The University of Mississippi: A Sesquicentennial History

Preface

PREFACE A cross the contours of time the University of Mississippi has become a special place, to some it is like a sacred space. Some have called it holy ground, others hallowed ground. During a recent Black Alumni Reunion Danny Covington called Ole Miss addictive . The student newspaper said the words Ole Miss are magic and cast a spell on those who hear them. There is a mystique about Ole Miss and the love its graduates have for it goes far beyond the filial affection alumni have for their alma mater. In a world of ravishing change, when Ole Miss alumni come back to Oxford, they do not just stroll across the campus and through the Grove, they retrace the steps of their forebears, not just over place and space, but back through time as well. For many alumni, Ole Miss is more than their alma mater, it is a link, a nexus to who they were and are, and where they came from. This sesquicentennial history is written for them, the students, faculty, friends, patrons and alumni of the university. L. Stacy Davidson is the quintessential Ole Miss alumnus and I want to recognize Stacy and Fay Davidson, and their family, for their support of the university. A graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical Center , Dr. Davidson and his family recently endowed the L. Stacy Davidson Chair in the college of liberal arts, a one million dollar gift that will enrich the university for time to come. Stacy is like thousands of alumni who love Ole Miss for what it gave to them in their youth and who give back to it in their maturity. By acknowledging Stacy Davidson I recognize the thousands of others like him. At the end of the long process of producing a book it is always a pleasure to thank the people who helped make it possible. Chancellor Robert Khayat commissioned this study in June 1995 as part of the university's celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its founding. I want to express my deep appreciation to him for underwriting the project and for his encouragement over the last three years. Chancellor Khayat took great interest in this project. He inquired of its progress, read parts of it, made suggestions, but in the end gave me complete freedom to write the history of the university. My admiration for him as chancellor and as a person was enhanced by this experience. X • P R E F A C E I also want to thank Provost Gerald Walton for his continuing support throughout the process. To Gloria Kellum, executive director of the sesquicentennial, Brian Reithel, co-chair of the sesquicentennial, and Donna Patton, coordinator of the Commitment to Excellence Campaign , I express my special thanks. Seetha Srinivasan, executive director of the University Press, worked closely with me from the beginning of this project and I express my appreciation to her, and to Carol Coxwho copy edited the manuscript. I would also like to express my appreciation to Anne Stascavage, John Langston, and John Costa who guided this book through the publication process. Many others provided information and assistance and I want to thank them. Unfortunately, there are so many that I can only list their names: Frank Anderson, Barbara Austin, Ron Bartlett, Martha Bigelow, Neal B. Biggers, Jr., Ronald E and Bonnie Borne, Martha Bowles, Brenda Brannon, Billy Ross and Lynn Brown, Maralyn Howell Bullion, Charlie Capps, Jr., William Chadwick, Rick Cleveland, Nadine Cohodas, A. Wallace Conerly, John Crews, Julius Cruse, James Davis, Herbert E. Dewees, Jr., Read and Barbara Dunn, Jr., Mrs. H. G. Duvall, Billy Ellis, Bill and Marcia Ferris, Shirley Fisher, Mrs. Porter L. Fortune, Jr., Kees Gispen, Sandra Guest, Tina Hahn, John Hall, J. J. and Lillian Hayden, Charles and Cornelia Henry, Verner and Mary Holmes, Richard and Lisa Howorth, Burl and Clara Hunt, Masaru Inoue, professor of American literature at Ferris University, Yokohama,Japan, Winthrop Jordan, Donald E. Kessinger, Leone King, Bonnie Krause, Barbara Lago, Michael Landon, Will and Patty Lewis,Robert E. Lewis,Jr., Bonita Terry-Malone, Bill Martin, Brent McLarty, Jack and Betty Love McLarty, Stark Miller, Andrew P. Mullins, James F. Payne, Langston Rogers, Mary Sexton, Marion and Carolyn Vance Smith, John Sobotka, Linda Spargo, Jane Stanley, Richard Stanley, Carolyn Ellis Staton, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph J. Stoudt, Steve Stubbs, Nell Thomas, Gene and Peggy Threadgill, Jody Varner, Joe Walker, Thomas Wallace, Clara Wallace, Bill and Carroll Waller, Joyce Jones Watson, Brenda West...