̫ӳ Foundation announces 2021 officers, incoming members
DzԳٲ:Addie Mayfield
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The ̫ӳFoundation is announcing 2021 leaders and incoming members for the board of directors that guides the fundraising arm of the nearly 143-year-old land-grant institution.
Incoming officers with new one-year terms that began Jan. 1 include three alumni returning to officesheld in 2019 and 2020.They are:D. Hines Brannan of Atlanta, Georgia, as board chair; Anthony L. Wilson of Gulfport as vice-chair; and Mike M. McDaniel of Houston, Texas, as treasurer.
A native of Woodville, Brannan has loyally been a member of the ̫ӳ Foundation board for more than a decade, earlier serving as vice president for three terms and treasurer for three terms. At ̫ӳ,Brannanalso was a founding member of the advisory board for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering and an executive-in-residence for the college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1970 and a Master of Business Administration the following year, both from ̫ӳ. He is a retired managing director of Accenture, one of the world’s largest management consulting firms.
Wilson hails fromD’Iberville and earned his electrical engineering degree in 1987 from ̫ӳ and later a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. He currently serves as chairman, president and CEO of Mississippi Power Company. Earlier, he was executive vice president of customer service and operations for Georgia Power.
McDaniel, who holds a 1979 bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from ̫ӳ, is a Cleveland native. He is president of Saber Power Services LLC, having earlier served as CEO of M3Resources LLC. McDaniel also has previously served as a board member.
Rounding out the remaining board officers are ̫ӳ personnel. John P. Rush, vice president for development and alumni, is the board’s president and CEO; Janet H. Carraway, executive director of finance, is chief financial officer; and Jack McCarty, executive director of development, serves as board secretary. All are ̫ӳ graduates.
New members beginning inaugural three-year terms are:
—Boyce E. Adams Sr. of Columbus. A 1980̫ӳmarketing graduate, he is a special adviser for BankTEL, the company he co-founded andwhere heserved as president and CEO for many years.At ̫ӳ, Adamsisa member of the College of Business ExecutiveAdvisory Board, the ̫ӳ Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board, and the Bulldog Club Board.
—Walter D. “David” Purvis of New Orleans, Louisiana. A 1983̫ӳchemical engineering graduate, he is a retired vice president of engineering for BHP Billitonand owner of Purvis Consultants LLC.At ̫ӳ, he serves as a member of the Petroleum Engineering Departmental Advisory BoardintheBagley College’sDave C.SwalmSchool of Chemical Engineering.
—Charles R. “Charlie” Stephenson of Tulsa, Oklahoma. A 1981̫ӳpetroleum engineering graduate, he is CEOand a directorof Bravo Natural Resources. He presently serves theuniversity’sBulldog Club Boardas vice president.
Sevenmemberswho have previously served are returning to the board in new three-year terms. They are:
—Thomas G. “Tom” Hixon Sr. of Ridgeland. A 1967̫ӳaccounting graduate, he is chairman of Phoenix Development Company LLC.At ̫ӳ, he presently serves as a member of the Bulldog Club Board.
—Herbert V. Johnson of Houston, Texas. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineeringfrom ̫ӳin 1978 and 1981, respectively, and is president of HVJ Associates Inc. At ̫ӳ, Johnson has served as a member of the advisory board for the Bagley College of Engineering.
—Linda F. Parker of Bolton.She is a longtime friend of ̫ӳ and the retired secretary of Sunbelt Wholesale Supply.
—Richard H. Puckett Sr. of Madison. A 1977̫ӳbusiness graduate, he is chairman and CEO of Puckett Machinery.At ̫ӳ, he has served the Bulldog Club Board and the College of Business Executive Advisory Board.
—Gregory C. “Gregg” Rader of Columbus. A 1984 petroleum engineering graduate of̫ӳ, he is executive chairman of Columbus Recycling Corporation. He serves as a member of the Bulldog Club Board and the Bagley Collegeof Engineeringdean’s advisory council.
—Richard A.Rulaof Ridgeland. A 1970 ̫ӳ civilengineering graduate, he is president of Hemphill Construction CompanyInc.At ̫ӳ,Rulaserves the Bulldog Club Board and the Bagley Collegeof Engineeringdean’s advisory council.
—Michael W. “Mike” Sanders of Cleveland. A 1964̫ӳphysical education graduate, he is the retired president and CEO of Jimmy Sanders Inc.At ̫ӳ, he has served as a member of the Bulldog ClubBoard.
Also joining the boardas members, by virtue of position,for 2021are SherriCarrBevis of Gulfport, president of the ̫ӳ National Alumni Association board of directors, and DavidAbney of Atlanta, Georgia, president of the ̫ӳ Bulldog Club. Bevis earned a 1986 communication degree from ̫ӳ and currentlyworks as communityrelationsliaison for Singing River Health System.Abney, a friend of the university, isthe retired CEO and executive chairman of the United Parcel Service (UPS).
Chartered in 1962, the ̫ӳ Foundation administers most of the campus-based fundraising activities and endowment funds.More information is available at and on social media @̫ӳ_Foundation.
̫ӳ is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .