Ole Miss Accountant Is Published Biannually by the School of Though Times Were Difficult for Her After the Tion, Including Retribution from Perpetrators

O L E M I S S 6 0 0 2

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U CCOUNTANT J News from the Patterson School of Accountancy at The University of Mississippi A www.olemiss.edu/depts/accountancy Inside: Ex-WorldCom auditor urges peers to stand by ethics in face of fraud 2 From the Dean by Dale Flesher n i Cooper said, “but doing the right thing does- a B

n n’t come without a cost.” i v e

K The title of Cooper’s presentation was

y 3 b Patterson School “WorldCom Warnings: What Went Wrong and o t

o receives generous support h Corporate Governance Lessons Learned.” P Hearing her presentation was educational for from alumni, friends all in attendance, but there was more to Cyn- thia Cooper than just the nuts and bolts of

‘Small decisions matter. You must never let your ethical values 5 UM helps alum be compromised by the prepare for success as superiors in your oil exec organization.’ 6 Accountancy Awards Banquet —CYNTHIA COOPER

Cynthia Cooper fraud discovery. In a sense, she was speaking on all types of corporate integrity. In fact, she was and is the face of corporate integrity. Anyone could encounter the situation all Cynthia Cooper whatever you that Cooper faced. She showed the integrity Cwant. Just don’t call her a snitch. that we want to see in all of our students and 8 AICPA library offers She hates that term even more than the alumni. A certified public accountant is essen- look into history of “whistle-blower” label she’s been tagged with tially a protector of the public, and integrity is accounting ever since she came forward to expose fraud one of the essential qualities of this profes- at WorldCom in 2001. As far as she’s con- sion. cerned, she simply obeyed her highest call- Her presentation included considerable 11 State Legislature ing — she stood by her ethics and told the details, including who said what to whom, and honors professor truth. who cooperated in the investigation and who Cooper, a former internal auditor at the didn’t. Even when then-Chief Financial Offi- telecom giant, was the keynote speaker for cer Scott Sullivan asked her to look else- Accountancy Weekend 2006 in April. More where, she persisted. She talked about the than 300 people came to hear her speak. Even fears she had during and after the investiga- Ole Miss Accountant is published biannually by the School of though times were difficult for her after the tion, including retribution from perpetrators. Accountancy. scandal was exposed, she said she never con- She also worried about WorldCom employees sidered backing down. who would lose their jobs, but she realized Comments or suggestions? “The decision to come forward was easy,” their jobs were in jeopardy anyway with Call 662-915-7623

continued on Page 2 From the dean Morris H. Stocks

Cynthia Cooper, continued from Page 1

Dear Accountancy Alumni: WorldCom on the verge of implosion. “Small decisions matter,” Cooper told Another busy and exciting academic year has come to an end in the Patterson the audience. “You must never let your eth- School of Accountancy. ical values be compromised by the superi- On May 13, we awarded 118 baccalaureate degrees, 50 Master of Accountancy ors in your organization.” degrees, 18 Master of Taxation degrees and four Doctor of Philosophy degrees. When I asked her about her future Matt Lusco, a partner with KPMG in Birmingham, Ala. (and father of one of our plans, Cooper said she is working on a book graduates), delivered an inspiring, uplifting address that was well-received by stu- about the scandal and plans to continue lec- dents, families and friends. Summer classes are under way, and we are enjoying the turing. Although she hasn’t been largest summer enrollment in our history. The Patterson School continues to grow approached for other auditing positions, she and thrive. has been asked about taking on other lead- This issue of Ole Miss Accountant will update you on school events and the ership positions. accomplishments of our faculty and students, as well as the achievements of our The faculty of the School of Accountan- alumni. You will see that our faculty members are outstanding representatives of cy stress the importance of ethics in every the Patterson School and The University of Mississippi, that our students are ded- accounting class, and Cynthia Cooper’s icated and highly motivated, and that our alumni are generous and willing support- story only underscored that. She addressed ers of the school and the university. ethics and integrity from the viewpoint of We continuously strive to improve our academic programs. Earlier this year, I an auditor, but the subject matter was equal- traveled to The University of Mississippi-DeSoto Center to announce the expansion ly applicable to every other course in the of the Master of Accountancy degree program to that campus. Classes will begin accounting curriculum. this fall, and, based on initial applications, we expect a starting class of 15-20 qual- Similarly, everyone in the audience ified students. could take her message to heart, even if he Also in this issue, you’ll find out more about our spring internship program, or she was not an auditor. In fact, you don’t with 46 students participating in the 10-week program this past semester. Students have to be an accountant to appreciate the interned with 17 firms in 18 cities in 10 states. We are preparing for the spring 2007 life-changing upheavals that Cooper experi- class of interns, which includes 73 students. enced and caused. Cynthia Cooper is a hero Accountancy Weekend 2006 was a great success, beginning with our annual and an inspiration to all of us. Honors Banquet. While many awards were presented to our students, the ceremony was highlighted by the induction of Larry Hardy into the Accountancy Hall of Dale Flesher teaches ethics at Fame. This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award was Dr. the Patterson School of 2 Accountancy. On the day J Shaw, who has been a member of the Patterson School faculty for four years. Dr. Cynthia Cooper came to Ole Tonya K. Flesher, professor and Arthur Andersen lecturer, was named Outstanding Miss to lecture on the 2001 Researcher of the Year. WorldCom fraud scandal, The next day, our continuing education program featured wonderful guest Flesher and Cooper compared speakers, including our keynote speaker Cynthia Cooper. Cooper’s stand for her notes on how the principles he ethics helped expose accountancy fraud at WorldCom and led to her being named teaches match up with her real- one of Time magazine’s 2002 Persons of the Year. More than 100 attendees regis- life experiences. Flesher is the associate dean of the Patterson School of Accountancy and the Arthur tered for the event, and we are pleased that interest continues to grow. Andersen Alumni Professor of Accountancy. In May, Beta Alpha Psi hosted its second annual golf tournament to raise funds for student activities and travel. This year, the event began with an extremely pop- ular “meet-the-firms” session for students and concluded with the awarding of the Burkett Cup to the winning team from KPMG. This award is in honor of retired fac- your ulty member Dr. Homer Burkett, who served as sponsor of Beta Alpha Psi for many Mark ! years. dar As always, I would like to express my deep gratitude for your support of the alen Patterson School of Accountancy. Our alumni and friends are tremendously gener- C ous and a model for the rest of the university. Please visit us when you are on campus, and let us know if we can be of help to you in any way. ACCOUNTANCY Sincerely, WEEKEND 2007 Morris H. Stocks Dean APRIL 27-28, 2007 n i a B n i v e K y b o t o h P t n e m t s E.H. Patterson School of Accountancy

e Patterson School continues to grow with support from alumni and friends by Elaine Pugh v

n its surface, the Patterson the Patterson School No. 23 in the country School of Accountancy is in its 24th Annual Professor’s Survey of the n bricks and mortar formed into 2005 top undergraduate programs. UM classrooms equipped with the accountancy graduates are highly sought- I Olatest technology and teeming after, and placement in professional posi- with bright students and an exceptional tions approaches 100 percent every year. faculty. More than half of undergraduate seniors But there’s much more to the Patter- participate in a 10-week internship pro- son School. It is also the alumni and gram, which leads to placements across 3

n friends who have provided many of the the country. resources that make this unique environ- The school’s path to prominence actu- ment for accounting education possible. ally began in the 1970s, when Ernst & “We consider it a privilege to serve Young and Arthur Andersen and Compa-

o our students in this wonderful process; ny, at the time two of the Big Eight however, all of these achievements could firms, contributed $80,000 and $75,000

not have been accomplished without the respectively. generous support of our alumni and “These two grants helped us start this friends,” said Dean Morris Stocks. school and, of course, helped us gain the Established in 1979, the school was university’s approval of separate status,”

n one of the first independent schools of said longtime professor and former dean accountancy in the country and was Mis- James Davis, holder of the H. Eugene

r sissippi’s first to receive accreditation of its Peery Chair of Accountancy. “The adminis- bachelor’s and master’s accountancy pro- tration realized at the time that this depart- grams. It is a national leader in educating ment was behind and that accountancy outstanding students who rise to the top of education was heading toward separate u their professions. school status across the country.” The school confers one undergradu- During the 1980s, Arthur Andersen

t ate degree, the Bachelor of Accountancy. made another significant contribution: A large majority of students continue $100,000 to endow a lectureship in through a fifth year, earning either a Mas- accountancy. ter of Accountancy or Master of Taxation The next major private funding for the e degree. In addition, the school’s doctoral school came during the Campaign for Ole program enhances leadership status. Miss under the leadership of then-Chan- The Public Accounting Report ranks cellor Gerald Turner and at the insistence

R continued on Page 15 ACCOUNTANCY News

Intern program gives students taste of real world by Lee Eric Smith P h o

earning accounting principles in t o s

a classroom is one thing. But as b y

46 Ole Miss student interns e v i n

learned last winter, nothing can B a i L prepare you for the first day of n work at a major accounting firm during industry’s busiest season. “To actually have to start doing real work, it was kind of scary,” said Will Drum- mond (BAccy 06), who interned at Price- waterhouseCoopers’ Atlanta office. “I’d heard going in that it was a whole different ballgame. The recruiters would tell you there’s no real way to prepare for it, and it turned out to be true.” Will Drummond Carlin Williams Olivia Lusco Providing students with that taste of said Carlin Williams (BAccy 06), who able to finish a semester with 9 to 12 reality is exactly what Mark Wilder hopes interned at KPMG in Jackson. “But it was hours,” Wilder said. “Many of them also for. As coordinator of the Patterson School exciting. We were able to experience the take an online course during the intern- of Accountancy’s intern program, Wilder toughest time of the year for our profes- ship, and they also get hours for the intern- helps students test the waters, many of sion. It was high stress, but it was a good ship itself. That makes interning very them at the “Big Four” accounting firms of taste of what it’s really going to be like.” attractive.” PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, “They tell you up front that you’re not But perhaps the biggest incentive to KPMG and Deloitte & Touche. Summer going to just be making copies,” added do an internship is job security. Since many and fall internships are available, but Karen Merriwether (BAccy 06), who firms hire their interns full time, students Wilder said spring interns face the great- interned with PricewaterhouseCoopers in return to campus knowing a great job is 4 est challenge because of the fast and furi- Washington, D.C. “I knew it would be a lit- waiting for them after grad school. ous auditing season. tle frustrating, but everyone there just told “When I go back to work for Pricewa-

‘We were able to experience the toughest time of the year for our profession. It was high stress, but it was a good taste of what it’s really going to be like.’ —CARLIN WILLIAMS

“It’s the best time of year for students me to keep working hard, and they helped terhouseCoopers, I already know what my to get a good, busy experience that’s rep- me through it.” responsibilities will be,” said Olivia Lusco resentative of what it’ll be like when they In all, the spring semester saw 46 stu- (BAccy 06), who interned in Birmingham. get the job,” said Wilder, an associate pro- dents intern with 17 firms or companies in “I know the job. I’ve got some experience fessor who teaches intermediate account- 18 cities. And while real-world experience [that will] help during grad school. The ing. “It’s a growth experience that gives the is what draws most interns to the program, fact that we are given this opportunity, it students a whole new perspective on the there are other incentives. Specifically, a just sets us apart in the workforce.” field.” special “micro-semester” awaits them How’s this for perspective: Student, when they get back to campus, which meet 60-hour work week. And we’re not means they get to stay on schedule for talking about making coffee runs, either. graduation. “I didn’t know exactly what to expect, “We offer two or three courses in a but I knew there would be a lot of work,” condensed schedule, so students are still Oilman credits UM for laying foundation for success by Lee Eric Smith

fter high school, Roland Burns grow a company like Comstock, you have (BAccy, MAccy 82) chose the right to have leadership. I can’t think of any bet- A major—accountancy, just like his ter or more capable CFO able to lead and father. Problem is, he chose the wrong grow a company than Roland Burns. He’s school. achieved some unbelievable things in his “I made the mistake of going to Mis- corporate life.” sissippi State,” says Burns, now chief finan- For Ole Miss alum Bruce Ware, cial officer of Comstock Resources in Burns’ influence is much more personal. Frisco, Texas, a $1.4 billion oil and gas Ware (BBA 99) grew up in Newton, Miss., exploration company. “I waited late to but was relocating to his native Dallas area decide and I had a brother there, so that’s and saw Burns’ name in an industry where I went. But I wasn’t really happy at publication. State.” “The article mentioned he was an Ole Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Miss alum, so I gave him a call,” Ware said. Burns to figure out where he really “He was so busy at the time that it took him belonged. After his freshman year, he a month to get back to me, but he did.” transferred to Ole Miss and found himself That phone call turned into a cup of chasing his dream under the tutelage of coffee, which morphed into Ware’s current academic legends Gene Peery, James position as assistant treasurer at Com- Roland Burns Davis and others. stock. “When I look back at Ole Miss, the Burns and his wife, Sheryl, have become key part that contributed to my success ‘When I look back at at the Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, was the quality of the professors,” Burns Texas. What started as the usual interest said. “Their whole lives revolved around Ole Miss, the key part in their kids’ school turned into taking the students, and you knew that the that contributed to my responsibility for spearheading a $1.7 mil- moment you got there. They really took an lion fundraising campaign that resulted in 5 interest in their students’ careers and per- success was the a sparkling new building on 23 acres. sonal development.” quality of the “When I first met Roland and Sheryl, Burns’ instructors would be proud of there was much work to be done,” said the his accomplishments. After earning his professors.’ academy’s Head of School Jody Capehart. bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1982, “In 33 years as an educator, I’ve worked he spent eight years with Arthur Andersen —ROLAND BURNS with countless business people, and it has LLP. That’s where he was introduced to the been an extraordinary privilege to work oil and gas industry, and, in 1990, he joined with Roland.” Comstock Resources as CFO. Since then, “Bruce saw how busy it was here and Burns’ ties with Ole Miss run deep. he’s watched his career flourish in tandem offered to help,” Burns said. “It was diffi- He makes it back for at least one football with Comstock’s growth — from an esti- cult for me to delegate because I was used game each season, and even though his mated market capitalization of $35 million to doing everything. But Bruce helped us daughter, Stephanie, doesn’t care much for in 1990 to more than $1.4 billion today. delegate and build up our financial team football, sons Derek and Tyler are huge And there’s more: In 2004, Burns was here. He’s been a really big help.” Ole Miss football fans. And this summer, critical in establishing Comstock’s sister Along the way, Ware began to look up Comstock hired its first intern from Ole company, Bois d’Arc Energy. Like Com- to Burns as a mentor and friend. Miss. In short, there are plenty of reasons stock, Bois d’Arc is a publicly traded oil “What’s so shockingly refreshing is why Burns wants to give back to the school and gas exploration company, and Burns that underneath all this corporate leader- that he feels gave him so much. is its chief financial officer. ship ability you’ve got a guy who’s witty, “Where I am in my career, you want to “Roland has been very instrumental in fun to be around and approachable,” Ware continue to support that effort,” he said. achieving the goals that fast growing pub- said. “He’s obviously successful, but he’s “The quality of the program there is out- lic companies set for themselves and their still really concerned about making a dif- standing. It’s very rewarding to continue investors,” said Comstock Resources CEO ference in his community.” to be a part of something so successful.” and President M. Jay Allison. “When you Ware is speaking of how involved ACCOUNTANCY AWARDS

Accountancy Weekend 2006 featured the Patterson School of Accountancy’s 19th Annual Honors Banquet at Paul B. Johnson Commons. Below are some of the honorees. Thanks to sponsors Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Accountancy Alumni Academic Achievement Award Taylor Medalists From left: Katie Finnegan, Carolyn Eley, Ann Herring, Bentley Crawford, Holli From left: Clark Mills, Johannah Faulk Bullard, Eleanor Hightower, Caroline Mur- Kimbrough, Sweta Desai. Not pictured: Johannah Faulk Bullard, Eleanor High- phree. Not pictured: Olena Kulikova. tower, Caroline Murphree, Philip Rowland, Suzy Schaffhauser, Sarah Wall.

Roger and Susie Friou Scholarship 2006 Associated Accountancy Student Body Officers Front row from left: Ann Barrett Blackburn, Emily Wilkins, Brandee Buntyn. Back Front row from left: Katie Finnegan, Betsy Bailey, Carolyn Eley. Back row: Will row from left: Ben Van Landuyt, Chad Deweese, Carlin Williams. Not pictured: Drummond, Taylor Fendley, Trey Gunn. Charles Allen, Brett Cantrell, Justin Smith, Ty Tucker.

Lefoldt & Company/Waller Fellowship James W. Davis Scholarship in Accountancy From left: Judy Waller Shannon of Lefoldt & Company, Eleanor Hightower. From left: Scott Stewart, Professor James Davis, Stephanie Henson, Baker Cannada. Photos by Kevin Bain

Phi Kappa Phi Who’s Who Front row from left: Jennifer Gilliam, Whitney Farrell, Carlin Williams, Mary Front row from left: Jennifer Gilliam, Mary Maxwell, Abby Reeves, Caroline Mur- Maxwell, Sweta Desai. Back row from left: Bentley Crawford, Katie Finnegan, phree. Back row from left: John Adrian, Oliver Williams, Baker Cannada, Sharon Karen Merriwether, Emily Watkins, Ann Herring, Chad Deweese. Not pictured: Salu. Not pictured: Johannah Faulk Bullard, Rebekah Hebert, Olena Kulikova, Jeremy Caviezel, Charles Harris, Eleanor Hightower, Tyler Skelton, Charles Allen. Allison Ashford, Brandee Buntyn, Lindsay Davis, Charles Harris, Lauren Hughes, Olivia Lusco.

Will Townsend Memorial Scholarship Outstanding Faculty Bo Burnham (left) received the Will Townsend Memorial Scholarship, named in Dean Morris Stocks (left) with Professor Tonya Flesher and Professor J Shaw. honor of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity member who died when the fraternity Flesher was honored as Outstanding Researcher of the Year, while Shaw was house burned in 2004. Professor Mark Wilder congratulates Burnham on the honor. selected as Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Collins Scholarship in Accountancy Accountancy Alumni Hall of Fame From left: Lamarcus Jones, Mitch Collins of Equity Inns, Brittney Smith. 2006 inductee Larry Hardy (front, third from left) joins other members (from left) Jimmy Fried, Homer Burkett, Leo Boolos, Arnold Young, Howard Davidson, Charles Taylor, Wesley Caldwell, Dean Morris Stocks. ACCOUNTANCY News

AICPA library a gold mine for accountancy history buffs by Tina Hahn P h

n archivist for the Deloitte & o t o

Touche accounting firm car- y

ried a heavy collection of o b e r

client letters and engagement t

J o r

A contracts—in the handwriting d a of the firm’s original partners and dated n 1903-1907—down 93 flights of stairs to safety after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. After the same frantic trip to protect the valuable collection was repeated on September 11, 2001, the day two terrorist- piloted planes hit the trade center, Deloitte & Touche principals decided the historic documents needed a safer home. The international CPA firm presented the papers to the largest accountancy library collection in the world, housed on the UM-Oxford campus. The resources— including the oldest known accountancy book, written by Luca Pacioli in 1494— reveal much about accounting practices through the years, as well as provide a glimpse of life in general. “The accounting records of an individ- The AICPA library at Ole Miss allows students, faculty and researchers to dig into historic journals, ledgers and documents to better understand accountancy principles. 8 ual’s business, which have survived the perilous years, enable the accounting histo- rian to study the characteristics of earlier bankruptcies in history at the time of their ry Research Center, an initiative credited generations,” said Andrew Sharp, profes- filings. Both were based on similar issues. to Tonya Flesher, former dean and current sor of accountancy at Spring Hill College Unfortunately, most people today were professor of accountancy. The 7,000-vol- in Mobile and a frequent visitor to the UM either unaware of Ivar Kreuger and his ume collection features documents dating collection. “Accounting journals and financial reporting shenanigans or didn’t to 1862. In 1993, accountancy doctoral stu- ledgers contain more than mere numbers dent Tommie Singleton, now a professor at representing receipts and disbursements. ‘Accounting history is a University of Alabama at Birmingham, per- They reveal what it was like to have lived suaded pioneers of electronic data-process- in an earlier time.” worthwhile field of ing auditing to donate to the National EDP The gift from Deloitte & Touche (for- Auditing Archival Center. merly Haskins & Sells), for example, study because the mis- A niche was in the making, and before includes letters explaining the details of takes of the past can long the National Library of the Accoun- more than 700 client engagements, includ- tancy Profession (the library of the Amer- ing speculations that specific named indi- help us avoid similar ican Institute of Certified Public Accoun- viduals were perpetrating frauds. problems in the tants, or AICPA), McMickle Accounting “Accounting history is a worthwhile History Library and the Accountancy field of study because the mistakes of the future.’ Videotape Library followed. The AICPA past can help us avoid similar problems in materials—which amounted to 150,000 the future,” said Dale Flesher, associate —DALE FLESHER pieces—came to Ole Miss in 2001 through dean and professor of accountancy at UM. the efforts of then-accountancy Dean “For example, the recent Enron debacle is think what he did could be replicated.” James W. Davis, accountancy professors, almost identical to a similar fraud perpe- UM’s prominence in accountancy university administration, former Missis- trated by Ivar Kreuger during the 1920s library resources began to build with the sippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, the Mississip- and up to 1932. Both were the biggest 1987 acquisition of the National Tax Histo- pi congressional delegation and a $200,000 continued on Page 11 Retired AutoZone exec inducted into Alumni Hall of Fame by Elaine Pugh P h o

s a high-school student in the A native of Col- t o

1960s, Larry Hardy (BAccy umbus, Miss., Hardy y

K e

68, MAccy 69) dreamed of graduated from Ste- v i n

joining America’s fledgling phen D. Lee High B a i A space program. After all, who School in 1964. After n wasn’t inspired by astronauts Alan Shep- finishing his degree at ard, John Glenn and other heroes of the UM, he joined the day? Memphis office of However, after he enrolled at Ole Ernst & Ernst (now Miss, Hardy decided engineering wasn’t Ernst & Young). for him and switched his major. That’s Just as Professor where he found his real hero. Peery predicted, Har- “I was ‘discovered’ by Professor Gene dy spent his entire Peery while I was floundering around in career in public ac- the business school,” Hardy said. “He told counting with great me I was going to be an accountant and success. After taking told me which courses to take. Had it not early retirement from been for Professor Peery, I have no idea Ernst & Young in where I would have landed. I am very 2000, he became vice grateful to him for sending me in the right president of tax for Larry Hardy (left), the newest member into the Patterson School of direction.” AutoZone, one of the Accountancy Hall of Fame, receives a plaque from his friend and mentor Professor James Davis. That direction led Hardy to a success- firm’s clients. He re- ful career in public accounting. Over the tired from AutoZone in years, he has said thank you to his alma January 2006 and now plans to serve on In addition to an education, Hardy also mater many times in both service and for-profit and nonprofit boards, and “do a points to the “Ole Miss tradition” as some- financial support. The Patterson School of little consulting and travel.” thing he has cherished over the years. 9 Accountancy recognized his commitment Besides Peery, Hardy recalls others at “Many schools have very good educa- during Accountancy Weekend by induct- UM who made a difference in his future. tion programs but little else,” he said. “Ole ing him into the school’s Alumni Hall of “I also quickly met Professor James Miss takes an interest in its students, and Fame in April. Dean Morris Stocks paid Davis, and he reinforced my decision to you forge friendships for life. The cama- raderie that develops remains with you for- ever and pulls you back and makes you ‘Ole Miss takes an interest in its want to stay involved.” In giving back, Hardy emphasizes the students, and you forge friendships for life.’ importance of building support in the way of scholarships for future generations of —LARRY HARDY students. “When I attended Ole Miss, very few academic scholarships were available. I made it through with the help of my par- tribute to his friend at the awards banquet. major in accounting. Both Gene and Jimmy ents, summer jobs and student loans. “We are so pleased that Larry Hardy took a sincere interest in their students “Today the job-placement rate for the is now a part of the Patterson School of and quickly became my friends as well as school approaches 100 percent, and I am Accountancy Hall of Fame,” Stocks told the my teachers. Other professors were happy to see that many accountancy grad- audience. “Larry has been tremendously Charles Taylor, Carl Nabors and Joe Cerny. uates begin to contribute to the school successful in his professional endeavors. All contributed to the education I needed once they are employed. With state fund- He has been a leader among our alumni by to pursue my career in accountancy. ing continuing to decline, the school’s con- serving on our advisory board, chairing “Because of the way these professors tinued success depends on these private fundraising drives and giving selflessly of took an interest in me, I have always felt an donations.” his own resources. Larry has been a won- obligation to the university and particular- derful example for our younger alumni to ly to the School of Accountancy to return follow.” anything that I can,” Hardy said. ACCOUNTANCY News

2006 Teacher of the Year leaves trail, students follow by Elaine Pugh

n the first day of classes dur- sented the award, Shaw demonstrated why Mart, Inc., in Bentonville, Ark. ing summer intersession he received it. Looking for his next professional step (May 15-27), J Shaw is back in “I happened by Conner Hall on the following his doctorate, Shaw says, “My his office following a lengthy evening of the honors banquet, just after offer from Ole Miss was the most appeal- Osession of his ACCY 201 class. he had been presented the Outstanding ing, including far and away the nicest town On the dark carpet in his Conner Hall suite Teacher award,” Stocks said. “And there and most beautiful campus.” is a trail of powdery-white footprints. he was, holding a late-night study session Shaw said that as an undergraduate he Chalk, in fact. for his students in preparation for an exam. knew he wanted to get his doctorate. “They’re mine,” he says. “During a “That’s the kind of teacher he is,” “When I left school, I knew I intended to three-hour class session, I do a lot of writ- Stocks said. “He is an excellent and com- return for my Ph.D. and would probably ing on the chalkboard and that’s the fall- mitted teacher who sets high standards for end up teaching. Teaching combined with out.” himself and expects the same from his research is to me an ideal combination, the The chalk dust also could be consid- students.” best of both worlds. If you’re on the fore- ered symbolic of the real trail Shaw has Shaw said he feels very honored by front in research, then it’s complementary been leaving since he joined the faculty in the award. to your teaching.” 2002. It all fits with his style of giving 100 “The students in the Patterson School Shaw specializes in international finan- percent in the classroom, which is what led of Accountancy are exceptional,” Shaw cial reporting. His article on the difference to students’ voting him as the Patterson said. “I am always amazed at how smart in earnings management for U.S. man- School of Accountancy’s Outstanding and hardworking they are, and to be agers and U.K. managers was recently pub- Teacher of the Year for 2005-06. honored by them in this way is very lished in the Journal of International “Dr. Shaw is the most challenging gratifying.” Accounting Research. teacher I have ever had, but I would never A native of southern Oklahoma, Shaw “The paper finds that despite differ- hesitate to take his classes over and over attended Oklahoma State University, ences in the corporate governance struc- again,” said graduate student Jessica Bog- where he received bachelor’s, master’s and tures between U.S. and U.K. firms, there gan. “His energy and comedy trigger doctoral degrees in accountancy. After are similar levels of earnings manage- 10 ways to actually make accounting quite completing his master’s, he worked two ment,” Shaw said. interesting.” years with Arthur Andersen in Tulsa, then Aside from his profession, Shaw Shortly after Dean Morris Stocks pre- three years in the tax department of Wal- enjoys time with family, including his wife, Kim, and their two children, Bill, 13, and P h

o Julie, 10.

J Shaw and family t o

b In his spare time, he also started to y

S dabble in photography, something he h a

w became interested in soon after the first digital cameras came out. He enjoys play- ing with photo software too—he once used Photoshop to play a little trick on faculty colleague Dave Nichols. “I did it by cutting and pasting Dave into a set of our family vacation pictures,” Shaw said. “It appeared that Dave had gone on vacation with us and was lurking in the shadows on every corner. We both got a big laugh out of that.” As for the business end of his hobby, Shaw said his biggest undertaking so far has been a composite for a fraternity. “It will take me a long time to pay off my investment in equipment at the rate I’m going,” he says. “It’s time-consuming and it can be work, but I enjoy it.” AICPA, continued from Page 8

grant from the Robert M. Hearin Founda- State Legislature honors Wilder tion to move library materials to campus. “The University of Mississippi is one of during February appreciation day the nation’s most well-respected names in by Elaine Pugh accountancy education,” said AICPA Vice President Jay Rothberg when the collection was moved. “We at the AICPA are pleased n i a arly ability, classroom performance and that our collection will reside with an insti- B n i v dedication to service — the ideals tution that has contributed so much to e K

y prized by the university. We’re delight- excellence in the profession.” b o t ed that the Mississippi Legislature has The holdings, which are housed in the o h

P recognized their achievements.” university’s John D. Williams Library and Wilder, Bertrand and representa- Conner Hall, serve as a central resource not tives from 35 other public and private only for the UM accountancy school but universities and colleges were wel- also for university researchers and profes- comed and recognized by the state sional colleagues throughout the country Legislature at the Capitol. and the world. The library receives 500-600 A luncheon honoring the group contacts each month, some from as far away concluded with a program featuring Lt. as India, Egypt, China and Russia. Gov. Amy Tuck as mistress of cere- The oldest and rarest items in the col- monies. Blake Wilson, president of the lections essentially are treated as museum Mississippi Economic Council, was the exhibits and include the Pacioli volume guest speaker. from 1494. Taken as a whole, the account- Mark Wilder “The Mississippi Legislature, the ancy holdings are massive. dding to an impressive corporate community and others “To put the size of our collection into and lengthy list of acco- involved in higher education are given perspective, it should be pointed out that lades, associate professor the opportunity to recognize the aca- some universities with accounting pro- of accountancy Mark demic achievements of outstanding stu- grams subscribe to fewer than a dozen A Wilder was recognized for dents and faculty at our institutions of accounting journals,” Flesher said. “The his work at Mississippi’s 19th annual higher learning,” Tuck said. “These universities with the best doctoral programs Higher Education Appreciation Day/ honorees, through their personal and in accounting may subscribe to between 30 11 Working for Academic Excellence. academic achievement, demonstrate and 50 journals. Our library has more than HEADWAE has honored the that a quality education can be found 1,300 journal titles in accountancy and state’s top teachers and students since right here in Mississippi’s colleges and finance.” the Mississippi Legislature established universities.” When an institution can boast of the the program in 1988. Honorees are Wilder was recently named the largest collection, scholars and practicing professionals alike want to see it. Four inter- ‘These honorees...demonstrate that a qual- national accountancy conferences have been drawn to campus because of the ity education can be found right here in Mis- accountancy library holdings. The latest sissippi’s colleges and universities.’ was the 10th World Congress of Accounting Historians in 2004, which had previously been held in Melbourne, Madrid, London, —LT. GOV. AMY TUCK Pisa, Sydney, Kyoto and Brussels. selected by administrators at their 2006 Outstanding Educator by the Mis- Gary John Previts, professor of respective institutions based on sissippi Society of CPAs. A member of accountancy and associate dean for under- scholastic performance, experience, the UM faculty since 1993, he was graduate and integrated programs at Case teaching record and other criteria. Also awarded the two top campuswide fac- Western Reserve University in Cleveland, honored at the February ceremony in ulty awards last year: the Elsie M. relies on UM’s resources for his research. Jackson was Ole Miss student Rebecca Hood Outstanding Teacher Award and “There are always pleasant surprises— Bertrand, 2005-06 president of the the Faculty Achievement Award. He materials which had been stored away, pam- Associated Student Body. heads the accountancy school’s highly phlets which have not been available and, “Dr. Wilder and Ms. Bertrand are successful student internship program. of course, the extensive early materials two of the university’s most distin- He holds a Ph.D. in accounting from which document the original printed works guished citizens,” said Tim Hall, associ- Florida State University. on accounting.” ate provost. “They represent—in schol- ACCOUNTANCY donors

Mr. Gerald M. Abdalla Mr. Robert P. Broom II Dr. James W. Davis Mrs. Margaret Franetovich Ms. Dorine A. Adams Mr. Andrew Gray Bryant Mr. Sid Davis Mrs. Penny B. Frazer Mr. Olen S. Akers Ms. Karen Renee Bryant Mr. Walter K. Davis Ms. Mary Howard Freeman Mr. Ronald H. Aldridge Mr. Eric S. Bubrig Mr. William E. Davis Dr. George R. French Mr. Robert H. Alexander Jr. Mr. Jeff Burkhalter Mr. Wayne A. Dawson Jr. Mr. Jacob M. Fried Jr. All Star Financial Group, LLC Mr. F. G. Burnett Mr. Raymond Dearman Jr. Mr. Benjamin L. Frierson Dr. Barry G. Allen Ms. Sara L. Burney Deloitte & Touche Foundation Mr. Roger P. Friou Mrs. Hallie L. Anderson Mr. Roland O. Burns Jr. Mr. Edward A. Demiller Jr. Mr. Brian W. Fyfe Mrs. Jennifer M. Anderson Mr. Clinton V. Butler Mr. H. Michael Deneka Mr. Anthony G. Gaines Mrs. Melinda W. Anderson Mr. Charles W. Caldwell Jr. Mr. Carl D. Deweese Lt Col. Robert B. Gann, USMC Mrs. Lisa M. Andrews Mr. Thomas L. Callicutt Jr. Mr. Daniel V. Dixon Mrs. Mary Howell McIntosh Gann Mr. Ronald G. Applewhite Mr. Charles T. Cannada Mr. Kenneth L. Donahue Mr. Richard D. Garner Col. Charles Ashley Mr. Don B. Cannada Mr. Colt Doom Mr. George T. Gaston Mr. James E. Athanaelos Jr. Cannon & Company Mr. William M. Douglass Mrs. Gloria Gatlin Mr. Barry W. Atkins Mr. Timothy R. Cantrell Mr. Robert W. Dowdy Mrs. Lori B. Geiger Dr. Keith E. Atkinson Mr. Preston C. Carpenter Jr. Mr. Roderick V. Draper Georgia-Pacific Foundation AutoZone Mrs. Lisa D. Carwyle Mr. Wallace L. Duke Jr. Mr. Valdis Gercens Mr. Thomas W. Avent Jr. Mr. Clellan D. Causey Dr. E.E. Davidson Mr. Richard T. Gernert Jr. Axa Foundation Mr. James T. Channell Mrs. Gail C. Eaves Mr. Gerard R. Gibert Mrs. Ashley J. Ayres Mr. William B. Cherry Mr. Boyd M. Edwards Mr. Thomas L. Gibson Ms. Sue Smith Babb Children’s Clinic Of Oxford Mrs. Yvonne M. Edwards Mrs. Pamela Cloud Githens Mrs. Jackie P. Bailey Mr. Dempsey B. Chittom Jr. Dr. Rick Elam GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Mr. Jason L. Bailey Ms. Melanie Elisabeth Chow Mr. David Elks Mr. Brant Godbold Mr. Robert A. Bailey Christmas in April-Grenada Mr. Robert B. Ellis III Mr. James R. Gordon Mrs. Eileen Ballock Mr. James S. Chustz Mr. Archie W. England Mr. Jay Gore III Bancorp South Foundation Mr. Anthony Clark Entergy Corporation Mr. William Gottshall Jr. Mr. Daniel F. Barber Mr. Charles C. Clark Mrs. Allison M. Entrekin Mrs. Camilla Webber Gould Mr. Walter B. Barlow Jr. Ms. Mary C. Clark Mr. Jeffrey Erickson Mr. Larry L. Grantham Mr. Dudley M. Barnes Mrs. Reatha H. Clark Ernst & Young Mrs. Margaret M. Grantham Mr. John B. Barrack Mr. Stephen Cloud Ernst & Young Foundation Mr. Randy L. Graves BDO Seidman, LLP Mrs. Sally K. Clurman Ernst & Young, LLP Mrs. Claire L. Gregory Mr. John B. Beard Mr. James F. Coats Mrs. Jodi Jefcoat Ervin Grenada Clinic For Women, PA 12 Mr. Larry D. Belue Mr. Christopher W. Cola Mrs. Kathy H. Eure Grenada County Chamber Mr. Raymond L. Bergin Jr. Mr. Richard L. Coleman Mr. Bobby W. Evans Jr. of Commerce Mr. James B. Biddy Mr. Walton T. Coleman Mrs. Wynlen F. Eversole Mr. William G. Griesbeck Mrs. Nell King Bieger Mr. J. Mitchell Collins ExxonMobil Foundation Mr. Jeremy B. Griffin Mrs. Patricia G. Biggers Mrs. Crystal G. Combs F.O. Givens Sr. & Jr. Mr. Joseph P. Griffin Dr. Khamis M. Bilbeisi Community Foundation Ms. Emily E. Fair The Hon. Thomas Griffis Mrs. Francine H. Blackmon of Greater Memphis Ms. Dianene G. Fant Mr. G. O. Griffith Jr. Mr. Louis J. Blanchard Ms. Vickie M. Cook Mrs. Vivian S. Farris Ms. Catharine M. Grimes Mr. Joel K. Bobo Mr. William Robert Cook Mrs. Claudia R. Fath Mr. James A. Grimes Mr. Charles W. Boland Mr. Timothy M. Cooper Mr. George Alfred Fenger Jr. Mr. John R. Grisham Boolos CPA Firm Mr. Timothy K. Corley Mrs. Joel Laim Ferguson Mr. Lloyd M. Grissinger Mr. Leo Boolos Jr. Mr. Jeffrey S. Cosman Dr. Walker E. Fesmire Mr. Charles S. Groshon Mrs. Maradith T. Boone Ms. Jean P. Cottingham Mr. Jon K. Finley Mrs. Louise L. Groves Ms. Jennifer Stoner Bouchillon Mr. William W. Cox Jr. First National Bank-Oxford Mrs. Amanda C. Gufford Mr. Giles Bounds Mr. William L. Crim Jr. Mrs. Jennifer C. Flanagan Mrs. Renee T. Gwin Mr. Kendall O. Bowlin Mr. Gerald P. Crystal Dr. Dale L. Flesher Mrs. Laurie Sue Hale Mr. Ollie Dee Boykin Jr. Mr. Eugene M. Cummings Dr. Tonya K. Flesher Mrs. Mary D. Hall Dr. Marianne Bradford Mr. Robert A. Cunningham Mrs. A. S. Floyd Mrs. G. A. Hamilton Mr. Allen Foster Bradley Mr. Lawrence W. Curbo Mrs. Tina A. File Floyd Dr. Glyn W. Hanbery Mr. A. Braddock Brawner Mrs. Kristie F. Cutberth Mr. Brian M. Folk Mr. Barry D. Harbour Mrs. Connie Brezik Ms. Sandra C. Darby Ms. Mary G. Fontenot Mr. Larry J. Hardy Mr. David I. Bridgers Jr. Mr. Wallace E. Davenport Mr. Robert B. Fooshee Ms. Jana E. Hargrave Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Mrs. Karen J. Davidson Dr. Sharon K. Ford Mr. Ben Bond Harrell Mr. Charles L. Brocato Ms. Sara A. Davidson Mrs. Marion M. Fox Mr. Joe D. Havens Jr. Mr. Raymond Brocato Sr. Davis Pizza Enterprises, Inc Mrs. Kim E. Francis Mr. Aubrey C. Hayes Jr. The Patterson School of Accountancy thanks our friends and donors who supported us with their generosity January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005.

Mr. Lionel Henderson Jr. Mrs. Moneke S. Jones-Robinson Mr. Duncan McDuff Mr. R. M. Parham Mrs. Sharon W. Hendrix Jones-Zander LTD Mr. Robert P. McGahan Mrs. Annette B. Parish Mr. William S. Henley II Dr. Robert E. Jordan Ms. Eileen M. McGinley Mr. Carl A. Parker Ms. Patricia L. Henry JPL Financial Services Inc. Mr. Richard K. McInnis Mrs. Cindy Dantone Parolli Mrs. Julie Bradley Hensley Keeton & Embry, PA Mrs. Lisa Williams McKay Mr. Mark Q. Partin Mr. A. E. Henson Jr. Mr. Samuel C. Kelly Col. James T. McKee, USAF Mr. Gary W. Patterson Mr. James E. Hicks III Dr. R. M. Khayat Mr. William D. McKellar Ms. Melody C. Patterson Mr. William B. Hicks Mr. Kerry G. King Mr. Michael S. McKeown Mrs. Lisa M. Pearson Mr. Cyrus H. Higgs III Kiwanis Club of Grenada Ms. Laura M. McKinley Mr. John H. Pecarek Ms. Jean W. Hill Ms. Margret O. Klepzig Mr. James J. McKinney Mr. W. P. Pennebaker Jr. Mr. Jimmy L. Hill Mr. James T. Knight Mr. Kenneth M. McKinney Perimeter Foods Inc. No. 2 Mr. D. Kirkland Hines KPMG Foundation Mrs. Anne E. McLaughlin Ms. Edith L. Perry Mr. R. T. Hines Mrs. Tammy W. Kump Mr. John M. McMahon Mr. Mickey J. Perry Dr. Thomas G. Hodge Mr. Roy A. Lamar Mr. Patrick W. McNulty Mr. Michael R. Peters Mrs. Catherine A. Hodgson Mrs. Jamie Pennington Lambert Mr. G. G. Meadors Pfizer Foundation Mrs. Liesa J. Holeman Mrs. Suzanne W. Langford Mechanics Bank Mr. Daniel G. Pieralisi Mr. Clayton Joseph Holland Mrs. Dabney G. Lavelle Dr. Carol M. Megehee Mr. Chris A. Polk Holmes Community College Mr. Ashley Lee Ms. Pamela Mendez Mr. Ross B. Polk Mr. Miller P. Holmes Jr. Lefoldt & Co, PA Ms. Mandy K. Mendoza Mr. James E. Poole Jr. Mr. Jason L. Honeycutt Mr. Christopher M. Leopold Merchants & Farmers Bank Ms. Mary E. Presley Horne CPA Group Mr. James A. Lesemann Jr. Dr. Paul Edwin Metrejean Price Waterhouse Foundation Mr. William F. Horne Mr. Brook H. Lester Mr. John R. Meyer PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP The Hon. David W. Houston III Mr. Jerry L. Levens Mrs. Elizabeth T. Michaels Mr. Roger L. Pritchard Mrs. Anna P. Howell Mr. Ricky P. Livingston Mrs. Beverly Y. Milam Ms. Shea Curbo Pritchett Mr. James S. Hudson Mr. Charles S. Locke Mr. David L. Miller Mr. Floyd E. Pruden Jr. Mr. Carson M. Hughes Mr. Casey D. Long Mr. Robert D. Mims Dr. Tina S. Quinn Mrs. Kimberly G. Humphreys Lorman Education Services Mr. Lucian S. Minor Mr. John P. Quon Mrs. Lee A. Hunter Mrs. Shannon Marie Lovejoy Mississippi Power Company Mr. Daniel Rabinowitz Mr. Gregory P. Husnik Mr. Leonard M. Lurie Mr. Edward L. Mixon Mr. Bradford W. Rainey Mr. Paul R. Hust Mr. C. Matthew Lusco Mr. Buck A. Moore Sr. Mr. David M. Rains Mrs. Judy H. Hyde Mr. Robert Leslie Lyon Jr. Mr. Guy W. Moore Jr. Mr. Kenneth C. Rakow Jr. Mr. Robert D. Hyde Mrs. Kristen S. Macadams Mr. William F. Moore Jr. Mr. Lee W. Randall Internal Medicine Associates- Mr. Shannon R. MacArthur Mr. Jonathan P. Moorehead Mr. Richard V. Randall 13 Oxford Mr. D. Neil Magruder Jr. Mr. Orlando A. Morales Mr. Eddie W. Ray Jr. International Paper Company Mr. Ralph H. Marble Mrs. Sara Randall Morgan Mr. Fred G. Ray Foundation Ms. Carol Anne Marion Mr. H. A. Morris Jr. Mr. Paul A. Ray Mr. Selby A. Ireland Mr. Charles F. Marion Jr. Mr. Timothy R. Mortland Mrs. Tammy B. Ray Mr. Michael J. Iupe Mr. Scott T. Marshall Mrs. Jeanne M. Moulton Mr. William A. Ray Mr. Quinon R. Ivy James Gilbert Martin, CFP Murphy Oil Usa Inc. Dr. James W. Rayner J. E. Vance & Co. Mr. Michael E. Martin Mr. J. Blake Murphy Mr. Chester H. Redditt Jr. Mrs. Geneva C. Jackson Fr. Troy W. Mashburn Jr. Mr. Rodney Murphy Residential Energy Management Mr. Kevin Q. Jackson Mrs. Deborah B. Mathews Dr. Clarece R. Nash Rhea & Ivy, PLC Mr. Walter T. Jagodinski Dr. D. S. Mauldin National Business Institute Dr. William R. Rhodes Mrs. Amy L. James Mrs. Tamatha B. Mauldin Mr. James H. Neeld IV Ms. Jennifer L. Rice Ms. Carol Ann Janous Mr. Nick A. Mavar Jr. Mr. Richard C. Newberg Mr. Scott H. Richison Jefferies & Company Inc. Mr. Stuart M. Maxey Dr. R. B. Newell Mr. Brian K. Roberson Mr. James Cherry Jenkins Ms. Janet B. May Mr. Mark H. Nicolas Mr. Michael A. Roberts Mrs. Jennifer Johnston Jenkins Mrs. Roberta S. May Mr. Scott G. Nielsen Mr. Terry A. Robertson Mr. Jay L. Jernigan Mrs. Tara D. May Dr. Thomas G. Noland Mr. Jon D. Rodgers Mr. Alex G. Johnson III Mayo Mallette, PLLC Mrs. Cheryl F. Nutter Mr. David M. Rogers Mr. Travis R. Johnson Mr. William T. Mays Jr. Mr. Mark C. Odom Mrs. Julie R. Rogers Mr. Charles L. Joiner Jr. Mr. Edward S. McAlexander Mr. Joseph D. Oliver III Mr. Ernest D. Ross Mr. Thomas E. Jolly Jr. Mr. John W. McCaleb Mr. Michael Overstreet Ms. Martha Lynn Ross Mr. Clayton H. Jones Mr. Burwell B. McClendon Oxford Insurance Agency Ms. Sharon K. Rowland Mr. David W. Jones Mrs. Robin Y. McCormick Oxford University Bank Rowling Dold & Associates, LLP Ms. Lesley Ann Jones Mr. Russell P. McDaniel Pace Accounting Company Mrs. Molly Lomax Roy Mr. M. Kent Jones Jr. Mr. William Michael McDonald Sr. Ms. Georgina L. Pace Mrs. Pamela K. Roy ACCOUNTANCY donors

Mr. Jerry E. Rudman SouthBank Mr. William D. Trahan Mr. Robert L. Welborn Mr. David C. Ruff Southwestern/Great American Mr. Terry F. Traylor Mr. Joe C. Weller Mr. Richard W. Russ Ms. Karen R. Spencer Mr. Robert M. Tucei Mr. Christopher J. Wells Mr. Richard Weston Russ Jr. Mr. Arthur D. Spratlin Jr. Mrs. Frances Virginia Turnage Mr. Jerry E. West Mr. Harris Russell Mrs. Teresa C. Standard Mr. Richard C. Turner III Mr. Donald A. White Mrs. April L. Ryan Mr. Arvil R. Stanford Mr. Jesse B. Tutor Jr. Mrs. Tina Marie W. White Sanderson Farms State Farm Companies Foundation Mrs. Staci Henson Tyler Mrs. Tanya R. Wilborn Mrs. Melanie Ligon Sandridge Mr. Vic Steen UBS Financial Foundation Dr. Rebecca S. Wilkie SAP Public Services Inc. Mr. Ronald W. Stimpson Ms. Charlotte L. Underwood William L. and Cecilia C. Cox Mr. Eric M. Saul Dr. Morris H. Stocks United Way of Central New Mexico Mr. A. T. Williams Mr. David M. Scheider Mr. Robert Strickland Jr. Mr. James W. Vanderford Mr. David A. Williams Mr. James D. Schultz Mr. Jeffrey B. Strouse Mr. J. P. Varner Mr. David T. Williams Dr. Michael George Schumacher Mr. Michael B. Sullivan Mr. Joseph E. Varner III Mrs. Leaanne Williams Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving Ms. Angela Summers Mr. Mark A. Vines Mr. Jeffrey R. Wills Schwartz & Hofflich, LLP Supervalu Food Store Ms. Donna Dukes Wade Dr. Arlette C. Wilson Mrs. Judy W. Shannon Mrs. Allison Weakley Sutherland Mr. David J. Wages Mr. Richard O. Wilson Dr. Andrew D. Sharp Mrs. Rhonda C. Swider Mr. Gerald D. Wages Ms. Sandra D. Wilson Mrs. Jane E. Sharp Mr. H. Michael Tatum Mrs. Carolyn R. Wakefield Mrs. Pamela Walker Winger Mr. David C. Shaw Tau Alpha Chi Dr. Robin L. Wakefield Mr. Vance L. Witt Mr. Robert S. Shaw Jr. Mr. Alan J. Taylor Mr. James S. Walden Mrs. Bettie G. Wong Ms. Joan C. Sheffield Mr. Ronald G. Taylor Mrs. Mary Kate G. Walhood Mr. Brent W. Wood Mr. Tommy Shepherd Mr. William F. Taylor Mrs. Janice Walker Mr. Robert T. Woods Mr. Christopher J. Shinstock Mrs. Paula D. Teague Ms. Jane M. Walley Mrs. Nina Margaret Word Dr. Benjamin R. Silliman, CPA The Grenada Family Medicine Mr. Tommy T. Wammack Mr. J. E. Wright Mr. William H. Sipes Jr. Clinic Mr. M. E. Ward III Mr. George M. Yarbrough Jr. Smith Turner & Reeves Dr. Thomas R. Thies Mr. Robert R. Ward Mrs. Shonda H. Young Mr. Dennis W. Smith Ms. Bettina D. Thomas Watkins Uiberall, PLLC Mr. Albert E. Yow Mr. G. Witt Smith Jr. Mr. James T. Thomas IV Ms. Doris P. Watson Zurich-American Insurance Mr. Gerald A. Smith Jr. Mrs. Ouida E. Thomas Mr. Jon L. Watson Mr. Gregory W. Smith Mr. Robert C. Thompson III Mr. William L. Watt Note: Diligent efforts were made to Dr. Jack L. Smith Mrs. Patti G. Thrash Mr. Wendell W. Weakley ensure the accuracy of this list. Please Mrs. Mary L. Smith Mr. B. E. Tolbert Mrs. Susan S. Weatherholt notify the Office of Alumni Affairs at 14 Mr. William K. Smith Mrs. Kay Townes Mr. Michael A. Webb 662-915-7375 of any errors. Mr. Ronald T. Solberg Mr. Huey L. Townsend Mr. Adam R. Webster Mrs. Anne D. Soldevila Mr. John D. Townsend Mr. Kenneth A. Weeden w

Busy year for Beta Alpha Psi a h S J

It’s been a busy spring semester for the Ole Miss Chapter y b

of Beta Alpha Psi. t o h

In March, students Betsey Bailey and Sheila Rice, along P with faculty adviser Suzanne McCaffrey, attended the ΒΑΨ Southeast Regional meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Bailey and Rice presented in the Professional/Service Best Practices competi- tion category and won second place, which included a $250 prize. Next March, the Patterson School chapter will host ΒΑΨ’s 2007 Southeast Regional meeting in Memphis. The local chapter’s annual golf tournament was held in May, and raised funds for student travel and other Patterson School activities. The team from KPMG took home the Bur- kett Cup, named in honor of retired professor Homer Burkett. The winner of the longest drive was UM student Alex DeBardeleben. In other news, chapter members are working on a ΒΑΨ web site with MIS instructor John Wee. The site will include information for members and firms, such as a meeting schedule, membership roster, resume postings and other scheduled events. The site will debut later this year. The team from KPMG in Jackson took home the Burkett Cup during ΒΑΨ’s 2006 golf tournament. Pictured with cup namesake Homer Burkett (center) are Cobb Andrews, Hunter Smith, Chad Webb and Jamie Hart. n a d r o J t r e b o R y b o t o h P

Thanks to generous gifts from alumni and friends, the Patterson School provides Investment, continued from Page 3 an Internet connection to every seat in every accountancy classroom.

of current Chancellor Robert Khayat, who accountancy graduate. At the time, it was intended to “reinvigorate our knowledge was vice chancellor for university affairs at the largest single gift ever to the university. base,” as described in the agreement the time. The university used $3 million of that dona- between the UM Foundation and the “They announced an endowed chair tion to help fund the renovation of Conner school. honoring Gene Peery, and we were suc- Hall and the accountancy school was For research on its home turf, the cessful in raising $1 million,” Davis said. named in Patterson’s honor in 1999. accountancy faculty can turn to the largest “This was one of the earlier chairs to be The Reynolds gift toward completion and most prestigious accounting library in funded at the university, and Peery was of the building’s renovation was part of a the world — that of the American Institute able to occupy the chair himself.” $23 million construction and renovation of Certified Public Accountants. The Upon Peery’s death in 1993, Davis and project for accountancy and business unique collection of more than 125,000 others in the school supported another administration. The project is also a testa- items arrived at Ole Miss in 2001 (see relat- effort to raise funds for a scholarship in the ment to faithful alumni of the school, said ed story on Page 8). professor’s name. Davis, who served as dean from 1993 to At the library’s dedication, Jay Roth- “This school is a product of many out- 2002. burg, AICPA vice president, said, “The Uni- 15 standing professors over time but none “Our profession rose to meet the occa- versity of Mississippi is one of the nation’s more so than Gene Peery,” Davis said. sion, and it shows the tremendous respect most well-respected names in accountancy The Peery Scholarship had been seed- our alumni have for this school,” Davis education. We at AICPA are pleased that our collection will reside with an institution that has contributed so much to excellence ‘All of these achievements could not have been in the profession.” accomplished without the generous support of Davis, who has been a firsthand wit- ness to the growth and maturation of the our alumni and friends.’ Patterson School of Accountancy, summed up the school’s history and its promise for —DEAN MORRIS STOCKS the future. “As evidenced by the past 30 years, we ed several years before with an anonymous said. “Every room has a nameplate, and know we can count on our accountancy $10,000 gift, then memorials poured in fol- every nameplate has the name of a spon- alumni and our profession to continue their lowing his death. The university later soring donor.” support for the Patterson School of announced that the seed gift had come Described as a “technology wonder- Accountancy. We are accredited, we have from the W.B. Ridgway family of Jackson. land,” the facility provides an Internet con- the national library, we have a state-of-the- Over the last decade, the school has nection to every seat in every accountancy art facility, we consistently attract some of continued to build on its strong foundation, classroom. One classroom has an advanced the country’s brightest students, and we entering the 21st century competitive with system that allows professors not only to take pride in a dynamic faculty. But the best some of the best accountancy programs in teach through the computer, but also to is yet to come, and Dean Morris Stocks is the country. Of great significance was a monitor students’ work and help individual- the right leader to take us to the next $16.5 million gift to the university from the ly when necessary. level.” Reynolds Foundation in 1997 honoring its The Reynolds gift also provided $3 mil- longtime employee E.H. Patterson, a 1955 lion for a faculty-support endowment

Dean Morris Stocks (center) had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Horne CPA during a recent trip to Jackson, Miss. From left: Ron Applewhite, Tara May, Kirk Hines, Patrick Gough, Dean Stocks, Terry Traylor, James Gordon, Robert Alexander and Norman Moore.

3110C/7-06

Non-profit Org U.S. Postage Patterson School of Accountancy PAID P.O. Box 1848 Permit No. 6 University, MS 38677 University, MS