No Individual Is Would Emerge As A&M Transitioned Into Philanthropy, Guided Today by the MSU Wholly Responsible for the Mississippi State College in 1932
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No individual is would emerge as A&M transitioned into Philanthropy, guided today by the MSU wholly responsible for the Mississippi State College in 1932. The graduate Foundation, continues to impact the university’s success of the Mississippi school was established in 1936, and doctoral tri-fold mission of learning, research and service. State University Foundation. degrees were first offered in 1951. Since becoming Mississippi State has leveraged generous private That success lies with the Mississippi State University in 1958, the institution contributions over the past 50 years to become a countless alumni and has encompassed tremendous strides in the areas highly-reputable academic institution and an friends who display loyalty, pride and passion of research and service, becoming recognized outstanding research university. for their university year after year. They rise globally for many of its outreach programs and As the MSU Foundation commemorates its to the challenge and invaluably support our research activities. 50th year, we honor Mississippi State’s heritage mission to provide continuous private funds for For 134 years, Mississippi State has carried and express our deepest gratitude for our success the advancement of Mississippi State. Their out its mission of service, bringing learning, to our organization’s superb volunteer leadership. generosity allows the university to fulfill the enlightenment and opportunity to thousands of We also thank the entire MSU family of great expectations of its home state, and answer Mississippians and others across the nation. More contributors who have placed their trust in our the call of a nation in need of a world-class, than 121,000 men and women have come in search ability to make the most of every dollar given to degree-granting education and research institution. of, and found, bright futures as degree-bearing Mississippi State. With the steadfast loyalty of Reflecting on the history of Mississippi graduates. The dreams of each new generation of our donors, we are exceeding the expectations State allows one to recall the path of endurance students continue to be fulfilled, in large part, by set forth by the founding fathers of the early the university has traveled over time. Much contributions from supporters who understand Development Foundation. of that path was marked by individuals who their gifts are the crucial difference between The accomplishments of the MSU invested their time and resources to pave the educating young adults and providing a first-rate Foundation and the graduates and friends who way for prosperity and growth of what has educational experience. support its endeavors are part of the university’s become the state’s largest university. The MSU Alumni Association was legacy. Over time, the generosity of individuals The origins of philanthropy at Mississippi responsible for early philanthropic work on and corporate supporters has reached unparalleled State most likely date back to its founding as a campus. Later, the Alumni Foundation, still in magnitude. In fiscal year 2011 alone, support from land-grant institution. On Feb. 28, 1878, existence today, would play a more organized alumni and friends reached an unprecedented Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College role, but limited in scope. It was not until the university high, as more than $80.3 million in was created by the federal Morrill Act, and MSU Development Foundation was founded gifts and pledges were received. individuals began laying the cornerstones of the in 1962 that a highly structured fundraising Over the years, the MSU Foundation has small campus. program for the university was established. It become a vital link between the past and the When A&M opened its doors in 1880 to its was realized at that time that tuition and state present, and will continue to serve as an essential first class of 354 students, its mission was the dollars alone are unable to support the programs connection between the present and the future. same as it is today, to educate. Those students that make Mississippi State truly distinctive. The We are the development foundation for primarily studied “agriculture, horticulture and incremental level comes from the contributions Mississippi State University, and this is our the mechanical arts…without excluding other of alumni and friends who understand the story as it unfolds with each contribution made scientific and classical studies, including military university’s vision and its importance to its on behalf of the university’s students, faculty tactics.” More undergraduate degree programs state and nation. and programs. 3 4 Charles E. “Charlie” offense and defense for two years, and was vice Charlie relishes every moment he spends Weatherly’s personal and president of the campus M-Club. He graduated working with MSU alumni and friends. During professional history with in 1959 with a degree in industrial management. his tenure, he has served as a mentor to the Mississippi State provides Earlier that year, he received a telegram from university’s development officers. a wealth of timeless legendary Vince Lombardi inviting him to try For over 50 years, Charlie has been married Bulldog recollections and out for the Green Bay Packers, the football to his college sweetheart, the former Ellen special maroon moments to share with other team for which Lombardi had just become Randolph. Ellen is also a graduate of MSU, having alumni and friends. Because of his dedication head coach. received a degree in elementary education in to his alma mater as an MSU alumni and Luckily, the “Jolly Maroon Giant,” as 1960, and her masters in that same area in 1963. development employee for nearly 50 years, we Charlie is affectionately known to many, decided She taught at Overstreet Elementary and was are privileged to have him serve as our narrator to pursue a career with MSU. He was hired in later employed at MSU from 1975 to 1987. Ellen’s for this special anniversary publication. 1962 as the first full-time field representative for father, the late Col. George N. Randolph, was When Charlie set foot on Mississippi State the MSU Alumni Association, and began laying a professor of military science and tactics and University’s historic Drill Field some 58 years the ground work for alumni chapters. In 1967, professor of history at Mississippi State College. ago as a freshman he felt he was walking on he became executive secretary which was later Charlie and Ellen’s three children, the late hallowed ground. It was the same overwhelming known as director of alumni affairs. He proudly Charles R. Weatherly, Moree Elizabeth Weatherly feeling his father, Ernest Weatherly of Ripley, served eight MSU presidents as he guided the and Ruth Ellen Germany, all attended MSU. experienced years earlier as he enrolled at then- Alumni Association. The girls obtained MSU degrees, and Charles Mississippi State Agricultural and Mechanical In 1987, Charlie became coordinator of was an MSU senior at the time of his death. College. The elder Weatherly graduated in 1933 special projects for the Alumni Association A longtime resident of Starkville, Charlie with an agriculture degree and became a county and the MSU Foundation. In that role, he was works hard to maintain his connection with his agent in Pontotoc where he raised Charlie. instrumental in the organization of constituency- alma mater personally and professionally. He is Charlie has enjoyed a long love affair based fundraising programs at Mississippi State. a member of the Association of Retired Faculty, with his alma mater, and his name has become The programs successfully continue today, an organizer of the “Local Dawgs,” and a synonymous with both alumni affairs and fulfilling the needs of MSU’s eight academic coordinator of reunions for football players from development at Mississippi State. He has colleges and its schools. 1949 to 1961. Charlie also provides volunteer devoted his adult life to MSU, as he cultivated Charlie remained with the MSU Foundation consulting for the Veterans Memorial Rose and furthered the university’s alumni and in various capacities until 1997 when he retired Garden. He was instrumental in the donation fundraising efforts. The strong connection as full-time director of development for of the roses and serves as a tour guide. Charlie developed with Mississippi State is an agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. One of the single greatest accomplishments admiration of the university he shares with He remains a dedicated fundraiser and continues in Charlie’s life was being named MSU’s 2005 countless other graduates, including his two to work in a limited capacity as senior National Alumnus of the Year. For his many brothers, Danny and Robert. development director emeritus for the Division years of service and unwavering support, Charlie enrolled at Mississippi State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Charlie will always be a legend at Mississippi on a football scholarship in 1954. He played end Medicine. He also continues to serve on the State. He truly is one of the university’s most for the Bulldogs from 1954-1958, starting on Alumni Foundation board of directors. endearing Bulldogs. 5 6 8 In 1958, Mississippi many opportunities to impact the university in secured 88 contributions totaling $12,542. Gifts State College became ways never before realized. ranged from cattle and fertilizer, to books and Mississippi State University. The culmination of Colvard’s grand vision paintings. However, gifts of stock and bequests The 1960s were a time was the formal organization of the Mississippi began to aid the progress of the comprehensive of great intensity at State University Development Foundation fundraising effort. Mississippi State, and chartered on Feb. 5, 1962. Over 200 alumni, who The first large gift to the organization, also alumni continued to impact the university in shared Colvard’s enthusiasm, pledged a total its first large deferred gift, was a deed to 1,031 many ways.