Contact: Amy Cagle

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Retired Tennessee businessman Turner A. Wingo of Collierville is Mississippi State’s 2016 national alumnus of the year.

The 1967 business administration graduate enjoyed a successful career in retail for a number of years and was a longtime proprietor of Sherry’s Hallmark. Wingo will be recognized formally during campus ceremonies in early 2016.

Wingo previously was honored by the university as the College of Business’ 2011 alumnus of the year. A member of MSU Foundation’s board of directors, he long has provided support for student scholarships, an endowed professorship, various campus facilities and the athletic program.

Along with the national alumnus recognition, each of MSU’s eight academic colleges will be paying tribute to a graduate for outstanding personal, professional and community achievements.

Other 2016 college selections include (by city of residence):

COLLIERVILLE, Tennessee—George D. “Dave” Thomas Jr., College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. A 1987 master’s in agricultural economics graduate, he is vice president of marketing for Helena Chemical Co.

DALLAS, Texas—William “Bill” M. Cobb, James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. President of William M. Cobb & Associates Inc., he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering in 1966 and 1967, respectively.

HOLLY SPRINGS—Robert P. “Bob” Bowen, College of Arts and Sciences. A retired partner of Arthur Andersen LLP, he is a 1963 double-graduate in history and political science.

JACKSON—Haley R. Fisackerly, College of Business. President and CEO of Entergy Mississippi Inc., he is a 1987 business administration graduate.

Also of Jackson is Andrew W. Grady, the College of Veterinary Medicine honoree. A 1986 doctor of veterinary medicine graduate, he directs the Center for Comparative Research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

KENNESAW, Ga.—Eric G. Yonge, College of Architecture, Art and Design. President and creative director of EYStudios, he is a 1998 fine arts graduate.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—John D. Enlow, College of Forest Resources. Vice president of real estate and southern timberlands at the Weyerhaeuser Co., he is a 1990 forestry graduate.

PELAHATCHIE—Andrea Scott Mayfield, College of Education. The Mississippi Community College Board's new executive director, she is a 2009 doctoral graduate in community college leadership.

In addition to individual college honorees, three others will be presented awards at the banquet for distinguished service to the MSU Alumni Association during 2015. They include university friend Douglas D. “Doug” McLeod of Lucedale; Brian M. Sabourin of Huntsville, Alabama, a 1983 aerospace engineering graduate; and Kieu-Anh T. Tran of Tucker, Georgia, a 1996 civil engineering graduate.

Rounding out the 2016 recognitions is the association’s annual outstanding young alumnus or alumna award, which this year goes to Jason A. Snider of Brookhaven, a 2010 business administration graduate.

The MSU Alumni Association includes 95 chapters worldwide and more than 132,000 living graduates. For more, see www.alumni.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.