Spring 2006 • Issue 2

Spring 2006 • Issue 2

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3A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

contents

features

Delta State hails new student chiefDelta State University Student Government Association outgoing PresidentValerie Orcutt (at left), a junior nursing major of Lorman, presents thepresident’s gavel to recently elected Student Government President, EmilyJennings, a junior political science major of Clinton. The presentation of thegavel and the inauguration of elected Student Government Association officerswas held recently at the Lena Roberts Sillers Chapel on the Delta State campus.

page 9

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5th AnnualOLE DSU Graduates

J.P. Coleman State Parkin Iuka, MS

August 3-6, 2006For more information call Wayne Lee, Jr. ‘57 at662-846-4560 or e-mail [email protected].

4 THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

5 CAMPUS NEWS

9 LAND HEFLIN, KAYAKING THE WORLD

10 GIS TECHNOLOGY

13 DR. ELMO “BO” GABBERT

14 HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

18 UNCLE “BOO” FERRISS

20 SPORTS

24 WITH THE CLASSES

31 FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT

Delta State Alumni MagazineSpring 2006 Issue 2

The Delta State Magazine is published by the DSU Alumni/Foundation

with assistance from the Office of University Relations

and Sports Information, Box 3141, Cleveland, Mississippi 38733,

E-Mail: [email protected]

President ............................Dr. John Hilpert

Alumni-Foundation:Executive Director....................Keith Fulcher

Alumni Secretary ..................Sharon Krugler

Chief Financial Officer ............Deborah Cox

Director Annual Giving ............Missy Pearce

Director of Development ......George Miller

Director of Alumni Affairs......Vicki Fioranelli

Administrative Assistant ..............Ann Giger

Bookkeeper ..............................Sharon Kuhn

Development Secretary ......Sheryl Stephens

Annual Giving Secretary ........Dameon Shaw

Office of University Relations:Director ................................Rori E. Herbison

Photographer ................................Bill Moses

Graphic Designer ..................Laura Fleeman

Secretary................................Gloria Enriquez

Sports Information Director........Matt Jones

Board of DirectorsDelta State University Alumni Association:Bill Greenleaf, president; Daye Dearing, vicepresident; John Cox, secretary/treasurer;Arthur Johnston, past president; JimmyNewquist, Foundation president; JamesBreland, Duncan Baird, Merry Claire Ballard,Jo Ann Clark, Derrick Cooper, Mark Davis,Amy Deer, Mandy Gardner, Tyrone Jackson,Wayne Lee, Jr., Lauren Lewis, Bettye Mitchell,Sasha Monty, Ted Poore, Beth Price, StevePuckett, Mickey Robinson, Joe Saia, WillSimpson, Rileyann Smith, Wayne Smith, DougSullivan, Craig Verhage, Lynn Weaver

Board of DirectorsDelta State University Foundation, Inc.:Jimmy Newquist, president; Frank Sibley, vicepresident; Judson Thigpen, secretary/treasurer; Peter Jernberg, past president;David Abney, William Alford, Louis Baioni,John Brewer, Glenn K. Brown, Hunter Cade,Jeff Ross Capwell, Scott Coopwood, HaroldCorbin, Billy Dorgan, Sr., Carl Easley, JohnHamner, Timothy Harvey, Archie James, TomJanoush, Ed Kossman, Jr., Jack Kyle, Dr. DerekMiles, Ned Mitchell, Mike Morrison, DouglasMurphy, Mike Neyman, Billy Nowell, Dr. SamPolles, Carol Puckett, Nan Sanders, RickShepherd, Jim Tims, Brian Waldrop, JeanneWalker, Janet Webb, Anne Weissinger, JohnQuon, faculty representative; Bill Greenleaf,Alumni President

Design and Layout byCoopwood Communications, Inc.Cleveland, Mississippi

Note:As a cost saving measure only onemagazine per household is mailed.

4 D E L T A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

president’s message

Dear Friends,

This is Delta State’s 80th Academic Year. We are celebrating the Year ofCleveland in honor of eight decades of great support for Delta State from its hostcommunity. As a university, we pay tribute to the town and gown relationship we haveenjoyed with Cleveland by hosting a series of events that focus on the community’sleadership, strengths, and friendship for this institution. Ned Mitchell, who successfullyled the DSU Foundation’s Wings and Roots Capital Campaign, serves as chairman of theYear of Cleveland committee and is doing a tremendous job. We are proud of ourrelationship with Cleveland and look forward to a future of service together.

The Year of Cleveland committee has involved people of all ages in the manyevents. In the fall, for example, following a win by the DSU football team, thecommittee treated us to a fireworks display over the north end zone of the football field.They joined the university in hosting the second annual Community Luncheon, wherewe brought leaders together from Cleveland and the Delta region to show ourappreciation for their efforts to develop the economy of this area. The committeefollowed up at Christmas with downtown window displays and a tree decorating contestfor student organizations. The trees highlighted the community green and brightenedthe community Christmas parade. In January and February, many from the communityshared with us their special collections at a Cleveland Collects exhibit in the Charles W.Capps Archives. This spring, the committee hosted an Easter Egg hunt for youngchildren, an essay contest on What Cleveland Means to Me, and a cooking demonstrationin the Delta Room showcasing the new Ada Swindle Mitchell Viking Foods Laboratory.These are but a few of the events that allow DSU to say how much we appreciateCleveland.

In this issue of the Alumni magazine, you will read about many excitingprograms here at Delta State. One article highlights the extraordinary work that the GISProgram at Delta State did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many lives were savedduring search and rescue efforts on the coast, and Director Talbot Brooks and his teamwere there mapping coordinates and assisting rescue teams in their endeavors.

Also included in this issue is the Alumni-Foundation’s Annual Report. I want tothank all of you listed in the Honor Roll of Donors. Your gifts provide dollars that helpus fulfill the mission of this institution. As we celebrate our 80th academic year, I inviteyou to participate and invest in the continued success and development of Delta StateUniversity.

In an effort to better communicate with our alumni, the Alumni-Foundationstaff recently announced the debut of eStatesmen Alumni. This electronically deliveredmonthly newsletter enables timely communication. The eStatesmen Alumni will provideDelta State alumni current and noteworthy happenings at the university in an easilyaccessible, manageable, and interactive format. If you did not receive this publicationand would like to, I encourage you to contact the alumni office [email protected]. I know they will be pleased to hear from you.

Sincerely,

J O H N M . H I L P E RT

5

Rock & Roll Hall ofFamer visits

The Center of the UniverseAlumnus Daniel Giger,’97, and wife Elizabethstand in China at theexact center of theUniverse. Daniel isteaching ConversationalEnglish at NingboUniversity in Ningbo,China.

The collective Delta State Universitycommunity continues to mourn the loss ofDr. Walter Valentine (Val) Hinton III, as theprofessor of finance passed Jan. 22.

Hinton, 63, had over 24 years ofcumulative service to Delta State, serving asan assistant professor of finance seven years(1974-1981) before returning to theUniversity in 1989, where he remained untilhis untimely passing.

“Val was always committed to hisstudents. We can absolutely say teaching washis life,” Dr. Billy C. Moore, Dean of theCollege of Business and fellow professor offinance at Delta State, offered. “He was trulycommitted to this University and we areextremely saddened by his passing.”

A native of Louisville, Ky., he graduatedfrom Seneca High School in 1961 beforepursuing his undergraduate degree inBusiness Administration from Florida StateUniversity. He completed his MBA from

Veteran professor mourned

Most noted as, in his words, “the one whoverbally counted off “Sweet HomeAlabama” then played the infamousStratocaster riff as well as the solos in thattune,” 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fameinductee, Ed King made an impromptuvisit to Delta State University’s Delta MusicInstitute (DMI).

King, lead guitar player with the originalLynyrd Skynyrd band from the 1970’s,strummed his electric guitar, while alsosharing tales of his days on tour. “I wasfortunate to follow my intuition,” hesmiled. “I am probably the luckiest guitarplayer you’ll ever meet.”

King’s good fortune landed the now retiredNashville, Tenn. resident gigs withStrawberry Alarm Clock at 17 and then,Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is credited with theguitar music for “Sweet Home Alabama” aswell as other rock songs, and jokes, “Whocould've guessed that song (Alabama)would pay the rent for over 30 years?”

Delta Music Institute’s Norbert Putnamsaid of King, “His signature guitar lickshave effected many generations of guitarplayers. We are thrilled to have Ed share hisstories with the students.”

Delta State’s DMI allows students to studymusic engineering, music production andvideo editing, as well as contemporarycomposition and study musician theoryand practice. It is a first step towards abroad program in arts production. DMIbegan with the generous donation by FredCarl of Viking Range Corporation in 2003.For more information on the Delta MusicInstitute, please call (662) 846-4579 or visitdmi.deltastate.edu.

Louisiana State University in 1971, hisPh.D. from the University of Arkansas andsoon after returned to FSU to finish workon his postdoctoral studies in 1982.

In addition to DSU, Hinton hadteaching stints at Jackson State University(1981-1983) and Tennessee Tech University(1983-1989). He was also a retired airman,having served with the United States AirForce four years (1965-1969). Before hishonorable discharge, Hinton held the rankof Captain.

“Dr. Hinton was an excellent teacherwhose dedication to his students was evidentin his many years of service at Delta State,”remembered Dr. Cooper Johnson, DeltaState Chair of the Division of Management,Marketing and Business Administration.“Throughout his tenure, he was held in highregard by his students, fellow faculty, andadministrators.”

An avid and staunch supporter of DeltaState athletics, Hinton rarely missed anevent. He, himself, lettered for theSeminoles in basketball. His support,however, was not limited to athletics, asHinton could always be counted on tochampion the many Renaissance outings, aswell as the Miss Delta State pageants.

He was a member of the First BaptistChurch in Cleveland, and is survived by hisson, Greg; two sisters and numerous aunts,uncles and cousins.

There was a funeral service at FirstBaptist Church, Thursday, Jan. 26, beforehis body was returned to his nativeKentucky for burial.

A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

Dr. Val Hinton


news

By Ed Kossman, ‘59

“I view the essence of life as a vital balance ofthe physical, mental and spiritual,” said the lateDr. Larry Lee Thornton, who was anoutstanding professor in the Behavioral ScienceDivision at Delta State University. Larrycertainly believed in his statement and lived lifeto the fullest.

Larry and I were close personal friends formore than forty years. We enjoyed traveling,tennis, parenting, long conversations coveringtopics from religion to world travel. Larry wasreally a man for all seasons, he enjoyed learning,teaching, jogging, tennis, friendships, sports,traveling throughout numerous foreigncountries and pastoring many Baptist churchesin the South. Most of all he enjoyed being withhis children, grandchildren and wife. His wifeHelen certainly loved him and took excellentcare of him during his years of illness. Hischildren, Leigh Ann and Matt were always a veryspecial part of his life.

Larry enjoyed friendships from all walks oflife and was a true friend to all who knew him.He taught more than 10,000 students at DSU,and next to his family they were his greatest joy.He was a Licensed Professional Counselor andhe was always so sincerely interested in thosereceiving his services. He helped to make lifebetter for all those he taught, pastored orcounseled.

Larry was a sincere friend and I have alwaysbeen proud of his numerous awards andaccomplishments. He is truly missed bystudents, family and friends. He will be longremembered for what he did to make the worldbetter for people of all backgrounds.

I will always feel fortunate to be consideredone of his friends. Larry was certainly adedicated and true “Delta Statesman.”

Dr. Thornton passed away October 30,2005.

Remembering Larry Lee Thornton Alumni Association

honors BreedenAs the Delta State University women’s

basketball team capped its first 30- win seasonsince 2000 behind a 30-3 overall record andGulf South Conference tournamentchampionship, it seemed only fitting andappropriate to pay homage to the trailblazersof the program.

Delta State recently recognized Ava LeeAbdo Breeden, of Fairborn, Ohio, with thefirst-ever Alumni Legacy Award. The award,presented by the Alumni Association, is givento an alumnus deserving of the honor for theiroutstanding and long-lasting contributions tothe life and legacy of Delta State University.Breeden is recognized for the legacy she leaves,as she accomplished many “firsts” at DeltaState Teachers College (DSTC).

A native of Leland, she came to DSTC in1929. Short on money to attend the college,Breeden made a personal visit to thenpresident, Dr. William Kethley. Kethley wasmade aware of her outstanding basketballabilities by Dean William H. Ziegel, the thenhead coach of the Lady Statesman squad, andshe was offered a basketball scholarship thatwould pay room and board, which at thattime was $22 per month.

Recognized as the first women’sbasketball player to earn four letters, Breedenproved to be a versatile athlete at DSTC,earning spots on one of the first cheerleading,field hockey and tennis teams. She won thestate doubles tennis championship with herpartner Wenonah Montgomery, which again,is recognized as one of the first statechampionships won by a Delta State athleticteam.

Despite her versatility and abundanttalent, it was women’s basketball that trulyremained Breeden’s passion. A teammate tothe legendary Margaret Wade, their teamearned fame as the “Rabbit Foot Squad.”

As the legend goes, a spectator merelymentioned that the team was on such awinning streak that they must have their lucky"rabbit's foot" with them. The moniker stuckand the squad would capture the MississippiValley Championship in 1930 and 1931 andthe state of Mississippi Championship in

1929, 1930 and 1931. And even though those early enthusiastic

crowds overwhelmed the newly constructedgymnasium, the team and the catchy new titlelasted only until 1932. That year, DSUofficials discontinued the program, citing,“Intercollegiate basketball for women couldnot be defended on sound ground.”

It would take almost 40 years for LadyStatesmen basketball to return to thehardwood, as it was Wade, Breeden’steammate, who initiated Delta State’sresurrection in 1972. The seasons thatfollowed under Wade’s watchful eye, 1973-1979, brought the Lady Statesmen and DeltaState into the national spotlight. The motherof modern women’s basketball, as she wouldlater be known, led Delta State to threeconsecutive A.I.A.W. NationalChampionships in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

It is that legacy of women’s basketballthat Breeden helped perpetuate and asignificant factor in her receiving theinaugural Alumni Legacy Award - but not theonly reason.

In 1931, Breeden was invited by Ziegelto teach second year French, making her thefirst DSTC student to be offered a teachingposition at her alma mater. Breeden also

Breeden, 2005 Legacy Award recipient

Dr. Larry Thornton


received the second diploma in 1932 for heroutstanding academic achievement, earningthe salutatorian distinction. The achievementmarked the first Delta State employee to earnthat honor.

Following her years at DSTC, Breedenwent on to distinguish herself, both,personally and professionally. She retired in1989 as a GS-12 ContractSpecialist/Negotiator at Wright-Patterson AirForce Base in Ohio where she receivednumerous honors ranging from the Pentagonto the Dayton Intergovernmental EEOCouncil to the Hispanic HeritageCommittee.

In 1972, she entered the world ofmodeling, becoming a runway and tearoommodel, while also appearing in various printcampaigns. She began playing golf in 1978and co-chaired golf tournaments that raisedscholarship money for deserving students.Breeden also served as President of theFairborn (Ohio) Chapter of the AmericanBusiness Women’s Association (ABWA),where she helped raise money for scholarshipsfor women. She has twice been named ABWAWomen of the Year in 1977 and 1998.

The Alumni Association, which is

comprised of 21,000 living alumni, iscurrently accepting nominations for the 2006Alumni Legacy Award. Nominations can bemailed to the Delta State University Alumni

Association, Box 3104, Cleveland, MS 38733or emailed [email protected]. Pleaseinclude your name, address, and phonenumber.

The 1931 Lady Statesmen Rabbit Foot Squad (Front row, l. to r.) Sarah Evans, Margaret Wade, Mary Ellen Chapman,Erline Holly, Elizabeth Caldwell (Back row, l. to r.) Dimple Bryan, Wenonah Montgomery, Quinn Gorton, Ava Lee Abdo,Anne Rue Gorton, Evelyn Ezelle, Lorene Jumper.


news

JenningsinductedMike Jennings (’72) was recently inductedin the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall ofFame in the category of Adult TeamManager/Coach. Now in its 36th year ofoperation, the Memphis Amateur SportsHall of Fame is the only organization of itskind in the Mid-South to pay tribute to theamateur athlete and to those who havecontributed to their enhancement.

Jennings’ association with amateur softballnow spans over 28 years, including the last15 as owner/proprietor of The Softball ProShop in Bartlett, Tenn. As a player/coach,he amassed an overall record of 739-151,for an .830 winning percentage. In 1981,Jennings earned “Coach of the Year”Memphis Metro accolades.

Foundation honors faculty

The Delta State University Foundationcontinued its long-standing support offaculty, as its 2006 recipients of the DeltaState University Foundation Prizes forExcellence in Teaching, Research andService were recentlyannounced insidethe State Room onthe campus.

Dr. Donna Banks,professor of music,and Dr. JamesTomek, professor ofFrench, were bothhonored with the“Excellence inTeaching Prize;”while Dr. ScottHutchens, associateprofessor ofPsychology, and Dr.Stephen King,professor of speechcommunications, were recognized withthe “Excellence in Research Prize.” Dr.John Green, assistant professor ofSociology and Community Development,

and Dr. Reid Jones, professor ofPsychology were the “Excellence in ServicePrize.”

During the luncheon award ceremony,President Dr. John M. Hilpert opened,

citing poet WilliamButler Yeates,“Education is not thefilling of a pail, but thelighting of a fire. Thesesix professors beingrecognized todayunderstand that. Theyhave been identified asthe best of the best bytheir peers, and wethank the Foundationfor making theresources available torecognize theirdedication.”

After a lengthy andrigorous application

process, winners were selected by acommittee, with award recipientsreceiving a plaque and $5000 checkhonoring their accomplishments.

(Front Row, L to R) Reid Jones, Donna Banks, Stephen King; (Back Row, L to R) James Tomek, John Green,Scott Hutchens were recognized as the 2006 recipients of the Delta State University Foundation Prizes forExcellence in Teaching, Research and Service. This is the second year the prizes have been awarded.

Mike Jennings

Keith Fulcher, Executive Director ofthe Delta State University Alumni-Foundation, praised, “The DeltaState University Foundation Boardof Directors are pleased to partnerwith the University in recognizingfaculty members who are dedicatedto their profession and who excel inthe areas of teaching, service, andresearch. The Foundation’s missionis to help provide support to theUniversity and the Boardcommends Dr. Hilpert and Dr.Thornell for their decision to honoroutstanding faculty.”


By Chip Mabry

One Delta State graduate is certainlyliving his dream; Land Heflin is currently aninstructor and adventure team member withTarkio Kayak Adventures in Missoula,Montana. Land not only instructs studentsin Montana, but also leads kayaking journeyson rivers around the world.

Land was literally brought up on the DeltaState campus. He was brought home fromthe hospital to Woolfolk Dormitory, wherehis parents, Dave and Brenda Heflin, weredorm supervisors. Growing up, Landparticipated in every sport offered by theCleveland Park Commission and at age 10,began “staffing” Delta State UniversityOutback Kayak Club outings.

Land said, “I remember being about eight-years-old in the Delta State pool with mydad, while he was teaching the OutbackKayak club. I was always the runt on all thetrips but I quickly developed a love forkayaking.”

He was nicknamed “Dirt” by students onan outing. His high school coaches pokedjabs at him for not being an athlete andreminded him that his dad was a coach.However, at that time Land was a Class IIIkayaker, rockclimber, sailor, snowboarder,skateboarder, backpacker, touring BMXbiker, and a veteran ofmany DSU ropescourses. Believe it ornot, during this timeLand only had onefracture and oneconcussion.

Land entered DSUin the spring of 1992and graduated in

December of 1994 with a degree inrecreation. Land worked several seasons as araft guide on the Royal Gorge in Coloradoand the American River in California. Hejoined Ultimate Descents Rafting in Nepalduring the winters of 1996 and 1997. Landsaid, “After school I really just wanted totravel. I worked in North Carolina on theNatahala River and met some people whohelped me land a winter job in Nepal and Iwould return to the States for spring andsummer. It was really while I was over therethat I made a bunch of great contacts that setme up with Tarkio.”

In 1998, Land led a winter season ofTarkio trips to Ecuador and in 1999 he ledtrips all over South America. Land has led or

participated in kayak tours in theCanadian Rockies, New Zealand,Northern Africa, Southern Asia,Mexico, Nepal and China.

In January of 2005, Land wasinvolved in a hallmark expeditionof first ever commercial kayak tripwith 15 American kayakers,Chinese kayak trainees, andAmerican raft guides on Big Bendof Yang zee in China. Land said,“This is one of the highlights of mycareer. This was the first time acommercial kayak or rafting trip hasever been done on the Big Bend inChina. The logistics were pretty

crazy, we had to ship everything over weneeded and didn’t get the gear throughcustoms until two days after the clients had

arrived and most of it was custom, so it hadto be assembled, welded etc.”

This area is similar to the Grand Canyonbut has about ten times the volume of water.Land said, “Being in that Yang zee canyon issomething else. At one point you are lookingup at a 18,000 foot mountain. That puts alot of perspective on your view when you areflying down a river looking up at theseenormous gorges, mountains actually. Itreally is something special. On a moreprofessional kayaking note, some of us alsogot to run a first descent of a tributary of theYang zee and that was exciting.” This twoweek trip was the first of what is expected tobe many more expeditions to China.

Land recently became an adjunctinstructor of Wilderness Recreation at DSU,continuing programs his father taught. He iscurrently a co-owner of Tarkio Adventuresand recently bought a home in Missoula,Montana (without realizing it, he purchasedthe summer home of the late CarrollO’Conner of “Archie Bunker” fame). He issingle and lives with his dog Cornbread.

Land said, “This is really the first time inmy life that I haven’t been travelingcontinuously. Things have slowed down agood bit and I spend more of my timebooking and organizing expeditions, more ofthe business aspects of Team Tarkio. It is nicethough, and I still get to teach here inMontana and lead winter expeditionsabroad. I’m really looking forward to anotherChina trip and I’m sure we will do a lot moreover there.”

Heflin surfing on the Rio San Pedro, Patagonia, Chile, South America.

Land Heflin:Kayaking the World for a Living

Heflin hiking tothe put-in of theOum er Rbia River,Morocco.

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Heflin scouting

Lava Falls, Grand

Canyon, Arizona


DELTA STATE LEADS THE WAY IN GEOGRAPHICINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS

MAPPING FUTURES, SAVING LIVESBy Alan Taylor

For people not engaged in scientificpursuits, the terms “geographicinformation technology” and “geographicinformation systems” may seem onlyobscure descriptions of high-tech at anextremely high level. We may be somewhatfamiliar with “global positioningsystems”—these satellite-based navigationsystems provide a nifty option on upscaleautomobiles, and we’ve heard how farmersare using GPS to aid in planting. Beyondthat, though, it all may sound likesomething scientists experiment with inlaboratories and use in sophisticated

research that most of us wouldn’tunderstand.

In reality, though, geographicinformation systems (GIS)--which insimple terms may be defined as computersystems designed for storing, manipulating,analyzing, and displaying data in ageographic context, often in the form ofmaps—offer virtually unlimitedapplications in everyday life. They can beused to solve problems as diverse asimproving crop yields, determining wherea retailer should place a new store, ormanaging a town’s resources and services.

Delta State’s Center forInterdisciplinary Geospatial Information

Technologies, an independent unit of theCollege of Arts and Sciences, is at theforefront of this burgeoning technology.“Delta State University is leading the waynationally in demonstrating what theindustry is, and what the education shouldbe,” Director of the Center Talbot Brooksstates.

The Center for InterdisciplinaryGeospatial Information Technologies’operations are organized around three coreareas: Education and Training, Businessand Community Development, andInstitutional Knowledge. The Centeroffers degrees in geospatial technologies,and as well as for-credit courses and


GIS

institutional training. Students areprovided basic and advanced skills inremote sensing, GIS, and GPS.

Interested individuals can also enroll innon-credit training courses offered as partof the Specialist in Spatial TechnologiesProgram. These courses—offered online,on-campus, or at selected off-campuslocations—provide a balanced mix oftheoretical knowledge and hands-on skillstraining in fields ranging from Agricultureto Emergency Management.

Brooks came to Delta State in January2005. With an educational background inenvironmental physics, he had spent tenyears as a Senior Research Technician withthe United States Department ofAgriculture, studying the effects of climatechanges on agriculture.

“I did a lot of GIS work during thistime,” Brooks recalls. “I was hired in 2001by Arizona State University (where he hadearlier received his master’s degree).Among my responsibilities there werehelping to write the GIS undergraduateand master’s degree programs.”

I also did a lot of outreach activitieswith businesses, helping them developapplications for GIS. And, I worked in anadvisory role with municipal governmentswho were getting into the use of GIS.”

Among numerous professionalaffiliations, Brooks is a member of theGeospatial Information and TechnologyAssociation, and serves on its EducationalCommittee. He is a board member withthe Mississippi Delta Technology Council,as well as a member of the Association ofAmerican Geographers and the MississippiInstitutions for Higher LearningGeospatial Council.

Brooks is the first to point out that GIStechnology has moved beyond a high-techlaboratory endeavor. As he observes,“Anytime you use something likeMapQuest to get directions, you’re usingGIS technology.

“There are examples of municipal andbusiness use of GIS all around us. Firedepartments might use it to map thelocation of fire hydrants. Tax assessors canmap parcel locations, which helps them tomanage tax rates. Planning commissionsuse GIS for developing their general plansand zoning.

“Many businesses use GIS for site

selection. They are able tolook at things like thepopulation, thetransportation network,the tax rates—GIS can findthe ideal location for them.And certainly utilities useGIS. Entergy, for example,makes major use of it. Ithelps show the location ofmeters, for example, orwhere power is actuallycoming from, where oilpipelines are, etc.”

The use of geographicinformation technology indisaster relief efforts is likelyto become more prevalent,especially considering thedramatic demonstration ofthe technology’s usefulness in effortsspearheaded by Brooks in the aftermath ofthe two major Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Two days before Hurricane Katrinamade landfall on Aug. 29, Brooks traveledto the Mississippi Emergency OperationsCenter (EOC) in Jackson to aid in responseand relief efforts. In the weeks afterKatrina hit, Brooks assembled a group ofvolunteer GIS experts to assist in datadevelopment, map production, use of GPStechnology and other logistics and supportservices. Many of these volunteers camefrom the Urban and Regional InformationSystems Association’s GISCorps, which wasformed three years ago to assist othercountries with their GIS operations; theteam also included students from DeltaState and other state universities.Numerous educational institutions, stateand federal agencies and private concernsprovided a wide range of resources andequipment to the volunteers.

The GIS volunteer team produced anamazingly wide range of maps that provedinvaluable to the EOC, the MississippiEmergency Management Agency, andgovernment officials ranging from thegovernor to the President. Situationalawareness maps detailed such criticalinformation as the location of poweroutages and areas where power had beenrestored, areas of potential flooding,shelters and distribution points foremergency supplies, medical care facilities,and many others.

For the first responders on the ground,street maps, search and rescue maps withdetail of population density, and otherspecial maps were generated.

GIS continued to play a major role assearch and rescue operations got underway,Brooks says. “We were able to help the U.S. Coast Guard helicopters find peoplewho had called in asking to be rescued.Callers would give a street address, butwith the streets and many homes floodedthere was no way to locate the addressesfrom boats or helicopters. We helpedtransform addresses into latitude andlongitude coordinates using GIS.”

The efforts aided in over 10,000successful search and rescues, and whenHurricane Rita came ashore several weekslater, spawning tornadoes and causingsignificant flooding throughout the Delta,Delta State’s Center for InterdisciplinaryGeographic Information Technology wasthere to answer the call, again.

The Center helped track the tornadoesfor the Bolivar County EmergencyOperations Center, producing maps thathelped route emergency responders andshowed in detail the storm damage in thearea.

“Now that the hurricanes are behind us,there are a lot of lessons we’ve learned andthat we want to share,” Brooks comments.“We want to try to create some volunteer-based efforts throughout the region thatmake use of GIS technologies.”

continued on page 12

Taken in Hancock County during the Katrina response, former Presidentof the United States, George Bush, poses with soldiers assisting in therescue efforts in front of the communications bus/mobile emergencyoperations vehicle Delta State University shares with Bolivar County.


Delta State And Cleveland Join Forces To Aid Hurricane Evacuees

He has proposed the formation of aJoint Emergency Mapping System forMississippi; its purpose would be toprovide both individual responders anddecision makers with map and imageresources for improved emergencyresponse. He also recently traveled toWashington to work with other GISleaders in establishing a definition of GISthat will be used by the U. S. Departmentof Labor.

“My vision is to try to get local

municipal governments to adopt GIStechnology, and not only in anticipation ofsome future disaster,” he continues. “It canalso save taxpayers a lot of money and helpprovide better service to the communities.And once this is done successfully, we willthen have a model that can be replicatedthroughout the region.”

The Center for InterdisciplinaryGeospatial Information Technologies, andthose who come out of its programs, ishelping bring GIS into wide usage among

businesses and governmental entities. “We’re inviting people to take advantage

of this technology. And, we don’t wantpeople to be intimated, to think we’re insome ivory tower. Anyone who isinterested, please call us. We’re here tohelp—to participate and to find solutions.”

For more information on the Center forInterdisciplinary Geographic Technologyat Delta State University, please contactTalbot Brooks at (662) 846-4520, or [email protected].

continued from page 11

By Alan Taylor

Although the Cleveland area itself was sparedmost of the wrath of Hurricanes Katrina andRita, the community opened its doors to thosedisplaced by the disaster, taking in over 2,000hurricane evacuees—many of them, in fact, arestill residing in the area. Delta State Universityquickly mobilized to provide aid and assistance,as well.

An on-campus donation drive brought inover $33,000 in less than a month, with themoney raised used primarily to help localevacuees. Beyond monetary aid, however, theUniversity and the greater Clevelandcommunity teamed up to address other criticalneeds, reports Dr. Michelle Roberts, executiveassistant to Delta State President, Dr. JohnHilpert.

“One of the first things we did was convertour old athletic dorm, Hugh White Hall, intotemporary housing for approximately 100people,” Roberts relates. “Students, faculty andstaff, and other citizens came together to cleanup the dorm and get it into shape. The buildingwas empty; it had not been used as a dorm forseveral years. In fact, it was being utilized asstorage space for various departments.

“The old, dilapidated furniture and beds hadto be moved out, and the whole building neededmajor cleaning. The support we received ingetting the building ready was reallyheartwarming—church groups, organizations,businesses, and individuals all chipped in.People donated everything from bedding andlinens to washers, refrigerators, and pots andpans, to toys and games for the children.”

A kitchen was set up in the building, Robertssays, and various groups also signed up to bringin food on a regular basis. One DSU staffmember left his home and moved into Hugh

White Hall for several weeksto provide an on-site managerpresence, assisted by theUniversity residence halldirectors.

Services and amenitiesmade available to the evacueesincluded a donated large-screen TV and the installationof computers in the Hall’scommon lobby area. “Wewanted to make it possible forthe evacuees to contactFEMA, or other assistanceorganizations, and be able toaccess sites that helped familymembers find one another,”Roberts comments. “Evacueeswere also able to use our on-campus OKRA one-card system to access foodservices and receive three meals a day at nocharge.

“We felt it was important to help theresidents get out into the community and try toregain some sense of normalcy, so we providedfree tickets to campus events such as footballgames, and access to such things as our fitnesscenter and golf course.”

Another priority was ensuring that studentsaffected by the hurricanes were able to continuetheir studies, Roberts says. “We have over 100students on campus who come from the affectedcounties. We also had 23 students transfer to theUniversity because the institutions they wereattending had been shut down--for thesestudents, we extended our registration deadlinesand waived all out-of-state fees. Our bookstoresgave them discounts on books. And, we workedclosely with them to find housing on the campusor in the community.”

Delta State has received a significant amount

of special funding, including $1.3 million froma Congressional appropriation, designated foraid to displaced students. The University wasalso one of only six Mississippi public andprivate institutions to receive special Title Sevenfederal funds to help assist affected students.

“We also participated in the SloanConsortium, a group that assists institutions inposting courses online for students who cannotattend on-campus classes,” says Roberts. “DeltaState posted ten courses to this program, whichwere made available at no cost.

“Our student body, faculty and staff havebeen very involved in efforts to help bothevacuees and those on the coast,” she continues.“The Delta State family has pitched in to helpwith everything from the cleaning at HughWhite Hall to clothing and bottled water drives.By reaching out to the hurricane evacuees withthat feeling of ‘family’ we all enjoy here at DeltaState, we have hopefully made things just a littlebit easier for people who have suffered morethan most of us can even imagine.”

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the entire Delta StateUniversity community worked to aid in recovery efforts, includingcleaning out Hugh White Hall campus. The dormitory was used to houseevacuees of the hurricanes for over four months.


Dr. Elmo “Bo” Gabbert

The nostalgic image of the country doctorarriving at a patient’s door with his black bagin hand still lingers in our collective memory,notably made famous by Norman Rockwellpaintings and other folk artists.

When Dr. Elmo “Bo” Gabbert, 71, putaway his stethoscope, closed his black bag andretired in 2005, Meadville lost a family doctorthat saw his patients as family, and the nationlost yet another fading image of Americana.

“You develop a personal relationship withyour patients and they seem like family,”Gabbert said of his retirement and practice of40 years in Meadville. Gabbert was a perfectfit for the community where he practicedbecause he was one of them.

Born Sept. 5, 1934 in Calhoun County,about eight miles from the town of Bruce,Gabbert, like most during that time grew upwithout modern amenities such as runningwater, indoor toilets, or even electricity.

His family did not own a car, so Gabbert’sfather would hitchhike the eight miles toBruce where he worked as a carpenter.Gabbert’s mother would see he and his twosisters off to the one room school down adusty country road. Gabbert remembers hisearly school days fondly. “There were around25 of us and we were all supportive of oneanother. We had a teacher who was loving andcompassionate with everyone,” he said.

The family eventually moved to town,illuminating Gabbert’s childhood. “I canremember to this day coming to town andbeing awestruck by electricity. I was justawestruck when I saw all those lights,”Gabbert said.

Gabbert graduated from Bruce HighSchool in 1952 with football much more onhis mind than academics. It took a year ofnursing bruises at a community college inFulton for Gabbert to decide he should switchgears from his aspirations of football fame andto get serious about his education.

Gabbert enrolled at Delta StateCollege in 1954, determined to turnhis natural passion for science into aspringboard for his future. Lookingback, Gabbert believes he could nothave made a better choice. Theprofessors he studied under brokestereotypes of the stuffy, stoicacademic bores that are oftenexpected. “If I had it to do over again,I would go to Delta State as opposedto any school, because of the quality ofeducation and the personal attention Ireceived as a student there. Iremember my professors as verywarm, compassionate people thatreally cared and helped me a lot,”Gabbert said.

Gabbert went on to graduate fromDelta State in 1956 with a degree innatural science and also graduatednear the top of his class from theUniversity of Mississippi MedicalCenter in Jackson in 1961. After aninternship at the University of Texas in

Galveston, he returned to Bruce topractice medicine and eventually made hisway to Franklin County (Miss.) in 1965.

Gabbert saw Meadville as the perfect placeto raise children. “It had a good school system.I felt this was a place where I could raise myfamily around good, church going people,”Gabbert said.

Gabbert has literally seen patients from thecradle to the grave in the last 40 years. He andhis wife Beverly have reared three children inMeadville. “I have had a good practice. Thepeople are good, hard working people and Inever wanted to do more than be a familydoctor. The personal relationships youdevelop are worth more than the money,” hesaid.

Gabbert has been active in mission tripswith his church, Meadville United Methodist.He recently gave medical aid to evacuees ofHurricane Katrina. Of the future, Gabbertoffers, “I look forward to spending more timewith my wife and traveling to do moremission work.”

Dr. Elmo “Bo” Gabbert mans a makeshift pharmacy during one of his recent mission trips to the Coast.

By Chip Mabry

More than just the family doc

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By Alan Taylor

With the debut of its HospitalityServices Management Program at the startof the 2005-2006 academic year, DeltaState University is now providing a valuabletraining resource for Mississippi’s ever-growing hospitality industry.

During the last decade, the industry hasexperienced substantial growth, and todayranks as the Magnolia State’s largestemployer. According to state figures, thehospitality industry is expected to climb ata rate of three to five percent each year.With this level of growth, the need forqualified management personnel alsoincreases, providing the impetus for DeltaState’s program, which is housed in theDivision of Management, Marketing andBusiness Administration under the Collegeof Business.

The Hospitality Services Managementprogram has existed for several years,reports Dr. Garret A. Ross, assistantprofessor of Management, whose positionwas created specifically to start the programand whose expertise provides students witha quality education in the field. Other thana program at the University of SouthernMississippi, Delta State is the only otherinstitution in the state offering a programdevoted strictly to hospitality management.

“Our goal is to help students obtainentry-level management positions in theindustry throughout the state,” Rossexplains. “The program consists of courses

A ValuableResource fora Major StateIndustry

D E L T A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y14

The Hospitality ServicesManagement Program:The Hospitality ServicesManagement Program:

Mallory Smith, a seniorBusiness/HospitalityServices Managementmajor of Cleveland,works at KC’sRestaurant as sheprepares for a career inHospitality ServicesManagement.

Hospitality


in hotel management, restaurantmanagement, hospitality law, facilitiesmanagement and hospitality accounting,which students take only after completingthe College of Business core courses. Toensure students are prepared formanagement level positions upongraduation, each program participant willbe required to complete a studentinternship. Upon completion of theprogram, students will graduate with aBachelor’s of Business Administration inHospitality Management.”

Ross, who is in his second year withDelta State, is originally from Oyster Bay,N.Y. He is a graduate of the University ofMassachusetts in Hotel, Restaurant andTravel Administration, and has extensiveexperience in the hospitality industry. Hereceived a Master’s Degree in RestaurantManagement from Florida InternationalUniversity, and his Ph.D. from VirginiaTech in Hospitality Management. Ross hasalso attended the Professional ManagementInstitute at the Culinary Institute ofAmerica in Hyde Park, N.Y.

His twenty-plus years in the industryincludes positions ranging from clubhousemanager at The Greenwich Country Club

in Greenwich, Conn., and Fairfax CountryClub in Fairfax, Va., to assistant barmanager at Maguire Air Force Base inWrightstown, N.J. Furthermore, Ross hasheld positions in the restaurant and cruiseline industries.

Of the hospitality program, he offers,“In developing the inaugural curriculum,we reviewed programs offered at othercolleges and universities across the country,and tried to develop a program that best fitDelta State’s goals.

“This being a young program, I didn’tthink we’d have so many students, but 25students have already chosen hospitalityservices management as their major. Theresponse has been tremendous,” hecontinues. “We’re getting nothing butpositive feedback, with the students’interest reflecting the program’s need in thestate. Many in the industry havecommented on how they had been waitingfor a university like Delta State to offer sucha program.”

The Hospitality Services Managementprogram also has a Gaming Managementtrack that was recently approved. Rossreports that several students enrolled in theprogram are working in area casinos while

pursuing their degree. “One of our students is now employed

in a management role in Food Services atthe Isle of Capri, and I expect some of theother students to do their internships inRobinsonville. We’re actually developing acomponent that would allow gamingindustry employees to enroll in the programand obtain their degree.”

According to Dr. Cooper Johnson,Chair of the Division of Management,Marketing, and Business Administration,“Currently one area casino has eagerlyjoined Delta State in enrollingapproximately 15 employees in theprogram.”

Ross added, “Delta State is currentlyworking with a number of local hotels,restaurants, and tourism groups, especiallyin Coahoma, Bolivar, and Washingtoncounties. We have students employed byK.C.’s restaurant in Cleveland andCrawdad’s in Merigold.”

He characterizes the Hospitality ServicesManagement Program as an evolvingcurriculum, which will continue a slowbuilding process. “Hopefully, by this timenext year, we’ll have an advisory board inplace to continue developing the program’s

curriculum. We’ll also be listening to theindustry to determine their needs. And,as our students complete the program andenter the industry, we look forward totheir feedback from a real-worldperspective.”

The program’s eventual goal is to have25 students enter the program each year,for a total of 100 students in the program.“Even more students would be great,”Ross smiled. “However, the program isdoing very well so far, and I’m pleasedwith that. Delta State has found a strongdemand in the Delta for a program and asa result is providing it—so I’m confidentthat the program will continue to grow.”

Johnson finished, “The support of theindustry has truly helped the HospitalityProgram get off to a strong start and withthe cooperation between Delta State andthe industry, we are certain to continue tomeet their needs with qualifiedgraduates.”

A veteran of the hospitality industry, Dr. Garret Ross will oversee Delta State’s newest major.


Dorm namedfor Griffis

Mississippi State University recentlyheld a groundbreaking ceremony on itscampus, as construction is set to begin onthe S. Bryce Griffis Residence Hall. Thehall, which bears the name of Delta Statealumnus and well-known proponent ofhigher education, Griffis, will be a 115,000-square-foot, 309-bed, co-residential facility.Central to campus and convenientlylocated to the Joe Frank Sanderson Centerand athletic events, S. Bryce GriffisResidence Hall will also house theUniversity Honors Program.

Griffis, a 1954 graduate of Delta State,served for 16 years as a member of theBoard of Trustees of State Institutions ofHigher Learning, and has been an activesupporter in his private life for many yearsof Delta State, Mississippi State and othereducational institutions.

A three-year letterman in football andbaseball for the Statesmen, Griffis served asa member of the Delta State Foundationboard of directors and as president of theDSU Athletic Alumni Association. TheBryce Griffis Indoor Practice Center atDelta State is also named in his honor.

Delta State University recently namedRori E. Herbison as Director of UniversityRelations. “Delta State University has alwayshad a special place in my heart and I am

thrilled to have the opportunity to serve thisUniversity,” Herbison offered. “I will be atireless advocate for this University, and moreimportantly the people at this University.”

A 2001 graduate of Delta State, Herbisonserved as graduate assistant in the athleticdepartment while completing work on hermaster’s degree in Health, PhysicalEducation and Recreation. She became theDirector of Athletic Media Relations forChristian Brothers University in May 2001,

a post she held until October 2002. Herbison returned to the Delta to begin

work with the then Gray-Banner Group,now Johnson Newsgroup. She began hertenure for the local publishing firm as aneditorial assistant/sales associate, but wouldclimb to the position of Director ofOperations in just six months. In her timewith the company, Gray-Banner Groupcontinued to publish Go Green Magazine,while also launching Delta Medical Digest, aquarterly publication Herbison served asManaging Editor for; Memphis Tiger Timesand The Cleveland News Leader.

"Rori brings a wealth of experience andenthusiasm to this role. Rori is eager to getinvolved in the community and will do agreat job of strengthening Delta State'svisibility in the region," offered Dr. MichelleRoberts, Executive Assistant to the President.

Herbison stays active in the community,serving as chairman for The Second AnnualDelta Health & Wellness Day, marketingand publicity chair for the Cleveland MSWalk, as well as volunteering withOctoberFest. Currently, she is EducationChairman for the Mississippi DeltaAdvertising Federation.

She is married to Butch Herbison, andthe couple resides in Cleveland.

Herbison named Directorof University Relations

Rori E. Herbison

Bryce Griffis


Alumni make $1 million LifeInsurance gift

There is always that common thread, thatunifying force that will align every past,present and soon-to-be student at Delta StateUniversity – their hopes and dreams. Everystudent enters Delta State University withhigh hopes and grand dreams of success, justas Danny and Deborah Barfield did over 30years ago.

The Barfields recently made one of thosedreams come true, as the couple donated a$1 million life insurance policy to their almamater. Both Danny and Deborah, a formerBorgognoni of Clarksdale, had always hopedto be able to give back to Delta StateUniversity at a level that signified theimportant role the institution played inshaping their lives.

With their generous gift, the Barfields willhelp turn the dreams of future students intoreality. Of the couple’s charitable gift,Danny offered, “Deborah and I have beenconsidering for some time how to show oursupport for Delta State University. Webelieve Delta State University is the greatestinstitutional asset of the citizens of

Cleveland, Bolivar County and the region.”“It is hard to imagine Cleveland without

Delta State,” he continued. “Our gift,therefore, is a small investment to providethe same benefits for future generations thathave been afforded to us.”

A 1972 graduate of Delta State, Danny isthe Senior Partner in the accounting,financial services and asset management firmof Barfield, Lindsey, Salley & Bailey, PLLC.Founded in the 1940’s, the firm has beenoffering accounting services for over sixdecades and began offering financial servicesand asset management assistance in 1996 inboth Cleveland and Oxford. Barfield is oneof the founders and the majority stockholderin Boyle Lumber Company located inCleveland and Greenwood.

He and his wife, Deborah met while atDelta State, and are not the only members intheir families to attend the University.Deborah’s siblings, Brenda B. Robinson ofClarksdale; Cindy B. Cocilova of Cleveland;Reno Mark Borgognoni of Atlanta; and JerryBorgognoni of Cleveland; also attendedDSU, while Danny’s siblings, WayneBarfield of Gainsville, Fla.; and Carolyn B.Wilburn of Flora, also attended theUniversity.

“Our two sons and our daughter attendedDelta State, too,” Barfield reported proudly.“In addition, Deborah and I have had somany nieces and nephews on both sides ofour family attend Delta State that we haveliterally lost count.”

But it was their parents, Myrl Barfield, ofBruce, and the late Knox Barfield, and Renoand Lillian Borgognoni of Clarksdale thattruly inspired the gift. “This gift is made toDelta State University in honor of ourparents in recognition of the sacrifices theyhave made to our well-being and the well-being of our children and grandchildren,”Barfield praised. “My father passed awayDecember 26, 1989. He was not aneducated man but he understood the value

of an education better than any man I evermet.”

“It is an absolute joy to have the DeltaState Foundation as a vehicle to transfer thisappreciation for their efforts forward tofuture generations. We make this gift withthe greatest confidence that the future ofDelta State University and the Delta StateFoundation is in very capable hands,” hecontinued.

Of the Barfield’s contribution, Delta StatePresident, Dr. John M. Hilpert, lauded, “Icommend and thank Deborah and Dannyon their decision to make a gift of thatmagnitude to Delta State. Their family’slegacy with the University is evident in themany degrees they have earned from DeltaState and their gift is a testimonial to the typeof relationship that we aspire to have with allof our alumni.”

Executive Director of the Delta StateUniversity Foundation, Keith Fulcher,noted, “The Barfield’s philanthropic act isone of the most outstanding that I have beena part of at the Delta State UniversityFoundation. It sets an example of giving thatI invite other alumni and friends to emulate.

“Many of our alumni and friends wouldlike to make a significant gift to Delta Stateand life insurance is an often overlooked andunderestimated asset to donate. Sizable gifts,like the Barfield’s $1 million gift, can bemade at a relatively low cost through a newlife insurance policy with Delta StateUniversity Foundation named as both thebeneficiary and owner of the policy,” Fulchercontinued. “The Foundation encouragesgifts of life insurance policies and other typesof planned gifts that will one day benefit thestudents of Delta State and provide for thefuture of the University.”

Gifts to Delta State to cover premiums aredeductible for those who itemize and can bein the form of capital gain property for asecond tax savings.

Deborah & Danny Barfield

To make a gift to Delta State, contact the Development Office at [email protected] or call 662-846-4708.

By Sam Gwynne

1945 was a good year for America and adismal year for the Boston Red Sox. In aseason roughly bracketed by victory inEurope and the surrender of Japan, theSox limped to a 71-83 record, finishingseventh out of eight teams in theAmerican League. While marqueeplayers like Ted Williams and BobbyDoerr served in the armed forces, Bostonfielded a team of journeymen with nameslike Catfish Metkovich and SkeeterNewsome.

But there was hope. By the summer of1945, the country had had a bellyful of warand death and hardship and privation, and

D E L T A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y18

it was ready to have fun again. Crowdsstreamed back into Fenway and other parks.Attendance would soon double fromprewar years.

And in Boston that summer, there wasanother reason to pay attention: a strapping6-foot-2-inch package of raw upcountrymuscle named Dave "Boo" Ferriss, whorose from the cotton fields of theMississippi Delta and set the AmericanLeague on fire. A rookie right-hander witha hellacious sinking fastball, he opened the1945 season with eight victories in a row,beating every team in the league. As part ofthe punchless, cellar-bound Red Sox, hewent 21-10.

1945 was also the year that my fatherturned 16, an event that is related, in amost peculiar and remarkable way, toFerriss's precocious achievements on themound. My dad was the son of a Worcesterobstetrician, a freckle-faced andextravagantly outgoing boy who was also,quite possibly, the most rabid Red Sox fanon Earth.

That summer he got the wildly implausiblenotion that if he invited Ferriss to dinner,Ferriss would come. The hook: My dad'sbirthday was approaching, and he wanted,more than anything else in the world, tocelebrate it with the Mississippi right-hander. To my grandparents' slack-jawed

amazement, Ferriss, who was getting somuch fan mail that the Red Sox hadassigned someone to help him manage it,said yes. He arranged tickets for a day gamefor my father and grandmother. After thegame, the three of them went out to dinnerat the Red Coach Grill in Boston. Whenmy grandmother commented on hiskindness, Ferriss replied, in an accentthicker than buttermilk pie: "It don't costnothin' to be nice, ma'am."

That wasn't the end of it. My fathercontinued to correspond with Ferriss intothe 1946 season, when Ferriss was evenmore dominant than he had been in 1945.He had a 25-6 record that year and helpedpitch the Red Sox into the World Seriesagainst the St. Louis Cardinals. He got mydad tickets for the third game, in Boston, inwhich Ferriss twirled a machinelike 4-0shutout. I am not certain of this, but I thinkthat seeing that game - as the guest of theace - may have been my father's greatestthrill. The moment was more special thaneven he could have imagined. Thefollowing season, Ferriss tore the cartilage inhis shoulder, and he never regained his oldform. He went 12-11 that year, 7-3 in1948, and did not win a game in 1949. Hestruggled in the minor leagues for five moreyears.

I know all this because this story is one ofour most precious pieces of family lore and

Dave “Boo” Ferriss shows off pictures and other memorabilia in his Cleveland home from his life in baseball.

Annually, the Mississippi Hall of Fame honors the bestcollegiate baseball player, as voted by the media, with the

Dave "Boo" Ferriss trophy.

Uncle“Boo”Uncle“Boo”


because its subject is someone I have knownmy entire life as Uncle “Boo.” Thatimprobable dinner (imagine persuadingManny Ramirez to accept such aninvitation!) was the beginning of an equallyimprobable friendship between “Boo” andmy father that lasted until my father died in1998. It was rooted in hero worship, love ofbaseball, and both men's encyclopedicknowledge of the sport and its history, butit ripened into something deeper and richer.

Our families became friends. Uncle “Boo,”his wife, Miriam, and their two childrenwere frequent visitors at our family'ssummer house in East Falmouth, boatingwith us on Vineyard Sound. Uncle “Boo”showed up at several of my childhoodsports events. In 1959, he took me into theRed Sox dugout at Fenway. He took myparents to Red Sox banquets. As a 70-year-old, he pitched batting practice to mynephews on the tiny, burned-out diamondof our summer community. We were all justas thrilled to know him - the man whopitched the Sox into the '46 series - as mydad had been in the summer of 1945.

But as we grew up, we also learned thatUncle “Boo” was about much more thanjust celebrity and legend andour proximityto it. Hisshoulder injuryand subsequentdecline as apitcher couldhave made himbitter, but it didnot. His definingfeature was thep r o f o u n dkindness mygrandmother hadobserved. He was,simply, the nicest,most thoughtfulman we had evermet. He showed it ina thousand ways:remembering ourbirthdays and sendingfrequent, long, newsyletters to my parentsand later to my motherand to the children. Hebecame an ideal to us,not only of physicalprowess but of selflessness,thoughtfulness, and generosity.We were not the only

beneficiaries of “Boo's” generous spirit.At 84, he has more friends than he cancount. In Mississippi, where he lives, he isa certifiable legend. As baseball coach for26 years at Delta State University, hebecame one of the winningest coaches inNCAA history.

He became famous in a different way: assomeone who was loved by his players. Ofthe 500 who played for him, he is incontact by phone or letter with all butfive. He remembers their mothers'birthdays and sends cards. He hostsbiannual reunions where 250 peopleshow up. The baseball field at Delta Stateis Dave “Boo” Ferriss Field, and the awardfor the best college baseball player inMississippi is the “Boo” Ferriss Award."There is no other single Mississippisports figure," says Rick Cleveland,Mississippi's leading sportswriter, "whohas such universal appeal."

Sixty years after his dinner with my dad,he remains our Uncle “Boo,” a very decentman who taught us that, after all, it reallydoes not cost anything to be nice. Sam Gwynne is executive editor of Texas

Monthly. Send e-mail [email protected].

A legend in the national collegiate baseball, Dave "Boo"Ferriss was inducted into the American Baseball CoachesAssociation Hall of Fame in 1988, after retiring with a 639-387-8 career coaching mark.

A Mississippi State graduate, Ferriss was signed by the Boston Red Sox after hisjunior year. He would spend 10 years with the Red Sox organization, five as aplayer and five as a pitching coach.


sports

After 20 Years and 400 wins, Rivesretires coaching whistle

(retirement) for over a year, I just felt it wastime.

“The Cleveland community and DeltaState University have meant so much to meand my family and I will forever be gratefulfor the support you have shown us over theyears,” he added.

Rives, 58, became the 13th men’sbasketball head coach in Delta State historyjust prior to the start of the1986-87 seasonand from that point forward continued tobuild one of the richest basketballtraditions in Mississippi.

“I am very proud of the tradition wehave built here at Delta State, but I think Iam most proud of the way we went aboutit,” said Rives. “I tried to run thisprogram with class and fairness and Ibelieve that’s one of the things that hasallowed us to keep this run going for solong.”

The Jackson native made his finalseason one of the most unforgettable inStatesmen basketball history. TheStatesmen finished the year with a school-record 30 wins with just two losses. Rivesclaimed his 400 th career win, while DeltaState claimed the Gulf South ConferenceChampionship with a 71-67 victory over

the University of Montevallo on March 5.The Statesmen would make a run at theNCAA title before falling in the NCAARegion semifinals to Arkansas Monticello,83-68.

During his 20 seasons at the helm of theStatesmen program, Rives amassed a 386-188 (.672) record, while his overall careerrecord is 401-201 (.667). He guided theStatesmen to four Gulf South Conferencetitles in 2005-06, 1997-98, 1996-97 and1992-93; two NCAA South Region titlesin 1986-87 and 1997-1998; and nineNCAA DII Tournament appearances in1986-87, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97,1997-98, 1999-2000, and 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2005-06. In those nine NCAAtournaments, the Statesmen earned theirway to the NCAA Final Four in 1986-87,the Sweet 16 in 1992-93 and the EliteEight in 1997-98.

Rives earned Gulf South Conference“Coach of the Year” accolades in 1986-87,1992-93, 1997-98 and most recently,2005-06. He was named the NCAADivision II “National Coach of the Year” in2005-06 and he was twice selected as theNCAA Division II South Region “Coachof the Year” in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

For over 20 years, Delta State Universityhead coach Steve Rives has directed one ofthe most successful men’s collegiatebasketball programs in the country and inApril, the veteran of over 400-career winsretired from the game that has treated himso very well.

“After 34 years a coach I felt it was timeto move on,” Rives offered. “This was nota quick decision and after laboring over it

Steve Rives

President Emeritus Dr. Kent Wyatt washonored by the National Collegiate AthleticAssociation (NCAA) Division II ConferenceCommissioner’s Association with an Award ofMerit for his 14 years of association with theNCAA.

Wyatt, who served 25 years at thehelm of the university, wasrecognized this past fall inIndianapolis at a banquet. Hisservice to the NCAA includedserving on the Executive DirectorSearch Committee in 1993, pre-federation President’s Commission

(1992-1996), Amateurism ProjectTeam and the Gender Equity Committee. Hisleadership extended to the chairman positionon the Student Advisory Committee,Athletics Certification Study Committee andthe Division II Project Team Eligibility effort.

Of the distinction, Wyatt offered, “I was

highly honored to be recognized by theNCAA Division II ConferenceCommissioner’s Association. They are asignificant leadership group in the NCAA. Tobe recognized after being retired for six yearscame as a surprise, and it was very muchappreciated.”

Initiated in 1992 to promote its memberconferences and institutions, the Division IIConference Commissioners Association hasmade its mark in providing a united front forNCAA Division II athletics programs. TheDII NCAA continues to create lines ofcommunication and opportunities for its 22member conferences.

Wyatt earnsNCAA Award

Kent Wyatt

21

Sayles garners NCAA “Woman ofthe Year” Award for Mississippi

As the Delta State baseball program beganpreparing for the season, Roy CollinsConstruction, Inc. of Cleveland beganconstruction on the Robert L. CrawfordCenter. The Crawford Center will be the latestaddition to the already famous, Dave “Boo”Ferriss Field.

The Robert L. Crawford Center will be themain entrance and exit point for all futureStatesmen baseball games at Ferriss Field. Thefacility will feature the “Statesmen/FerrissBaseball Memorabilia Room.” It will alsohouse new restrooms, concession areas and amerchandising stand.

“If we’re going to do something, let’s makesomething nice,” Dr. Brad Teague, Director ofAthletics commented. “We think it’s just a greatfacility that will enhance the whole baseballoperation.”

The “Statesmen/Ferriss Memorabilia Room”will feature all sorts of memorabilia, as well aslots of facts and history on the best baseballprogram in the United States. DSU legendDave “Boo” Ferriss, a Boston Red Sox Hall ofFamer, will also have a number of items in thefacility.

“It gives us more of a museum-like atmospherefor our kids and our fans, and we think thecommunity will come out more and more forbaseball.” Teague concluded.

The Robert L. Crawford Center is slated to becompleted in May. For more information on theCrawford Center, please contact the Delta StateUniversity Athletic Department at (662) 846-4300 or e-mail us at [email protected].

Robert L. CrawfordCenter construction update

A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

Bernadette Sayles, a former standout LadyStatesmen basketball player, wasrecently awarded the 2005 NCAAWoman of the Year Award forMississippi at the NCAA AwardsBanquet in Indianapolis, Ind.Sayles joins Mandy Lee as the onlytwo winners of this award in DeltaState University history.

Sayles played in all 27 games forthe Lady Statesmen last seasonmaking 21 starts. The seniorforward led the Lady Statesmen inscoring (11.5 ppg) andrebounding (5.5 rbp), whileposting a 3.00 GPA in theclassroom. Sayles was voted theCo-Most Valuable Player Awardand Team Captain Award. She wasa Gulf South ConferenceAcademic Honor Roll nominee aswell.

“Three words best describeBernadette Sayles better than anyother, never gives up,” said LadyStatesmen head coach Sandra

Rushing. “Through all hertrials, Bernadette never lostsight of what was importantto her and that is soimportant in today’s world. Iam so proud of her and Iknow she will continue to dogreat things for many yearsto come.”

The NCAA Woman of theYear Awards program wasdesigned to honor femaleathletes who have excelled inthe classroom and on thefield of competition. EachNCAA member institutionis allowed to nominate oneathlete each year for theaward. The award crossesall divisional boundaries andtruly exemplifies the bestwomen’s collegiate athleticshas to offer.

Artist’s rendering of the Crawford Center

Sayles, right, stands with former University of Tennessee stand-out and current ESPN analyst, Kara Lawson during the NCAAWoman of the Year Award Banquet.

Bernadette Sayles became the second Lady Statesman in Delta Statehistory to garner “Woman of the Year” honors.

22

sports

10 To connect with the Statesmen andLady Statesmen.

9 To demonstrate pride in their qualityathletic programs.

8 To participate in a long-standingtradition of alumni giving.

7 To enable student-athletes to benefitfrom an excellent collegiate experience.

6 To demonstrate belief in theUniversity’s legacy.

5 To give back to the alma mater thatgave them lifelong relationships.

4 To help increase the alumniparticipation rate, which will increasethe value of a Delta State degree.

3 To support the mission of theuniversity to exceed all goals andexpectations.

2 To demonstrate an investment inDSU.

1 To make a difference!

Delta State relies on the support of its dedicatedalumni, and previous private contributions havehelped many Delta State students succeed. Yourparticipation in the Green & White Fund isinvaluable, and every gift makes a difference! Wewelcome and encourage all Delta State alumni,family, and friends to join the Green & WhiteFund! Please call or email Assistant AthleticDirector, Dana George at (662) 846-4300 [email protected] for more information.

Top 10 reasonsAlumni should join theGreen & White Fund

D E L T A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

LISTEN TO DSU SPORTS ON:Cleveland WMJW 107.5 FM

Jackson (Football) WSFZ 930 AM

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Brookhaven WBKN 92.7 FM

Biloxi WGCM 1240 AM

Golden Triangle 980 AM1230 AM 1400 AM

Southaven WAVN 1240 AM

By John Cox

Since the end of the season, I must haveanswered the same question five hundredtimes.

"What happened to Delta State?" was askedover and over again by countless friends,family, clients and even a couple randompeople that I encountered.

I have been asked by so many times to explainwhat happened to Delta State, I figured that Iwould try to tell you as best I can. But to reallyexplain what happened inside Walter SillersColiseum this year, I have got to first tell youa couple stories.

THIS IS THE STORY OF STEVE RIVES.

Twenty years ago, Delta State hired Rives as ahot young coach, fresh out of a dominatingcareer in the Mississippi private school ranksand stints at East Central Community Collegeand Lousiana College, respectively. Hepromptly took his first Statesmen team to theFinal Four in Springfield, Massachusetts. Thecollegiate coaching game must have seemedreal easy at that time for the young Steve Rives.Since then, Rives has ridden the ebb and flowof a coaching career, rebuilding at times andreloading at others.

His response to a 19-11 season in 2005? Heput together a group of young men who barelyknew each other in August, and cranked up

the bus for what was to be the best run inschool history.

Unranked at the beginning of the season,Rives' Statesmen finished the regular seasonNo. 1 in the nation, undefeated in conferenceplay for only the second time in league history,won 30 games for the first time in schoolhistory and galloped to an unbelievable 26-

A

The 2006 edition of the Statesmen basketball program proved to be one of the greatest in school history, asDelta State University finished the campaign with an overall 30-2 record and a perfect 16-0 in Gulf SouthConference regular season play.

In late March, Jasper Johnson garnered the media-selected 2006 Cellular South Howell Trophy, which isawarded annually to Mississippi's top men’s collegebasketball player. He becomes the first in Delta Statehistory to capture the award.


game winning streak. Let me put this intoperspective for you: On Nov. 29, 2005, theStatesmen lost to North Alabama. The teamdid not lose again until March 12, 2006.

While he may not admit it, even the veterancoach had to shake his head in wonder at histeam and their success. But this team could nothave reached those heights without theguidance and guile of its leader. Steve Rivesgives one hundred percent to the game that heloves, and this team responded to his challengeto do the same.

But this is not the story of Steve Rives alone;this is also the story of Jasper Johnson.

After being basically forced out of Division Ibasketball at the University of SouthernMississippi, the Hollandale native came"home" to the Delta and was reborn. Johnsonwas a dominant force for the Statesmen,leading the team in scoring, rebounding, stealsand 3-point percentage. If a big shot needed tobe taken, he never ran from the ball. Big-timeplayers make big-time plays, and Johnsonnever shied away from his responsibility.

THIS IS THE STORY OF SANDRA RUSHING.

For the first time in her Delta State coachingcareer, Rushing had every set of eyes in herhuddle focused solely on her, andnot the outside distractions. Therewas only one leader of these youngLadies and that was SandraRushing.

The result was a team that trulypersonified their coach's personality- tenacious, gritty and unbelievablyresilient. There were times thisseason that it seemed that Rushingsimply willed her team to victory.And, for her efforts, she wasrewarded with a richly deservedGSC Coach of the Year honor, andnow, ladies and gentlemen, it isofficial. This lady can coach, andshe deserves our respect, admirationand our loyalty.

But this is not the story of SandraRushing alone; this is the story ofAmber Gean.

Way back in 2001, when this young lady firststepped on the court for the Lady Statesmen,everyone knew that we were watching a specialplayer. Since then, she has been through twohead coaches, tough losses, a catastrophic kneeinjury and countless mini-soap operas withinSillers Coliseum.

But this year, all the drama finally paid off forAmber. Coach Rushing turned to this fifth-year senior every night for the role of defensivestopper, and she responded every time.Anyone who has ever had to be shadowed byAmber remembers it. Along the way, Amberjoined the 1,000 point club and never tookthat beaming smile off her face.

In a perfect world, Jasper Johnson hits a three-pointer to give his Statesmen their firstnational championship. In that same perfectworld, Amber Gean steals the ball with timerunning down and seals a nationalchampionship for her Ladies.

But this is not a perfect world, and sometimes,things just don't always end like a Disneymovie.

But we don't need a perfect world to celebratethe last couple of months for our Statesmenand Lady Statesmen. We need only to lookback and smile.

You see, the one thing that I love about DivisionII athletics is the keen recognition by the playersand coaches that the name on the front of thejersey is more important than the name on theback. Loyalty, selflessness, perseverance anddogged determination are traits that these youngmen and women taught us night after night. Nomatter the end result of the season, we are a littlebetter because of these teams and their efforts.

John Cox is a 1996 alumnus of Delta State University,and when he’s not practicing law for his family’s firm, Cox& Moore, he serves as the color commentator forStatesmen basketball. Cox’s column first appeared in TheCleveland News Leader.

The Lady Statesmen finished the 2006 campaign with a 30-3 overall record, marking the first 30-win season posted by DeltaState since 2000.

Head women’s basketball coach, Sandra Rushingdirected Delta State to its 12th overall Gulf SouthConference Championship en route to garnering Coach ofthe Year (West Division) honors.


with the classes

WITH THE CLASSES35Lucille Banister Caruthers of

Greenwood is a retired teacher andactive in her community.

41Captain Viola “Pinky” Sanders ofGreenwood received the honor of

having a main city street named for her.When Sanders retired from the Navy in1966, she was the highest ranking womanserving in that branch of service.

49Richard McLendon of West Helena,Ark. received his long overdue eight

WWII medals, including the Bronze Star, ina special ceremony. He served with GeneralPatton’s Third Army with the 5th InfantryDivision, landed on Omaha Beach duringD-Day, and spent time in a German POWcamp.

51Dr. Harry Walker is a retired dentistand living in Columbus.

54S. Bryce Griffis of Sturgis received thehonor of having a residence hall

named after him at Mississippi StateUniversity.

56Harry Harrell of Amarillo, Texasbecame the newest member of

Quadrangle Oak Society, the University’splanned giving society.

59June Fyfe Fletcher of Cleveland wrotea book of her youth, “Before I was a

Mom.”

63Anne Taylor Topolinski of St.Cantonment, Florida is a professional

artist.

64Dr. James P. Pate is Dean of theAdvanced Education Center at the

University of Mississippi in Tupelo. Heretired as VP for Academic Affairs atNortheastern State University in Oklahoma.

65Carole Kay Smith Pleasants has beentop realtor with Crye Leike in

Memphis for over 20 years, and will beselling real estate for Crye Leike in Destin,Florida.

Peter Jernberg of Jackson who is the currentheadmaster of Jackson Academy has beenappointed the school’s first president and chiefexecutive officer by the board of trustees.

66Langston Rogers of Oxford has beenpromoted to Senior Associate Athletics

Directors at University of Mississippi.

68Jody Correro of Cleveland is a fieldpublic information officer for FEMA.

69Reed Givens of Jackson is a safetyconsultant and is vice-president of the

Mississippi Chapter of the American Societyof Safety.

Jean Nunnally of Coldwater is the AssistantPrincipal at Shadow Oaks ElementarySchool.

Jimmy Reed of Oxford published a book“Boss, Jaybird and Me: A Collection ofShort, Short Stories.”

70R. Calvin Dye of Cleveland has beenelected to the Mississippi Bankers

Association Board of Directors.

Tom S. “Sonny” Davenport is a CPA withDavenport, Watts & Jones in Ridgeland.

72Dr. Evelyn Sanford Johnson ofStarkville opened a new store called

Golden Triangle Fabric Center, LLC.

Nancy Duncan an elementary physicaleducation teacher at Woodway ElementarySchool in Ft. Worth, Texas was awarded itsMy Favorite Teacher Award, presented bySporting Kid Magazine.

William N. (Bill) LaForge of Oak Hill,Virginia was elected nationalpresident-elect of the FederalBar Association.

Jack Kyle of Vicksburg wasrecognized by Germany forbringing the artistic andcultural exhibits “The Glory ofBaroque Dresden” to

Mississippi. He was presented the “Cross ofthe Order of Merit of the Federal Republicof Germany.”

Gary Walker of Tampa, Florida was namedby Florida Trend magazine as one of the“Top 25” healthcare lawyers in Florida. Heserves on the Board of Directors of theHillsborough County Bar Association and ofBay Area Legal Services.

73Larry Newman of D’Iberville retired asprincipal of St. Martin Upper Elementary.

Brenda Aust of Belzoni will teachmathematics at Central Delta Academy inInverness.

LaForge

76Dr. Jimmy Ishee formerly of Conway,Arkansas has been named Dean of

College of Health Sciences at Texas Women’sUniversity in Denton, Texas.

77Lusia Harris Stewart of Greenwoodwas inducted into the International

Women’s Sports Hall of Fame held at theWaldorf Astoria in New York.

78Brady Perry of Baton Rouge, La is thehead coach at Brusly High School.

79Judson Thigpen, III is the newdirector of the Cleveland-Bolivar

County Chamber of Commerce.

Tim Starnes of Cleveland was named to theAdvisory Board of the Cleveland Office ofPlanters Bank & Trust Company.

Dr. David Daigneault has been selectedsuperintendent of the Grenada SchoolDistrict.

80Valerie Martino of Ocean Springs isthe new principal at St. Martin Upper

Elementary.

Phyllis Leflore Calloway has joinedHenderson Franklin law firm as a legalassistant in Fort Myers, Florida.

Phyllis Waldron of Camden, Arkansas is anEducational Specialist/Counselor with theTRIO Program at the University of Arkansasat Monticello.

Donald Green of Clarksdalereceived a Presidential Citationfrom LULAC (League ofUnited Latin AmericanCitizens) for his work inproviding supplies for evacueesfrom Hurricane Katrina.

81Domino Bellipanni of Indianola isthe Athletic Director at Mississippi

Delta Community College.

David Wilkerson of Booneville is theOffensive Coordinator at NortheastMississippi Community College where theywon the North Division Junior CollegeFootball Championship.

Richard Manning of Seabrook, Texas is asergeant over the Burglary ApprehensionResponse Squad for the Harry County

Waldron

Jimmy Johnston of Olive Branch is the newAssistant Principal at Lewisburg ElementarySchool.

Shelby Hazzard of Indianola is the Pastor ofFairview Baptist Church.

Audrey McBride of Starkville has receivedthe Million Dollar Club, Leading EdgeSociety and President’s Circle fromPrudential Starkville Properties.

Cindi Chandler of Papillion, Nebraska is anaerobics instructor and Physical TherapistAssistant.

Renee Selby Deweese is the director of salesand marketing and events co-coordinator forMain Harbor Development in Jackson.

93Brian S. Porter of Saltillo has beenelected to Community Bank

President.

Robin Carruth of Tupelo received a “Teacherof Distinction Award.”

Charles Sikes of Hot Springs Village,Arkansas is teaching tenth grade biology atLakeside High School.

Darry (D.D.) Hardy ofMemphis, Tennessee receivedPfizer’s Vice PresidentsManagement Cabinet Award forbeing the “Top Sales Manager”for 2005.

James White of Cleveland opened the DeltaDriver Education School Express Service inCleveland.

94Helen Armstrong Krause is the SeniorArt Director at Robert Ryttar and

Associate Design Firm in Baltimore,Maryland.

Jennifer Abraham of NewRoads, Louisiana has beennamed the Director of OralHistory Department at LSU.

95Marvin Freeman ofBrandon has been

promoted to Assistant Vice-President of Trustmark Bank in Laurel.

John Newton of Bentonia hasaccepted a Senior AutomobileClaim Representative positionwith Progressive Insurance.

John Randall (Randy) Palmerof Madison is a pharmaceuticalspecialty sales representative

with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

90Amelia Massengill of Baldwin hasjoined the Speech Therapy Program

at Wheeler High School.

Rhonda Roark Bagby, CPA, of Jackson hasbeen named CFO for Humana’s SoutheastRegion for nine states.

Ross Reily a native of Cleveland has accepteda position as Executive Editor for the DeltaDemocrat Times in Greenville.

Philip Hardy completed his three-year tourwith the USAF as a pilot and accepted a jobwith UPS flying the MDII and will be basedin Louisville, Kentucky.

Heath Thompson is the AssociateAdministrator of Ocean Springs Hospital inOcean Springs.

91Wayne V. Rodolfich of Biloxi is nowsuperintendent of the Pascagoula

School District. He recently received theTerrell H. Bell Award for SchoolLeadership from the U. S. Dept.of Education for his leadershipin achieving dramatic increasesin student achievement whileprincipal at Gautier HighSchool.

Dr. Ashley Steen Reich of Baton Rouge, LApublished a children’sbook “Izzy Lizzy.”

Richard Showse Myers,Jr., has been elected tomembership in the lawfirm Stites & Harbisonin its

Nashville, Tennessee office.

Nicole Menotti of Jackson hasbeen named assistant principalat Boyd Elementary.

Gentry Boswell of Papillion,Nebraska is a Major in theUSAF at Offutt AFB flying on the AirborneCommand Post.

Christy McBrayer is a writer and performerin comedy clubs where she does a “Southern”act in New Orleans.

Rodney McCoy is a CPA with Smith,Turner, & Reeves in Jackson.

92Michelle Bailey of Cleveland wasnamed to the Advisory Board of the

Cleveland Office of Planters Bank & TrustCompany.

Lynda Edwards of Cleveland has beenappointed the Development Director forSaint Joseph Catholic School System.

Sheriff ’s Office in Houston, Texas.

83Sandy Huerta was elected President ofthe Cleveland Junior Auxiliary.

Donald Swafford has joined Merchants andFarmers Bank in Cleveland as a Loan Officer.

84Ken Dawson is employed withGuardsmark ILC in Memphis.

85Timothy A. Goodwin of OliveBranch received a Lifetime

Achievement Award in recognition ofLifetime of Contributions to InformationSystems.

Edward Pope of Cleveland was appointedInternational Director of Sigma Beta Clubsof Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, where he directsthe youth program.

86Beth Riley of Hernando is the newAssistant Principal at Southaven

Middle School.

87Eric Crawford of Hattiesburg hasbeen promoted to the position of

Senior Vice-President of CommercialLeading at Citizens Nation Bank inHattiesburg.

Laird Hamberlin received the WorldHunting Award, achieved by less than 50people in the world. Hamberlin is employedwith Tyco in their Fire and Security Divisionin Asia, supervising 12,000 employees.

Felicia Applegate is the Staff Accountant forSunflower County Courthouse in Indianola.

Hilary M. Sikes of Hot Springs Village,Arkansas is teaching seventh and eight gradeEnglish and drama at Jessieville MiddleSchool.

88John S. Holloway of Cordova,Tennessee has been re-

elected as President for theTennessee Emergency MedicalService Education Association.

Andy Wilson was namedSTAR teacher at Olive BranchHigh School.

Dr. Dexter L. Criss of Plattsburgh, New Yorkis an assistant professor of chemistry atPittsburgh State University and received the“Chancellor’s Award for Excellence inTeaching.”

89David Norquist of Cleveland waselected to the Mississippi House of

Representatives for District 28.


Holloway

Myers

Reich

Freeman

Hardy

Rodolfich

Palmer


with the classes

96Jason Cumberland of Brandongraduated from officer Candidate

School and is a platoon leader with the114th Military Police Company in Clinton.

Molly Chiz has been promoted to SeniorSales Consultant with NovartisPharmaceuticals in Fort Worth, Texas.

Mande W. Miller is a counselor at ItawambaCommunity College in Fulton.

Margaret Kathleen Ries Shows ofDunwoody, Georgia is the Senior FinancialAnalyst at Atlanta Spirit for the NBA –Atlanta Hawks and NHL – AtlantaThrashers.

William Keith Gibson of Cleveland is a LoanOfficer at State Bank & Trust Company.

97Melissa Farris is a PC SupportTechnician at Northwest Mississippi

Community College, in Senatobia.

Heather Pennington Homan of Clinton wasnamed “2005 Teacher of the Year” for theSecond Congressional District.

Andy J. Clark of Jackson was accepted to theMississippi College School of Law.

Mary Zaremba Burns is a Forensic Chemistwith the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office inNew Orleans.

Mia Fioranelli of Memphis has beenpromoted to rehab director at a long termcare facility.

98Jerry Floate of Southaven is theAssistant Principal at Hernando

Middle School.

A.J. Baird of Springfield, Missouri is theDirector of Operations for Bancorp ofMissouri, dba McAlister’s Deli.

Steven A. Miller of Baton Rouge, Louisianais the Senior Vice President of StrategicPlanning, Product & IS for AssociatedGrocer, Inc.

99Laura L. Naron of Memphis waselected president of the Tennessee

Health Care Association.

Melanie Estridge of Flowood has beenpromoted to manager of Haddox Reid Burksand Calhoun PLLC.

Joey Brown is a Service Representative forComputer Services in Atlanta, Georgia.

00John Bowman, Jr. of Clarksdalebecame the youngest President of

CWA Union Local 6355, which representsMissouri State Workers.

Wendy McClain of Merigold accepted aposition as city clerk for Cleveland.

Jessica Rose Springfield a nativeof Greenwood has beenpromoted to student loanofficer at Trustmark Bank inJackson.

Nicole Whittington is theAdvertising andCommunications manager for Sam’s TownCasino in Tunica.

01Tiffanie Roncali Russell of Clevelandis a Special Education Teacher at

Ruleville Central Elementary.

Allyson Langford Killough is an EnglishTeacher at Desoto Central High School.

Felicia Forbes of Ridgeland is an art teacherwas awarded the 2005 “MAEA MississippiMiddle School Art Teacher of the YearAward.”

Barbara Haferkamp of Southaven is now theDirector of Secondary Education of theDesoto County School District.

02Stephanie Sella Brown is a LoanOfficer with Sun America Mortgage

in Atlanta, Georgia.

Justin Ferguson of Independence has joinedthe Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation as aRegional Manager for Northwest Mississippi.

03Keith Ann Hayes Carter of Pensacola,Florida is a teacher at Ferry Pass

School.

Miller Arant of Ruleville teaches physicaleducation, civics, history and athletics atCentral Delta Academy in Inverness.

Nicole Millican of Belzoni teaches secondgrade at Central Delta Academy in Inverness.

Jennifer Armstrong is a speech therapist atBaptist DeSoto in Southaven.

04Jessica E. Epting of Hernando is aBiology Teacher at Hernando High

School.

Michelle Sella is an Account Representativewith Time Plus in Atlanta, Georgia.

Logan Mosby is the new staff photographerfor The Delta Democrat Times newspaper inCleveland.

Jason Adams is a teacher in Pensacola,Florida.

Eric Brewer and wife Elena Bivol aremissionaries in Moldova.

Jameco Malone of Clarksdale is anapartment manager of seven senior carecomplexes in North Mississippi.

Syreeia Connee Jones of Tunica joined Crye-Leike, Realtors as an affiliate broker.

John A. “Bo” Williams II of Ridgeland hasjoined the Ridgeland firm of Matthews,Cutrer, and Lindsey PA.

05Patricia Tucker of Cleveland wasnamed 2004-2005 “In School

Coordinator of the Year” for the ClevelandSchool District.

Robert Brinson of Florence is a social studiesteacher at Shaw High School. He is also afootball coach and assistant baseball coach.

Barbara Henry of Cleveland is a NationalBoard Certified Teacher.

Bernadette Sayles of Water Valley receivedthe 2005 NCAA “Woman of the YearAward” for Mississippi.

Elizabeth Joel of Doddsville joined TheBolivar Commercial newspaper as anadvertising representative.

Michelle Hodges of Indianola is employedwith The Bolivar Commercial newspaper asan advertising representative.

Jean King of Southaven is the AssistantPrincipal at Horn Lake Elementary School.

Lisa Steiner of Lake Cormorant is the newAssistant Principal at Hernando HighSchool.

Melissa Johnson of Senatobia is a teacher atColdwater Elementary.

Patrick House is Special Events andPromotions Coordinator for Isle of CapriCasino in Vicksburg.

Heather Hilderbrand of Bentonia is theDelta State University Cheerleader Sponsor.

Springfield

Send us your news!

[email protected]


In Memoriam

Wedding BellsSharon Katherine Keller ’96 to Dr. ToddJ. Batenhorst on October 16, 2004.

Kelli Lauree Davis ’03 to Jason GrangerCotton on November 26, 2004.

Frances Usrey ’79 to David Raley onDecember 11, 2004.

Susie Campbell to Tommy Poirier ’89 onApril 9, 2005.

Karie Sue McCarty ’05 to Roy ReedMcCaleb, Jr. on June 11, 2005.

Lauren Manning to Andy Kirk ’01 onJune 18, 2005.

Jessica Monica Johnson ’05 to LarryO’Neal Franklin, Jr. on June 25, 2005.

Aimee Aline Boekhoff to Joseph ScottBiagioli ’00 on July 9, 2005.

Crystal Earline Coleman to Dr. WilliamNeil Quinton ’98 on July 23, 2005.

Claire Elizabeth Duprel ’04 to KeithWilson Lewis on August 13, 2005.

Jennifer Leigh Musgrove to WilliamMichael (Mich) McAdory ’01 on August20, 2005.

Jennifer Britt to James ChristopherMcCaslin ’00 on September 3, 2005.

Heather Lynn Maddox ’03 to RobertLeslie Walker on September 24, 2005.

Julia Carol Cates ’86 to Robert RandolphNeeley on September 24, 2005.

Marcia Giffin Wheeler ’03 to Jamie AllenHouser on October 8, 2005.

Brandy Lauren Battistelli ’05 to RobertGrant on October 22, 2005.

Amy Carol Winstead to Morgan WadeStewart ’04 on November 12, 2005.

Kristi Kornelia Harris-Murphy to DonellDevale Maxie ’03 on December 10, 2005.

Christan (Christie) Dill ’04 to MatthewSledge ’04 on December 10, 2005.

Susan Lee McCarty to Brain Blansett ’04on December 17, 2005.

Dana Frances Barry ’03 to Lee BradleyWhite ’03 on January 14, 2006.

Robert Allen Arnold on October 25Sarah Lee Ball ’30 on September 2Brenda L. Barnett ’84 on July 1William A. Baskin ’80 on July 18

Skippy D. Beasley ’68 on February 4Luther L. Beddingfield ’72 on March 14Estelle M. Bedwell ’36 on February 27

Dr. Farilyn Philen Bell ‘68 on August 7

Ruby Westbrook Bell on September 7Sally Hill Bolding on July 25Julia Elizabeth Brown Davis ’36 on August 4

R. Wayne Cole ’73 on November 30Glarry C. Dickey ’75 on October 31Lawrence “Larry” Feduccia ’48 on December 6Joseph L. Fields ’92 on July 26

Shon O. Fryery ’75 on February 12Shirley S. Galey ’89 on March 19John L. Gary ’54 on November 12

Roy R. Gerrard on October 25Erma Givens ’33 on May 20Elliott K. Harbison ’64 on September 26

James R. Hannah ’61 on February 6

Stanley H. Hathorn ’61 on November 5

Melvin S. Hemphill ’38 on December 7Johnny Hendrix ’71 on March 24Dennis Hudson ’65 on November 6Jo M. Jenkins ’70 on October 26Linda Kremer ‘63 on August 12

Sammie H. McKee ’63 on December 19Bobby Moore ’55 on April 8Donna Morris ’74 on April 5Carlee W. Nevel, Sr. ‘50 on February 8Travis E. “Red” Parker ‘56 on September 21John Pieralisi ’71 on May 13

Sally McCrary Puryear ‘59 on May 18Dr. Katharine Rea ’36 on March 13

Frances V. Reynolds ’81 on November 4Percy Rice ’62 on August 11Gene W. Sias ’04 on May 18James Shields ‘71 on July 26Reginald Oliver Simmons, Jr. ’67 on May 5Stephen E. Simmons ’70 on August 6Dr. Charlie Sinclair ‘51 on September 14Dr. Robert C. Tibbs ‘53 on July 25Dr. Larry Lee Thornton on October 30Forrest D. Walton, Jr. ’94 on September 10

Paul Whittington ’59 on January 7Alva Clyde (A.C.) Williams, Jr. on December 22

Thomas O. Wilson ’56 on October 12Lucille H. Wolfe ’77 on August 12Dr. Fred E. Woodall on January 12Christine Taylor Young, ‘41 on July 21

Dudley I. Young, Jr. ’61 on November 7 Billy Daniel Bowman ’62 on January 12, 2006

Helen R. Sizemore, ’34, on January 26, 2006

All deaths are in 2005 unless otherwise indicated.


Baby Statesmen

Nichols de La Chapelle Fennell Lee Lewis Line White Zuniga Magee DavidsonDuease

with the classes

Hitt StephensKiinhl

Mackenzie

TempleHowell Mayhan Dill Crawford

Anna Lewis to Mr. and Mrs. Allen Cade Bryant (Tanna MichellePate ’03) on January 13, 2004.

Isabella Grace to Mr. and Mrs. Justin Nichols (Alison Blount ’00)on March 4, 2004.

Finlay Allison to Mr. and Mrs. Henri de La Chapelle (Shane Flautt’88) on April 30, 2004.

Campbell Lea to Mr. and Mrs. John Duease (Cathy Wixted ’94) onSeptember 2, 2004.

Lawson Fennell to Mr. and Mrs. Dee Steed ‘00 (Kimberly Fennell’99) on September 15, 2004.

Mary Cambre to Mr. and Mrs. Andy Lee ’97 on November 23,2004.

Jacob Eli to Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Lewis (Jana Hathcock ’00) onDecember 17, 2004.

John Christopher to Mr. and Mrs. John Christopher Cox ’96 onDecember 28, 2004.

Leonard O’Neal to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard O’Neal Gillespie, Sr.(Candace Hampton ’01) on January 5, 2005.

Samuel Nolan to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Line ’01 (Patricia Taylor ’01)on January 25, 2005.

Katherine Dianne to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Scott White ’92 (CydnieBarranco ’96) on January 26, 2005.

Frank Henry to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zuniga (Mandy Ervin ’02) onFebruary 10, 2005.

Tierany Ann to Mr. and Mrs. Twentis S. Magee ’98 (Yolanda Dixon’98) on March 23, 2005.

Charlotte to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Beard ’85 on April 2, 2005.

Mary Taylor to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Montesi ’00 (Christy Riddle’94) on April 21, 2005.

Evelyn Rose “Ella” and Mary Michael to Mr. and Mrs. JeffreyFioranelli ’01 (Patricia Ann Bailey ’01) on May 16, 2005.

Olivia Hays to Mr. and Mrs. Neil Davidson ’01 (April Cheek ’00)on May 18, 2005.

Taylor Mackenzie to Mr. and Mrs. Sean Jones (Stephanie Taylor’02) on May 27, 2005.

Homer Lester to Mr. and Mrs. Homer Sledge III (Susan Brown ’98)on June 5, 2005.

Kaitly Elizabeth to Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Smith (Lynn Ouzts ’94) onJune 9, 2005.

Anna Lawrence and Margaret (Maggie) Elizabeth to Mr. and Mrs.Richard Warren Manning, Jr. ’98 (Aimee Brooke Brandon ’99) onJune 14, 2005.

Hunter Lee and Hannah Grace to Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Kelly (BethGladden ’97) on June 30, 2005.

Neely Catherine to Mr. and Mrs. David Neal Kiihnl ’02 (Jamie Free’02) on June 30, 2005.

Austin Colton to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Howell (Tara Edwards ’01) onJuly 1, 2005.

Cabot Hudson and Elleni “Elle” Sloane to Mr. and Mrs. GeorgeNassar ’91 (Kimberly Ouzts ’95) on July 9, 2005.

Grayson Lamar to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lamar Temple ’94 (KristenLipscomb ’96) on July 12, 2005.

Elly Katherine to Mr. and Mrs. Taff Hitt ’98 (Kate Ibsen ’01) onJuly 27, 2005.

Camryn Nicole to Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Stephens (Jennifer Allen’99) on August 2, 2005.

Audrey Madison to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Crawford (Meredith Sims’99) on August 4, 2005.

Campbell Williams to Mr. and Mrs. Allen B. Towles ’03 (CallieSellers ’02) on August 11, 2005.

Kaden to Mr. and Mrs. Kelon Dill (Stacy Farish ’02) on August 18,2005.

Kelly Nassar

To announce your newborn, wedding, job change

or other significant eventin your life, send an email to

[email protected].

Or mail to Box 3104,

Cleveland, MS 38733.

Please include a photo and detailed information.

Caroline “Carrie” to Mr. and Mrs. Jay Maggio ’96 (Amy Denton’94) on September 23, 2005.

Caleb Morris to Mr. and Mrs. Justin “Fish” Robinson ’00 (ElizabethEure ’97) on October 4, 2005.

Marianna Elizabeth to Mr. and Mrs. David Keith Fulcher ’83 onOctober 24, 2005.

Katy Belle to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mayhan ’98 on October 24,2005.

Luke Hamilton to Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Smith ’00 (Lesley Smith’00) on November 21, 2005.

John Hansel to Mr. and Mrs. John Aegerter (Lou Ann King ’93) onDecember 13, 2005.

Anna Veston to Mr. and Mrs. David Joel Deer (Amy Moyer ’98) onDecember 29, 2005.

Anna Woods to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Neal Hebert, II ’04 (MelanieDiane Blansett ’00) on January 8, 2006.

Complete the form below to become an active member of theDELTA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION!

SSN#______________________Class of or years attended __

Name: ____________________________________________

Nickname: ______________Birthdate: ________________

Address: __________________________________________

City/State/Zip: ______________________________________

Employer: ________________________________________

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Email: ____________________________________________

Phone (H): ____________(W): ______________(C): ___________For our tax records, please use your full legal name.

SPRING 06

Pleach check the type membership that best suits your needs:

1 year ($20 single, $30 joint) Life ($300 single, $400 joint)

I would also like to join the following alumni groups:

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Total amount enclosed: ______________________________

Check VISA Mastercard

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Name: (exactly as it appears on card)____________________

Signature: ________________Exp. Date: ________________

Life dues can be paid in installments of $50 each year.

Make Checks payable to: DSU Alumni AssociationMail to: Box 3104, Cleveland, MS 38733

A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E 29

Marianna Fulcher, right, six months, andAshley Weeks, six weeks, sport DeltaState baby bibs recently ordered by theAlumni Association for "Baby Statesmen."Marianna is the daughter of Keith ('83)and Anne Fulcher and Ashley is thedaughter of Johnny and Dena BarfieldWeeks ('04). Alumni with recentlydelivered "Baby Statesmen" can contactthe Alumni office at (662) 846-4660 oremail [email protected] to receive afree bib.


Keep Us Posted...

What better way to let your classmates know where you are and what youare doing than through the “Alumni Updates”?

Tell us about yourself: Recently married? Taken a new job? Beenpromoted? Changed addresses? Welcomed new children?

Name

Maiden Name

Social Security #

Address

Phone(s): (H): (W): (C):

City State Zip

Graduation Year or Year attended:

Date of Birth E-mail address

Here’s my update:

Mail to: Alumni Office, Box 3104,DSU, Cleveland, Mississippi 38733

or Fax to (662) 846-4713 or e-mail to [email protected]

Alumni Update

SHOW YOUR PRIDE IN DSUPurchase a logo car tag!

FALL 05

The Delta State University Student Alumni Associationrecently elected new officers, including (l. to. r.) KelseyAtkinson of Oxford, Dominique Milton of Batesville, NatalieDicharo of Brookhaven, Chelsea Shepard of Cleveland, DrewBarham of Coldwater, Christy Granberry of Raymond.

Former roommates reunited after 40 years. From left toright, Evelyn Echols of Memphis, Philip Farr of Guatamalaand Sylvia and Bobby Ferguson of Iuka were thrilled to seeone another again, and spent much of the day recalling theirtimes as undergraduates.

At a recent Natchez alumni meeting, Vicki Fioranelli, DeltaState alumni director, presented Floyd Eppinette, '56, withthe association's distinguished alumnus award.

The Bolivar County Alumni Association’s Crawfish BoilPlanning Committee met recently to discuss its “MudbugCelebration,” an annual event held in early May. Pictured (l.to r., front row) Ryan Short; Bill Quinton, chapter president;Callie Towles; (l. to r., back row) Paul Mancini; Jim Avery;Rileyann Smith; and Michael Aguzzi.

Front row, from left: Debbie Brock, Pam Piazza, Tish Fahey, Sheri Haynes, and Mandy Fortenberry. Second row, from left: ManagerLaura Beth Penn, Janie Evans, Jackie Caston, Judy Davis, Virginia Shackleford, Cornelia Ward, Wanda Hairston, and Manager DianneDove. Back row, from left: Head Coach Margaret Wade, Ramona Von Boeckman, Mary Logue, Lusia Harris, Angel Fortenberry, andAssistant Coach Phil Adair.

19761976 A.I.A.W. National Champions

With this, the 30th anniversary of Delta State University’s first national championsip, theAlumni-Foundation, both congratulates and applauds the trailblazing efforts of the 1976Lady Statesmen, A.I.A.W. National Champions. Coached by the legendary Margaret Wade,the mother of modern women’s basketball, Delta State went on to win three consecutiveA.I.A.W. National Championships in 1975, 1976 and 1977. The Lady Statesmen finished the1975-76 season 33-1.

Documents

Spring 2006 • Issue 2