mississippi state alumnus spring 2006

Their future is the State of the Future. Make sure they have the facilities, professors and programsto make it a bright one. Make a gift today. Call 877-677-8283 or visit www.msufoundation.com.

KHRIS CARRECONOMICS2019

NOA HARDININTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

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Spring 2006 | Volume 82 | Number 1USPS 354-520

PresidentJ. Charles Lee

Vice President for External AffairsDennis A. Prescott

Associate Vice President for External Affairs andAlumni Association Executive DirectorJimmy W. Abraham (’75)

Mississippi State Alumnus is published threetimes a year by the Office of UniversityRelations and the Mississippi StateUniversity Alumni Association atMississippi State, Miss. Send addresschanges to Alumni Director, P.O. Box AA,Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526;telephone 662-325-7000; or [email protected].

Editorial offices:102 George Hall,P.O. Box 5325,Mississippi State, MS 39762-5325.Telephone 662-325-3442; fax, 662-325-7455;e-mail, [email protected]

EditorAllen Snow (’76)

Associate EditorKay Fike Jones

DesignersBecky SmithErin Norwood (’98)

PhotographersRuss Houston (’85)Megan Bean

Mississippi State UniversityAlumni Association National OfficersJoe L. Bryan (’63),national president;Betty L. Black (’74),national first vice president;David W. Jones (’81),national second vice president;Steve Taylor (’77),national treasurer;Keith Winfield (’70),immediate former national president.

Mississippi State

featuresA president says farewell | page 2Mississippi State’s 17th president, Dr. J. Charles Lee, announced in November hisplans to retire this spring. He leaves us with his thoughts and observations on histime as president, as well as past progress and future expectations for the university.

Endowment to create ‘culture of entrepreneurship’ | page 8A new program at Mississippi State, the Thad Cochran Endowment forEntrepreneurship, is helping students in business start-up ventures by providing seedfunding and business planning assistance and partnering them with faculty memberswho have expertise in their areas of interest.

‘More than just a job’ | page 10In August 2005, Dr. Jimmy Abraham became executive director of the MSU AlumniAssociation and associate vice president for external affairs. A 30-year MississippiState employee, Abraham spoke with Alumnus magazine and talked about everythingfrom working with students and alumni to his devotion to his alma mater.

Dental care helps pets live longer, happier lives | page 14Dental care is the fastest growing specialty in veterinary medicine and MSU’sCollege of Veterinary Medicine is one of the few schools in the South providing sig-nificant hands-on experience in the field.

Masters of music | page 16Music is the universal language that crosses cultural barriers and expands horizons,and the Department of Music Education at Mississippi State is doing its part to real-ize those goals.

On the cover: Mississippi State’s 17th president, Dr. J. Charles Lee, retires this spring.He and first lady Pat are retiring to Virginia. In this issue, the president gives hisassessment of the university’s recent progress and his thoughts on its future. Photoby Russ Houston.

Campus news 20 | Sports talk 27 | Alumni news 30 | Foundation news 36 | Class news 40 | In memoriam 43

A L U M N U SSpring 2006

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Mississippi State University’s 17thpresident, Dr. J. Charles Lee, announced

in November his plans to retire thisspring following three years of service

in that role, preceded by a year as interim president.

During his tenure, Lee led a renewed commitmentto the ideal of “The People’s University,” emphasizedoutreach to the state, adopted a Campus Master Plan toguide campus development, and oversaw a boon incampus building.

Major construction completed during the past threeyears, in progress, or about to begin includes theCenter for Advanced Vehicular Systems, FranklinCenter for Furniture Manufacturing and Management,Roy Ruby Residence Hall, Palmeiro Center,Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building,Cullis Wade Depot, Bryce Griffis Residence Hall, andexpansions of Lee Hall, McCool Hall, and ColvardUnion.

In addition, he led efforts to revitalize the MSU football program, including the hiring of head coachSylvester Croom, the first African-American headcoach in Southeastern Conference history.

Photo by Russ Houston.

a presidentsays farewell

A North Carolina native, he previously served theuniversity 1999-2002 as vice president for agriculture,forestry and veterinary medicine. He also was dean ofthe College of Agriculture and Life Sciences beginningJuly 2000.

From 1978-83, Lee was dean of the School of ForestResources and associate director of the MississippiAgricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

He has held administrative positions at the Universityof Arkansas at Monticello and at Texas A&M University,where he served for 18 months as interim executive vicepresident and provost.

He also served as deputy vice chancellor of the Texas A&M University System and was instrumental informing the system’s Health Science Center.

Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in forest managementand a doctorate in forest genetics, both from NorthCarolina State University.

He and wife Pat are retiring to Richmond, Va.Following are his thoughts and observations on his

time as president, as well as past progressand future expectations for the university.

Leaving made easier by prospects for MSU’s future

As you read this column, I will bereaching the end of my tenure as presidentof Mississippi State University. It seemshard to believe that four years and morehave flashed by since I stepped into thisoffice at the beginning of 2002. For Patand me, the experience has been constantlyfast-paced, often exhilarating, sometimesdaunting, and on the whole a remarkablyrewarding capstone to a long career in high-er education.

At all times, we have been buoyed bythe kindness and support of the Bulldogfamily, who have made our jobs easier

while contributing immeasurably to the university’s con-tinued growth and progress. With each passing month inthe president’s chair, I have become more keenly aware ofthe deep-rooted strengths of Mississippi State, not least ofwhich is a loyal alumni body of genuinely talented andgenerous men and women.

Together with an excellent faculty, staff, and studentbody and a well-established role as a key player in theeducational and economic life of the state, this broad baseof support assures that MSU’s long-term future will bebright, if not always easy. My successor will find a firmfoundation to build on, but will not want for challenges.

Legislative appropriations now represent less than 30percent of revenues for Mississippi State, but that fundingis critical to the university’s ability to carry out its primarypurpose of educating the sons and daughters of our state.In FY 2000, state support for general operations, includ-ing instruction, totaled $84.9 million. For the currentyear, that figure is down to $78.4 million—a decrease of$6.5 million over six years.


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A PRESIDENT SAYS farewell

President Lee and first lady Pat were all smiles at the president'sSeptember 2003 investiture ceremony. Photo by Russ Houston.


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During the same six-yearperiod, state funding for theMSU Extension Service,Agricultural and ForestryExperiment Station, Forestand Wildlife Research Center,and College of VeterinaryMedicine dropped from $66.9million to $59 million.

The reductions have pre-sented many challenges,including increased difficultyin recruiting and retaining the most highly qualified fac-ulty and staff members. From fall 2000 to fall 2005, thenumber of tenured or tenure-track faculty, who generallyhold doctoral degrees, declined by 51. The number ofinstructors, who generally lack terminal degrees,increased by 35. We simply have not been able toreplace many departing faculty members with compara-bly qualified individuals, given our present level ofresources and the expectations of faculty who can make adifference at MSU.

Our faculty salaries are now 13 percent below theSoutheastern Conference average at the full professorlevel; 5 percent below at the associate professor level;and 8 percent below at the assistant professor level.

In fall 2005, MSU welcomed one of its largest fresh-man classes ever, including 34 National Merit Scholarsand six National Achievement Scholars. More than 23percent of the new students are African-American.Almost one-third of all MSU students receive federal Pellgrants, indicating a significant level of financial need.

Despite the obstacles that many of them face, MSU students are succeeding at a high rate, with a six-yeargraduation rate of 57 percent, and they are highly competitive in the marketplace.

Mississippi continues to lag significantly behind thenational average in the percentage of adults who hold abachelor’s degree and the increased earning power andquality of life that comes with it. Current and prospec-tive college students represent the best hope forMississippi’s future. These students need and deserveour support.

But years of diminished state appropriations haveshifted more of the cost of higher education to studentsand their parents. Tuition and required fees haveincreased by 43 percent since 1999-2000 for a full-timestudent who is a Mississippi resident.

The increases have been regrettable but necessaryresponses to declining state funding. The latest tuitionincrease—a 5 percent hike which took effect last fall—was needed to offset the current year’s decline in statesupport, higher employer insurance premiums, higher

Above: President Lee and Dean of Students Mike White prepare to hand out tee-shirts to university volunteers in the

wake of Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Megan Bean. Below: Steve Langston, right, chairman of the Starkville

Chamber of Commerce advisory board, congratulates the Leesupon their receiving this year’s T.E. Veitch Community Service

Award, given by the Greater Starkville DevelopmentPartnership. Photo by Becky Wilkes, Starkville Daily News.

utility costs, and other rising expenses. But theseincreases also threaten our commitment to affordableeducation.

We appreciate the expressions of support for restoredfunding for higher education that came from legislatorsand other state policymakers as this year’s leg-islative session got under way. It is time toreverse the trend of shrinking state support foruniversities and provide MSU and other institu-tions with the resources necessary to meet ourobligations to the future of Mississippi. And it istime for those who benefit from higher educationto become more passionate advocates of equal orbetter opportunities for the next generation.

Mississippi’s needs are great, and arematched by the responsibility of “The People’sUniversity” to help meet them. Among thedozen universities I have been associated with,none has contributed more to the people of itsstate—certainly not with such modestresources—as this one has provided toMississippi.

And no state in which I have worked has asmuch riding on the success of a single institu-tion. MSU’s unique mix of programs parallelsthe direction of our nation’s economy, and itsability to deliver beyond the campus carries theuniversity’ s resources and expertise to everycorner of the state.

��

Despite the financial constraints of the past fewyears, the university is solidly positioned for futuregrowth and progress.

As I said upon assuming the role of president, all ofour missions are important, but the most sacred is learn-ing. I hope that the past four years have served to reaffirmour commitment to both access and academic excellence.Last fall’s turnaround enrollment increase is a foretaste ofthe sustained growth that we foresee for the years ahead.We will also see continued improvement in the under-graduate academic experience at the university. MSUwill build on initiatives such as the new learning commu-nities and the Math Domain introduced last fall and theCenter for Teaching and Learning opened this spring, andwill expand and enhance opportunities for honors students.

We have sought successfully to bring more focus touniversity research. Our state’s future clearly holds

Among the dozen universitiesI have been associated with,none has contributed more to the people of its state—certainly not with such modest resources—as this onehas provided to Mississippi.

President Lee congratulates his son, John Charles Lee Jr. of Richmond, Va.,upon his MSU graduation in December 2005. Photo by Russ Houston.



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more new industry partnerships,spin-off and start-up companies,intellectual property disclosures,and high-tech, high-wage jobslinked to MSU research. Justsince January 2005, more than120 new jobs have been createdby MSU spin-off companies andindustrial partners includingSemiSouth, II-VI Incorporated, ABSL, and Aurora FlightSciences. The university’s research and developmentexpertise and infrastructure plays a key role in bringinggood jobs such as these to our state. And while externalcontracts and federal support drive the research enter-prise, the foundation that must be present to leveragethose resources relies heavily on state support.

We have become more broadly engaged in extendingthe resources of the university to assist families, commu-nities, public education, and particularly business andindustry. Components of the university such as theCenter for Advanced Vehicular Systems and the newIndustrial Outreach Service are making a real differencein the competitiveness of our manufacturing sector. Wehave restructured key areas such as federal relations andthe MSU Extension Service, and more closely aligned theefforts of the Alumni Association, the MSU Foundation,and the Bulldog Club.

The physical campus is being modernized and mademore welcoming through an extensive program of reno-vation, beautification, and construction, including a seriesof new residence halls that are the first to be constructedat MSU in more than 35 years. Streets and parking arebeing overhauled with a view toward a safer and morepedestrian-friendly campus.

The university has become more efficient and moreaccountable to the taxpayers and policymakers of thestate through performance-based budgeting, cost-cutting

mergers and consolidations, and more stringent standardsin areas such as cell phone and automobile use. A retire-ment incentive program offered in 2002 and a reductionin the number of state-funded employees have helped uscope with the financial constraints of recent years.

Our athletics program is establishing a solid recordfor integrity, academic success, and financial stabilitywhile increasing its level of competitiveness. NCAA cer-tification was renewed last fall.

The State of the Future capital campaign has attractedcommitments of about $280 million and is on track tomeet its $400 million goal in 2008. A primary outcomewill be better scholarship opportunities for new studentsof a broad range of academic abilities.

I hope that in the years ahead the MSU family willcontinue to raise expectations for itself, to think biggerand push for higher standards, and to focus on what isbest for the future of Mississippi.

Pat and I returned to MSU in 1999, with no thoughtof a presidency in mind, because we believed in this uni-versity’s mission and knew that it could build on itsstrengths to serve the state and nation with special dis-tinction. It has been a great honor and privilege to helprealize some of that potential. And it is gratifying to know,as we leave you, that Mississippi State’s horizons areunlimited. Thank you for this very special opportunity.

Go Bulldogs!

President Lee with the 2005 inaugural PresidentialEndowed Scholars, Alan Boyle, Emily Hicks, and

Shawn Sanders. Photo by Russ Houston.



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BY ALLEN SNOW

PHOTOS BY RUSS HOUSTON AND MEGAN BEAN

TThe energized atmosphere of any university commu-nity, almost by definition, is swirling with ideas waitingto take shape.

Many such ideas eventually will be implemented.Many others will not—for lack of entrepreneurial skills,guidance, seed funding, or other impediments.

A new program at Mississippi State, the ThadCochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship, is helping stu-dents overcome those early barriers to business success.

Established through the MSU Foundation as part ofState of the Future: The Mississippi State Campaign, theprogram is assisting students in business start-up venturesby providing seed funding and business planning assis-tance, as well as partnering them with faculty memberswho have expertise in the students’ areas of interest.

The program recognizes the long and distinguishedservice of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who hasbeen instrumental in helping to fund numerous universi-ty-based research projects.

A primary goal of the effort is to create a “culture ofentrepreneurship” among students, said program directorGerald Nelson, who also holds the Jack Hatcher Chair inEngineering Entrepreneurship in the Bagley College ofEngineering.

Nelson’s involvement with the program began inearly January. Already he has several projects in theearly stages of implementation.

“The first ones to come forward were really by word-of-mouth,” Nelson said. “In the near future, we willestablish a Web site, print brochures, and I’ll give presen-tations before the deans, faculty, center directors, anddepartment heads.”

Award decisions are based on proposals reviewed byNelson and a mentoring committee, which will workclosely with the student entrepreneurs throughout theprocess. After a proposal is accepted, the student isrequired to submit a preliminary business plan. Awardswill vary from approximately $1,000 to $20,000.


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“The process is about attracting students and facultywho have ideas, helping them formulate business plans,making sure their intellectual property rights are takencare of, and helping them decide whether their idea isviable,” said Nelson. “And if they receive an award, thatwill certainly help them in the start-up phase.”

The first awardee, named in February, is a companyformed by two doctoral students and a faculty member inthe Department of Forest Products.

“TermiSys Technologies is an interesting entity,”Nelson said. “What they’ve done is patent a termite con-trol system that attracts termites to bait stations, ratherthan relying on termites to randomly forage to the baitstations, which is how the current technology works.”

The principals of the company are Dr. TerryAmburgey, professor of forest products, and graduate stu-dents Shane Kitchens and Kevin Ragon.

“The way this came about is intriguing,” Nelson said.“Dr. Amburgey was consulting with the Navy about sub-marine communication. It was in Hawaii, where theyhad a series of communication antennae supported bywooden poles that were used to transmit signals to thesubmarines, and termites were attacking the poles. Itturned out that the frequencies that were being emitted bythe transmitters was attracting the termites. Poles sup-porting non-energized antennae were not attacked.

“Kevin began to do some research, found low-levelelectronic frequencies that attract them, discovered theappropriate intensities to use, and patented the applicationof using those frequencies and intensities.”

Nelson said that in addition to marketing electronic

devices to attract termites to bait stations, TermiSys plansto consult with the pest control industry in the future.The technology they’ve developed will be on the market,hopefully, within one to two years.

According to Nelson, “Their project has huge poten-tial. They’re going to generate considerable revenuefrom their consulting business as well as the sale of thetermite attracting units.”

Nelson hopes to eventually partner some of the start-ups with established companies that have already beenthrough the process. To that end, he plans to create andinvolve a network of MSU alumni entrepreneurs.

“I think the great benefit that we can provide throughthe Cochran endowment, campus-wide, is that it’s goingto provide a laboratory and a learning experience for a lotof students. Even if some of the ventures fail within ayear or two, they’ve had the experience of learning whatis involved in starting a business.”

Administered through the President’s Office, theendowment is seeking at least $3 million in private fund-ing for support of its programs.

“We have received gift commitments of more than$2.5 million and have good prospects for more gifts inthe future,” said Dennis Prescott, the university’s vicepresident for external affairs.

“We’re very pleased at the response we’ve receivedto date, although not surprised, given the esteem in whichSen. Cochran is held around the country. We’re lookingforward to visiting with more individuals, corporationsand other entities about how their support can assistMississippi entrepreneurs.”

To date, major commitments have come fromNorthrop Grumman Corp., Entergy Mississippi,Mississippi Power, and General Dynamics, among others.

Facing page: From left, President J. Charles Lee; Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.;and Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., visit the research facility named for Cochran.


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In August 2005, Dr. Jimmy Abraham became executive director of the MSU Alumni Association andassociate vice president for external affairs. A 30-yearMississippi State employee, Abraham spoke with Alumnusmagazine recently and talked about everything fromworking with students and alumni to his devotion to hisalma mater.

Where is your hometown and how did you end up atMississippi State?I am from Clarksdale, one of eight children of Tommyand Sue Abraham. In January 1973, I began working ata men’s clothing store in Clarksdale and my boss, S.W.Haaga Jr., was a huge MSU fan. He kept his diplomaand cowbell displayed in his office and he was a great

ambassador for his alma mater. He was one of the mainreasons I decided to enroll at MSU. I’m very proud thatseven of my brothers and sisters attended MississippiState as well, and because of this, there are no biggersupporters of State than my family.

You met your wife here?Yes, Patti and I met on campus in 1973, and we weremarried in 1974. Her hometown is Philadelphia, and herdegree was in business education. We both graduated in1975. We have three sons, Jim, Josh and Jase. Jim andJosh both attended State, and are now teaching andcoaching at Pearl High School and Tupelo High School,respectively, and Jase is a freshman at Hinds CommunityCollege. He plans to be a student at State in 2007.

Your bachelor’s degree is in marketing. Did you everconsider going into the business world?I did actually, for my first job was with the MississippiHeart Association. I lived in Greenwood, traveling 30counties helping set up high-blood pressure screenings inbusinesses and fund raising for the Heart Fund.

Abraham has clear vision for alumni associationBY KAY FIKE JONES

PHOTOS BY RUSS HOUSTON


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Why did you come back to Mississippi State?I missed the college atmosphere and I wanted to work onmy master’s degree, so I decided to go back to school toget an MBA degree. A few weeks before classes began, Iwent by to visit with Dr. Bill Foster, former assistant vicepresident for student affairs, whom I got to know while Iwas an undergraduate student. He, along with Dr. HaroldHall (former dean of students) and Dr. Roy Ruby (formervice president for student affairs), all of whom are men-tors to me, encouraged me to think about the studentaffairs profession. I enjoyed my student experience atState so much, especially working with the StudentAssociation, so I changed my graduate program frombusiness administration to student personnel. I earnedmy master’s degree in student personnel and counseloreducation in 1977.

Did you work while you were in school? What didyou do?I became the residence hall director of Evans Hall, anupperclass hall for 288 men, in January of 1977. I tookthe place of the last house mother in the residence hallson campus at that time—from that point all hall directorshad a master’s degree or were working on a master’sdegree in the student affairs area or a related area. Ilater became the hall director for Duggar Hall, a resi-dence hall for 222 male freshmen. This was home to ouroldest son, so when it was torn down last year to makeroom for our new residence halls, we got some bricksfrom the building, as well as bricks from Hightower Hall,which was the residence hall I lived in when I first cameto State. These bricks are in my office now for all to seeand they bring back great memories to me.

When did you take over orientation?In November 1978, I was named the coordinator of ori-entation, and I worked with the new student and parentorientation program until 1998. In 1985, I became thedirector of enrollment services (now Admissions andScholarships), and worked not only with the orientationprogram, but also with many others to help recruit stu-dents to Mississippi State. I did this until August 2000,when I became the assistant vice president for student

affairs. In November 2002, I was given the opportunityto serve as interim vice president for student affairs. InAugust 2005, I became the executive director of the MSUAlumni Association and associate vice president forexternal affairs. All during my tenure at Mississippi StateUniversity, I have worked with outstanding student lead-ers and great staffs, and I do all I can to keep up withthem today. I am very proud of all of them.

Has switching from student affairs to alumni been abig adjustment?No, not really. In both jobs, the ultimate goal is to pro-mote our university to others. In student recruiting, weare marketing a great product to prospective students—Mississippi State University. In my new role, we are con-tinuing to market this same great product, just to a differ-ent audience—graduates or friends of State.

So far, what have you enjoyed most about leading theAlumni Association?I am really enjoying traveling and visiting with MSUalumni and friends of our university. I have attendednumerous alumni gatherings over the past six months,and I plan to continue to get out as much as possible totalk with those who care so much about Mississippi State,to get their thoughts and ideas so that we can build aneven stronger alumni association.

Will you be able to bring some of the methods thatwere so successful in student recruiting to the AlumniAssociation?We hope so. Both areas are about building relationships,effective communication, and a sincere desire to be ofservice to others. We are going to be engaged with alum-ni and friends of the university, our faculty and staff, andour currently enrolled students.

What are your priorities at this point? What do youwant to change or improve?Our alumni association is on a solid foundation thanks toformer executive directors Charlie Weatherly, Steve


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Grafton and John Correro and all those volunteers whohave done so much for our university. And the staff hereis outstanding—I am very impressed with their dedicationand work ethic. Our challenge is to build on this founda-tion and make it better. We plan to use the technologythat is available to us in the best way possible, includingmaking our Web site more interactive and sending outelectronic communications in a timely fashion. It isimportant that we continue to work to recruit students,for students are the life-blood of our university. Andwithout students, we will not have alumni. We also planto survey alumni to find out their wants and needs, wewant to add more value and benefits for being an activemember of the alumni association, and we want to improveon existing programs, such as promoting the official classring. This is a great way for graduates and alumni to letothers know that MSU is their institution of choice.

What would you like the Alumni Association tobecome? How do you see it in, say, 10 years?While we will always look to make changes that will

enhance our association, we are not going to makechanges just for the sake of change. Our goal is simple—to be the best alumni association we can be. Our long-range plans will involve the input from many, includingthe volunteer alumni leaders who give of their time freelyfor their university.

Is there anything you do that doesn’t involve maroonand white? Any hobbies?I have been a runner for 19 years, and I enjoy watchingmy boys play baseball and now, coach this sport. Wehave been athletic season ticket holders for as long as Ihave been at State, and we go to many sporting events onand off campus. My wife, however, says my work is myhobby, and I do enjoy my job so much. I can honestlysay that working at State has been a tremendous ride andhonor for me. I have gained more from MSU than I willever be able to give back to her. This is where I want tobe and this is more than just a job for me. I am veryblessed and thankful to have been associated with thisgreat university for more than 30 years.

Abraham meets with Alumni Associationnational president Joe Bryan (’63).


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Brushing their dog’s teeth is something most people think is notnecessary or even silly, but SusanSeal has good reason to be aware ofher pet’s dental health.

BY BOB RATLIFF

PHOTOS BY TOM THOMPSON


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“When I was growing up, my grandparents had apoodle with health problems related to gum disease,”Seal said. “Taking care of his teeth could have helpedhim live a longer, healthier life.”

Sadie, Seal’s 2-year-old Shetland sheep dog, is bene-fiting from those childhood memories. The Starkvilleresident brushes Sadie’s teeth two or three times a week.

“It only takes about 5 minutes, and Sadie kind oflikes it,” she said. “Her toothpaste is made just for dogsand is poultry flavored.”

Dogs, cats and other pets can have the same dentalproblems as people, said Dr. Diana Eubanks atMississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Dogs and other animals develop plaque and filmthat contains bacteria,” she said. “As a result, periodontaldisease is the number one disease you see in pets. Any petover about 3 years of age that has not had some signifi-cant routine oral health care will develop gum disease.”

Left untreated, gum disease in dogs and other petscan lead to heart disease, kidney disease and other healthproblems. Some routine care, Eubanks said, can save apet owner money in the long run and their pet unneces-sary pain.

“Brushing a dog’s teeth two to three times a weekwith a veterinary toothpaste will help promote good den-tal health,” she said. “Using human toothpaste can upseta dog’s stomach, and they hate the taste.”

Many people consider rawhide chews and hard dogfood all the dental care their dogs need.

“Anything that removes plaque as they bite downwill help,” Eubanks said. “Certainly diet and plaque-removing treats are part of a dental health program, butas pets live longer and become more bonded with theirowners, professional dental care becomes more important.”

In fact, dental care is the fastest growing specialty inveterinary medicine and MSU’s College of VeterinaryMedicine is one of the few schools in the South provid-ing significant hands-on experience in the field.

“We have a small dental X-ray unit and usually doan average of three procedures a week,” Eubanks said.

“We also offer continuing education classes in veterinarydentistry for our graduates because it is becoming animportant part of veterinary practices.”

Dr. Bill Nalley is a graduate of MSU’s College ofVeterinary Medicine practicing veterinary dentistry inLong Beach. Dogs and cats, he said, are not supposed tohave bad breath, which is one of a number of signs ofperiodontal disease.

“My clinical experience has shown me that manydogs and cats suffering from advanced periodontal dis-ease also will appear lethargic, not respond eagerly toplay, seem depressed, not eat well and may have symp-toms of heart, liver or kidney disease,” Nalley said.

Part of the treatment for gum disease is a prophylax-is, a procedure to remove plaque and clean the teeth.

“Clients often call me two weeks after a prophylaxisand are jubilant that their pet is acting like a 2-year-oldagain,” he said

Dr. Nalley agrees that brushing their teeth is animportant part of keeping a pet in top physical shape.

“Dogs, cats, and ferrets benefit greatly from dailybrushing of their teeth,” he said. “There are products onthe market that claim their use will reduce or eliminatethe need for brushing. I agree that some of these prod-ucts will aid in keeping pets’ teeth free of plaque, butnone of them will totally replace brushing.”

Left: Sadie, Susan Seal's Shetland sheep dog, enjoys having her teethbrushed with her poultry-flavored toothpaste. Right: Dr. Dianna Eubanksexamines a patient's teeth at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

BY MARIDITH WALKER GEUDER

A universal language expands horizons, builds relationships for Mississippi State

Never mind that Michael Brown grew up inrural Georgia, where music revolved mostly arounda few voices in his small church choir.

Never mind that his family had modest meansand few opportunities for luxuries. He fell in lovewith the trumpet, and the rest is history.

Photo by Russ Houston.

Photo by Lana Lancaster.


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The talented head of MississippiState’s music education departmentdirects the MSU/StarkvilleSymphony, as well as maintainingan active concert and ensembleschedule. In addition to his admin-istrative duties in a department of19 faculty members, Brown teach-es regularly, including a complete-ly online version of music appre-ciation.

In collaboration with theuniversity’s Lyceum Series, he has launched a FacultyChamber Series that features MSU faculty members, andhe is the force behind an annual community performanceof Handel’s “Messiah” that attracts standing-room-onlycrowds.

All of that is a professional expression of a love that goesback to childhood and a chance encounter at church camp.

It started with a bugle and morning reveille—thesound that shot through him like electricity. “I thought itwas the trumpet of God,” he laughs. He bolted out ofbed in his pajamas and was hooked for life.

The next morning he set his alarm for 5:30 so hewouldn’t miss the beautiful notes sounding the wake-upcall. “I had never heard anything like it,” he recalls. Hewent home and begged for the instrument that had strucka deep chord in him.

Trumpets were hard to come by in rural Georgia, butby chance an acquaintance of his dad’s had a neglectedinstrument stuck under a meat counter in his business.“He owed my dad some money, and that became pay-ment for the debt,” Brown said. Realizing the power ofmusic, he discovered his life work and his passion.

Working in concertAt Mississippi State, Brown’s passion is shared by

the 19 colleagues whose talents cover a wide spectrum:piano, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, voice, and—just as important—the teaching of music.

Both music majors and non-majors participate in manyof the department’s ensembles, including the 280-member

Famous Maroon Band, and nearly 2,000 students annuallytake the department’s courses in music appreciation.

“We hope many of them become lifelong consumersof good music,” Brown said. Through the education ofstudents and through outreach activities that serve thecommunity, MSU’s music education department fulfillsits dual mission of preparing music educators and servingas a comprehensive resource for the region. Studentsentering the program may earn a music education degreeor a bachelor’s of music degree.

“We want our department to be a place where musicis made and performed, and where students have anopportunity to learn about music by experiencing it,”Brown said.

To that end, the MSU music education faculty offersabout 200 concerts annually, developing performanceschedules that meet every audience need. “We offer faculty and guest artist concerts every evening of theweek, as well as Sunday afternoons,” Brown noted.

Faculty artists perform both on campus and in a vari-ety of off-campus venues, last year appearing in GoldenTriangle concerts as well as appearances with the Tupeloand Tuscaloosa (Ala.) symphonies and with SyracuseUniversity in New York, and others. Several have produced compact disc recordings, including the depart-ment’s Golden Triangle Brass Quintet, a snare drum compact disc by percussionist Jason Baker, “Saxophoneand Other Voices” featuring pianist Jackie Edwards-Henry and former faculty member Gail B. Levinsky, and

Right: Department head Michael Brown, also director of theMSU/Starkville Symphony, leads a rehearsal of Handel’s “Messiah.”Photo by Russ Houston.


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“Septiembre” by guitarist Michael Patilla.“Our faculty includes talented performing

artists as well as talented teachers,” Brown said.Among recent honors are December presentationsby flutist Lana Johns and composer Jason Bahr atthe College Music Society in Quebec.

Music as outreachBelieving that music provides the language to cross

cultural barriers, to inspire youngsters, and to teach in aunique and memorable way, one MSU faculty memberroutinely takes world music into area schools. He hasbeen recognized for his efforts by the Starkville SchoolDistrict, in addition to receiving support on campus fromthe Holland Music for All Fund, established to includeoutreach efforts in the department.

Dr. Robert Damm, director of music education part-nerships, is a specialist in African and Latin Americanpercussion instruments. He frequently visits schoolsfrom Gulfport to Coahoma to West Point.

“I like to provide an environment for discovery,” hesaid. With a gallery of more than 60 percussion instru-ments, he has plenty of hands-on selection. From WestAfrica, he may choose drums, rattles, or bells. He alsoselects instruments from Native American and LatinAmerican cultures. A vibraslap, for instance, is designedto imitate the sound of a donkey jawbone.

A celebration of Native American music last fall atWest Point’s Churchill Elementary School highlightedmask forms, traditional musical instruments, and masks.The students’ public presentation culminated a unit ofstudy on indigenous arts and culture, and was developedin cooperation with Chris Melby-Codling, an MSU lec-turer in curriculum and instruction.

“Students made gourd rattles, and we used authenticTaos and pow-wow drums,” Damm said.

Crossing cultures also is the goal of a BrazilianMusic Festival launched in 2003 by pianist RosangelaSebba, a native of that country and a frequent guestsoloist both in Brazil and across the Southeastern U.S.

“Our goal has been to introduce to broader audiencesthe melodies and rhythms of Brazilian music and dances,which are highly syncopated,” Sebba explained. She fre-quently showcases the music of her native country in hermany on- and off-campus appearances.

In other departmental outreach activities, the annualPiano Showcase—now in its 22nd year—brings talentedhigh school pianists to campus to participate in intenseEuropean-style master classes with accomplished guestand faculty artists. For area audiences, the showcaseoffers several concerts during the week-long event.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the students, andit’s an equally exciting opportunity for audiences toexperience remarkable musicianship,” said director JackieEdwards-Henry, noting that in 2005 showcase guestartists Logan Skelton of the University of Michigan andJennifer Hayghe of Louisiana State presented concerts.

The Summer Band Directors Institute, headed byElva Kaye Lance, director of bands, brings about 20 stateband directors to campus to learn more about the latest

Classical guitarist Michael Patilla and Brazilian pianistRosangela Y. Sebba. Photos by Russ Houston.


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techniques and musical literature. A 50-year tradition,the annual Honor Band Camp brings approximately 200youngsters to campus for clinics that culminate in publicconcerts. A January state band clinic draws nearly 400high schoolers.

“It’s been a nice source of recruiting students toMSU,” Brown noted, adding that participants experiencecampus and what it’s like to be at the university.

Also part of its outreach efforts, the department’sWeb site (see music.msstate.edu) is coordinated by Dr.Richard Human, assistant professor of trombone. Dr.Human also is the founder and publisher of the OnlineTrombone Journal, free to those interested the exchangeof information about the instrument.

Dynamic growthOne of the fastest-growing areas of the department is

its guitar program, under the direction of Dr. MichaelPatilla, an Alabama native who holds a doctorate fromthe prestigious Eastman School of Music.

“Dr. Patilla came to Mississippi State as an adjunctprofessor, and has built a program that now has 14 majorsand has involved even more students in playing the gui-tar,” Brown said. “We limit classes to 15 students, andthey fill within 24 hours.”

A Guitar Ensemble directed by Patilla is among anumber of instrumental performing opportunities availableto majors and non-majors. Other chamber ensemblesinclude those for flute, brass, piano, and trumpet, amongothers. Large ensembles include the Chamber Singers,University Chorus, Wind Ensemble, the SymphonicBand, the Campus/Community Band, and the FamousMaroon Band.

To accommodate rehearsal needs for a diversedepartment with large performing groups, the universitywill build a new $3.5 million band and choral facility,funded primarily through private donations. To be built atthe intersections of Hardy and Blackjack roads, the newfacility will house both the band and choral programs andwill include several large rehearsal halls. An added fea-ture will be a new, adjacent practice marching field forthe Famous Maroon Band.

Other offices and studios will remain in their currentMorrill Road locations.

Michael Brown praises the talent and the creativity

of MSU’s music faculty in providing outstanding teachingand cultural opportunities for campus and beyond. Hisearly childhood passion has never waned, and he saysthat among his MSU colleagues he is daily reminded of alesson he learned many years ago at church camp.

“I discovered that it’s possible to influence someone’slife by being a serious musician,” Brown said. Throughteaching, performance, and outreach, Mississippi State’smusic programs are doing just that.

Points of PrideThe department’s two bachelor’s degree programs are fullyaccredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Dr. Jason Bahr was awarded a $10,000 commission fromthe Fromm Music Foundation, based at HarvardUniversity. He was the youngest of 14 composers select-ed to create an original work.

High brass instructor Michael Huff is listed on the 2005-06 Mississippi Arts Commission roster.

Dr. Rosangela Sebba is included in the 60th edition of“Who’s Who in America,” profiling the country’s mostaccomplished men and women in all fields. She also islisted in the Mississippi Arts Commission roster.

Dr. Bruce Lesley, director of choral activities, in 2005was selected for the Ernestine Ferrell Award forExcellence in Choral Music by the Mississippi MusicEducators Association.

Mississippi State students took four first-place awards,as well as a second place and honorable mention, inannual competition sponsored by the Mississippi MusicTeachers Association.

The Magnolia Trio, a woodwind chamber ensemble thatincludes bassoonist Elaine Peterson, clarinetist SheriFalcone, and flutist Lana Johns, made its debut appear-ance in 2005 at the University of Texas at Austin. Thegroup’s repertoire ranges from Bach to ragtime.

Dr. Elaine Peterson, woodwind instructor, initiated aDouble Reed Day, providing specialized instruction inoboe and bassoon. It is in its second year and featuresperforming ensembles and master classes.

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Forensic study may helpchange building codes

New Miss MSU and alternates

Mississippi State civil engineers are teaming with privateindustry to conduct a forensic study of the hurricane-batteredGulf Coast, with an eye toward strengthening state buildingcodes as an essential part of the rebuilding effort.

Utilizing $30,000 in support from the Ready-Mix ConcreteResearch Foundation and $25,000 from the Mississippi

Concrete IndustriesAssociation, experts from theuniversity’s civil engineeringdepartment already areevaluating the wind and waterimpacts of Hurricane Katrinaon residential and commercialstructures along the coast.

The MississippiConstruction Industry

Coalition also is helping draft a bill for introduction in the2006 legislative session to establish a review board that wouldoversee the implementation of a proposed statewide buildingcode.

“Right now, there are no standard statewide building coderequirements in Mississippi,” said Robert Varner, executivedirector of the Ridgeland-based concrete industriesassociation. “It is left up to the city and county officials todetermine.”

One member of the MSU civil engineering group, veteranprofessor Dennis Truax, said the team will study coastaltopography, historic land use in the area and meteorologicalconditions that prevailed during Katrina Aug. 29.

“For example, U.S. 90 has been destroyed or reduced to asingle lane in several areas,” he explained. “We will bestudying how it failed and what might be done to prevent asimilar failure if another event like this should occur.”

He said another area of major concern will be “preventingsewers from filling with sand and debris as flood watersrecede.”

In addition to Truax, faculty colleagues on the team includeassociate professors Bill McAnally and Harry Cole, andassistant professors Chris Eamon, Li Zhang and Phil Gullett.Pat Fitzpatrick, an associate research professor at the StennisSpace Center office of MSU’s GeoResources Institute, also isworking with the team, which made an initial inspection visitto the Gulf Coast in late October.

Sophomore Kylie B. Estes of Mooreville (center) is winner of theMiss Mississippi State University Pageant. She will represent theinstitution in the 2006 Miss Mississippi Pageant, a lead-in to the MissAmerica event. Alternates also selected in November include (fromleft) freshman Elizabeth A. Joslin of New Albany, third; sophomoreAnna E. Tadlock of Brandon, first; sophomore Bethany L. Shipp ofStarkville, second; and senior Jill L. Shumaker of Corinth, fourth.

Mississippi State’s Carl Small Town Center is working withofficials in Pass Christian to help the Gulf Coast city rebuild itshistoric downtown area from the Augustdestruction of Hurricane Katrina.

The center is the research and extension armof the university’s College of Architecture,Art and Design. Its staff members have beenasked to share their expertise in municipalplanning and funding.

Endowed by the Greenwoodbusinessman and Viking Range Corp.founder for whom it is named, the non-profit Carl Center specializes incommunity design, research and education assistance. For years,the university group has provided assistance to Mississippitowns with various aesthetic and structural challenges.

Longtime Pass Christian resident Ben Puckett said the CarlCenter “has an exceptional reputation for helping towns likePass Christian utilize its community space and assets in the bestinterest of the people.”

Pass Christian seekingassistance in rebuilding

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MSU offers replacementdiplomas lost to Katrina

Aerospace engineering receives$50,000 from Northrup Grumman

Prof’s roof tests could helpguide coast rebuilding

Mississippi State aerospace engineering students soonwill benefit from $50,000 in funding received fromNorthrop Grumman Integrated Systems.

Representatives from the Los Angeles-based aerospacedesign company recently presented the check to KirkSchulz, dean of the Bagley College of Engineering, andaerospace engineering department head Tony Vizzini.

The majority of the funds will be used to establish theNorthrop Grumman Endowed Scholarship to assistdeserving MSU students who are pursuing a bachelor’sdegree in aerospace engineering. Preference will be givento those students from areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

“High-technology companies across the nation, likeNorthrop Grumman, continue to face a critical shortage ofspecialized engineering personnel,” said Paul K. Meyer,sector vice president of Advanced CapabilitiesDevelopment at Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Systemssector. “Through this endowment, we hope to motivatesome of the brightest and best students to seek careers inaerospace engineering.”

MSU officials said a portion of the funds will bedesignated to the aerospace engineering department’sadvancement fund to help provide support for studentdesign teams participating in competitions such as theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ Design/Build/Fly international competition.

Mississippi State graduates whose university diplomas weredestroyed or swept away by Hurricane Katrina may receive areplacement at no cost.

Registrar Butch Stokes said alumnishould submit their requests—inwriting only—to the Registrar’sOffice, P.O. Box 5268, MississippiState, MS 39762.

While use of the U.S. PostalService is strongly encouraged,Stokes said inquiries, if necessary,also may be made via e-mail to [email protected] [email protected].

Each correspondence should include the followinginformation:

—Name as it appeared on the original diploma;—Year and semester of graduation;—Major and college (or school) awarding the degree;—Social Security identification number; and—Return mailing address.For questions contact Sharon Nobles at (662) 325-9410.

A Mississippi State engineering professor is using giantmagnets to simulate the uplift impact of hurricane-force windson flat roofs and hopes his research findings will help guiderebuilding efforts along the storm-crushed Gulf Coast.

Veteran civil engineering professor Ralph Sinno iscompleting a report titled “Guidelines and PerformanceSpecifications for Reconstruction of the Mississippi GulfCoast.”

“We want to provide information to building codeauthorities that will allow them to modify, create and designnew buildings that will be stronger,” said the wind-load expert,who completed his undergraduate work at the University ofFlorida.

“We’re looking at how buildings should be reconstructed,where shelters should be placed and how to revitalize the GulfCoast, from Hattiesburg all the way to the seashore,” explainedSinno, who is assisted in the project by 15 of his seniorstudents.

Former longtime Georgia Tech professor and researchadministrator Mark G. White is the new director of MississippiState’s Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

White’s appointment as the Earnest W.Deavenport Jr. Chair and school directorbecame effective Jan. 1. He succeeds CliffordGeorge, who served as interim director of thechemical engineering school during 2005.

White joins MSU after 28 years at theGeorgia Institute of Technology’s School ofChemical and Biomolecular Engineering,where he served both as a professor anddirector of the Focused Research Program inSurface Science and Catalysis.

White leads chemicalengineering school

White

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Californian to donate land for research development

Planned cyber crimecenter gets $2.5m boost

Mississippi State will move forward with plans to establisha Jackson-based training center for cyber crime investigators,thanks to an anticipated new $2.5 million grant from the U.S.Justice Department.

The university’s Center for Computer Security Researchreceived an initial DOJ grant of nearly $1 million last summerto plan creation of the Joint Cyber Crime Fusion Center. It willbe located downtown at the Sillers State Office Building.

CCSR director Ray Vaughn said the latest grant will allowexpansion of the scope and capabilities of the Jackson center,which will open this year as a centralized operational andtraining facility devoted to fighting computer-related crimes.

The state Attorney General’s Office,FBI, Jackson State University,

and the University ofMississippi School ofJustice and Law are otherpartners in the project.“Right now, the training is

taking place here at MSU,” saidVaughn, the university’s Billie J. Ball

Professor of Computer Science andEngineering. “We have courses scheduled for the future andhave taught some already. They are being taught by DavidDampier, who heads the Computer Forensics Training Centerwithin CCSR.

“We are developing a training program for state and locallaw enforcement officers in the Southeast that will focus oncomputer forensics investigation, and the specific process andprocedures that must be followed,” added Vaughn, a retiredU.S. Army colonel. “JSU will be developing a forensicstraining capability to help us train.”

Mississippi State is using advanced engineeringtechnologies to help Northrop Grumman Ship Systemsstreamline the production flow of its hurricane-batteredshipyard in Pascagoula.

Already providing NGSS with emerging computersimulation and modeling expertise since 2003, universityresearchers are refocusing their post-Hurricane Katrina effortto help the U.S. shipbuilder redesign and regenerate itsfacilities and operations.

Using part of $1 million infunding from the U.S. Office ofNaval Research, researchers fromMSU’s industrial engineeringdepartment and Center forAdvanced Vehicular Systems arebuilding and analyzing 3-Dsimulation models of shipyardoperations. The models will be usedto visualize product flow andevaluate investment alternatives.

“Our models can simulate a month’s worth of productionin seconds on standard desktop or laptop computers,” saidindustrial engineering professor Allen Greenwood.

The project’s co-principal investigator, Greenwood saidthe stepped-up effort for NGSS will utilize artificialintelligence and other state-of-the-art, problem-solvingtechnologies. They are the same tools applied earlier to helpNissan’s $1.4 billion automobile manufacturing plant inCanton identify and analyze potential productionbottlenecks, he added.

A retired California architect plans to donate 15 acres ofland to Mississippi State for a research facility that couldserve as the centerpiece for broader commercialdevelopment at the site near the Golden Triangle RegionalAirport.

Wayne Fishback of Simi Valley, Calif., a facility planningand design specialist throughout his 40-year career, hassigned a memorandum of understanding with the university.It confirms his intention to give MSU land north of theairport and on the western side of Airport Road near theHighway 82 interchange.

Fishback owns an adjacent 285 acres that he hopes todevelop for light industry, professional buildings, restaurants,services stations, retail shops, and other commercial uses in thearea about midway between Starkville and Columbus.

“I believe Mississippi State represents the kind of qualitythat will act as a catalyst for more development,” Fishback saidduring a recent visit to the state. “I would like to emulate thesymbiotic relationship here that exists between StanfordUniversity and the Silicon Valley in California. It will be goodfor MSU and a big attraction for business.”

MSU helps Jackson County shipyardstreamline post-storm production

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Cheese store stocked and ready for business Aging expertis delegate

Kim Matta, cheese store assistant manager, spends part of her week double-checking inventory at theHerzer Hall operation. Following a busy 2005 holiday season that included the sale of more than100,000 of its world-famous cheeses and related products, the Stone Boulevard shop fully restockedall popular selections. For more information, telephone (662) 325-2338.

The emeritus head ofMississippi State’s counseloreducation and educationalpsychology department wasamong nine Mississippidelegates to a December WhiteHouse Conference on Aging.

Warren Housley, arecognized authority in thefield of gerontologicalcounseling, recently wasappointed by Rep. ChipPickering, R-Miss., to helprepresent the state at thenational program held everydecade.

Housley, who joined theMSU faculty in 1971, currentlyserves as an adjunct professorin what now is the departmentof counseling, schoolpsychology and specialeducation.

Brazilian scholars expand fisheries knowledge at MSUFar from their home 4,600 miles to the south, two

husband/wife Brazilian research teams are studying fisheriesand aquatic ecosystems in Mississippi.

During the 2005 fall semester, aquaticecologists Sidinei Thomaz and RosemaraFugi of Maringa State University wereguests of Mississippi State wildlifeand fisheries associate professorEric Dibble.

Maristela Cavicchioli Makrakisand Sergio Makrakis are justbeginning a 12-month stay at MSU.The fish engineering professors at theState University of Western Paraná are the guests of professorSteve Miranda, Dibble’s departmental colleague.

Thomaz is an aquatic botanist working on aquaticecosystems and plant ecology. He and Dibble have been

evaluating how aquatic plants provide structural habitat andmediate species diversity in aquatic communities. Fugi is a fishbiologist specializing in diets.

“Rosemara (Fugi) has been workingin the laboratories with undergraduateand graduate students,” Dibble said.“She has taught my students many

new techniques in analyzing fish diets.”Dibble said the exchange program is part of a

decade-long memorandum of agreement between MSUand Maringa State. “We currently have several graduate

students studying aquatic ecosystems in Brazil,” he added.Both couples said they chose Mississippi State for the

recognized quality of its research and the internationalreputation of Miranda and Dibble.

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A specialist in communitycounseling is being honored by theSouthern Association for CounselorEducation and Supervision.

Carl J. Sheperis received theprofessional organization’s 2005Outstanding Counselor Educator/ Pre-Tenure Award for excellence inscholarship, teaching and service. Amember of the university faculty since2000, he is an assistant professor in thedepartment of counseling, educationalpsychology and special education.

The head of the department ofmarketing, quantitative analysis andbusiness law is the new president of theSociety for Marketing Advances.

Associate professor Brian Engelland,a member of the university faculty since1997, was installed as the 43rd presidentof the international society of marketingscholars during the organization’sannual business meeting in San Antonio,Texas.

A junior member of MississippiState’s music education faculty isreceiving national recognition from aprestigious Massachusetts musicfoundation.

Jason Bahr, an assistant professor ofmusic theory at the university for thepast two years, is among 14commissioned by the Fromm MusicFoundation to develop newcompositions of their choice.

In addition to the honor of beingamong an elite group of professionals,Bahr is receiving $10,000 to support hiscreative efforts over a three-year period.When completed, his and the othercompositions will be debuted at afoundation-sponsored concert.

“The Fromm Prize is considered oneof the most significant peer-reviewedcomposition competitions in the world,”said Michael Brown, head of MSU’smusic education department, incongratulating his colleague.

The 2004-05 Factbook of MississippiState University is being recognized asthe best of its kind in the Southeast andbeyond.

The 83-page, spiral-boundcompendium of current informationabout MSU received the first-placeaward at the annual meeting of theSouthern Association for InstitutionalResearch. The notebook is produced byMSU’s Office of Institutional Research.

The award represents two in a row fordirector Gary Pike and others in theAllen Hall-based office. Last year, theironline version—www.msstate.edu/dept/oir—received SAIR’s Best ElectronicFactbook Award.

The director of Mississippi State’sCenter for Advanced Vehicular Systemsis the recipient of a prestigiousinternational research award from asociety in Japan.

Rand German received the Award forDistinguished Achievement in Researchfrom the Japan Society for Powder andPowder Metallurgy during a formalceremony in the East China Sea coastalcity of Hamamatsu.

He also lectured at the society’sinvitation-only seminar on the topic,“Establishment of the ScientificUnderpinnings in Powder InjectionMolding and Liquid Phase Sintering.”

“Stories of Independence: Identity,Ideology and History in Eighteenth-Century America” is the title of a book bya Mississippi State historian.

Assistant professor Peter C. Messertraces the emergence of distinctivelyAmerican attitudes about society, politicsand government. A member of theuniversity’s history department facultysince 2002, he is a specialist in earlyAmerican and early modern Europeansocieties.

“Stories of Independence” ispublished by Northern Illinois UniversityPress. Within its 268 pages, Messerdescribes how the ways that earlyAmericans recorded their history fromcolonial times through the immediatepost-independence decades helped shapethe young nation’s future.

A doctoral graduate of RutgersUniversity, he previously published“Writing Women in History: DefiningGender and Citizenship in Post-Revolutionary America” in the journalStudies in Eighteenth-Century Culture.

Two December engineering graduatesare the latest to receive Jack HatcherEntrepreneurship Certificates through auniversity program that promotes careerscombining technical and business skills.

Norman O. Cruse of Okolona andChristina L. Smith of Greenwoodsuccessfully completed the certificationprocess during the 2005 fall semester inMSU’s Bagley College of Engineering.

Cruse, an electrical engineering major,is a 2000 graduate of Okolona HighSchool. Smith, an industrial engineeringmajor, is a 2000 Greenwood High Schoolgraduate.

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An environmental stewardship studyof six Florida golf courses is earning aMississippi State graduate recognitionfrom a national professional association.

Robert G. “Rob” Collins of Naples,Fla., is one of only three universitystudents whose research projects wereselected for top 2005 student awards ofthe American Society of LandscapeArchitects. Other honorees attendedCornell University and the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology.

Collins, formerly of Signal Mountain,Tenn., received a master’s degree inlandscape architecture in May 2005. Asan independent contractor for a golfcourse architect, he now is overseeingconstruction of an 18-hole golf course.

MSU assistant professor SusanMulley, Collins’ former faculty adviser,termed the award a “remarkablerecognition” that resulted from aresearch process that was “extremelythorough in establishing criteria andcollecting data.”

Titled “Fool’s Gold: AudubonInternational Certification as a Predictorof Foraging Habitat Suitability forWading Birds,” his investigation took ayear to complete. In the conclusion,Collins advances some objectivemeasures for evaluating the relativeenvironmental stewardship of golfcourses certified as “gold signaturesanctuary programs” by AudubonInternational of Albany, N.Y.

A College of Forest Resourcesdoctoral student is among four honoredrecently by professionals attending the2005 Midwest Fish and WildlifeConference in Michigan.

Daniel M. “Dan” O’Keefe ofShepherd, Mich., who is completing aterminal degree in wildlife and fisheries,received the first Janice FenskeMemorial Award for OutstandingStudents. His MSU research focuses onrestoring paddlefish in Mississippistreams, especially those draining intothe Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

The MFWC award is a tribute to theMichigan Department of NaturalResources’ fisheries biologist who diedin 2005.

The paddlefish, also known as thespoonbill catfish, is a large, primitivespecies native to rivers throughout thestate and region. Channelization, gravelmining and associated activities havetaken a toll on the once viablepopulations, however.

A longtime adjunct faculty memberand a graduate student in thedepartment of entomology and plantpathology are selections for specialrecognition by a national professionalorganization.

Frank Davis, an adjunct universityprofessor who also was a federalagricultural scientist for four decades, isamong nine new Fellows of theEntomological Society of America.Since retiring from the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture several years ago, he hasserved as vice mayor and alderman forthe City of Starkville.

The entomological society hasrecognized only 191 people asfellows—its most prestigious award—since initiating the honor 71 years ago.Davis and MSU doctoral student SandraWoolfolk were honored during theorganization’s annual meeting in Ft.Lauderdale, Fla.

Woolfolk, who earlier received amaster’s degree in entomology from theMSU department, was recognized as arunner-up for the ESA President’s Prizefor Display Presentation in theBiological Control category.

George M. Hopper has been votedpresident-elect of the NationalAssociation of University ForestResources Programs.

Hopper, the dean of the College ofForest Resources and director of theForest and Wildlife Research Center, willserve as president of the association for atwo-year term beginning January 2007.

The Rehabilitation Research andTraining Center on Blindness and LowVision received a $50,000 gift from anational foundation.

The monies from the George B. StorerFoundation of Saratoga, Wyo., will beused to upgrade the center’s assistivetechnology laboratory.

“New purchases will include updatedsynthetic speech and screen magnifica-tion software, as well as refreshableBraille hardware and other assistivetechnology to allow students who areblind or have low vision to use thecenter’s computers,” said J. Elton Moore,center director.

The Storer Foundation gift also willexpand the center’s ability to offerdistance education training opportunitiesto persons who are blind or have lowvision.

The center is funded primarily by theNational Institute on Disability andRehabilitation Research and the Reha-bilitation Services Administration. RRTCwas founded at MSU in 1981 and is theonly one of its kind in the United States.

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MSU-founded company fills gaps inspatial information technology

Faculty lecturersshowcased

A new company based at Mississippi State is filling some “critical gaps” in remote sensing andspatial information technology—increasingly used by policymakers and resource managers as amajor tool of economic development.

Spatial Information Solutions Inc., founded and led by researcher Chuck O’Hara of theuniversity’s GeoResources Institute, has developed a portfolio of software products that will bemarketed to government agencies, private companies and individual clients.

“These products eventually may generate an economic impact totaling in the millions ofdollars annually, with significant upside potential from there,” said O’Hara.

Located near campus in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic DevelopmentPark, SIS utilizes software and technologies developed and tested in the high-performancecomputer environment of MSU’s ERC (Engineering Research Center).

“SIS has developed a series of highly specialized software tools that fill critical gaps in spatialinformation technologies and solutions,” said O’Hara, who serves as company president and chieftechnical officer.

Provisional patents have been filed on eight SIS software products developed by O’Hara incollaboration with several other MSU scientists. SIS has exclusive rights to the technology andthe university will share in the royalties.

Renovation of the historic Lee Hall auditorium was well under way as the spring semester began. The1,000-seat facility is being refurbished and enhanced, providing an improved performing arts venuefor Mississippi State.

Mississippi State’sBettersworth LeadershipLectures offer publicpresentations from ourmost stimulating facultymembers, discussing thesubjects in which theyhave expertise.

The series was createdin memory of John K.Bettersworth, universityvice president for academicaffairs from 1961-1977,who wrote The People’sUniversity: A CentennialHistory of MississippiState.

Lecturers will makepresentations at highschool and communitycollege classes andassemblies free of charge.Topics range from “BeingBlind and Working” to“Plant BiotechnologyTastes Good” to “SouthernWomen and the StruggleAgainst Child Labor.”

To schedule one of theselecturers at your school,telephone 662-325-2224,fax 662-325-1MSU or e-mail [email protected].

Contact the Office ofAdmissions andScholarships at least threeweeks in advance withpreferred topics, at leastthree possible dates, anddetails about audiencesize.

Restoring the grandeur

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Mississippi State placed 34 student-athletes on the Southeastern Conference FallAcademic Honor Roll, a figure that ranks seventh among all conference schools.

The Bulldog football team produced 20 of the 34 honorees for the school. Graduatestudents Jeremy Jack and Will Prosser topped the MSU pigskin list. Seniors DerekAmbrose, Keith Andrews, Russell Cook, Britt Cross, Marcus Evans, Chris McNeil,Brett Morgan, Casey Rogers, and Leron Yarbrough accounted for MSU’s largest classon the honor roll. Juniors Brian Anderson, Jonathan Hill, Brad Horton, Lance Long,Carlton Rice, and Dezmond Sherrod also made the list. Sophomores Michael Henig,Dio Herrera and Anthony Strauder earned all-academic honors for the first time.Mississippi State’s 20 football selections were sixth best in the league.

The women’s soccer team placed nine members on the team: Stephanie Dallas,Treena Ferguson, Emily Meyers, Sara Moore, Meghan Odom, Heidi Ondra, BrandiParker, Kevyn Shelledy, and Jennifer Turpin.

Rachel Cooper, Jamie Joyner, Orsolya Kriegel, Andrea Mead, and Erin Seago werevolleyball student-athletes earning SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recognition.

Kentucky placed 52 student-athletes on the chart, 41 in sports played byMississippi State, to lead the league.

The 2005 honor roll was based on grades from the 2005 spring, summer and fallterms.

MSU places 34 on SEC FallAcademic Honor Roll

The Board of Trustees, StateInstitutions of Higher Learningapproved a contract extensionrequest for Bulldog head footballcoach SylvesterCroom. Theextension carriesCroom throughthe 2009 footballseason.

“This contractextensionacknowledges theprogress theMississippi Statefootball programhas made underthe leadership ofhead football coach SylvesterCroom,” said Larry Templeton,athletics director. “It alsodemonstrates the confidence wehave that Coach Croom willcontinue to build this program intothe future.

“The Bulldog family recognizesthe foundation coach Croom andhis staff have built,” Templetoncontinued. “We know where we are,we know where we’re headed andwe feel very good about the futureof Bulldog football. This extensionassures this recruiting class thatSylvester Croom will be their headcoach through their four years onour campus.”

University extendsCroom’s contract

A new face, but familiar name within the MSU tennis circles joined the LadyBulldog tennis program in January.

Max Fomine, a former men’s tennis player for Mississippi State, returned to his almamater in an assistant coaching capacity with head coach TracyLane.

Fomine is a former four-year letterwinner under MSU headcoach Sylvain Guichard and former coach Andy Jackson from2001-04. He comes to Starkville after serving as a tennis instructorat the Smith & Stearn Tennis Academy at Sea Pines Resort inHilton Head, S.C. At the tennis academy, he taught private lessons,developed a fitness regimen for players and was in charge ofrunning daily tennis camps.

His other coaching credentials include being a tennis instructorat the Ontario Racquet Club in Ontario, Canada. During his stay atthe club, Fomine developed junior tennis programs.

During his playing time with the Maroon and White, Fomine posted a 69-66 recordin singles competition. He garnered his highest career national ranking in theSeptember 2003 Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, coming in at No. 84 insingles. His best season as a Bulldog came during his junior campaign, registering ateam-high 22 wins in singles and a 13-12 doubles record.

Fomine experienced NCAA post-season play all four years of his stint as a Bulldognetter. He was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2003 and 2004 en route toearning a general business degree in May 2004.

Fomine is a native of Teraspol, Moldova.

Croom

Alumnus joins women’s tennis staff

Fomine

talkSPORTS

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Sixteen Mississippi State student-athletes representing six varsity sportsdelivered more than 1,000 jackets andcoats to the Mississippi Gulf Coast inJanuary.

The donation marked the athleticprogram’s final contribution in its “MSUWarms the Coast” drive to assistHurricane Katrina victims. MSUemployees and students delivered morethan 6,000 warm weather items to thecoast during the nearly two-month longdrive.

“On behalf of the entire MississippiState family, I want to thank thoseinvolved for their outstanding support inhelping MSU make this drive special,”MSU Director of Athletics LarryTempleton said. “I also want to thankour sister institutions around the countryfor their donations. I’m not sure that thegesture made didn’t bring more warmththan the coats themselves.”

The delegation of Bulldog student-athletes, coaches and administrators

Athletics completes “MSU Warms the Coast” drive

Sixteen MSU student-athletes and a handful of Bulldog athletic staffmembers assisted in delivery of coats to the Mississippi Gulf Coast inJanuary.

made stops at Pass Christian HighSchool, Biloxi High School, the GulfCoast Boys and Girls Club, and tworegional distribution centers. At each

stop, the MSUgroup met withdisplacedhurricanevictims and distributed coats andjackets.

MSU acquired the charitabledonations from a variety of sources,including a public coat drive at its finaltwo home football games and asolicitation to NCAA Division I athleticprograms around the country.

The initial donations from thefootball games were shipped to thecoast in time for Christmas, while thejackets acquired through thecontributions of approximately 80 othercolleges and universities were taken tothe coast just after the holidays.

Freshman volleyball playerNicole Palazzo assists acoastal resident with theselection of a donated coat.

The MSU Bulldog Club is seeking to involve more women in MississippiState athletics through its new Women About Maroon, or WAM, organization.

WAM also allows its members to meet coaches and their spouses, attendsports clinics, social gatherings, and more. It is open to any female 18 years andolder.

Interested women may join WAM at any time for an annual $25 fee. Memberswill have the chance to renew their membership each year.

In addition to meeting Bulldog coaches and networking with other womeninterested in MSU athletics, members receive a WAM shirt, 2006 ScholarshipDonor decal, unique lapel pin, invitations to sports clinics, a charm highlightinga different sport annually, and a chance to participate in special events centeredaround MSU sports.

For more information, contact the Bulldog Club at 662-325-3074; [email protected].

WAM seeking female members

SPORTStalk

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, MSU Gift Annuities are a great way to support

the University – and your portfolio. Your investment in MSU produces a tax deduction. But

you also receive a guaranteed competitive return as long as you live. Then, MSU uses the

remaining assets to improve the quality of education. Which, believe it or not, could be even

greater. Call 877-677-8283 or visit www.msufoundation.com for more information.

*Rates are based upon age and are subject to change.MSUGIFTANNUITY

WITH CURRENT RATES UP TO 11.3% *

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ALUMNInews

MSU’s National Alumnus of the Yearfor 2006 has devoted his life to helpingothers.

Dr. Richard E. Holmes of Columbusreceived the honor at the annual AlumniAssociation awards banquet in February.

A native of Chicago, Holmes came toStarkville at the age of 18 months andwas reared by his grandmother. As achild, he contracted tetanus and wastreated by his grandmother’s physician,Dr. Douglas Conner, and he says thatfrom that day on, he knew he wanted tobe a doctor.

At age 11, Holmes took a jobcleaning the office of Dr. Conner,Starkville’s only African-Americanphysician at the time. Following hisgrandmother’s death, he moved in withDr. and Mrs. Conner, where he remaineduntil finishing college.

Following two years of undergraduatestudy at Wiley College in Texas, heenrolled at Mississippi State in July1965, becoming the university’s firstAfrican-American student.

On the day Holmes was admitted toMSU, he wrote a letter to universityadministrators in which he said, “As alifelong Mississippian, I am here tostudy and learn at a highly rateduniversity which happens to be in myhometown. I seek no special favors and Ihope that there will be no impedimentsfrom any source during my stay here atState.”

And, indeed, the historical eventtranspired peacefully, almost quietly,unlike similar milestones at otheruniversities.

Following graduation in 1969 with abachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Holmesspent two years in the Army, thenreturned to MSU and earned a master’sdegree in microbiology and nutrition in1973.

Entering medical school at MichiganState University, he subsequently

Holmes honored as National Alumnus of the Year

fulfilled his dream of becoming aphysician. He then began a 23-yearcareer as an emergency room physicianat hospitals in Birmingham, Ala.

In 1991, MSU honored Holmes’landmark enrollment at the university aswell as his medical career by naming theuniversity’s cultural diversity center for

him. He and his wife Judie laterestablished a minority scholarship fundthat also carries his name.

The family returned to MSU in 2003,where Holmes now is a staff physician atthe John C. Longest Student HealthCenter.

2006 NationalAlumnus of the YearDr. Richard Holmes ofColumbus, center, iscongratulated byalumni associationpresident Joe Bryan,left, and PresidentCharles Lee.

The Alumni Association named outstanding chapters for 2005 at the annualalumni banquet in February. The recipients were selected from among chaptersthroughout the state and nation.

In-state chapters recognized for excellence in giving, chapter membershipand activities, and leadership were:

Category I, selected from chapters with membership potential of under 325—1. George-Greene County; and 2. Covington County.

Category II, selected from chapters with membership potential of 325 to749.—1. Lincoln County; 2. Tippah County; and 3. Prentiss County.

Category III, selected from counties with membership potential of 750 ormore—1. Central Mississippi; 2. Oktibbeha County; and 3. DeSoto County.

Outstanding out-of-state chapters for 2005 were—1. Atlanta, Ga.; 2. Memphis,Tenn.; and 3. Houston, Texas.

Honor chapters for 2005 were the Lee, Leflore-Carroll, Southeast Mississippi,Warren, and Washington chapters within the state, and Baton Rouge, La.,Birmingham, Ala., Huntsville, Ala., Mobile, Ala., Nashville, Tenn., NortheastFlorida, and West Tennessee chapters out of state.

Outstanding alumni, chapters honored

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Outstanding YoungAlumnus named

Matthew Frederiksen of Moody, Ala.,a 2000 graduate of MSU, is the 2006Outstanding Young Alumnus.

Following his graduation fromMississippi State, he moved to Augusta,Ga., where he found there was no alumnichapter for his alma mater. Undeterred,Frederiksen became involved in theAtlanta chapter of the MSU AlumniAssociation, a distance of about 150miles.

After he moved to Moody, he tried tojoin the nearby Birmingham chapter, butwas unable to contact any of the officerslisted on the alumni Web site. Again,Frederiksen persevered, this time byarranging his own athletic viewingparties with other local Bulldog fansthrough the Internet and other contacts.When the Birmingham chapterreorganized in 2004, he immediatelyjoined and was appointed membershipchairman. He now maintains the chapterWeb site.

Frederiksen, a native of Birmingham,earned his degree at Mississippi State inbusiness administration-management.Currently, he is working on an MBA atIndiana University.

When he is not studying for hismaster’s degree or dealing with allthings maroon, he is a geographicinformation systems analyst for MetsysSolutions Inc. in Trussville, Ala.

You can receive a “Future Bulldog” certificate for your son or daughter bysimply calling the Office of Admissions and Scholarships at 662-325-2224, bye-mailing [email protected], or visiting http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/friends/futurebulldog.html.

You must include the child’s full name, your address, and the year he or she will bea freshman at Mississippi State. Start your Bulldog traditions now.

Want to make your newest additionan official BULLDOG?

newsALUMNI

Frederiksen

College Alumni of the Year honoredCollege Alumni of the Year for 2006 were announced at the February alumni awards banquet.The group includes, front row from left, Virginia L. Carron of Atlanta, Ga., partner withFinnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett, & Dunner LLP, Bagley College of Engineering; SusanKay Brown-Skrobot of Jacksonville, Fla., senior project manager for Vistakon, College of Artsand Sciences; and Timothy G. Rials of Maryville, Tenn., director of the Tennessee ForestProducts Center, University of Tennessee, College of Forest Resources. Back row from left areCharles C. Barlow Jr. of Jackson, partner and CEO of Barlow, Eddy, Jenkins PA, College ofArchitecture, Art and Design; Scott L. Branton of Starkville, research leader and veterinarymedical officer for USDA-ARS South Central Poultry Research Laboratory, College ofVeterinary Medicine; Tyrone P. Keys of Tampa, Fla., founder and executive director of All SportsCommunity Service, College of Education; John Nutie Dowdle of Columbus, retired chairmanand CEO of Dowdle Gas Inc., College of Business and Industry; and David G. Morrison ofBaton Rouge, La., associate vice chancellor of Louisiana State University Agricultural Center andassociate director of Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture and LifeSciences.

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ALUMNInews

Student’s name SS#

Address

City, State, ZIP

Phone E-mail

High school or community college Graduation date

GPA ACT/SAT Gender

Academic interest

Your name MSU class year

Relation to prospective student

Your phone Your e-mail

We’re looking for a few good BulldogsDo you know a potential Mississippi State student who may not be aware of the opportunities our greatuniversity has to offer? If so, please complete as much of this form as possible and mail to Office of Admissionsand Scholarships, P.O. Box 6334, Mississippi State, MS 39762, or fax to 662-3251MSU. You can make apositive difference for a high school or community college student by introducing them to your alma mater.

Brent S. Broadway (’89) of Houston, Texas,Robert L. Fleming III (’86, M.S. ’93) ofVicksburg, and Faye Andrews McNeill ofLucedale have received Distinguished ServiceAwards for their years of service anddedication to the MSU Alumni Association.They received the honors at the annual alumniawards banquet in February. Broadway ismanager of Superior Water Management inHouston. Fleming is an environmentalconsultant and plant manager of Southern BioFuels. McNeill is a homemaker and hasfunded a scholarship in memory of her latehusband, alumnus George McNeill.

Distinguished Service Awards presented

Broadway McNeillFleming

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The fare is approximately $2,095 per person, plus air, based on double occupancy. Value added tax is an additional $125 perperson, subject to change.

Winding their way through valleys blanketed with vineyards and hills crownedwith castles, the Mosel, Rhine and Neckar rivers flow through some of the mostidyllic countryside in Europe.

Experience these legendary waterwaysduring the grape harvest season andsample local vintages at an exclusive winetasting.

Embark the deluxe MS Switzerland inmedieval Cochem, Germany. From ancientKoblenz, sail past charming villages filledwith half-timbered houses oncobblestoned streets. Marvel at the display of historic treasures in Mainz’sGutenberg Museum and voyage through the scenic splendor of the Upper MiddleRhine Valley, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Martin Luther’sspired city of Worms. Set out to explore romantic Heidelberg and the spa town of

Bad Wimpfen before concluding in baroque Ludwigsburg.For more information, contact Libba Andrews at 662-325-3479 or [email protected] .

2006 TRAVEL PROGRAM

Cruise the Majestic Passage on the Mosel,Rhine and Neckar Rivers

September 18-26, 2006

CALENDAR OF EVENTSALUMNI ASSOCIATION

MAY2 Class Ring Ceremony, 4 p.m., Hunter Henry Center7-15 Travel program: Chianti in a Tuscan Villa

JUNE9-19 Travel program: Danube River and Habsburg Empire

JULY20 Central Mississippi Chapter: Summer Extravaganza at the Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson. Details TBA

Please check our Web site at www.alumni.msstate.edu as our calendar of events is updated frequently.

newsALUMNI

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University seeks funds for beautification endowment

Mississippi State has recently undertaken key

projects on its Starkville campus, from landscaping an

outdoor café addition for the State Fountain Bakery to

disassembling Five Points intersection. All were done

in an effort to transform itself into one of the most

striking campuses in the Southeast.

I

MMSU’s Department of Campus Landscape has developed a master plan forcampus, one that will make the campus more pedestrian-friendly and appealingto returning alumni, visitors and prospective students. A proposed first phase,currently under way, will cost an estimated $1.5 million, and because of itsmagnitude will require funds from private sources.

Tim Lacy, MSU’s new director of campuslandscape, is busy working to return the campus toits former glory, but he knows that private support isneeded to move plans forward.

“To put our plans into perspective, it will requireat least $40,000 to totally re-landscape one buildingon campus, and we have much work that needs to bedone,” Lacy said.

“With a total of 32 full-time employees–and aseasonal crew of temporary workers–we aremaintaining twice the area with half the people and

In the wake of recent storms, thecampus landscape department is hardat work restoring some of the featureslost. Replacement of trees in the heartof campus remains a priority, and thedepartment is looking for privatedonors to assist with the project.

“Although it will take hundreds ofyears for newly planted trees tobecome statuesque, we areencouraging alumni and friends todonate a tree or make a contribution

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Campus suffered from stormsto begin the growing process today,”explained Tim Lacy, director of campuslandscape.

“More than 100 trees were downed in2005 during Hurricane Katrina and thetornado resulting from Hurricane Rita,”according to Lacy. “In fact, Rita actually hurtus on the main campus worse thanKatrina,” he added.

Mississippi State suffered the majority oflost trees on streets and in parking lotsalong Stone Boulevard, Dorman Hall, Perry

Cafeteria, Bell Island, Montgomery Hall,the Chapel of Memories, Allen Hall andHarned Hall, as well as the Wise Centerand the South Farm, Lacy noted.

Gifts of any size are needed for theproject. Individuals or groups wishing tomake a gift of at least $750 throughthe MSU Foundation may furnish a treefor planting. However, those desiringrecognition for themselves or a lovedone should consider making anadditional $5,000 gift designated to the

campus beautification endowment toprovide a perpetual care program.

Campus landscape has begunreplanting some trees through previouslyfunded projects around campus in thearea extending beyond Ruby Hall toColiseum Boulevard and Dudy NobleField. There currently is no provision forthe replacement of trees in the areas ofthe Seal M-Club, Bell Island, andMontgomery and Allen halls or thecafeteria.

less than half the funding of the averageSouthern university,” he explained.

The master plan calls for a brick sidewalkthat will stretch from Lee Hall to the newCullis Wade Depot and extend to thebridge just past the Hunter Henry Center.A brick patio will be added to the front ofthe Seal M-Club that may one day featurean interactive computer controlled fountainto provide a unique pre-game walk throughexperience. Landscaping of this area, whereCreelman Street has been blocked, willentail planting several large oaks to provideshade for tailgating activities.

Additional plans call for updating thewalkways on the Drill Field, and givingStephen D. Lee’s bust a much neededfacelift to tie in with a new flagpole area.

The MSU Foundation is seeking $10million from private sources to build an

endowment to be usedfor the beautification ofMississippi State’s maincampus. When fullyfunded, the endowmentwill generate $400,000annually for landscapingand other needs.

Alumni and friendsmay name benches,fountains, outdoorplantings, and otheroutdoor structures orareas with a $5,000 gift tothe CampusBeautificationEndowment plus the cost of the project.Projects with significant ongoing costs mayrequire an endowment sufficient to coverthese additional costs.

For more information or to contributeto the Campus BeautificationEndowment, please contact John Rush at662-325-7000.

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The following individuals, corporations and foundations have made commitments of morethan $50,000 from October 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, for State of the Future:The Mississippi State Campaign.

CAMPAIGN TOTAL CLIMBS HIGHER

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S

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Alewine; Mr. and Mrs.

William T. Austin; Mr. and Mrs. James Worth Bagley;John Bentinck-Smith Trust; Mr. Peter E. Blum; Mr.

Steve Brandon and Ms. Patsy L. Fowlkes;

Briarwood Enterprises; Dr. and Mrs. Will D.

Carpenter ; ChevronTexaco Corp.; Columbus

Orthopaedic Clinic P.A.; Lamar A. and Tracy

Conerly Jr.; CREATE Foundation; The DayFoundation; Design Integrations Inc.; Mr. and Mrs.

Jacky G. Dorsey; Mr. and Mrs. John N. Dowdle; Mr.

and Mrs. Robert H. Dunlap; EADS Airbus NorthAmerica Engineering; Ford Motor Co.; Mr. and

Mrs. Jan L. Gwin; Mrs. Winifred B. Hartwig; Mr. and

Mrs. A.P. Hatcher Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. John W. Head;

Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation; Mr. and

Mrs. Hunter Henry Jr.; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Mr.

Thomas McCloud; Hon. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery;

Northrop Grumman; Mr. and Mrs. Benny C. Otis;

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parker Burke; Raytheon Co.; SAPAmerica; Mr. and Mrs. Leo W. Seal Jr.; Mr. and Mrs.

Bobby Shackouls; Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Smith; The

George B. Storer Foundation; Floyd D. Wade Sr.

Trust; Mr. Charles Cullis Wade; Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy

L. Walden and J.C. and Mary Yates Whitehead

Estate.

Mississippi State’s on-going capitalcampaign is nearing $277 million in giftsand pledges, staying on track toward its$400 million goal.

“Thanks to the generosity of alumniand friends, the MSU Foundation alreadyhas raised more in private support for ouruniversity through State of the Future thanany such effort in Mississippi State’shistory,” said John Rush, director ofmajor gifts.

“What we have seen and heard fromprospects thus far gives us confidence thatwe will reach thenext milestone incampaign countingin the near future,”he added.

Majorcommitments inthe form of five-year pledges orplanned gifts areneeded to fulfillmany of thecampaign goals inthe key areas ofendowedscholarships andfellowships;endowed chairs andprofessorships;new and renovatedfacilities, andeducational andprogramenhancements.Annual support

designated for a specific college, school orarea through the Fund for Excellenceannual giving program and supportdesignated for athletics is also needed.

Gifts to the campaign may take anumber of forms including outrightcontributions of cash or real property;pledges (which may be paid over a five-yearperiod), securities, gifts-in-kind, anddeferred gifts of various types. All

contributions to the university throughDec. 31, 2008, will be considered acommitment to State of the Future.

If you have questions about giving toState of the Future, or if you need additionalinformation, please contact the MSUFoundation and speak with one of ourdevelopment professionals at 877-MSSTATE, toll-free. To make a gift, visitwww.msufoundation.com.

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FOUNDATIONnews

A scholarship allowed Dr. DianeRoberts to attend Mississippi StateUniversity—the school of her choice.

Roberts grew up about 15 minutesnorth of the Tennessee-Mississippi stateline, and a scholarship “made up thedifference in out-of-state tuition.”

She was sold on the university whenher father, an MSU alumnus, took her fora visit. “We met President Ben Hilbunand administrative assistant T.K. Martin.I was so impressed that those importantmen had given me some of their timethat I decided to attend,” she said.

Now, through a $1.2 million bequestof future support, Roberts will providescholarships at Mississippi State forwomen majoring in medical technologyor biological sciences with aconcentration in nursing, occupationaltherapy, physical therapy, or healthrecords administration.

“I want to give back to the place thathelped me get my start,” said Roberts.

While at Mississippi State, Robertsmajored in botany, receiving abachelor’s degree in 1963 and a master’sdegree in 1964. Her doctorate in publichealth came from the University of TexasHealth Science Center in Houston.

Roberts’ experience working with acapital campaign while serving as deanof the College of Health Professions atWichita State University in Kansashelped her understand the importance oflong-term gift planning and stirred her tomake the bequest to Mississippi State.

Roberts retired as vice chancellor ofacademic affairs for Indiana UniversityEast. She lives in Kentucky with herdog Ginger and teaches management

Roberts creates bequest supporting MSU

Diane Roberts is pictured to the immediate left of MSU Basketball Coach Sharon Fanning prior to arecent game where she assisted as a guest coach for the Lady Bulldogs.

courses online. Many activities keepher busy, including a recent stint asguest coach of the Lady Bulldog

Benefits of Old Main Society membership include:• Equal status with other donor recognition clubs, including invitations to special donor events on

campus.

• A special edition copy of the book Old Main: Images of a Legend.

The Old Main Society recognizes donors who:• Include the MSU Foundation as a beneficiary in a will (and provide a copy of the will or that

portion of the will pertaining to MSU).

• Make a deferred gift to the MSU Foundation (i.e., charitable remainder trust, charitable gift annuity,

or life estate).

• Make the MSU Foundation a beneficiary in a life insurance policy, IRA, qualified retirement plan

(pension plan), or revocable trust and provide a copy of the form or document to the foundation.

basketball team. And as a former highschool basketball player, Roberts saidshe always will treasure the experience.

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The Mississippi State University Foundation has selected six new members for itsboard of directors.

Members, whose terms began Jan. 1, include: D. Hines Brannan Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.;Joel C. Clements of Waynesboro; Lamar A. Conerly Jr. of Destin, Fla.; Rusty Linton ofColumbus; and William R. Sanderson of Laurel. J.T. White of Dallas will fill theremaining term of the deceased John McPherson.

Former members rejoining the board include: Earnest W. Deavenport Jr. of BannerElk, N.C.; E.M. “Hoot” Gipson of Meridian; Karen D. Hulett of Jackson; Bobby S.Shackouls of Houston, Texas; and Dave C. Swalm of New Ulm, Texas.

Mississippi State continues tomove up through the ranks of thenation’s top 400 beneficiaries ofprivate giving in the United States.

The university now is 262nd onthe latest list compiled by theChronicle of Philanthropy. Reportingmore than $56 million in giftsreceived during the 2004-05 fiscalyear, MSU took a 124-place jump inthe rankings, making it the topMississippi charity.

The new ranking positions MSUabove several other larger land-grantinstitutions on the list. They includeIowa State, 272nd; Colorado State,312th; Oklahoma State, 353rd; andClemson, 390th. MSU also nowoutranks three fellow SoutheasternConference members: Auburn, 273rd;Mississippi, 300th; and Alabama,347th.

Private giving to MSUtakes a big jumpMajor new support from the Robert M. Hearin Foundation is enhancing nationally

recognized programs at Mississippi State. The Jackson philanthropy recentlycommitted a total of $4.4 million over three years. Of that amount, more than $3.8million will go to the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering and $600,000 tothe College of Architecture, Art and Design.

The engineering college will apply the latest grant to several key areas rangingfrom support for economic development to partial funding for the Center forEngineering Student Excellence. The contribution also will provide much neededseed money for cutting-edge research infrastructure, and fund the Hearin EminentScholars program to assist us in recognizing faculty excellence.

The $600,000 grant earmarked for the College of Architecture, Art and Design willbe used to enhance housing research in the Carl Small Town Center and the DesignResearch Informatics Laboratory. The money also will aid the college’s graduateprogram, which has broadened in keeping with its expansion to include art, interiordesign and technology.

University benefits from Hearin support

Former Congressman G.V.“Sonny” Montgomery, a 1943graduate of Mississippi State,recently presented his latest gift tothe university–$100,000 forscholarships and library services.

Three-fourths of the contributionis specifically for the MSU-MeridianCampus as a $75,000 addition to theG.V. “Sonny” Montgomery EndowedScholarship, established byMontgomery in 2001.

The remaining $25,000 isdesignated as an unrestricted gift toMSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library,where Montgomery’s official papersfrom his 15-term congressional careerare contained for display andeducational use.

Montgomery makes$100,000 gift

SEC giving challenge heats upMississippi State needs your help as a loyal alumnus as it competes in an intense

giving challenge with other SEC schools. The university with the highest percentageof recent graduates who make a contribution to their alma mater wins “braggingrights” for an entire year.

Launched in July 2005, the SECChallenge for annual gifts will continuethrough June 30, 2006. Any alumnuswho holds an undergraduate degreefrom the classes of 1996 through 2005 is eligible to participate.

For more information on the SEC Challenge and how to participate, contact theMSU Fund for Excellence at 662-325-7000. Visit the challenge Web site atwww.secchallenge.com to see how MSU is stacking up against the competition.

Foundation names board members

FOUNDATIONnews

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ED HESTER of Benoit, a BolivarCounty farmer for five decades, hasreceived the Mississippi Farm BureauFederation’s first Excellence inLeadership Award. Hester has been amember of the board of directors of theBolivar County Farm Bureau for morethan 30 years, and recently was selectedas the Mississippi Row Crop Farmer ofthe Year.

ALBERT C. CLARK of Starkville,president and CEO of C.C. Clark Inc.,has been awarded the Significant SigAward by Sigma Chi Fraternity, forprofessional achievements that bringhonor and prestige to the fraternity.Clark is a member and past president ofthe MSU Foundation Board of Directors.

JOHNNY GOODE of Birmingham,Ala., has received a doctorate incomputer engineering from theUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham.

MONTE LADNER, director ofvocational-technical education forLeake County Schools, was recentlyelected president-elect of the nationalFuture Farmers of America AlumniAssociation. He also will represent theassociation as a consultant on the FFAboard of directors for three years.

ROBERT C. MAXSON of LongBeach, Calif., retired in January aspresident of California State University,Long Beach, after 11 years of service inthat capacity. Previously, he waspresident of the University of Nevada,Las Vegas.

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PAT ROBERTSON of Madison hasbeen appointed executive director of thePublic Employees’ Retirement System ofMississippi. She previously was deputydirector for administrative services.

HARRY JAMES, deputy executivedirector and chief engineer for theMississippi Department ofTransportation, has been namedEngineer of the Year by the MississippiEngineering Society.

DAVID O’BRIEN is national accountssales representative for Excel Polymersand also is Rubber Division chair for theAmerican Chemical Society.

LEE JAMES of Weir, an agricultureteacher and Future Farmers of Americaadviser at Choctaw County Vo-TechCenter in Ackerman, has been electedpresident-elect of the NationalAssociation of Agricultural Educators.

PEGGY LONG of Owens CrossRoads, Ala., a special education teacherfor Huntsville City Schools, hasreceived the 2005 Alabama ElementaryConservation Teacher of the Year Award.

'79BARBARA ALEXANDER of

Brandon, an assistant professor ofphysiology and biophysics at theUniversity of Mississippi MedicalCenter, has received the NewInvestigator Award in Regulatory andIntegrative Physiology from the Waterand Electrolyte Homeostasis Section ofthe American Physiological Society.The award recognizes her research onthe link between low birth weight andhypertension.

ADRIAN BLOCKER (M.B.A. ’80) ofMemphis, Tenn., has been namedgeneral manager of International PaperCo.’s Wood Products business. He isresponsible for the company’smanufacturing, marketing, sales, anddistribution. In 2003, he was namedAlumnus of the Year for the College ofForest Resources at MSU.

R. CRAIG PARKS of Austin, Texas,has been named vice president andchief marketing officer for BiophysicalCorp.

ROBERT A. GREEN (M.S. ’84) ofStarkville has received a master’sdegree in national security andstrategic studies from the U.S. NavalWar College. He is a commander in theU.S. Navy Reserve and has beenselected to command the Naval SeaSystems Command Unit 136 in St.Louis, Mo.

BETTY HILL STEWART, professorof chemistry and chair of the chemistrydepartment at Austin College (Texas),has been named 2005 Woman ofAchievement by the Texoma Chapter ofthe American Association of UniversityWomen.

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MELISSA GARRETSON has beennamed Parent of the Year for GeorgeCounty.

JOHN M. HAIRSTON of Gulfport,executive vice president and chiefoperations officer of Hancock Bank, hasbeen appointed by Gov. Haley Barbourto the three-member Mississippi GamingCommission.

MARIE GREEN of Lucedale, ateacher at George County MiddleSchool, took part in the BellSouthMississippi Master Teacher inEconomics program.

RAY NASH of Booneville, anagriculture teacher and Future Farmersof America adviser at Biggersville, hasbeen elected vice president of Region 5of the National Association ofAgricultural Educators.

LANE REED of Meadville, anattorney with McGehee, McGehee &Torrey, has been named general counselfor the Southern Gospel MusicPromoters Association.

ED EVANS, a major in theMississippi Air National Guard, pilotedthe last scheduled military mission outof Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, whenthe base closed in September 2005.

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HAYLEY CARRAWAY (M.S. ’05) ofHelena, Mont., has joined the MontanaBeef Council as program director.

JOHN RUSH (M.P.P.A. ’02) ofStarkville, director of major gifts for theMississippi State UniversityFoundation, has been selected for theMississippi Business Journal’s 2005“Top 40 Under 40” program. Theprogram, now in its 13th year,recognizes young leaders within thestate for achievement in both thebusiness world and their communities.

WENDIE WOODS (M.S. ’95), amental health counselor, has openedMain St. Counseling and Consulting inStarkville.

JOHN SHAPPLEY of Hattiesburg hasbeen promoted to executive vicepresident for The First, a nationalbanking association headquartered inHattiesburg. Shappley is a member ofthe MSU Alumni Association’s NationalBoard of Directors.

ALEX N. SHEFFIELD of NewOrleans, La., has been named director ofcorporate sales for the New OrleansZephyrs, the AAA affiliate of theWashington Nationals Major Leaguebaseball team.

LISA ABBAY of Germantown, Tenn.,a registered dietitian, has been namedTennessee Emerging Dietetic Leader andMemphis Emerging Dietetic Leader for2005. She recently opened AbsonHealth, where she provides nutritionconsulting and dispenses diabeticsupplies.

KEVIN BREWER of Starkville,assistant vice president and commercialbanker for National Bank of Commercein Starkville, has been appointed to theExecutive Council of the MississippiYoung Bankers, a section of theMississippi Bankers Association.

KRISTY ELLIS has been named aNational Board Certified Teacher by theNational Board for ProfessionalTeaching Standards.

HARRY GOLEMON of Findlay, Ohio,has joined the cure and bladder servicedevelopment group with Cooper Tireand Rubber Co.

KEITH J. GIBSON has been namedchief meteorologist for KEVN-TV inRapid City, S.D. He recently was namedone of the first 100 Certified BroadcastMeteorologists by the AmericanMeteorological Society.

TIMOTHY C. KNIGHT (M.S. ’03) ofRaymond, a forester with the USDAForest Service, has been named districtsilviculturist for the Conecuh NationalForest in Alabama.

RENE OAKES GARNER has joinedthe Cirlot Agency in Jackson as anaccount executive in the company’spublic relations division.

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GREG BUFKIN has been namedbusiness manager for Advanced PetCare in Hattiesburg.

STEPHEN T. MASLEY, an attorney,has joined the law firm of Mitchell,McNutt & Sams in the company’sJackson office.

DESMOND PURNELL has joinedCBS19-TV in Austin, Texas, asweekend sports anchor/reporter.

CHAD WALLACE has been namedto an internal communications postwith Gaylord Entertainment Co., basedin Nashville, Tenn.

Alexis Brooklyn Cowart, Oct. 21,2005, to JOE COWART (’00) and wifeAlicia of Sturgis.

Bailey Jane Eaves, Aug. 25, 2005, toSCOTT EAVES (’96) and HEIDI EAVES(’97) of Madison.

Jason Creed Fulton, March 15, 2005,to JASON “SPORT” FULTON (’95) andANGELA DICKINSON FULTON (’95) ofPhiladelphia.

Seth Cullen Gammill, May 17, 2005,to RANDY GAMMILL (’97) andSUSANNE WILLIAMS GAMMILL (’96)of Cordova, Tenn.

announcementsBIRTH

LAUREN DONALD CHAPPELL hasjoined The Cirlot Agency in Jackson asa graphic designer.

MISTY PORTER BYRD has joinedThe Cirlot Agency in Jackson as agraphic designer.

ANNA LAUREN CHEEK has joinedthe firm of TBG Partners as a landscapedesigner in its Dallas, Texas, office.

KOURTNEY HOLLINGSWORTH ofLaurel has established D.O.L.L.S.(Delivering Opportunities exemplifyingLeadership, Love and Service) to rebuildthe spirit of youth in the Laurel area.The organization adopted 50 childrenand 20 Katrina evacuee families forChristmas 2005.

MEG WALLEY of Starkville hasjoined The CPI Group as sales andmarketing representative for the GoldenTriangle area.

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Hayes Dougan Graham, June 20,2005, to TROY R. GRAHAM (’90) andwife Cynthia of Memphis, Tenn.

Evelyn Kathryn Griffin, Feb. 22,2005, to SPENCE GRIFFIN (’01) andwife Laura of Cleveland.

Andrew James Hardin, Aug. 7, 2005,to TOMMY HARDIN (’96) and TRICIAGROSINSKE HARDIN (’97).

Anna Carlisle Jones, Aug. 25, 2005,to PAIGE CRAIG JONES (’96) ofJackson and ED JONES (’98) of Morton.

Brady Rodgers Lee and MadisonElizabeth Lee, Sept. 8, 2004, to BRUCELEE (’96) and JENNI RODGERS LEE(’94, M.S. ’98) of Louisville.

Austin James Norwood, Dec. 31,2005, to GREG NORWOOD (’98, ’04)and ERIN ROY NORWOOD (’98) ofHernando.

Mara Grace Norwood, Sept. 11,2005, to BRIAN NORWOOD (’00) andwife Babs of Brandon.

Sydney Evelyn Wade, May 26, 2005,to LISA RUSHING WADE (’91) andhusband Bryan of Springfield, Mo.

Deborah Hope Welford, Jan. 20,2005, to DEBORAH LEWIS WELFORD(’92) and husband Frankie of Lucedale.

CLASSnews

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Fall 2005

43A L U M N U S

FRANK E. CALLAHAN JR. (’36)—92, Jackson, Tenn.; professionalengineer, retired supervisor of theTennessee Valley Authority’s ElectricalBranch in Jackson, Tenn., and World WarII veteran, Dec. 5, 2005.

JAMES CARROLL MILTON SR.(’36)—93, Tupelo; retired manager ofGibson Electric MembershipCooperative in Trenton, Tenn., andWorld War II veteran, Nov. 21, 2005.

WILLIAM SANDERS MURPHY(’36)—94, Lucedale; attorney andLucedale city attorney for more than 50years, July 4, 2005.

BURTON B. HOSCH SR. (’39)—92,Ridgeland; advertising and publicrelations executive, retired colonel inthe U.S. Army Reserve, and World War IIveteran, Nov. 27, 2005.

PAUL E. PEALE (’39)—88, ArlingtonHeights, Ill.; retired sales representativefor General Mills and World War IIveteran, Sept. 18, 2005.

LACEY CLARK BROOKS (’41)—83,Rochester, Ill.; retired hotel manager,former board member of the MSUAlumni Association, and World War IIveteran, Oct. 24, 2005.

LUKE DAVIS (’41)—Rochester,Minn.; retired vice president for KraftFoods and World War II veteran, June 30,2005.

WILLIAM C. LEONARD (’41)—86,Kosciusko; retired owner of Leonard’sDepartment Store and World War IIveteran, Nov. 15, 2005.

DWIGHT M. WATTS SR. (’41)—90,Columbus; retired school teacher, realestate agent, and World War II veteran,Sept. 1, 2005.

JOHN SMITH HARPER (’42)—85,Evanston, Ill.; retired president ofWoodland Services Corp. and World WarII veteran, Aug. 1, 2005.

CLYDE KENDALL BROOKS (’43)—82, Meridian; retired tree farmer andsales representative for Forest LumberCo. and World War II veteran, Aug. 11,2005.

JAMES MACK JONES (’43)—83,Ridgeland; retired John Deere farmequipment dealer and World War IIveteran, Nov. 23, 2005.

BURNEY THREADGILL JR. (’43)—Carmel, Calif.; career Federal Bureau ofInvestigation agent and retired banker,July 28, 2005.

R. LLOYD GRAY (’46)—84,Southaven; retired Southland Corp.employee and World War II veteran,Sept. 20, 2005.

MILLARD WAKEFIELD CHENAULT(’48)—84, North Little Rock, Ark.;retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. AirForce and World War II veteran, Oct. 8,2005.

SMILEY EUGENE ARRINGTON (’49,M.A. ’55)—78, Coffeeville; retireddepartment store owner and World War IIveteran, July 17, 2005.

BRUCE F. GANNAWAY (’49)—79;retired Presbyterian minister andmissionary, Oct. 12, 2005.

WILFORD L. HARBOUR (’49)—Coffeeville; retired from the U.S.Department of the Air Force, April 8,2005.

JOHN W. MCPHERSON SR. (’49)—77, Indianola; community leader, retiredowner of Double Quick ConvenienceStores, and member of the board ofdirectors of the MSU Foundation, Sept.12, 2005.

MALCOLM A. PEEVEY JR. (’49)—79, Clinton; retired geophysicist andWorld War II veteran, Aug. 11, 2005.

JAMES D. COLEMAN SR. (’50)—83,Smithville; retired agriculture teacher,farmer, cattleman, and World War IIveteran, Sept. 11, 2005.

HAROLD GLENN MCMULLEN(’50)—79, Memphis, Tenn.; engineer forMemphis Light, Gas & Water and WorldWar II veteran, Sept. 23, 2005.

ROBERT DUANE NOEL (’50)—79,Clinton; retired chief of rural housing forthe Farmers Home Administration andWorld War II veteran, Nov. 26, 2005.

CECIL D. BAILEY (’51)—83,Columbus, Ohio; professor emeritus ofthe Ohio State University Department ofAerospace Engineering and retired U.S.Air Force lieutenant colonel, Aug. 26,2005.

OTTIS KENDALL BRELAND(’52)—81, McLain; retired agricultureteacher and World War II veteran, March4, 2005.

JAMES NORTON HAAS JR. (’53)—Abita Springs, La.; civil engineer andretired co-owner of Buitex Inc. GeneralContractors, Nov. 21, 2005.

CHARLES REED ROBISON SR.(’54)—72, Tupelo; personnel managerfor Purnell’s Pride Olympic ProductsCo., Aug. 18, 2005.

RUBY IRENE SCARBROUGH(’54)—102, Mathiston; retired schoolteacher at Cumberland, Sept. 22, 2005.

ROBERT CLAYTON BAILEY(’57)—73, Jackson; retired from StoneContainers and Korean War veteran,Aug. 276, 2005.

CARROLL COWARD (’58)—67,Columbus; accountant and processmanager for Weyerhaeuser Co. inColumbus, July 31, 2005.

WARREN T. BURNS SR. (’59)—68,Jackson; branch systems manager for theAT&T Foundation, Nov. 28, 2005.

ALBERT L. WEIMORTS JR. (’61,M.S. ’71)—67, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.;retired chief engineer for the U.S. AirForce Research Laboratory’s MunitionsDirectorate at Eglin Air Force Base, whoconceived and designed the BunkerBuster and MOAB bombs, Dec. 21,2005.

ALICE FAYE HINTON FLYNN(’63)—64, Mobile, Ala.; retiredelementary school teacher, Oct. 29,2005.

JULIA HERRING BARNES (’64,PH.D. ’76)—86, Madison; retiredMississippi Cooperative ExtensionService home economist, Nov. 24, 2005.

memoriamIN

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GERALD DANNA MICHELL (’64)—62, Mobile, Ala.; retired claims adjusterfor GAB Robins, retired staff sergeantwith the Alabama Army National Guard,and past president of the Mobile Chapterof the MSU Alumni Association, Dec. 1,2005.

THOMAS GRADY WALLACE(’65)—62, Columbus; city attorney forColumbus and Vietnam War veteran, Oct.26, 2005.

JOHN EVAN DAVIS (’67, M.A. ’68,PH.D. ’70)—Radford, Va.; historyprofessor at Radford University for 35years and history department chairmanfor three years, May 27, 2005.

HARRY W. CUTLER (’70)—58,Birmingham, Ala.; retired regionalofficer for the Social SecurityAdministration, Aug. 13, 2005.

DON L. HINTON (’71)—57, Stamps,Ark.; district forester for the ArkansasForestry Commission, Nov. 22, 2005.

ROBERT B. HEAD (’72)—73,Starkville; retired state cottonentomologist for the MississippiCooperative Extension Service andformer head of the Science Departmentat Gadsden State Junior College, Dec. 5,2005.

WALTER C. STRONG JR. (’74)—60,Vicksburg; retired teacher and schooladministrator for the Laurel SchoolDistrict, Oct. 7, 2005.

WILLIE TRIPLETT (’74)—Macon;retired American government andeconomics teacher and head basketballcoach at Noxubee High School, Nov. 12,2005.

ELIZABETH HAMER LONGMOORE (’78)—50, Florence, S.C.;employee of Physicians PracticeSolutions, Oct. 24, 2005.

THOMAS R. LINDSAY (’80)—47,Starkville; certified public accountantand director of ITS Telecommunicationsat Mississippi State, Oct. 3, 2005.

PHYLLIS ANNE JENKINS (’81)—57,Weir; retired nurse, Nov. 16, 2005.

ROBERT LEE FORD III (’84)—45,Ridgeland; co-owner of Sleep WorldMattress Centers, Nov. 7, 2005.

BRADFORD P. SIMPSON (’85)—42,Gilbert, S.C.; attorney with the MikeKelly Law Group, Sept. 22, 2005.

ROGER KEVIN SKELTON (’91)—36,Corinth; claims representative for theSocial Security Administration, Oct. 20,2005.

Dennis F. Hudson (attended)—62, Columbus; radio and television personality andformer nightly news anchor for WCBI-TV in Columbus, Nov. 6, 2005.

Horace Adams (former employee)—Starkville; first director of personnel atMississippi State, a position in which he served 1966-89, July 21, 2005.

Mary Eleanor Cooley Anderson (former employee)—75, Starkville; instructoremeritus in the Department of Communication at Mississippi State, Dec. 6, 2005.

Lyell C. Behr (former employee)—Starkville; former professor of chemistry anddean emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State, Sept. 3,2005.

Walter Joseph Drapala (former employee)—83, Starkville; retired head of theDepartment of Agricultural and Experimental Statistics and recipient of the MSUAlumni Association’s Teaching and Research Award, Dec. 22, 2005.

Lorraine Marling Payne (former employee)—75, Columbus; retired executivesecretary in the Office of University Relations at Mississippi State, Sept. 20, 2005.

Joe E. Bryan (friend)—98, West Point; retired production manager for Babcockand Wilcox, Dec. 5, 2005.

VALARIE SIMMONS WOOD (’98)—29, Meridian; staff accountant atPharmaPac in DeKalb, Oct. 28, 2005.

MARK JOHNSON PEARSON (’00)—28, Memphis, Tenn.; attorney, Oct. 3,2005.

JOEL HENDERSON (’03)—LasVegas, Nev.; assistant golf professionalat Angel Park Golf Club.

INmemoriam

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Proceeds from the license plate sales fund priority programs at MSU.Promoted by the Mississippi State University Alumni Association • P.O. Box AA • Mississippi State, MS 39762-5526 • 662-325-7000

www.alumni.msstate.edu

After coming in second in the collegiate license plate race for much of last year,

Mississippi State is BACK ON TOP. But, we need you to help us stay “IT.”

By purchasing a Mississippi State license plate from your county license office,

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