Contact: Kay F. Jones
James R. "Jimmy Dick" Carter (l) receives MSU's top alumni award from President Malcolm Portera
A 1950 graduate from Rolling Fork is Mississippi State University's 2001 National Alumnus of the Year.
James R. "Jimmy Dick" Carter is a farmer who, for the past 15 years, also has served as vice president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau.
After attending Mississippi College for a year, Carter enrolled at Mississippi State in 1947. Three years later, he graduated and returned to the family farming operation that he and his brothers still operate.
Active in the MSU Alumni Association since graduation, Carter was instrumental in organizing its Sharkey-Issaquena chapter. Since graduation, he has held numerous leadership roles with both the alumni association and the MSU Foundation.
Of Carter, a nominator for the national alumni honor said: "Mississippi State University may have alumni who are more vocal, who are more visible or who have made larger financial contributions, but Mississippi State University does not have anyone who has been a stronger or more faithful supporter."
Born in Vicksburg, Carter's association with agriculture began at an early age. At 15, he took over management of his family's farm following the death of his father. He successfully led the operation until an older brother could come home from military service and take over the responsibilities.
In addition to the Farm Bureau leadership position, he is Mississippi's producer-representative to the National Cotton Council. He also is president and a 30-year consecutive member of the Sharkey-Issaquena Line Consolidated School Board.