The 2009 Alumni Fellows have been announced and will return to campus November 12-14, 2009, to be recognized and to share their specialized academic and work experience with students and faculty.
Congratulations to the 2009 class of Alumni Fellows. Thank you for your service to Mississippi State University!
Honorable William J. “Billy” McCoy, of Rienzi, will represent the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. McCoy is a 1964 graduate with a degree in agriculture and extension education.
Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, McCoy, D-Miss, is currently serving his eighth term as representative for House District 3 in Alcorn and Prentiss counties. Since taking office in January 1980, McCoy has become a guiding force in efforts to improve Mississippi’s public schools and community colleges. He was instrumental in passing the Mississippi Adequate Education Program in 1997, which is one of the premier education bills passed in recent years. He also worked tirelessly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to ensure that Gulf Coast communities were rebuilt.
A native of Prentiss County, McCoy attended Booneville High School and Northeast Community College. He has been a lifelong farmer and businessman, and partners with his son, Sam, in a family farm and wholesale fish bait business. In his career, he has served as a vocational agriculture teacher, a loan officer with the Farmers Home Administration, and an auditor with the State Department of Audit.
McCoy’s fondest memories at Mississippi State were shortly after he married his wife, Edith. The McCoy family enjoyed spending time with their friends and fellow married couples in a housing complex on campus.
During his time at MSU, McCoy learned to devote time and attention necessary to achieve academic success. He believes his efforts in college greatly impacted his personal and professional life through the years.
McCoy credits his family to much of his success.
“My mother and my father, my wife, my son and my daughter have had the greatest influence on my personal and professional life,” he said.
Apart from his public service career, McCoy is a member of Gaston Baptist Church and the Prentiss County Farm Bureau. He is also a Shriner and Scottish Rite Mason.
McCoy and his wife, Edith, have two children: a son, Sam, and a daughter, Kim Eubank. They have four grandchildren, Molly Beth and Chloe Eubank and Lee and Tate McCoy.
Ms. Kimberly A. Brown, AIA, has been selected as Fellow for the College of Architecture, Art and Design. She is a 1994 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, and also holds a master’s in the same field from Yale University.
The Starkville native is former director of the Carl Small Town Center (CSTC) at Mississippi State University. She led the program at her alma mater from 2002-2006. The CSTC is a community design center that pairs faculty and students from the College of Architecture, Art and Design with professional architects to help cities and towns in Mississippi develop community-based projects.
While serving as director, Brown helped inspire, develop and manage the creative direction of CSTC. She also initiated and maintained client relationships, sought out funding for the center, helped manage projects, and served as a spokesperson on local, regional and national levels.
Brown thoroughly enjoyed her time at MSU as both a faculty member and a student.
“My favorite memory was during a late spring snowfall while throwing snowballs with my Chi Omega sisters in front of the sorority house,” she said. She also remembers walking through a cardboard labyrinth built by Dr. Rachel McCann’s 2nd year studio class.
“My greatest accomplishment while at State was being an exchange student at The Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands. That experience engendered a love for travel and inspired me to teach,” she said.
Brown is currently project architect for SHoP Architects PC in New York City. In this role, she has worked on projects such as the Fashion Institute of Technology C Building, the East River Waterfront, 13th Street Residences and the Leroy Street Hotel. Helping the vision of clients become reality gives Brown her greatest sense of professional accomplishment.
Mr. Mark A. Worthey, of McKinney, Texas, will represent the College of Arts & Sciences as Alumni Fellow. He is a 1984 graduate with a bachelor of science in petroleum geology.
Worthey was born in Rockford, Ill., but spent most of his childhood in Hamilton, Miss.
While at Mississippi State, Worthey enjoyed attending football games and other sporting events. His greatest accomplishment as a student was the day he received his diploma from his beloved alma mater.
“I credit the education I received at Mississippi State to allowing me to get a good job,” he said.
Worthy says his greatest professional accomplishment was ringing the bell to close the New York Stock Exchange.
Currently, Worthy is president at McClaren Resources Inc. in McKinney, Texas, where he and his wife Rhonda live.
Mr. Lee D. Miller, of Ridgeland, is Fellow for the College of Business. Miller is a 1979 graduate with a bachelor of science degree in transportation. He also has a master’s of business administration from Mississippi College.
When Miller was asked his fondest memory at Mississippi State, he said, “That’s easy! I met my wife on the campus and we’ve been married for over thirty years. Second to that would be the friendships that have come through MSU, both as a student and since then as an alumnus. The people of Mississippi State are the greatest!”
“My wife, son, daughter and their spouses have all earned at least one degree from Mississippi State,” said Miller. “I worked very hard to obtain my degree, and am very proud of it. My whole family feels the same way.”
Miller came to MSU with a core set of values that were instilled in him by his parents. He believes his experience in college helped build on that foundation and refine it.
“There are life lessons waiting for you every day and around every corner at State,” he said. “Sometimes they find you; sometimes you have to seek them out. Your education in and outside the classroom are what prepare you for your future.”
Miller serves as president of Miller Transporters, Inc. in Ridgeland, a business started by his grandfather in the midst of World War II.
“I’ve worked there since graduation and have had the opportunity to work with extended family and hundreds of other great people,” he said. “I consider this a great accomplishment.”
Starting out in Birmingham, Ala., Miller first served as a dispatcher for the family-owned company. He was later the assistant terminal manager in Mobile, Ala. and terminal manager in El Dorado, Ark.
Apart from his transportation career, Miller also serves on the Mississippi State College of Business Advisory Board, the Mississippi College School of Business Advisory Board and the American Chemistry Council Responsible Care Partner Steering Group.
Dr. Regina P. Sanford, supervisor of secondary instruction at St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, will represent the College of Education as the Alumni Fellow.
Sanford, of Covington, La., is a 1991 graduate with a doctorate in secondary education. Her undergraduate and master’s degrees are from the University of Southern Mississippi.
A Laurel native, Sanford credits much of her success to the things she learned at MSU.
“My education at Mississippi State exposed me to multiple viewpoints within my area of study,” she said. Professionally, with over 20 years of public school experience as a teacher and administrator, Sanford enjoys being able to positively influence the future through her work with high school students.
Sanford also owes many accomplishments to her husband, Bobby, who, she says, is the greatest influence on her life. “Bobby is my compass for every decision whether personal or professional.” Together they have championed the priorities of Mississippi State working tirelessly in the Pearl River County and New Orleans chapters of the Alumni Association. Sanford gives a significant amount of time volunteering her time to Mississippi State because she believes in the power of public education and values the quality of programs that State offers prospective students.
Her hobbies include reading, watching MSU sports, and traveling.
Mr. R. Steven “Steve” Boggan, a 1986 graduate in biological engineering, represents the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. Boggan, a native of Tupelo, is president of BioHorizons Implant Systems, Inc. in Birmingham, Ala.
According to their Web site, BioHorizons Implant System is one of the fastest growing oral reconstructive device companies in the world. They are known for using science and innovation to create unique implants with proven surgical and esthetic results.
Mississippi State made a huge impact on Boggan’s life. He believed the challenges by his professors and classes are what pushed him to succeed.
“I enjoyed the whole college experience,” he said. “From meeting lifelong friends and receiving an outstanding education, Mississippi State provided an educational background that prepared me for success in my career.”
When Boggan joined BioHorizons, the company was nearing bankruptcy. Through hard work and dedication, Boggan helped it become one of the top oral companies in the world, something he considers as his greatest professional accomplishment.
Boggan and his wife Julie live in Birmingham. He also holds master’s degrees from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and the University of Memphis.
Ms. Edith “Edy” Williams-Rhodes has been chosen as Fellow for the College of Forest Resources. Williams-Rhodes is a 1976 forestry graduate and is a retired Division Chief for the Division of Fire and Aviation with the National Park Service in Washington, DC.
This Prentiss native remembers many fond days spent at MSU. Whether it was walking around campus on a beautiful fall afternoon, spending time with family or friends, or participating in forestry club activities, she truly enjoyed her time at State.
Williams-Rhodes knew from a young age that she wanted to be a forester. As a child, she tagged along in the woods with her father, Dan Williams, a fellow forester and a 1951 graduate in the first class of forestry students at MSU.
While at MSU, Williams-Rhodes believed her greatest accomplishment was surviving forestry summer camp, a well-deserved feat in the hot, humid Mississippi climate. She also felt that her participation in the cooperative education program, challenging courses, and labs helped prepare her for her career.
Though now retired from forestry, her career included serving as the first female in several leadership positions. This included becoming the first female Area Commander for the Incident Command System for wildland fire and emergency response. Also, she became the first female Regional Fire Director for the United States Forest Service. Reflecting on her career, she said she hoped her legacy was, “Making it easier for women, minorities and young employees to see themselves in non-traditional roles and leadership positions”.
Currently, Williams-Rhodes lives in Hattiesburg with her husband, Tony, and is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Don Nace, Inc, specializing in real estate sales and investing.
Dr. Bruce L. Clark will represent the College of Veterinary Medicine as Alumni Fellow. Clark is a 1981 graduate in biochemistry and received a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1982. He is very proud to be a member of the second class admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“MSU provided tremendous preparation for the veterinary profession with the many aspects it covered from small animal to food animal,” he said.
Clark owes much of his success to talented professors who impacted his personal and professional life.
“Dr. John Fuquay started me in my career as a specialist in animal reproduction,” said Clark. “Dr. Steven Van Camp and Dr. Phil Sears nurtured that interest while a student at MSU.”
As a specialist and board certified in theriogenology, Clark has spent much of his professional career focused on teaching, researching and practicing in the field of bovine reproduction. For 10 years, he served as an associate professor with MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine teaching, among other things, food animal production and animal reproduction.
“I was privileged to be on faculty at Mississippi State,” he said. “My experience teaching was one of the fondest memories I have in my career.”
Currently, Clark serves as director of training and technical services development at NorthStar Cooperative in East Lansing, Mich. NorthStar provides products and services for herd management. Clark leads education and training courses for new hires, as well as professional development for staff.
While a student at Mississippi State, he enjoyed attending basketball games and spending time with friends at baseball games in the Left Field Lounge.
Clark and his wife, Vicki, live in Coldwater, Mich.
Dr. Mary L. Hooper, of Meridian, will represent MSU-Meridian as Fellow. She received her doctorate in elementary education from MSU in 1982.
Hooper began her career as an elementary school teacher in Meridian Public Schools. After several years, she came to Mississippi State to pursue her doctorate degree. She spent her career focused on teaching and developing programs based on early childhood development.
“My greatest professional accomplishment was the development of the Child Development Program at Meridian Community College,” she said.
In addition to being an instructor and program director at Meridian Community College, Hooper also has teaching experience at Mississippi State at both the Starkville and Meridian campuses.
“I had a wonderful working relationship with the faculty at Mississippi State,” she said. “My experience there helped me to learn to organize and overcome obstacles.”
In addition to her degree from Mississippi State, Hooper holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Millsaps College and a master’s in education from the University of Mississippi.
Active in her community, Hooper is on the executive board of the Pilot Club, a member of the Meridian Symphony League, and has been an active member of Central United Methodist Church for over 32 years.
She has been married to Randy Hooper for over 30 years, and the couple has five children and one grandson.
