Donor Profile Feature Stories

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Tommy and Jennifer Thompson embrace the traditions of their alma mater. Three generations of Tommy’s family have proudly graduated as loyal Bulldogs.

Tommy and Jennifer Thompson Houston, Texas Alumni Chapter Members

WHY GIVE?

Loyalty.

Giving the gift of scholarship at Mississippi State University was an easy decision for Harold Sinclair “Tommy” Thompson III. Mississippi State made Tommy’s undergraduate engineering education possible, and he wanted to give others an opportunity to pursue a degree from a prestigious engineering college.

“From an early age, I knew I wanted to be an engineer,” Tommy said. “I’ve always tried to find the best way to prepare for my career, and attending Mississippi State's James Worth Bagley College of Engineering was at the top of the list. Other members of my family have graduated from Mississippi State, so I already felt connected to the university. However, I was impressed with how well an MSU engineering degree was received in the workforce—it was an easy decision.”

In 2005, as Tommy approached graduation with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, he decided to create a scholarship for students who would one day follow his path. As a student once seeking scholarship funds, Tommy discovered limited resources were available.

“I always knew I would give back in some way, and I was a little frustrated with the limited number of engineering scholarships at Mississippi State, especially in mechanical engineering,” said Tommy. “As I was accepting my first job, I decided it was the right time to begin building an endowment to help other students like myself who needed financial assistance.”

The Decatur, Ala., native completed his degree and accepted a position with ExxonMobil, which led him to take advantage of the company’s matching gift program to

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triple the impact of his contribution. He established the Tommy Thompson Endowed

from MSU, as well as minors in math, business and

Scholarship in the James Worth Bagley College

economics, which complement his engineering

of Engineering to assist recipients as they pursue

degree.

a degree in mechanical engineering.

When Tommy enrolled as an MSU freshman,

Today, Tommy proudly uses his degree as a senior facility engineer for Oasis Petroleum Inc.,

he was the third-generation of his family to take

an independent exploration and production

part in a long standing tradition of academics and

company focused on acquisition and development

athletics. The family’s initial connection began

of unconventional oil and natural gas resources.

decades earlier when Tommy’s grandfather

Tommy’s position involves overseeing well site

enrolled.

facility infrastructure projects and pipelines.

As his grandfather has told him many times,

Tommy resides in Houston, Texas, with his

MSU legend C.R. “Dudy” Noble, assistant

wife, Jennifer Stowers Thompson. The two met

football coach at the time, assessed the Maroons

while attending Mississippi State. Jennifer earned

during a 1935 football practice at then-Mississippi

a master’s in political science from MSU in 2005,

State College. A freshman player who caught

and is currently an associate professor of political

Noble’s attention was Tommy’s grandfather,

science and interim department chair for social

Harold Sinclair Thompson.

sciences at Lone Star College.

Noble approached the freshman and asked

“Tommy endowed his scholarship just before

his name. Wanting a more memorable moniker,

we started dating. When I found out, I remember

Noble informed Harold he would be known as

being blown away that while still a student himself,

“Tommy.”

Tommy was already giving back and laying the

The nickname stuck, and “Tommy” would go

foundation that will allow future students to follow

on to graduate in 1939, become father of Harold

their dream and have the financial assistance to

S. Thompson Jr., who earned a mechanical

do so,” said Jennifer.

engineering degree from MSU in 1974, and grandfather of Harold S. Thompson III. “My parents both wanted to continue the

Looking back, Tommy has no regrets about his decision to give as soon as possible.

“The better the university becomes, the more

name and my mom liked “Tommy,” so I was given

valuable a Mississippi State degree is, no matter

the name Harold Sinclair Thompson III, but I have

when you graduate. I want the university and

gone by “Tommy” since the day I was born. I not

engineering program to continue growing and

only thank my grandfather, but also Dudy Noble

remain strong. Hopefully, this scholarship will

for my name,” he explained.

help pave the way,” he said.

Granddad “Tommy” lives in Tupelo and still

The coming years will bring the first

returns for football games whenever he can.

Thompson scholar to Mississippi State University,

Through the years, his story has helped inspire

and Tommy and Jennifer are excited about

several family members to also attend MSU.

getting to know the recipient. Their hope is that

“Mississippi State is a bond we share. It has provided us with great educations and will always be a part of our family history,” Tommy said.

Although still early in his career, Tommy has

students learn to appreciate MSU as they do.

“We’ll always be loyal Bulldogs, regardless of where our life and careers take us,” Tommy said.

“And, hopefully, the message will translate to

built an impressive resume. He started in the oil

other alumni that a gift in support of a fellow

and gas industry with ExxonMobil Development

Bulldog’s dream is a gift well received.”

Co. before moving to ConocoPhillips.

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He earned an entrepreneurship certificate

Mississippi State University is a special bond we share. It has provided us with great educations and will always be a part of our family history.

Through the years, Larry and Susan Brown have made a home at Mississippi State.

Their passion for giving is to enhance the educational experience for all Bulldogs.

Larry and Susan Brown Retired Faculty and Staff

WHY GIVE?

Passion.

Arkansas natives Larry and Susan Brown believe giving to Mississippi State University provides more than a sense of gratification, but a way for them to help enrich the overall educational experience at the university they love.

The Browns first came to Mississippi State in 1970.

Larry, who earned bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Arkansas, was hired as a professor of industrial and systems engineering in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. Susan, a graduate of Georgia College and State University, worked for the Division of Academic Outreach and Continuing Education.

“Mississippi State has meant so much to both of us through the years,” said Susan. “Our campus is one of the most beautiful I have ever been to, and I am proud and excited to bring friends and family to visit.”

“I’m a people person,” interjected Larry, “and I like interacting with the students and faculty. We have built many wonderful friendships with coworkers, neighbors and the young people at State.”

Now retired, the couple continues their relationship with Mississippi State through their financial support.

“In the 40 years we have lived here, we have been able to see the real benefit of gifts to the university,” said Susan.

Both Larry and Susan know the struggles a public university can have supplementing state appropriated funds.

“Public universities cannot provide the experience for students that we want to without private gifts from alumni, friends and corporations,” stated Larry. “Back in the day, even buying a computer was a major task for us.”

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He continued, “As an engineering professor, the improvements made to McCain enhanced the

one, $1,000 scholarship, which honors Jesse H.

Mississippi State experience for our students. What

Oswalt, one of the founders of the department,”

was once an eyesore is now a state-of-the-art

described Larry. “With gifts from donors such as

facility and point of pride for the Bagley College

the Dunns, the Myers, the Bagleys and many

of Engineering. We owe much to former dean,

more, we now offer a wide variety of scholarships

Wayne Bennett, for his foresight in seeking

that benefit our well deserving students.”

private funds for the renovation.”

Like McCain, many campus improvements

With a heart for Mississippi State, the Browns do not limit their philanthropic support to one

and renovations would not be possible without

area of the university. The couple contributes

private support. With 4,000 acres and over 700

annually to many different scholarship funds.

buildings, Mississippi State relies on gifts from

“Susan never saw a cause that she didn’t

donors in order to maintain the physical beauty

want to support,” chuckled Larry. “Everyone has

of the campus.

a need and we want to help when we can.”

“A beautiful campus serves as a recruiting

As a former president of the MSU Women’s

tool for us,” stated Larry. “After McCain was

Club, Susan recommended establishing an annual

renovated, many parents and alumni visited and

scholarship for female graduate students.

were overwhelmed by the improvements made

“I wanted us to be more than a club that met

to the facility. It is something that makes our

once a month,” she said. “I knew our members

faculty very proud.”

could make a difference in students’ lives by

In addition to campus enhancements, the Browns know the importance of giving to student

giving to a scholarship fund.”

The couple also contributes to several

scholarships. When he retired, alumni, students

memorial scholarships as a way to honor alumni

and colleagues established an endowed

and friends who impacted the university in

scholarship fund in his name. The Larry G. Brown

great ways.

Endowed Scholarship provides funds for industrial

“When you have been here for 40 years, you

engineering students to obtain their educational

see the real benefit of giving,” Larry said. “Private

goals.

contributions cover everything from scholarships

“Many students say they can never repay

to faculty development, from new equipment

Mississippi State for the things they learned in

to repairs. It helps enhance the educational

school,” said Larry. “But I remind them that they

experience for students by providing the

are benefitting from those that came before

opportunity to see what they are learning in

them, and now they have the responsibility to

action by visiting state and regional industries,

pave the way for future students.”

and by allowing students to attend conferences

One of the joys of a long career at Mississippi State is seeing children of former students in the classroom. Larry, former head of the Department

related to their field. In the end, gifts benefit the university experience as a whole.”

Larry and Susan met in their hometown of

of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has

Pocahontas, Ark., and were married in 1962. They

continued teaching one class a semester since

are the parents of two MSU graduates, Mark and

retirement.

Kimberly. Their passion for Mississippi State

“Seeing the new generations of engineers coming to MSU is a highpoint for me,” he stated.

The Browns share a passion for all Mississippi State students – past, present and future.

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“When I became department head, we had

University will continue to make an impact for years to come.

In the 40 years we have lived here, we have been able to see the real benefit of gifts to MSU as children of former students come back to pursue their education.