Renee Ladner (BSHPE 82) was faced with the daunting task of replacing one of the most recognizable faces ever to be associated with Ole Miss women’s basketball.

Ladner opted to replace one Rebel legend with another when she tapped Ole Miss great Armintie Price (BA 07) as her newest assistant coach.

Price, one of the most successful players in Ole Miss history, will begin her first season on Ladner’s staff at the beginning of the 2009-10 season, just two seasons removed from leading the Rebels to the 2007 Elite Eight.

“We are extremely excited to have Armintie back in the huddle with us. She is somebody who has been successful at both the collegiate and professional levels, and we feel she brings a wealth of experience to our program,” says Ladner.

Currently in her third year in the WNBA, Price spent 2-1/2 seasons with the Chicago Sky and played an instrumental role in the Sky’s rise as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

She was recently traded to the Atlanta Dream, where she reunited with former Ole Miss head coach and current Dream Assistant Coach Carol Ross.

The third overall selection in the 2007 WNBA Draft, Price started all 34 games for the Sky that season and finished third among rookies in both scoring (7.9) and assists (2.9) per game en route to her selection as WNBA Rookie of the Year.

She played an integral role in helping the Sky improve from five wins in the franchise’s inaugural season of 2006 to 14 wins in 2007. She also helped keep the Sky in the play-offs picture until the final week of the regular season.

40 Alumni Review

Armintie Price will coach during the WNBA offseason.

“

We are extremely excited to have Armintie back in the huddle with us. She is somebody who has been successful at both the collegiate and professional levels, and we feel she brings a wealth of experience to our program.”

—Renee Ladner A native of Myrtle, Miss., a graduate of Ole Miss and a two-time team captain, Price engineered a trip to the Elite Eight for the Rebels in her senior season. It marked the first time Ole Miss had advanced that far since 1992. In her illustrious collegiate career, she joined Cheryl Miller as one of the two players in NCAA history to amass 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists and 400 steals.

At the conclusion of her senior sea-

”

son at Ole Miss, she was named to the ESPN.com All-American first team as well as the Kodak/WBCA All-America team. Price and 2009 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Ole Miss great Jennifer Gillom are the only two Rebels in school history to be named to the Kodak/WBCA All-America team.

Price currently ranks third all-time at Ole Miss in career points (2,165), second in rebounds (1,198) and first in steals (403). AR

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Fall 2009 41

Sports Storming Back

Top players on women’s tennis team return from last year’s nationally ranked squad

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ith five of the top six players returning from a squad that ended the 2009 season ranked No. 21 in the nation, the Ole Miss women’s tennis team is set to kick off a new year.

In one of their most successful seasons in several years, the Rebels defeated five top 25 teams in the SEC in 2009, including a win over Florida for the first time since 1999. The team advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals, knocking off then 14th-ranked Arkansas in the process, and earned its 12th NCAA bid, reaching the second round.

Kristi Boxx, who played No. 1 singles and teamed with Karen Nijssen at

No. 1 doubles as a freshman, will lead the Rebels again this year. Boxx begins the year ranked No. 25 in singles while Nijssen, a junior, is ranked No. 49. The duo are ranked No. 9 in doubles.

Also back is junior Laura van de Stroet and sophomores Gabriela Rangel and Abigail Guthrie. Rangel and Guthrie combined for 44 wins in singles and doubles last year in their debut.

Connor Vogel, who transferred in last year, and Pippa Reakes, who missed last season with an injury, are ready to contribute to the team. Soledad Podlipnik, the only senior this year, provides the Rebels with added depth. AR

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Hoop Hype

UM sophomore named Wooden Award preseason candidate

O

Terrico White

le Miss sophomore Terrico White, the 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year, has been named a preseason candidate for the 2009-10 John R. Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year trophy.

The list of candidates comprises 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early front-runners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

Last year, White was named the SEC’s top freshman by both the league coaches and Associated Press after he averaged 18.4 points per game in conference play, making him the highest individual scorer among league freshmen and fourth-highest among all players. The Memphis, Tenn., native also received Freshman All-

America distinction from several outlets as well as All-SEC second-team status.

He racked up at least 20 points in nine games after being forced to move to point guard after floor general Chris Warren suffered a season-ending injury.

The 34th annual Wooden Award ceremony will take place the weekend of April 9-11, 2010. Created in 1976, the award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. Recipients are judged to be the nation’s best player who also has proven that he or she is making progress toward graduation while maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97) and Blake Griffin (’09). AR

Fall 2009 43

arts &

Culture The Price of Defiance: James Meredith and the Integration of Ole Miss by Charles W. Eagles, 584 pp., $35 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780807832738 A f ter f ig ht ing a protracted legal battle, James Meredith (BA 63) broke the color barrier in 1962 as the first African American student to enroll at The University of Mississippi. The riot that followed his arrival on campus seriously wounded scores of U.S. marshals and killed two civilians, more casualties than any other clash of the civil rights era.

In The Price of Defiance, Charles Eagles uses many previously untapped sources, including FBI and U.S. marshal files, U.S. Army and university records, and Meredith’s personal papers, to provide invaluable background for understanding the historic moment.

Eagles paints a remarkable portrait of Meredith himself by describing his unusual family background, his personal values and his service in the U.S. Air Force, all of which prepared him for his experience at Ole Miss.

Charles W. Eagles has taught history at The University of Mississippi since 1983.

Oxford and Ole Miss by Jack Lamar Mayfield on behalf of the OxfordLafayette County Heritage Foundation, Images of America series, 128 pp., $21.99 (Softcover), ISBN: 139780738566146 On June 22, 1836, t h re e l a nd sp e c u l ator s — Joh n M a r t i n, John Chisom and John C r a i g — d on a t e d 5 0 acres to the Board of Police for the formation 44 Alumni Review

of the city of Oxford.

Oxford was chartered by the state of Mississippi on May 11, 1837, and The University of Mississippi opened its doors in 1848.

In a new pictorial history book by local author Jack Mayfield and the Oxford-Lafayette County Heritage Foundation, more than 200 v inta ge photographs document the people, places, events and scenes that have made Oxford a prime example of what life in a small Southern town should be.

Highlights of Oxford and Ole Miss include photographs culled primarily from the Patricia Brown Young Collection, university photos dating from the 1850s to 1950s and a section on Oxford’s most famous resident, William Faulkner.

Jack Lamar Mayfield (BBA 69) is a native of Oxford. He currently writes a weekly column for the Oxford Eagle called “A Sense of Place.”

The Education of Mr. Mayfield: An Unusual Story of Social Change at Ole Miss by David Magee, 224 pp., $19.95 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780895873668 In 1949, soon after arriving in Oxford, Miss., as the school’s f irst art department chair, Stuart Purser spied some interesting sculptures on the front porch of a small farmhouse near Ecru. When P u r s e r s t opp e d to speak with the African American artist, his longtime f riend sh ip w it h M.B. May f ield began.

The university was completely segregated at the time, so Purser offered Mayfield a job as custodian for the art department. Purser also gave Mayfield one-on-one instruction and arranged for classroom doors to be open so he could listen to lectures.

The Education of Mr. Mayfield by David Magee (BA 09) tells the story of how M.B. Mayfield overcame many of the obstacles placed in his way due to racism, but it also tells of the quiet acts of courage displayed by some white Southerners who found ways to defy the injustices of that time and place.

David Earl’s ABCs (Adventures, Beer and Characters) by Mike Windham, 174 pp. $14.95 (Paperback), ISBN: 9780972161169 In David Earl’s ABCs (Adventures, Beer, and Characters), author Mike Windham (BA 75) narrates 50 bite-size tales that will not only leave you laughing out loud but also provide you with all kinds of ideas on how to spice up your marriage, your career, your next hunting trip, your next barbecue and your next appliance purchase.

A native of Brookhaven, Windham worked in radio and television before moving into sales, marketing and the insurance industry. His stories have been published in Tombigbee Country Magazine, Oxford SO & SO and Bluffs and Bayous. AR

Travel planner 2009-10

A

lumni and friends of the university enjoy traveling together.

For 2010, the Alumni Association is offering some spectacular trips.

Alumni and friends obtain group rates and discounts.

All prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Airfare is not included. For a brochure or more information, contact the Alumni office at 662-9157375. You also can find these trips listed on the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s Web site at <www.olemissalumni.com>.

Antiquities of the Nile Valley and the Red Sea Jan.13-23, 2010 Join this spellbinding odyssey aboard the inviting 25-cabin M.Y. Harmony IV, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Nile Valley and the Red Sea. Stand face to face with the Sphinx in the shadow of Giza’s pyra-

Rhine River Castle 46 Alumni Review

mids, and walk in the footsteps of Ramses II in ancient Thebes. Visit the birthplace of monasticism in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, and travel to the Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Enjoy a dinner of Arabian specialties at a Bedouin camp, bask in the glory of the legendary city of Petra, and stay in the awe-inspiring ancient city of Luxor.—$3,995 Austria, Germany and Slovakia January 14-23, 2010 Please join us as we journey to Vienna and Munich for a week filled with beautiful scenery, magnificent art, first-class music performances, excellent food and wine, and the camaraderie and fun we always have when we travel together. Vienna, Austria, the former capital of the Habsburg monarchy, is a treasure trove for art and history lovers and a paradise for classical music enthusiasts. A highlight will be the opportunity to attend one of Vienna’s

festive balls in the Hofburg Palace, where you can dance the night away to Strauss waltzes. We will take a day trip to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and to Eisenstadt, where Joseph Haydn produced many of his famous works. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a city with incredible charm, a cultural metropolis and a shopper’s paradise. Munich is also the gateway to the Bavarian Alps, and we will take the train up to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.—$2,470 (includes round-trip airfare from Memphis) Tanzania Safari During the Great Migration Jan. 17-27, 2010 Travel with us on the journey of a lifetime into the wilds of Tanzania, Africa’s premier safari destination, where, in one of our planet’s greatest natural spectacles, vast herds of elephant, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and Cape buffalo roam the

savannas, followed by magnificent lions, cheetahs and leopards. At Ngorongoro Crater, observe the largest concentration of mammals in the world, and step back into the dawn of time at Olduvai Gorge, birthplace of the human race. During the program, enjoy accommodations in the region’s finest lodges, learn about Tanzania’s wildlife from our expert naturalist-guide, and meet indigenous Masai tribesmen and local schoolchildren.— approximately $4,995 per person Mysteries of the Mekong: Saigon to Angkor Wat March 2-13, 2010 Immerse yourself in the mysterious allure of Indochina while cruising in style and comfort aboard the deluxe M.V. Jayavarman along the fabled “Waterway of the Nine Dragons,” the Mekong River.

Journey from cosmopolitan Saigon to the undiscovered gem of Phnom Penh, a rare pocket of “Old Asia,” and encounter a timeless world of tranquil rice paddies, authentic floating villages and grand pagodas that recall the glories of bygone kingdoms and empires. Your journey culminates in the lush jungles of Cambodia amid the magnificent 12th-century temples and sculptures of Angkor Wat. Hanoi pre-program and Bangkok post-program options also are offered.—$2,995 Amalfi, The Divine Coast May 5-13, 2010 Delight in the scenic grandeur of the Amalfi Coast, with its varied architecture and amazing vertical landscape. Nicknamed “the Divine Coast,” the serpentine Amalfi Drive winds around towering cliffs and sandy coves, and past charming villages, brightly colored villas and cascading flower gardens. During your stay in the seaside resort of Amalfi, venture out to see the town of Ravello with its spectacular 13th-century Villa Rufolo and the dramatic cliffs of Positano, Italy’s

Edinburgh, Scotland

most vertical town. Explore the cliff-top village of Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples. Discover an epoch suspended in time at the fabled ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii. See the Temples of Hera and Athena at Paestum, and immerse yourself in the extraordinary beauty and classical antiquity of Capri, the Isle of Dreams.—$2,295 European Coastal Civilizations May 18-26, 2010 For one full week, travel in impeccable style and comfort aboard the deluxe M.S. Le Diamant, one of the world’s most celebrated small cruise ships, and explore coastal Portugal, Spain and France, discovering an enticing canvas of historic sea ports, ancient civilizations and enduring, yet dynamic, cultures. A program of attractively priced shore excursions will be available, including opportunities to admire the mesmerizing architecture of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, walk in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela and linger over a glass of Duoro port in Oporto.—$2,595 Celtic Lands May 25 -June 3, 2010 Journey with us aboard the deluxe M.S. Le Diamant from the ancient Norman

port of Honfleur to Scotland’s historic capital of Edinburgh. Cruise along the verdant shorelines of Southern England and Ireland and around the misty, legendhaunted Highlands and Isles of Scotland.

A program of attractively priced shore excursions will be available, including opportunities to view the architectural and cultural treasures of Dublin, to observe the enduring Celtic traditions of North Wales and to immerse yourself in the stark beauty and solitude of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides and Orkney Islands.—$3,995 Great Journey Through Europe June 23-July 3, 2010 Immerse yourself in the cultural and scenic treasures of Europe’s heartland on this unique cruise and rail itinerary tracing the Rhine River from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. Travel overland by road and rail from the beautiful lakeside town of Lucerne to the pristine Alpine resort of Zermatt, nestled beneath the craggy peak of the Matterhorn. Board one of the deluxe vessels of the prestigious Amadeus Premium Fleet in Basel, Switzerland, and travel in comfort and style for five nights through France, Germany and Holland, passing Gothic cathedrals, medieval castles, terraced vineyards, rustic villages and the legendary Lorelei Rock.—$3,195AR Fall 2009 47

News alumni

At Your Service

The Inn at Ole Miss introduces additions and enhancements

T

hough The Inn at Ole Miss opened its doors a year ago, improving the facility and upgrading service are continuing goals. Recent additions to the hotel’s suite of services and amenities include a new gift shop, a football weekend concert series and in-room dining service.

September marked the opening of the Brandt Gift Shop in the lobby of The Inn. The Brandt Gift Shop features a wide array of Ole Miss apparel and accessories, as well as essential sundries such as toiletry items. Visit the Brandt Gift Shop to pick up a game-day T-shirt or a special item of Ole Miss memorabilia anytime. The store is open throughout football game weekends and can be opened by the front desk staff upon request.

Also beginning with this football season, the Alumni Association will host a free Football Friday Concert Series. From 4-7 p.m. on Fridays before home football games, live music will be provided as fans settle in for the weekend and get ready for football festivities. A cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

Other improvements include lobby décor enhancements such a new Steinway concert grand piano and several pieces of Japanese Imari porcelain donated by Nancy (BAEd 61) and Don (BAEd 60) Bush of Jackson.

Capping off the latest list of enhancements, a select dinner menu from the McCormick Café will be made available via room service. Service began in September and will be available Thursdays through Sundays. AR

H

A SSISTED L IVING

•

The Brandt Gift Shop in The Inn at Ole Miss offers Ole Miss apparel and accessories.

A LZHEIMER ’ S /M EMORY C ARE

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News alumni

Class Notes 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@alumni.olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848. Class notes may also be submitted through the association’s Web site at www. olemissalumni.com. The association relies on numerous sources for class notes and is unable to verify all notes with individual alumni.

’40s

PATRICK D. SMITH (BA 47, MA 59) of Merritt Island, Fla., received the Florida Literary Legend Award.

WILLIAM F. WINTER (BA 43, LLB 49) of Jackson received the Emma K. Elzy Award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have worked to achieve racial reconciliation in Mississippi.

’50s

FRANK D. MONTAGUE JR. (LLB 50, BSCE 51) of Hattiesburg was honored by Best Lawyers of America for being listed in the publication each year since it began 25 years ago.

JOHN W. PRADOS (BSCE 51) of Knoxville, Tenn., received the Benjamin Ga r ver L a mme Awa rd in recognition of excellence in teaching, contri-

butions to research, and technical literature and achievements that advance the profession of engineering college administration.

’60s

LOUIS F. ALLEN (LLB 64) of Memphis, Tenn., was named to Best Lawyers in America 2010.

J. DAVID BLAYLOCK (LLB 64) of Memphis, Tenn., was named to Best Lawyers in America 2010.

RON BROOKS (BSPh 65) of Houma, La., was named Louisiana’s 2008 Realtor of the Year.

TERRY J. PUCKETT (61) of Wesson was appointed interim president and search consultant for South Arkansas Community College.

JERRY O. TERRY (LLB 62) of Biloxi retired as circuit court judge, Place 2, for

the 2nd Circuit Court District of Mississippi after 22 years of service.

FRANK G. VOLLOR (BA 69, JD 75) of Vicksburg retired as 9th Circuit Court district judge on May 31, 2009.

’70s

M. JAMES CHANEY JR. (BA 74, JD 76) of Vicksburg was appointed 9th District Circuit Court judge by Gov. Haley Barbour.

GEORGE R. FAIR (BA 71, JD 73) of Jackson was named 2009-10 president of the Mississippi Bar. WILLIAM G. GRIESBECK (BBA 70) of Memphis, Tenn., was inducted into the Christian Brothers High School Hall of Fame.

LOUIS GUIROLA JR ( JD 79) of Gulfport was the commencement speaker at the Gulfport campus of William Carey

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Fall 2009 51

News alumni

Community Counts Business alumnus named president of foundation

D

oug Boone (BBA 86) was named president of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson. The Jackson native will bring 20 years of experience to the foundation as an associate partner and project manager with IBM. After finishing his undergraduate studies, Boone received his MBA from Millsaps College. He serves as president of the board of Operation Shoestring and received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2008.

The Community Foundation of Greater Jackson is a financial institution that works to serve its donors, strengthen its partners and support the development of the greater Jackson community. AR

University for the May 2009 graduation ceremony.

MIKE McDONALD (BBA 72, JD 74) of Oklahoma City, Okla., was elected chairman of the board of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association.

Doug Boone

GEORGE J. NASSAR JR. (BBA 77, JD 79) of Memphis, Tenn., was named to Best Lawyers in America 2010. Nassar practices in the area of tax law and trusts and estates.

ESCO SATCHFIELD (BBA 77) of Cor-

dova, Tenn., joined the Gulf States Company as district sales manager for the Memphis-Little Rock area.

’80s

THOMAS B. ALEXANDER (JD 83) of Ridgeland was elected pre sident of t he Hind s County Bar Association.

STEVE AMBORT (BBA 83) of London, England, is a managing director at AlixPartners and leads the firm’s Information Management Services group in the UK and Europe. AlixPartners is a global business and advisory firm.

HOYT J. BURDICK (MD 80) of Huntington, W.Va., was appointed to the 2009 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

GARY CARR (MD 84) of Hattiesburg was elected president of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs.

CARL J. CHANEY (BBA 83, JD 86) of Biloxi was elected treasurer of the Mississippi Bankers Association.

PHILLIP JARRELL (JD 85) of Gulfport was honored with membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel.

ERIC LANTRIP (MEd 86) of Brandon received the Service Award from the Mississippi Association of Coaches in recognition of 25 years of service as a high-school coach.

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Banking On It Renasant CEO to lead state bankers association

E

. Robinson McGraw (BBA 69, JD 73) of Tupelo has been elected chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association.

McGraw will lead the association’s board of directors, which governs the 120-year-old organization. The Mississippi Bankers Association’s membership includes 103 commercial banks and savings institutions, representing 99 percent of the bank deposits in Mississippi.

Active on the national banking level, McGraw is a member of the American Bankers Association’s Government Relations Council. He also served on the American Institute of Banking board of directors.

He is chairman of the board, president and CEO of Tupelo-based Renasant Corporation and Renasant Bank, where he has served for 35 years. AR

WILLIAM T. MAYS JR. (BBA 81) of Memphis, Tenn., was named to Best Lawyers in America 2010.

J. KEITH PEARSON (BBA 88, MBA 90, JD 93) of Oxford has announced the opening of the Pearson Law Firm, PLLC. WRAY RIVES (BBA 80) of Coppell, Texas, opened an accounting firm offering virtual CFO services.

J. CARTER THOMPSON JR. ( JD 84) of Jackson was promoted to leader of the product liability and mass tort group for the firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

’00s

BRYNNA CLARK COOL (BA 01, JD 04) of Omaha, Neb., was named director of development operations for Boys Town in Boys Town, Nebraska.

CONNIE RICE MOSS (BAccy 03, MAccy 0 4) of Birm i ng ha m joi ned Sout hern Nuclear Operation Company as an accountant.

E. Robinson McGraw

ADAM STONE ( J D 0 6 ) of M a d i s on earned LEED Professional Accreditation through the U.S. Green Building Council.

JULIE WARD (BA 08) of Birmingham, Ala., was named the Magic Moments junior board chair.

JONATHAN B. WELLS (BSPh 03, PharmD 05) of Laurel returned from a year of duty in Iraq, where he served in the U.S. Army medical corps as a division pharmacist with the 10th Mountain Division. weddings Rebecca Jordan Covington (BAEd 08, BS 08) and Benjamin Cary Woodrick (BA 07), June 27, 2009.

Megan Channing Daniel (BA 08) and Justin Cole McCarty (BBA 08), April 18, 2009.

Dana Marie Dronen (BS 07) and Adrian Wilson Cartier (BA 02, MS 04, PhD 06), August 1, 2009.

Kristina Marie Edwards (BA 09) and Joshua Seth Kyle (JD 07), May 23, Fall 2009 53

News alumni

Service Record Gulfport attorney receives Mississippi Bar Awards

H

arry R. Allen (BBA 55, LLB 59), the senior member of Allen, Cobb, Hood & Atkinson, PA, of Gulfport was presented with a Distinguished Service Award for 2009 by the Mississippi Bar as well as the 2009 Chief Justice Award presented by William L. Waller Jr., chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court. He was also presented with an award from the Mississippi Bar for 50 years of law practice. AR

2009.

Julie Christine Ely (BA 07) and Trevor Alan Cropp, Aug. 8, 2009.

Laura Elizabeth Godfrey (BS 06) and

Harry R. Allen

Andrew Ellis Hendon (BSPhSc 07), May, 2, 2009.

Sheila Jo Hendricks (BA 91, JD 94) and Christopher Courtland Hode, May

16, 2009.

Charity Joy Hilderbrandt (JD 05) and Randolph Nelson Rohlfs, March 14, 2009.

Jennifer Renee McGee and Peter James Magielnicki (BBA 99), July 4, 2009.

Rachel Chandler McNally (BSW 07) and Brian Casey Siddall (BA 07), Nov. 8, 2008.

Laurel Diana Miller and Price Wilson Donahoo (JD 09), May 23, 2009.

Leighanne Davis Pace (BAEd 94) and Brian Dale Etheridge, June 27, 2009.

Laura D. Peddle (BAEd 80, MEd 88) and Owen Kelly Sale (PhD 88), October 25, 2008.

Caroline Ware Peters and Benjamin Brook Montgomery (BA 97), Nov. 15, 2008.

Kathryn Marie Potts (BSFCS 05) and Jason Mathew Simmelink, June 13, 2009.

Kimberley Paige Prestage (BSPhSc

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.

54 Alumni Review

07) and Scott Mitchell Blackburn (BSCS 07), May 23, 2009.

Laura Catherine Redfearn (BSFCS 08) and James E. Yancey, May 30, 2009.

Althea Michelle Reid and Marcus M. Jones (BSME 00), Aug. 23, 2008.

Lauren Paige Rhodes (BSCJ 06) and Eric Christopher Braden, Nov. 8, 2008.

Anna Conwill Rice (BAccy 03, MAccy 04) and James Wesley Moss Jr., April 18, 2009.

Stephanie Kimberly Rice (BS 05) and Ryan Jerome Williams (BSCvE 05), June 27, 2009. births Wilkes Scha f fer, son of Jennifer Bevill Anderson (BPA 97) and William R. Anderson (BBA 00), Feb. 23, 2009.

A t re y u A nton io, son of Zuzana Legatova Armstrong (BSE S 08) a nd Torace Armstrong, June 10, 2009.

Katelynn Alana, daughter of Pamela Gibson Boykin (BSPh 93) and William Timothy Boykin (BSPh 91), March 6, 2009.

London Summer, daughter of Sheri Keener Brown (BBA 01) a nd Travis Halverton Brown (BBA 00), Nov. 6, 2008.

Sahasra Saisree, daughter of Geeta Chukkapalli and Rammohan Chukkapalli (MS 95), Feb. 21, 2009.

A nn Ma x well, daughter of Emily Cooke Coats (BA 02) and Christopher J. Coats (BAccy 01, JD 04), April 3, 2009.

William Reid, son of Mallory May Davis (06) and Matthew Reid Davis (BBA 06), May 28, 2009.

Owen Dunbar, son of Emily Clarke Dunbar (BA 03) and Dustin Lynn Dunbar (BAccy 03), Jan. 16, 2009.

May Ca nnon, daug hter of Mar y Beebe S. Garrard (BAEd 03, JD 06) and Nicholas Denson Garrard (BA 03, JD 06), April 27, 2009.

Georgia Camille, daughter of Jennifer McRae Gordon (BA 00) and Benjamin Brodie Gordon (BA 97), April 16, 2009.

James Cooper, son of Lee Ann Harper Griffin (BSPh 99, Pha rmD 01) a nd

Fall 2009 55

News alumni

Back on Duty

Retired admiral heads to FCC as bureau chief

J

amie Barnett (BA 76, JD 84) of Arlington, Va., was appointed bureau chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission.

Barnett served 32 years in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve, retiring in 2008 at the rank of rear admiral. While at Ole Miss, Barnett served as president of the student body and chair of the Moot Court Board, and was named the Dean Parham Williams Outstanding Student. AR

Bradley Walker Griffin, July 8, 2009.

Yv o n n e H o o v e r, d a u g h t e r o f Elizabeth Hoover Hughes Gunn (BSES 01, B SPhS c 05, Ph a r m D 07 ) a nd William Corban Gunn (BBA 00, JD 04), July 24, 2009.

Mary Elena, daughter of Helen P. Hale (BAEd 87, MEd 89) and Jason G. Hale (BSCS 89, MS 93), Sept. 15, 2008.

Emily Anne, daughter of Heather Easley Head (BA 96) and James Keith Head II (BSChE 96), April 3, 2009.

Jamie Barnett

Julia Amelie, daughter of Jennifer Belue Janus (BA 96, MA 00) and Scott Andrew Janus (BS 94), Feb. 10, 2009.

Georgia Leigh, daughter of Megan M a ge e J o r d a n ( B A 9 6 ) a n d Jo e l Christopher Jordan (BSHPE 94, MS 97), May 7, 2009.

Anne Hartley, daughter of Heather G. McCay (BA 01) and James M. McCay Jr. (BAEd 92), March 16, 2009.

Katherine Alexandra, daughter of Elizabeth Bowden Paine and Robert H. Paine (JD 02), June 12, 2009.

Bi ve n B a rk s d a le , s on of Tr e s a Barksdale Patterson (JD 07) and Eric Lee Patterson (JD 07), May 13, 2009.

Emma Claire, daughter of Tamara Rainey Pierce (BBA 95) and Christopher Michael Pierce, May 27, 2009.

Bennett Lynwood, son of Gretchen Wagner Roberts (BA 97, MA 99) and Christopher L. Roberts (BSCS 97), June 16, 2009.

M a r k A nd r e w, s on of Me r r it t Robinson Rogers and Matthew Rogers (JD 01), May 6, 2009.

Kathryn Brock, daughter of Patricia Stewart Tompkins (BPA 97) and Brock Lawrence Tompkins (BBA 97), May 6, 2009.

Helen Grace, daughter of DeSha Moore Toohig (BAccy 02, MAccy 03) and John Joseph Toohig (MBA 04), May 25, 2009.

Emma Claudia, daughter of Michelle Clingan Waits (JD 04) and Samuel J. Waits Jr. (MD 96), Feb. 3, 2009.

Riley Jane, daughter of Kristin West Walker (BA 93, MA 95) and James E. Walker Jr. (BA 96, PhD 98, MD 02), Feb. 24, 2009.

Benjamin Crawford, son of Jane Britt Warren (BBA 01, JD 05) a nd Steven Crawford Warren (BBA 05), May 7, 2009.

L ay ton A lexa ndra, daughter of Dabney Dykes Weems (BA 97) and Joel

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News alumni

D. Weems, July 8, 2009.

Collin Kevin and Keegan Julius, sons of Kira Zschau White (BA 01, JD 07) and Michael E. White (BBA 00), June 6, 2009.

In Memoriam 1930s Deleslyn Morgan Lomax Fleming (BA 34), July 15, 2009 Paul Hill Goodman (37), Oct. 4, 2008 Ethelwyn Stevens Hart (BA 36), May 8, 2009 Theodore Gilmore Huffman (BA 39, MA 49), May 7, 2009 Clifford G. Worsham (BSCvE 39), June 25, 2009 1940s James Kirl Avent Jr. (BS 48, MedCert 49), May 26, 2009 James Charles Bennett (46), June 28, 2009

Loren Ezra Burnett (41), May 25, 2009 Shed H. Caffey Jr. (BS 48, MedCert 49), May 9, 2009 Scott Chatoney Callaway (BAEd 43), May 3, 2009 June Carley Cassibry (BAEd 48), Dec. 21, 2008 Charles Grafton Cooper (45), April 26, 2009 Thomas Stratton Daniel Jr. (MA 48), July 15, 2009 Paul E. Davis (BS 47), March 31, 2009 Samuel Kirby Day Jr. (BS 49, MedCert 50), May 16, 2009 Robert H. Farrar (BBA 48), May 19, 2009 Coleman Allen Fox (49), Aug. 9, 2009 William Minor Frazier (BA 48), June 30, 2009 Alfred Odo Frick (BBA 49), Aug. 10, 2009 Samuel Parker Gardner (BA 49), July

14, 2009 Virginia Tansil Hartsfield (BA 49), May 7, 2008 William Henry Ivy (BSCvE 49), July 10, 2009 James Foster Lewis (BSPh 49), June 25, 2009 Creed Robinson Lynch (43), July 11, 2009 Eugenia Bae Kramer Magruder (BA 41), Aug. 3, 2009 Cecil Lidell Mitchell (BAEd 41, MEd 48), June 21, 2009 Oliver L. Poole (BSHPE 47), June 27, 2009 Ruth Brown Stephens (BA 47), June 4, 2009 Willie Frank Stringer (BA 49, MA 50, MedCert 53), July 21, 2009 Richard R. Temple (BBA 49), July 13, 2009 William Carl Thompson (LLB 47), May 9, 2009 William Sherrod Towns Jr. (BBA 49), May 15, 2009

GOAL: 24,000 ACTIVE MEMBERS Only you can help your Ole Miss Alumni Association reach this important milestone!

Make your Alumni Association the strongest in the SEC and the nation by renewing your alumni membership each year and encouraging classmates, friends, neighbors, fans and Ole Miss supporters to also join and remain active.

Even fans who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t graduate from Ole Miss can join as Associate Members with full benefits.

Single Membership __$40 Annual __$800 Life __$850 Life Plan ($170 x 5 years) Joint Memberships __$50 Annual __$995 Life __$1,050 Life Plan ($210 x 5 years) 58 Alumni Review

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

Outside _____

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

Walter Arno Vincent (MEd 47), July 9, 2009 Robert E. Womack Jr. (BSC 43), July 28, 2009 Lucy Boren Wunderlich (49), July 3, 2009 Ivin Neil Yelverton Jr. (BSPh 49), Feb. 14, 2009 1950s Louis Hardy Ball (MS 57), May 28, 2009 Lewis William Bays (MEd 52), July 5, 2009 June Turnbow Biedenharn (BAEd 50), Sept. 11, 2008 Marion Atley Boykin (MS 53), June 23, 2009 Mar y Moore Buzhardt (BA Ed 58), Sept. 20, 2008 Sidney Houston Chaffin (BPA 56), June 22, 2008 Donald E. Colbert Sr. (BBA 52), Aug. 9, 2009

Jennie Mayes Crumbaugh (50), June 25, 2008 Louis Elbaum (BAThree Ed 57), DoorsJune Down2, 2009 Paul Ernest Freeman (BSEE 59), Aug. 1, 2009 William Fitzgerald Hand Jr. (BA 53), Aug. 6, 2009 Allene Sugg Highsmith (MA 50), May 25, 2009 Walter Lee Johnston Jr. (BBA 54), June 13, 2009 Frederick Arthur Jones (BBA 58), June 10, 2009 Charles M. Kelly (BSHPE 50), May 19, 2009 John William Lewis (BBA 50, BSPh 65), June 9, 2009 Henry Gilbert Lutrick Jr. (MS 50), July 21, 2009 Martha Boman MacDonald (MA 52), July 2, 2009 John Payne Moore (BBA 52), June 19, 2009

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Fall 2009 59

News alumni

Club Spotlight: Charlotte

Charlotte, N.C., Alums organize successful fundraising events

M

ore than 75 percent of Ole Miss students receive some type of financial aid, and scholarship programs can have a profound impact on a student’s success.

For seven years in a row, the Charlotte, N.C., Ole Miss Club has hosted a golf tournament to raise funds for local scholarships. The club also hosts an annual crawfish boil and a Christmas party. Club President Josh Bogen (91) says their hard work is paying dividends, as Ole Miss becomes a more common destination for Charlottearea students and the club’s scholarship endowment has increased significantly.

“In the 11 years that I’ve lived here, there’s been a big change in the number of people who have caught on to Ole Miss and students who go there,” he says.

“The interest has really picked up.”

Interest in the golf tournament is growing as well, with participation in 2009 swelling to 100 compared with 64 in 2003. The group has raised more than $50,000 during that time. This year, the tournament generated $12,000 to support the scholar-

60 Alumni Review

ship fund.

Pepper Pounds (BSME 90) spearheads the organization of the event and was instrumental in its creation.

“While we thought it was nice to get together socially, it would be really nice to give back,” says Pounds. “So we wanted to do something to help someone experience what we did when we went to Ole Miss.”

Sophie Smith is one student whose life has been touched by the Charlotte club’s efforts. “I am thrilled to attend The University of Mississippi and to have the support of my hometown community,” says Smith, the 2009 scholarship recipient.

While Pounds handles the majority of the club’s logistics, Bogen lends a hand lining up the ever-important sponsors. The first few sponsors in 2003 were brought in on the cachet of former Carolina Panthers star Wesley Walls (BE 91). Since then the event has grown steadily.

In 2009, 18 Charlotte-based organizations sponsored the tournament, held at Raintree Country Club.

The Charlotte Ole Miss Club has raised more than $50,000 for local scholarships.

Jay Lesemann (BAccy 83), managing member of Lesemann Associates, PLLC, has been a sponsor all seven years.

“I return each summer to sponsor and participate in this golf tournament because receiving an education at Ole Miss had such a positive impact on my future,” Lesemann says. “The golf classic is a terrific venue offering the opportunity to give back.”

Bogen, Pounds and a whole team of club members work tirelessly to make the golf tournament a success each year.

“Over past seven years, we have been able to run this thing better and better and put out a better product,” says Pounds. “In addition to the scholarships, I think we’ve really increased awareness about Ole Miss.” AR

Henry D. Mulholland (BAEd 50), May 15, 2009 Alice Hunter Patterson (BA 50), June 25, 2009 Barbara Worthington Sanders (BA 50), June 29, 2009 Betty Jean Walker Tomlinson (BA 59), May 3, 2009 Hughey Shannon Williford Jr. (53), May 9, 2009 Clyde Thompson Wilson (BM 53), July 30, 2009 1960s Loren Dewey Breland Jr. (MD 60), July 9, 2009 James Edward Burns (BAEd 60, MEd 66), June 23, 2009 Alfred Eugene Corey (BA 60, LLB 62), Oct. 5, 2008 John Dale Crow (BBA 65), May 23, 2009 Jefferson E. Damon-Davis (PhD 69, MLS 73), June 25, 2009 Phillip Robert Dice (MCS 67), April

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29, 2009 Barbara Elder Donovan (BSC 65, MBEd 66), Dec. 17, 2008 Lawrence Hurst Ellis Jr. (BBA 68), May 12, 2009 Robert E. Finnigan (MEd 63), Dec. 13, 2008 Lake Gibbes Goodwin (BBA 61), May 27, 2009 Hap Hederman (BBA 68), Aug. 4, 2009 Kaffie Mallette Hervey (63), June 11, 2009 Thomas Davis Hopkins (BAEd 63), April 25, 2009 Helen Ruth Dillon Jackson (MEd 68), July 28, 2009 Laurette Henson Long (MLS 67), March 20, 2009 James Leroy Mercer (MCS 63), May 16, 2009 Frederic Logan Miller (BPA 67), June 1, 2009 Corrine Robertson Mills (BAEd 60), May 1, 2009 Bobby Ray Morgan (BSPh 65), Aug.

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1, 2009 Charles Ray Parker (BSPh 67, MD 73), Aug. 8, 2009 Richard Colbert Price Sr. (BBA 63), July 26, 2009 Judith Merriott Prince (BAEd 65, MEd 67), May 27, 2009 Victor B. Pringle Jr. (BBA 60, LLB 63), May 24, 2009 Charles David Pritchard (BS 60), June 8, 2009 William Hicks Sistrunk (BSGE 60), June 16, 2009 Faye Gaddy Spruill (MD 64), June 5, 2009 Ferdinand Walker Tucei Jr. (BBA 63), July 14, 2009 George Randall Tupman (BSHPE 65), June 20, 2009 Howard Stuart Warner II (BBA 65, JD 67), July 18, 2009 Malcolm Cameron Wood (BA 60), July 20, 2009 Alvin McCoy Woolfolk (BBA 62), May 29, 2009

News alumni

Diamond Memories

Ole Miss alum receives ’59 Texas League Championship ring at reunion

P

epper Thomas (55) always knew the highlight of his baseball career was winning the Texas League Championship in 1959. But he never imagined that 50 years later he would receive a standing ovation from thousands of fans for the accomplishment.

Thomas, a former University of Mississippi baseball player and alumnus, recently attended a reunion for surviving members of the 1959 Austin Senators. The Senators won the Texas League Championship that year and became the first team to win the PanAmerican Championship. The victory gave Austin its first playoff-formatted championship—and its last for more than four decades.

“Playing for the 1959 Austin Senators was the biggest treat that I’ve ever had because as players we all wanted to end up as champions,” Thomas says. “I enjoyed all the years of playing and the experience.”

The reunion was held in Austin and hosted by the Round Rock Express team. Eleven of the original Austin

62 Alumni Review

Senators were present, as well as the original team business manager.

At the gathering, the players were treated to three Round Rock Express baseball games. The theme for the entire weekend was 1959, with music from that year, an organist providing old-time ballpark entertainment and video-board images in black and white. The Round Rock Express team even honored the players by wearing replica Senators jerseys at each game.

The second game of the weekend was entirely dedicated to the Senators.

The first 3,000 fans got vintage reproduction Senators baseball caps and, at the beginning of the game, the former Senators rode onto the field in antique Mustang convertibles before each threw ceremonial first pitches.

The highlight of the game was an emotional ceremony at the top of the seventh inning. During this time, Express Manager Marc Bombard and Round Rock Express CEO Reid Ryan presented championship rings to all 11 players.

Pepper Thomas

Thomas began playing baseball in high school, and then came to Ole Miss on scholarship. He played for the Rebels in 1954 and 1955 under Coach Tom Swayze before moving to semipro ball in Lake City, S.C. In 1956, Thomas signed with the Milwaukee Braves Baseball Organization. For the next eight years, Thomas played for teams all over the country.

He was even recruited to play for teams in Canada and Mexico.

A f t e r re t i r i n g f ro m b a s e b a l l , Thomas returned to Mississippi. He moved to Oxford in 1986. The university hired him as manager of the Ole Miss Golf Course, where he worked for 19 years before retiring in 2008.— Erin Parsons AR

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1970s Grady Washington Battle (MCS 74), May 21, 2008 Malcolm J. Commer Jr. (BBA 70), June 10, 2009 Robert Joseph Dowdle (BBA 75), July 21, 2009 Mary Bolen Draper (BBA 77, JD 99), May 12, 2009 John William Fuchs Sr. (BA 75), Jan. 4, 2009 Nancy Grantham Horz (BSN 70), June 27, 2009 Heidi Leon Houser (BBA 77), May 10, 2009 James Marion McCay Sr. (BSEE 70), July 26, 2009 Richard David McClure (BBA 75), June 27, 2009 Willie Lee Pruitt (BSChE 74), July 25, 2009 Randy Herschel Russell (MD 78), May 15, 2009 Brenda Doak Shoemake (BBA 77), June 12, 2009 Rodney Allan Siedell (BBA 73), Feb. 1, 2009 Brenda Holmes Spinner (BA 70, MEd 74, PhD 85), Feb. 3, 2008 Francis Marion Swagert Jr. (BBA 76), July 15, 2009 Pattye Wortham Tacker (BAEd 76), July 13, 2009 Thomas Gar y Williams (BBA 71, MURP 74), Aug. 13, 2009 David Ralph Wooten (BAEd 73), May 13, 2009

1980s Yoby Vance Henderson (BAEd 84), Aug. 6, 2009 Hunter Moore (BS 84), July 27, 2009 Arthur Gale Nunley (BBA 84), July 9, 2009 Peggy Diane Pittman-Cooper (BA 82), Aug. 1, 2009 Susan Gayle Rogers (BSChE 87), May 10, 2009 William Franklin Stringer (BSPh 82), Feb. 11, 2009 1990s Michelle Nichols Ellis (JD 90), June 24, 2009 Paula Wardlaw Holliman (BAEd 94), June 16, 2009 Steven David Judd (BPA 96), May 4, 2009 Adam David Nations (96), June 15, 2009 Jean Greene Pettis (BSW 91), July 30, 2009 Christopher Ethan Spraberry (DMD 95), May 16, 2009 2000s Linward Garrett (BSPh 04), July 22, 2009 Alexis A’Byund Hampton (09), Aug. 1, 2009 Jennifer Kay Hanna (MAccy 06), May 22, 2009

Susan Christena Haskins (09), Aug. 11, 2009 James Tolliver Higgins (MA 00), May 24, 2009 Laura Eaves Murphy (JD 00), May 2, 2009 Justin Toney (09), May 16, 2009 Jerrick Jaamal Ward (09), May 28, 2009 Joy Horton Winding (BS 07), June 17, 2009 Friends and Faculty John Nolen Canon Sr., July 11, 2009 Jean Blackwell Card, Aug. 4, 2009 Stephen E. Fuller, Aug. 8, 2009 W.C. Hill, July 25, 2009 Margaret Bowman Kimmons, Nov. 11, 2008 Anna Wolfe Lloyd, June 1, 2009 Molly Boone Rawls, July 12, 2009 Eloise Tatum Williams, July 2, 2009

To submit a class note, send it to records@ alumni.olemiss.edu or Alumni Records Dept., Ole Miss Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 386771848. Class notes may also be submitted through the association’s Web site 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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