Alumni Fellows 2008
The 2008 Alumni Fellows were recognized on campus during the MSU vs. Kentucky football game on November 1, 2008.
Alumni Fellows - 2008
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Joe Gordy
Joe Gordy of Brewton, Ala., is being recognized as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 2008 Alumni Fellow.
Gordy graduated from Mississippi State in 1963 with a degree in horticulture. After graduating, he spent six years in the retail floral industry and eight in commercial and residential interior planning and design.
In the early 90s, Gordy became the president of Natural Decoration Inc., a company that manufactures fine fabric floral designs and botanical reproductions. He is now retired from that position.
Gordy has enjoyed a very successful career in the floral industry, including many awards and recognitions. He once served as one of three international judges for the 93rd annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. He labels this as one of his greatest accomplishments.
In 1984, 1985 and 1986, Gordy enjoyed the distinction of decorating the Ronald Reagan White House for Christmas.
Throughout the ‘90s, Gordy served as a judge in many floral design competitions around the world. He has also represented the United States in many of these competitions.
He fondly remembers the friendships he made during his time at Mississippi State, both on campus and around Starkville.
“The MSU experiences gave me confidence and the ability to make better judgments as I traveled the road of life,” Gordy said.
Gordy now serves as the president of Gordy Development Inc. in Brewton. He is also the president of the Brewton Tree and Beautification Board.
In 2004, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences selected Gordy as its Alumni of the Year.
He and his wife Carol enjoy growing orchids, traveling, and gardening.
College of Architecture, Art and Design
Todd Walker
The College of Architecture, Art and Design is recognizing Todd Walker of Memphis, Tenn., as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
Walker studied at the University of London, Bartlett England School of Architecture and Planning until 1985. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture at Mississippi State in 1987.
Walker has held senior design positions with both of the nation’s leading healthcare design firms. He has also worked for one of the largest architectural design firms in the United States.
In 1995, Walker founded archimania, a Memphis-based architecture and interior design firm. He and his partner, Barry Alan Yoakum, have grown the company to include 15 design professionals. Archimania is known for its innovative, modern design solutions.
Walker is a member of the American Institute of Architects. He also serves on the Mississippi State School of Architecture Advisory Council. He has won many awards and has had work published in nine publications.
He says his fondest memories of Mississippi State are the many late, late nights he spent working in the architecture building with his colleagues. He also notes that his greatest accomplishment while a student as Mississippi State was the bond he created with his architecture colleagues and professors.
Walker says that the professors in the School of Architecture have had a great influence on his professional life, instilling in him a passion to create better architecture. He feels that his greatest professional accomplishment has been co-founding his company, archimania.
“I have the opportunity to help create a passion for good design in the architecture world and to foster a culture of colleagues with that same vision,” Walker said.
Walker and his wife Patricia live in Memphis.
College of Arts and Sciences
William A. Gillon and Adrienne Pakis-Gillon
The College of Arts and Sciences is recognizing William A. Gillon and Adrienne Pakis-Gillon of Germantown, Tenn., as its 2008 Alumni Fellows.
William A. “Bill” Gillon has been active in agricultural law for 25 years. His work experience includes the USDA Office of General Counsel, Senior Counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee, General Counsel of the National Cotton Council of America and private practice for the last seven years. He established his own firm in 2005.
Gillon received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mississippi State in 1980 before earning a juris doctorate degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Throughout his career, Gillon has been heavily involved in agriculture, international trade, conservation and environmental issues. He has represented the United States and private interests in negoatiations with foreign countires, serving as an official Congressional Advisor to the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations from 1988 until 1991, and later serving as a member of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for cotton, oilseeds and tobacco and an official adviser to the Doha Round of Multilateral trade negotiatons. He is lead private counse in the Brazil-U.S. WTO cotton dispute and has worked on the cutting edge of legal developments regarding the introduction of genetically enhanced commodities and the use of electronic warehouse receipts. Gillon has represented agricultural businesses and marketing cooperatives.
While in Washington, D.C., Gillon wrote significant pieces of agriculture, agricultural trade, consumer, and conservation legislation as well as regulations implementing important conservation and agriculture programs.
Gillon credits his wife with helping him achieve many of his accomplishments. “I met Adrienne at State and we were married the day after we graduated,” he said. “She has influenced me from the beginning and for the 28-plus years since. Adrienne has absolutely been the greatest influence on my personal and professional life.”
He is the son of Earl Gillon and Peggy Gillon of Gore Springs, Miss. He and his wife, Adrienne, reside in Germantown, Tenn., and have two children.
Adrienne Pakis-Gillon received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mississippi State in 1980 and later earned an MBA from the University of Georgia while her husband, Bill, attended law school. She currently serves as office manager of her husband’s law office as well as office manager for Depouw Engineering.
While she and her husband lived in the Washington, D.C., area, Pakis-Gillon became actively involved in the local chapter of the MSU Alumni Association. She served as director of programs in 1985 and president in 1986. She served as treasurer from 1986 to 1992.
She has been active in the political arena, ranging from her local mayoral races to the national political scene. This year, she was selected to represent the Seventh Congressional District of Tennessee as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. "It was a historic event and worth all the effort," she says.
Pakis-Gillon has most recently become an active volunteer in numerous community organizations, including her children’s schools, Subsidium (an auxiliary of the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf) and Airways Middle School.
While a student at MSU, Pakis-Gillon was elected Editor-in-Chief of the Reveille, the university’s student yearbook. “The opportunity provided me with valuable management skills and my first sense of trying to speak for a community in choosing the pictures to publish,” she said.
Pakis-Gillon says that she remembers most fondly “the overall feeling that I was encouraged by both the faculty and administration to take advantage of the opportunities presented, to experiment with new endeavors, and to learn from my mistakes.”
She resides in Germantown, Tenn., with her husband Bill.
College of Business
Jan Gwin
The College of Business is recognizing Jan Gwin of Memphis, Tenn., as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
A native of Greenville, Miss., Gwin received a bachelor’s degree in business from MSU in 1971. He currently serves as managing director of Morgan Keegan and Co. in Memphis. He joined the firm in 1973 as an institutional sales representative specializing in commercial bank investments and individual financial planning. Prior to joining Morgan Keegan, Gwin was a vice president with Union Planters National Bank in the investment division.
Gwin remembers his time at State fondly, citing memories created throughout his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha and through his membership on the MSU football team. Gwin cites two great accomplishments from his time at Mississippi State. First is that he graduated with a business degree in just four years while simultaneously being a student athlete. Second is the 1970 Egg Bowl victory that enabled his fellow seniors and himself to leave MSU with a winning record.
Gwin has served as president of the West Tennessee chapter of the MSU Alumni Association and as president of the Bulldog Club and the MSU “M” Club. He has also served on the board of directors of the MSU Foundation.
Gwin is married to the former Carla Kittle of Memphis and they have two children, Katie and John.
College of Education
Bruce Brawner
The College of Education is recognizing Bruce Brawner of Madison, Miss., as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
Brawner earned a Bachelor of Science degree in social science and education in 1975 and a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling in 1978, both from Mississippi State. He also completed post-graduate work at Mississippi State, working on his doctorial studies in educational psychology and counseling from 1989 to 1995.
Brawner began his professional career in the Division of Vocational Research in the Mississippi State Department of Education in 1978, as a counselor for placement and special projects. As part of the position, he helped Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center clients with handicaps locate jobs.
From 1980 to 1982, Brawner worked as a vocational consultant and consultant supervisor at Crawford Health and Rehabilitation Services in Metairie, La., and Biloxi, Miss. His job responsibilities included testing, counseling, and job placement for the industrially disabled. In 1982, he transferred to Crawford’s Jackson office, where he remained until 1998 handling the management and delivery of services to the company’s offices in Jackson, Tupelo and Decatur.
In August 1998, Brawner founded Brawner & Associates in Madison, Miss. Brawner & Association provides management and delivery of medical management, life care planning, and vocational rehabilitation services.
Brawner is a charter member of the City of Madison Chamber of Commerce and a long-time member of the Capitol Optimist Club in Jackson. He is the author of more than 50 publications or presentations.
Bagley College of Engineering
Doug Deason
The Bagley College of Engineering is recognizing Doug Deason of Houston, Texas, as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
Deason received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Mississippi State in 1980 and currently serves as an environmental adviser for ExxonMobil Refining and Supply in Houston. In his role, he is responsible for discussing clean air issues with individuals, industry groups, conference audiences, television stations and newspapers, regulators and legislators.
A native of Baton Rouge, La., Deason says his greatest professional accomplishment has been recent work with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Texas EPA, and Houston-area industry to design and implement a multi-billion dollar air quality improvement program that will benefit the Houston area’s five million residents.
Deason says his greatest accomplishments while at Mississippi State were completing five semesters as a cooperative education student, meeting his future spouse, the former Joy McCarver, and graduating to employment with a great company.
Deason is particularly grateful for his cooperative education experiences, which he credits with much of his success. “The cooperative education experiences and the practically-oriented teaching of the MSU faculty provided an excellent foundation for building a career,” Deason said. “We learned the importance of hard work with practical learning tools to solve the important problems.”
Deason and his wife reside in Houston and have two children, Drew and Rachel.
College of Forest Resources
James Earl Kennamer
The College of Forest Resources is recognizing James Earl Kennamer as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
A native of Auburn, Ala., Kennamer was the first graduate student to receive both a master’s and doctoral degree in wildlife from Mississippi State University, degrees he earned in 1967 and 1970, respectively. He currently serves as senior vice president for conservation programs with the National Wild Turkey Federation.
“I have many fond memories of the years I spent at Mississippi State and a great amount of respect for the school,” Kennamer said. “Being recognized by my alma mater for my conservation efforts is such an honor.”
For more than 28 years, Kennamer has played a key role in forging the partnerships between hunters and wildlife agencies, corporations and conservation groups, which have helped restore turkey populations across North America. His dedicated work with wildlife agencies has made a difference, moving turkey populations from 1.3 million in 1973 to more than 7 million today.
One of Kennamer’s early successes was working with the NWTF Technical Committee, bringing together state, federal and provincial agency biologists to coordinate habitat work, wild turkey restoration programs and funding through NWTF’s Making Tracks program. Through this program, the NWTF works with wildlife agencies to coordinate the trap and transfer of wild turkeys. In areas where they are abundant, wild turkeys are usually trapped via nets propelled or dropped over a feeding flock. Trapped birds are individually placed in specialized transport boxes, and then released in areas of suitable habitat with few or no wild turkeys.
Kennamer came to the NWTF from a tenured professorship at Auburn University in 1980. His leadership in wild turkey research and management has garnered respect throughout the conservation community and helped the NWTF become the driving force in conservation it is today.
Earlier this year, Kennamer was honored in outdoor Life magazine’s first annual top 25 list of people who have positively affected hunting and fishing traditions.
Kennamer and his wife Mary reside in Edgefield, S.C.
College of Veterinary Medicine
Gary Allen
The College of Veterinary Medicine is recognizing Gary Allen of Columbia, Mo., as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from MSU in 1978 and completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, also from Mississippi State, in 1981. He currently serves as vice president for information technology of the University of Missouri system and chief information officer for the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he earned his Ph.D. in microbiology in 1985.
Despite his many career accomplishments, Allen still notes his election as president of his veterinary college class as one of his greatest achievements.
He credits his parents, Gertrude Allen of Biloxi and the late Douglas Allen, with having the greatest influence on his personal and professional life, but also acknowledges the impact that his experiences at Mississippi State University had on his successes.
He says his time at State “instilled in me an understanding of the value of, and the opportunities for, lifelong learning.”
A native of Biloxi, Miss., Allen is married to the former Susan Carpenter, and they have two daughters, Haley and Julia.
MSU-Meridian
Brent Harder
Mississippi State University – Meridian is recognizing Brent Harder of Redding, Conn., as its 2008 Alumni Fellow.
Harder received an MBA from MSU-Meridian in 1993. He currently serves as senior vice president for Prudential Retirement, a division of the Prudential Insurance Company of America.
Harder credits his success in his financial career to his wife Lauri of 22 years and his experiences at MSU-Meridian. “Lauri has been my foundation and my support,” Harder said. “And I learned at MSU-Meridian to be prepared and take accountability for your actions.”
Prior to entering the financial world, Harder served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including three Western-Pacific and Persian Gulf deployments to Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia and Desert Shield.
Harder earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the Virginia Military Institute in 1985.
Harder remembers the people of MSU-Meridian fondly, citing relationships with fellow students, professors and members of the administration. “MSU-Meridian has been like a second family to me,” Harder said. “Always a place to call home.”
Born in Alexandria, Va., Harder was raised in Potomac, Md. He is the son of Jane Hargrave Harder of Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
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