Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A new student leadership development program at Mississippi State will honor alumnus G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, university President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong announced Friday [May 12].
"The entire Mississippi State University family grieves at the loss of one of our most distinguished alumni," Foglesong said.
"We had planned this tribute to honor our friend's exceptional leadership, and we know that Sonny would be the first to say that this program to support our next generation of leaders is a significant living legacy to his core values," he added. "We honor his enormous contributions and his memory today."
Foglesong said the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program being launched this fall is being named for the 15-term U.S. congressman from Lauderdale County. Montgomery, a 1943 business graduate, retired in 1996 from a public service career that also included election to the Mississippi Senate.
The campus program is being developed in a partnership with other universities across the Appalachian region and will be formally designated as the Sonny Montgomery Chapter.
"There is no more fitting example of leadership and character to represent the ideals of this program," said Foglesong, a longtime Montgomery friend.
To be housed in the Division of Student Affairs, the program will identify and support students as emerging leaders.
"Our goal is to provide a foundation in character development and leadership skills through hands-on mentoring and instruction," Foglesong said. The skills "are essential in preparing the next generation of business, political and academic leaders," he added.
An inaugural class of 20 second-year and 10 third-year students will be selected by October. They also will participate in the selection of future members.
Carrying the title of honor fellows, the students will work regularly with assigned mentors and participate in ongoing leadership seminars. Each also will be actively involved in various campus and community service activities.
Foglesong, who spent more than 30 years in public service leadership roles, said Montgomery typifies the type of "leadership with character" the new program will promote.
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1966, Montgomery held office through the terms of seven presidents. He won national acclaim for his leadership in passing 1988 legislation that extended benefits--especially educational--of the original 1947 G.I. bill legislation.
As a sign of their respect for his efforts, congressional colleagues designated the benefits package as the Montgomery G.I. Bill. It also helped cement his Capitol Hill honorary title of "Mr. Veteran."
A former student association president at Mississippi State, Montgomery also devoted three decades of his life to military service that included active duty in World War II and the Korean Conflict. He retired from the Mississippi Army National Guard with the rank of major general.
Almost exactly one year ago to the day of Foglesong's announcement, MSU student leaders helped dedicate a life-size bronze sculpture of the one-time MSU Student Association president. Their role was only fitting, since it was 21st century members of the student body who conceived of the tribute and raised funds to commission the work by Raymond artist Tracy H. Sugg.
Today, "Sonny's Statue" stands guard at the southwest corner of the university's historic Drill Field, on which he spent many hours as a member of Army ROTC.
For more information about the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program/Sonny Montgomery Chapter, telephone the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at (662) 325-3045, or the Dean of Students Office at 325-3611.