Mississippi State University is fortunate to have dedicated alumni and friends with a willingness to help guide its fundraising arm through the MSU Foundation board of directors. Three incoming members joined seven previously serving members in beginning new three-year terms in January.
Incoming officers making their first appearance on the board are:
Boyce E. Adams Sr. of Columbus
A 1980 MSU marketing graduate, Adams is a special adviser for BankTEL, the company he co-founded and where he served as president and CEO for many years. He is a member of the College of Business Advisory Board, the MSU Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board and the MSU Bulldog Club Board.
Walter D. “David” Purvis of New Orleans, Louisiana
A 1983 MSU chemical engineering graduate, Purvis is a retired vice president of engineering for BHP Billiton and owner of Purvis Consultants LLC. He currently serves as a member of the Petroleum Engineering Departmental Advisory Board in the MSU Bagley College of Engineering’s Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.
Charles R. “Charlie” Stephenson of Tulsa, Oklahoma
A 1981 MSU petroleum engineering graduate, Stephenson is CEO and a director of Bravo Natural Resources. He presently serves as vice president with the MSU Bulldog Club Board.
Also rejoining the board in new three-year terms are:
Thomas G. “Tom” Hixon Sr. of Ridgeland
A 1967 MSU accounting graduate, Hixon is chairman of Phoenix Development Company LLC. He presently serves as a member of the MSU Bulldog Club Board.
Herbert V. "Herb" Johnson of Houston, Texas
Johnson received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from MSU in 1978 and 1981, respectively, and is president of HVJ Associates Inc. He has served as a member of the advisory board for the Bagley College of Engineering.
Linda F. Parker of Bolton
Parker is a longtime friend of MSU and the retired secretary of Sunbelt Wholesale Supply.
Richard H. Puckett Sr. of Madison
A 1977 MSU business graduate, Puckett is chairman and CEO of Puckett Machinery. He has served as a member of the MSU Bulldog Club Board and the College of Business Advisory Board.
Gregory C. “Gregg” Rader of Columbus
A 1984 MSU petroleum engineering graduate, Rader is executive chairman of Columbus Recycling Corporation. He serves as a member of the MSU Bulldog Club Board.
Richard A. Rula of Ridgeland
A 1970 MSU civil engineering graduate, Rula is president of Hemphill Construction Company Inc. He is a current member of the MSU Bulldog Club Board and the Bagley College of Engineering dean’s advisory council.
Michael W. “Mike” Sanders of Cleveland
A 1964 MSU physical education graduate, Sanders is the retired president and CEO of Jimmy Sanders Inc. He has served as a member of the MSU Bulldog Club Board.
Also joining the board as members, by virtue of position, for 2021 are Sherri Carr Bevis of Gulfport, president of the MSU National Alumni Association board of directors, and David Abney of Atlanta, Georgia, president of the MSU Bulldog Club Board. Bevis earned a 1986 communication degree from MSU and currently works as community relations liaison for Singing River Health System. Abney, a friend of the university, is the retired CEO and executive chairman of the United Parcel Service (UPS) board of directors.
In addition to board members, the MSU Foundation reelected the 2020 officers to another one-year term. All MSU alumni, they are: D. Hines Brannan of Atlanta, Georgia, as board chair; Anthony L. Wilson of Gulfport as vice-chair; and Mike M. McDaniel of Houston, Texas, as treasurer. They were initially elected to their posts in 2019.
For more information on the work of the MSU Foundation, individuals should visit www.msufoundation.com or access twitter @MSU_Foundation.