Contact: Amy Cagle
The Mississippi State University Foundation is announcing five new members of its 46-seat board of directors.
Having begun three-year terms Jan. 1 to help guide the 135-year-old land grant institution's fundraising arm, the MSU alumni include:
--David B. Hall of Meridian, CEO of Hall Timberlands, a 1999 forestry graduate who also received a master's degree in business administration in 2002;
--Malcolm B. Lightsey Sr. of Ridgeland, retired president and CEO of SunTech Inc., a 1961 mathematics graduate who also received a master's degree in the major two years later;
--John R. Lundy of Jackson, a 1983 agricultural economics graduate and partner for Capitol Resources LLC;
--Cynthia M. Stevens of Alexandria, Va., a 1983 political science graduate now management principal for government relations with Deloitte LLP; and
--Anthony L. Wilson of Atlanta, Ga., a 1987 electrical engineering graduate now executive vice president of customer service and operations for Georgia Power Co.
Incorporated in 1962, the foundation administers most of the campus-based fundraising activities and endowment funds.
Currently, the organization is in the midst of fundraising titled "Infinite Impact: The Mississippi State University Campaign." Since mid-2011, the capital campaign has raised more than $384 million as it moves toward a $600 million goal by 2018.
Through the years, a host of prominent alumni and friends of the university have held board seats. Members may be reappointed after leaving the board for at least a year after their three-year terms end. Those returning members for 2014 include:
--James W. Bagley of Trophy Club, Texas, a 1961 and 1966 electrical engineering graduate and the retired executive chairman of the board of Lam Research Corp. in Freemont, Calif. He received an honorary doctor of science from MSU in 2005;
--D. Hines Brannan Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., a 1970 industrial engineering graduate and 1971 MBA graduate. He is the retired managing director of Accenture;
--George W. Bryan of West Point, a 1967 general business administration graduate and owner of Old Waverly Golf Club;
--James E. Newsome of Washington, D.C., a 1985 master's degree graduate in agriculture who went on to also earn a doctorate in the major and in nutrition in 2001. He is a partner at Delta Strategy Group; and
--J.F. "Bud" Thompson Jr. of Meridian, a 1962 mathematics education graduate and partner with Thompson Limited Partnership of Meridian.
In addition to board members, the MSU Foundation re-elected last year's officers to another one-year term. They include:
--President Bobby S. Shackouls of Houston, Texas; a 1972 chemical engineering graduate who was awarded an honorary doctor of science in 2010. He is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Burlington Resources Inc.
--Vice President Earnest W. "Earnie" Deavenport Jr. of Kiawah Island, S.C., and Banner Elk, N.C. A 1960 MSU chemical engineering graduate who was awarded an honorary doctor of science in 2011, he is the retired chairman and CEO of Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman Chemical Co. He also holds a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
--Treasurer Mary M. Childs of Ripley, a 1980 banking and finance graduate now president, CEO, COO, and vice chairman of the Peoples Bank.
John P. Rush, MSU vice president for development and alumni, is the foundation board's CEO; David Easley, executive director of finance, its chief financial officer; and Jack McCarty, executive director of development, board secretary. They, too, are MSU graduates.
For more information on the MSU Foundation, visit www.msufoundation.com.