Campaign for Mississippi State
ends with $143 million in gifts and pledges

The Campaign for Mississippi State ended its five-year run in June with more than $143 million in gifts, pledges, and deferred gifts contributed to the university.

The largest major gifts drive in Mississippi history was boosted by a record-setting final year on campus. Between July 1, 1996, and the official conclusion on June 30, 1997, alumni and friends pledged or contributed more than $42.6 million to Mississippi State, topping the previous high of $39.2 million for private donations in a fiscal year.

The Joe Frank Sanderson (student recreation) Center under construction

In the record total for the year were two anonymous gifts totaling $9 million and $5 million from the transfer of the Crosby Arboretum in Picayune to the university.

Mississippi State's first comprehensive major gifts effort, which began July 1, 1992, was officially announced to the public in April 1993, with $42 million in commitments already in hand. The original goal of $78 million was achieved in September 1994 and a second goal of $110 million was topped in 1996.

Outgoing Mississippi State President Donald W. Zacharias said the success of the campaign is one of the highlights of his 12 years in office, and would serve as a catalyst for the university's move into the next century.

Renovated Perry Cafeteria

"Even though a lot of people thought we had our sights set too high when we announced our original goal of $78 million, we were optimistic knowing the resolve of our alumni and friends," Zacharias said. "The $143 million contributed to the campaign nearly doubled our original goal and surpassed even our greatest expectations.

"The success of this campaign has brought great change to our campus, and we will continue to reap the benefits for many years to come. But we must not lose the momentum it has brought to us, and we must continue to move forward.

"I will always remember the tremendous support and the tremendous generosity of our alumni and friends during my time as president, and there was no truer indication of this support and generosity than the success of The Campaign for Mississippi State."

Of the $143 million in commitments to the campaign, $85 million, or 59 percent, is in the form of outright gifts and payments on pledges. Another $42 million, or 30 percent, is in the form of deferred gifts to be realized in the future. About $16 million is in pledges payable over five years from the commitment date.

"Some $25 million was contributed for scholarships and another $22 million for brick-and-mortar projects," said Dr. Billy Ward, vice president for institutional advancement.

Swalm Chemical Engineering under construction

Buildings made possible by campaign gifts, along with state and other support, include:

• The $19 million Joe Frank Sanderson Sr. Center, an indoor recreation facility to open next year. A substantial portion of the cost of the facility will be covered by a gift from Sanderson, a 1947 alumnus from Laurel and retired chairman of Sanderson Farms.
• The John H. Bryan Sr. Athletic Administration Building that opened in 1995 thanks to contributions from the family of the late West Point businessman and Bryan Foods founder.
• The Dave C. Swalm Chemical Engineering Building. Ground was broken in April for the $18.6 million facility that is being significantly funded by Swalm, a 1955 chemical engineering graduate and founder and former owner of Texas Olefins Co. in Houston, Texas. The building will mirror Lee Hall on the historic Drill Field. Swalm's gift also will refurbish the exterior of Lee Hall.
• The historic university cafeteria, now Perry Cafeteria, has been renovated and preserved with the aid of a gift from Jane Perry of Spanish Fort, Ala., in honor of her late husband, former Alumni Association president George D. Perry.
• An interest-free $1 million loan from the Christ is Our Salvation Foundation of Memphis philanthropist Paul Piper is allowing for a new School of Human Sciences Child Development and Family Studies Center on campus. Construction began this summer and the facility is expected to open next year.
• A $1 million donation from Bonnie DeMent of Indianola will support athletics and provide seed money for a proposed music rehearsal facility.

Of the contributions for scholarships, $4.5 million came from the estate of the late Joseph Henry Barrier of Yazoo County and $6 million from the estate of John P. "Polly" Hosmer of West Point. A university tribute for former U.S. Representative G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery netted another $1 million for a scholarship fund to honor the 1943 business graduate.

Ward said that other gifts have renovated and modernized laboratories, established electronic classrooms and enhanced library holdings, and, together with an enviable return on investments, expanded the university's endowment from less than $50 million to more than $120 million.

About 45,000 Mississippi State alumni and friends made contributions. More than $2 million in support was contributed by faculty, staff, and administrators on campus.

Alumnus James K. Ashford of Naples, Fla., retired chief executive officer of Case Corp., was the national general campaign chair. The Starkville native is a 1958 accounting graduate.