Contact: Maridith Geuder
A $1 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. Hal Parker will fund a grand ballroom in the new 34,000 square-foot alumni and foundation center at Mississippi State University.
The Hal and Linda Parker Ballroom will accommodate 400 people for a seated dinner, providing ample space to handle most campus functions.
The Bolton couple's commitment--the second largest to date--is among more than $6 million in contributions received for the Hunter Henry Center.
Construction soon will begin on the $8 million, Foil Wyatt Architects-designed facility to be located on the western edge of campus at the intersection of Barr Avenue and University Drive. Foil Wyatt is based in Jackson.
Named for the 1950 MSU graduate, Canton native and retired Dow Chemical USA president, the Henry center also will house offices, four major meeting rooms and a centralized area for donor recognition.
"The ballroom is one of the building's highlights because it will provide the university with something it desperately needs, a large meeting and dining site," said Dennis A. Prescott, MSU vice president for external affairs.
"With this building as one of the largest meeting places on campus, we will have the opportunity to open our doors to an even wider variety of people and showcase the foundation, alumni association and our donors," Prescott added.
Hal Parker is president of Sunbelt Wholesale Supply in Pearl and a 1969 MSU business graduate. He and his wife are members of the prestigious Dean W. Colvard Founders program, a designation recognizing lifetime support from $1 million-$4.9 million.
The Colvard Founders honors Mississippi State's 12th president (1960-66) who led in establishing the MSU Foundation.
For more information about the Henry Center or the Parker gift, telephone Amy Cagle of the MSU Foundation at (662) 325-1006.