Contact: Denise M. Cosper
Ripley banker Bobby P. Martin is Mississippi State University's 1999 National Alumnus of the Year.
The Walnut native and 1956 agronomy graduate received the surprise honor Friday night [Jan. 29] at the MSU Alumni Association's annual awards banquet on campus.
Martin is chairman of the board and president of The Peoples Bank in Ripley. He also holds a degree from the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking.
In presenting the award, executive director John V. Correro said the association is "delighted to be able to honor such an active supporter of the university.
"Through his contributions to Mississippi State, Bobby has established an endowed scholarship fund and helped the university build our annual scholarship program through the challenge he and Barbara issued last fall," said Correro.
In November, Martin and his wife challenged other MSU alumni and friends to contribute to annual university or college-based scholarships. They offered to match individual $1,000 Patrons of Excellence-level gifts, up to $500,000.
"Their generosity has helped the university attract more than 400 Patrons-level gifts for scholarships and that number is steadily climbing," Correro added.
Martin is a member of the Rural Development Advisory Committee formed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman. The 30-person group meets quarterly to study problems in rural development and assist Glickman in formulating policies to alleviate them.
He has been instrumental in the success of the Tippah County Alumni Chapter Scholarship Program, which is endowed at nearly $200,000. Martin and other organizers are working to provide scholarships to all Tippah County students who attend MSU.
Martin recently completed a three-year term as president of the Mississippi State University Foundation, Inc. He and his wife are members of the university's Stephen D. Lee Society, which recognizes lifetime giving of $500,000 or more to the university.
Last year, he was the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' alumnus of the year.