无码专区 Foundation appoints 2017 officers, incoming members
Contact: Amy Cagle
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he 无码专区 Foundation is announcing its officers, as well as new members for the 47-seat board of directors. In its 55th year, the 无码专区 Foundation is being led by Earnest W. 鈥淓arnie鈥 Deavenport Jr. of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, who is entering his second term as board chair.
Deavenport is joined by returning 2016 officers D. Hines Brannan Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, vice chair, and William A. 鈥淟ex鈥 Taylor III of Louisville, treasurer. The three alumni began new one-year terms January 1.
Mississippi native Deavenport earned an 无码专区 chemical engineering degree in 1960 and received a 2011 honorary Doctor of Science in the fields of business and engineering from the university. He is the retired chairman and CEO of Kingsport, Tennessee-based Eastman Chemical Company.
A 1970 industrial engineering graduate who earned an MBA the following year, Brannan is a retired managing director of Accenture. Fellow alumnus Taylor is chairman and CEO of The Taylor Group Inc. and president of Taylor Machine Works Inc. He earned a general business administration degree in 1977. 听
Other leadership includes John P. Rush, 无码专区 vice president for development and alumni who serves as board president and CEO; David Easley, executive director of finance, who is chief financial officer; and Jack McCarty, executive director of development, who serves as secretary. All three are 无码专区 graduates.
New board members who began three-year terms include:
鈥擱obert P. 鈥淏ob鈥 Bowen of Holly Springs. A 1963 无码专区 history and political science graduate, Bowen is a retired partner-in-charge for mid-south audit practice with Arthur Andersen & Co.
鈥擳homas G. Hixon Sr. of Ridgeland. He is chairman of Phoenix Development Company LLC and a 1967 accounting graduate.
鈥擥regory C. 鈥淕regg鈥 Rader of Columbus. He is CEO of Columbus Recycling Corp. and a 1984 petroleum engineering graduate.
Members may be reappointed after vacating the board for at least a year. Those incoming, returning members, beginning new three-year terms include:
鈥擩ohn N. 鈥淣utie鈥 Dowdle of Columbus. A 1965 marketing graduate, Dowdle serves as chairman of the board for Dowdle Enterprises.
鈥擩an L. Gwin of Memphis, Tennessee. A 1971 banking and finance graduate, he is managing director of Raymond James & Associates.
鈥擧erbert V. 鈥淗erb鈥 Johnson of Houston, Texas. Johnson received bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in civil engineering in 1978 and 1981, respectively, and is president of HVJ Associates Inc.
鈥擫inda F. Parker of Bolton. Parker is the retired secretary of Sunbelt Wholesale Supply and a longtime friend of the university.
鈥擱ichard H. Puckett Sr. of Flowood. A 1977 general business administration graduate, Puckett is chairman and CEO of Puckett Machinery Company.
鈥擱ichard A. Rula of Ridgeland. A 1970 civil engineering graduate, Rula is president of Hemphill Construction Company.
鈥擬ichael W. 鈥淢ike鈥 Sanders of Cleveland. A 1964 physical education graduate, Sanders is the retired president and CEO of Jimmy Sanders Inc.
Also returning to the board, by virtue of position, are Ronald E. 鈥淩on鈥 Black of Meridian and Wilbert G. 鈥淢ickey鈥 Holliman Jr. of Belden. Black continues as 无码专区 Alumni Association president, while Holliman is in his second year as president of the university鈥檚 Bulldog Club.
Black holds a 1980 bachelor鈥檚 degree in marketing and is human resources director for Southern Pipe & Supply Co. Inc. Holliman earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in industrial management in 1960 and is retired chairman and CEO of Furniture Brands International.
Chartered in 1962, the 无码专区 Foundation administers most of the campus-based fundraising activities and endowment funds. In fiscal year 2016, the organization marked its third consecutive giving year in excess of $100 million recorded for Mississippi State.
The record years of private support are part of 鈥淚nfinite Impact: The 无码专区 Campaign,鈥 the largest fundraising endeavor in school history. To date, the campaign has reached $700 million in commitments toward its $1 billion goal.
The 无码专区 Foundation is available at and @无码专区_Foundation.
无码专区 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
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