Lamar A. Conerly Jr. is the national president of the Mississippi State University Alumni Association for 1999.

The national officers of the Mississippi State Alumni Association for 1999, left to right, are Keith Winfield, national treasurer; Steve Taylor, national first vice president; Robby Gathings, national second vice president; and Lamar Conerly, national president.

The Destin, Fla., attorney and 1971 accounting graduate was elected during the association's annual business meeting held over Homecoming weekend last October. He served as national first vice president during 1998.

Conerly replaces Bill Long of Webb, a 1981 accounting graduate and territory manager for the Griffin Corp.

The association also elected or appointed other national and regional officers at the meeting. All terms began in January.

Steve Taylor of Tupelo, national first vice president. Taylor, senior vice president for Deposit Guaranty National Bank, received a bachelor's degree in banking and finance in 1977 and a master's in business administration in 1981.

Robby Gathings of Jackson, national second vice president. Gathings, chief financial officer for U-Save Auto Rental of America, is a 1981 accounting graduate.

Keith Winfield of Starkville, national treasurer. Winfield, a partner in the accounting firm of Watkins, Ward, and Stafford, is a 1970 accounting graduate.

Johnny Baker of Clarksdale, At-Large Director. Baker, manager of Mid-America Insurance, received his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his master's in 1971, both in physical education.

Hugh Beckham of Memphis, Memphis Chapter Director. Beckham, district sales manager for Hartz Seed Company, is a 1990 agriculture graduate.

Harry Boschert of Greenville, Washington County Chapter Director. Boschert, a loan officer for Staplcotn Inc., is a 1955 animal husbandry graduate.

Natalie Gibbs of Ridgeland, Central Region Young Director. Gibbs, director of training for AmFed Companies LLC, is a 1995 marketing graduate.

Brenda Thornton of Ridgeland, At-Large Director. Thornton, executive vice president and chief information officer for AmFed Companies, is a 1978 computer science graduate.

T. E. "Gene" Walker of Forest, Central 3 Region Director. Walker, chairman of the board and chief executive officer for Bank of Forest, is a 1974 banking and finance graduate.

The nearly 90,000-member Alumni Association includes 67 chapters in Mississippi and 20 in other states. There also are 13 chartered alumni societies, one for each of the eight colleges and schools, as well as for special interest groups of African-American, band, social work, law, and medical graduates.