Contact: Sammy McDavid
Sponsored and organized by the Mississippi State University Alumni Association for the 19th year, the Fellows program brings graduates of distinction back to campus each fall semester to share with students specific competencies, attitudes and efforts required for success. Fellows carry the title for life. The 2008 class includes:
Joe F. Gordy of Brewton, Ala., president of Gordy Development Inc. and head of the Brewton Tree and Beautification Board, a 1963 horticulture graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Todd Walker of Memphis, Tenn., founder of archimania, a 1987 architecture graduate of the College of Architecture, Art and Design.
William A. "Bill" Gillon and wife Adrienne Pakis-Gillon of Germantown, Tenn., 1980 political science graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a former National Cotton Council general counsel now in private law practice, while she is office manager of his firm and that of Depouw Engineering.
Jan L. Gwin of Memphis, Tenn., managing director of Morgan Keegan and Co. Inc., 1971 banking and finance graduate of the College of Business.
Bruce H. Brawner of Madison, founder of Brawner and Associates, a 1975 social science and education graduate of the College of Education. Also holds a 1978 MSU master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.
Douglas L. "Doug" Deason of Houston, Texas, environmental adviser for ExxonMobil Refining and Supply, 1980 chemical engineering graduate of the Bagley College of Engineering.
Earl Kennamer of Edgefield, S.C., the National Wild Turkey Association's senior vice president for conservation programs, a 1967 wildlife management graduate of the College of Forest Resources. Also holds a 1970 MSU doctorate in wildlife management.
Dr. Gary K. Allen of Columbia, Mo., the University of Missouri System's vice president for information technology and University of Missouri-Columbia's chief information officer, a 1981 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine who earlier received an MSU bachelor's degree in biochemistry.
Brent Harder of Redding, Conn., senior vice president for Prudential Retirement--a division of the Prudential Life Insurance Co., a 1993 master of business administration graduate of MSU-Meridian. Harder is the first from the Lauderdale county campus to be chosen for the honor.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.