Perry donation honors former university president

A $50,000 gift by Jane Perry of Spanish Fort, Ala., is supporting an electronic classroom at Mississippi State that honors the man who led the university through one of its most prosperous periods.

The William L. Giles Electronic Classroom will be housed in Mitchell Memorial Library, which is now undergoing a $14.6 million renovation and enlargement. When completed this fall, the library will be equipped with a range of computer links to databases, collections, and information technologies worldwide.

The Giles Classroom gift is Mrs. Perry's second to the university in as many years. In 1994, the former Mississippian provided a $1.5 million annuity to aid in renovating and preserving the cafeteria, now known as Perry Hall. The gift was a memorial to her late husband, George D. Perry, a 1919 graduate of Mississippi A&M College.

Giles, the university's 13th president, served from 1966-76. During this time, the university experienced unprecedented growth in enrollment--from 8,000 to almost 12,000 students--and in the construction, enlargement, or renovation of nearly three dozen buildings.

Giles, who recently celebrated his 84th birthday, resides at a country home near Starkville.

"A gift to the library is a fitting tribute to Dr. Giles," said President Donald W. Zacharias. "His era as president was a time of great growth and progress and this donation from Mrs. Perry will help make our new library one of the top centers for learning in the Southeast.

"Once again, Mrs. Perry has demonstrated her deep love and appreciation for Mississippi State and its people."

In the 1960s, the Perrys provided funding for the tower and carillon at the campus Chapel of Memories. Mr. Perry, who maintained close ties to the university until his death in 1992, was a former alumnus of the year and Alumni Association president, as well as a founding member and president of the Mississippi State University Foundation.

Mr. Perry owned and operated a major Tunica County farming operation and was president of Tunica County Bank for many years. He helped develop Mississippi Chemical Corp. and Coastal Chemical Corp., and was a director of both, as well as First Mississippi Corp.