My first gala at Mississippi Valley State University – and can I tell you that Mr. Oliver and I have experienced a wonderful evening. It was an honor to present the 10^th annual J.H. White Preeminence Awards to Congressman Bennie Thompson, MVSU’s second President Ernest Boykins, Valley alumnus Willie Gregory Sr., Valley professor Lawrence Goldman, and Greenwood chiropractor and Valley supporter, Dr. Dorothey Pernell. Congratulations to each on receiving this prestigious honor. You join a prestigious field of business people, educators and community leaders who have supported Valley, many from its founding days.

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS/ADVOCACY

Honorable Bennie Thompson

Each time Mississippi Valley State University calls upon this man, he responds – whether as commencement speaker or to guide through federal initiatives – he assists in every way possible. This individual has assisted with funding of curriculum development for Natural Disaster and Homeland Security, as well as funding for a Center of Excellence for Economic Development, which provided technical assistance and consultation services to small businesses in the Delta.  This center provided employment opportunities and internships for alumni both in his state and federal offices.

Congressman Thompson is currently serving his eighth term for Mississippi’s Second District and third term on the Homeland Security Committee. The Second District stretches from Tunica in the north to Jefferson County in the south and all points in-between, creating a rare blend of agricultural economies and the hustle and bustle of city life.

Congressman Thompson has spent his entire adult life giving a voice to the voiceless. With more than 40 years of continuous public service, he is the longest-serving African-American elected official in the state of Mississippi. He served as alderman and mayor in his hometown for years, after which he served as Hinds County Supervisor for 13 years before being elected to Congress in 1993. With six district offices – Bolton, Greenville, Greenwood, Jackson, Marks, and Mound Bayou – Congressman Thompson is committed to empowering those who gave him an opportunity to represent the Second District of Mississippi. His reputation as a no-nonsense problem solver has earned him the trust of his constituents and the respect of his colleagues in Washington.

Congressman Thompson long been considered a leading voice on civil rights, equal education and healthcare reform, Congressman Thompson has helped to make a real difference in the lives of his constituents. In 1975, he filed a lawsuit to increase funding at Mississippi’s historically black universities. With Congressman Thompson as lead plaintiff, the case was settled in 2004 for an unprecedented $503 million. In 2000, Congressman Thompson’s legislation creating the National Center for Minority Health and Health Care Disparities became law.

To begin the 110th Congress, Thompson was promoted by his colleagues to serve as the first ever Democratic Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, a committee which was created by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. As Chairman, Congressman Thompson introduced and engineered House passage of the most comprehensive homeland security package since September 11th, H.R. 1, the “9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007.”

Congressman Thompson is a lifelong member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton Mississippi.  He has been married to his college sweetheart, London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, for 40 years. The couple has one daughter, BendaLonne; one granddaughter, Jeanna and one grandson, Thomas Gordon.  

EDUCATION/ACADEMICS

Dr.  Ernest A.  Boykins

In 1971, Dr. Ernest A. Boykins Jr. became the second president of Mississippi Valley State University. He came to MVSU as a noted scholar, scientist, educator and administrator. In assuming the role of president, he quickly became known as a man endowed with relentless courage, vision, sound judgment and exceptional abilities to provide educational opportunities for the entire campus community.

The Vicksburg native earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Xavier University-New Orleans in 1953. He received the master of science degree in biology at Texas Southern University in 1958. Further graduate work in cell biology was done at the University of Connecticut from 1959 to 1960. In 1964, Dr. Boykins earned the doctor of philosophy degree with a major in zoology from Michigan State University. Prior to coming to The Valley, Dr. Boykins worked at Alcorn State University as chairman of the Division of Arts and Sciences.

Under Dr. Boykins’ inspired leadership, the curriculum at MVSU was expanded to include Aerospace Studies, Family and Community Services, Library Science, Military Science and Environmental Health. The first master’s level program was added. In addition, Dr. Boykins orchestrated the inception of the Academic Skills Parlor, an academic support program that was uniquely designed to assist students in developing their full range of potentials. The Academic Skills Parlor received regional and national recognition with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning accepting it as the model academic support service program in Mississippi. The trustees also recommended that the remaining seven institutions create an academic support program based on MVSU’s design. 

Dr. Boykins is married to the former Beverly Malveaux of Lafayette, Louisiana, who served graciously beside him as the second First Lady of MVSU.  The couple has four children: son, Darryl, and three daughters, Rhea, Constance and Karen. 

 LEADERSHIP/COMMUNITY SERVICE/CIVIC ENDEAVORS

Dr. Dorothey Pernell

Dr. Pernell has spent the past two years volunteering her time and service to MVSU’s athletic program with assistance from her daughter, Dr. Erin Jacobs. They both are currently practicing at Murphree & Pernell Chiropractic, located in

Greenwood. Dr. Pernell has spent countless hours, resources and personal funds to assist in the holistic development of MVSU student athletes. Dr. Pernell and Dr. Jacobs have been providing post-game meals for the MVSU women’s basketball team, in addition to many other sports. As team doctors, they have worked with the young women and men as part of their training to prevent injuries, enhancing endurance, as well as overall strengthening.

The partnership has now expanded to a new venture with the chiropractors’ alma mater, Logan University College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, Missouri. As a result of Dr. Pernell’s commitment to Valley, all student athletes were afforded an overall assessment by Logan University’s College of Chiropractic. Dr. Pernell helped to fund the expenses of Logan University’s trip to our campus. As a result of this initiative, Logan University brought Graduate Program Directors, Dr. Laney Nelson, Dr. Adam Morrell, and 10 interns for two days.  During their visit, they provided a comprehensive assessment of approximately 230 student athletes. Each individual student athlete received a customized program to assist with strength, conditioning and agility, and a plan to maximize their athletic performance. Following the two-day assessment, a summary of results was shared with all head coaches to assist with areas of weakness and identify opportunities to increase athletic performance.

Dr. Pernell has demonstrated an unwavering commitment and dedication to her craft, as well as student athletes of The Valley. Dr. Pernell is currently assisting the University in maintaining an ongoing relationship with Logan University to include interns from the University working with our student athletes in the area of power performance throughout the upcoming academic year.

 PHILANTHROPHY

Willie Gregory, Director

 When it comes to supporting your alma mater, there’s not too many that fall in the ranks of this person. Their support extends in so many ways, through mentoring, guiding, and even sometimes as sideline coach, but most importantly through time, resources, and contributions this individual continues to give.  His support has impacted those on the playing field to those in the classroom, as well as the President’s office.

The name NIKE often reminds us of sports icons and legends who have impressive endorsements: sports legends and icons such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Serena Williams. When you add the words, business, community, employees, government and media to the name NIKE, you get another image; the man who connects all of those areas to benefit the community at large.

Willie Gregory has been serving as the deal maker for communities with more than 20 years of experience in sports, community and business investment, as well as marketing and sales experience.

Before joining NIKE, Willie was regional marketing/sales manager with IBM. An alumnus of Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Mississippi Valley State University and the University of Memphis, Willie supports a variety of local and national initiatives that promote education, cultural awareness and civic responsibility.

His dedication and commitment has not gone unnoticed, as he is the recipient of several awards including The 100 Black Men Honoree, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Florence Howard Award, NIKE’s African American Network Person of the Year, LeMoyne Owen College’s Beacon of Hope Award and Memphis City Schools 2007 Hall of Fame inductee.

His passion for giving starts with his church, Mt. Olive CME Cathedral, where he serves as the chairperson of the Finance Committee and it ends with his family, as the father of two young adult sons, Benjamin and Will Jr., who is a student at his father’s alma mater, MVSU.

When the popular phrase of “show me the money” is mentioned in the Memphis and Shelby County area, community organizations do not see visions of slam dunk artists, or individuals in Masters tournament green blazers. The face and the name that comes to mind is Willie Gregory – the man who gives credibility to the NIKE slogan, “Just do it.”

ARTS

Dr. Lawrence Goldman

A native of Santa Rosa, California, Dr. Lawrence Goldman has been a faculty member at Mississippi Valley State University for the past 29 years. During that time, he has become well-known for his many appearances both as a solo piano recitalist and collaborating artist. He has participated in more than 300 concert performances on the MVSU campus, throughout the Southeast and in other regions of the United States. His duties as a faculty member include teaching both applied piano and class piano, serving as departmental accompanist and student recital coordinator, and coordinating applied music juries and administering piano proficiency requirements. He has held the rank as tenured full professor since 1992 and the second longest-serving faculty member within the Department of Fine Arts. For the past 15 years, Dr. Goldman has led the MVSU Piano Festival which attracted students throughout the state and region to compete for awards and scholarships and has been an instrumental recruitment event. Dr. Goldman attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Michigan, where his principal teacher was noted Hungarian-American pianist György Sándor. He received his doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Southern California where his distinctions included winning the concerto and the Department Award in Keyboard Studies. Goldman has appeared as a solo recitalist, chamber musician, and as a soloist with an orchestra in numerous areas of the United States. His performances in the South have included recitals in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Louisiana, in addition to his Mississippi performances. He has performed on multiple occasions for the state conventions of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association and the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs, and his performances have been a regular feature for more than 20 years on the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Radio Network. Goldman was a 2006 recipient of the HEADWAE award, recognition of academic excellence presented annually by the Mississippi State Legislature. Goldman is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the Mississippi Music Teachers Association, the College Music Society, the National Piano Foundation, and the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs, for which he serves as the state chair for Music in Schools and Colleges. He is also an inductee of Pi Kappa Lambda, national music honorary society.

So many people worked hard to ensure the Gala was a success. I won’t name names at the risk of missing someone, but for each of you who moved a chair, cooked food, took a picture, decorated a table – you all have my thanks!