The Campaign Committee

The cornerstore of the $3 million Ogletree House Campaign is the 14-person campaign committee, which was appointed by Rex Kelly, immediate past president of the Alumni Association.

The committee, co-chaired by Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas and Lou Ann Poynter, will continue to be instrumental in ensuring the campaign is a success.

The Ogletree House Campaign is expected to conclude at year's end, with construction and restoration of the facility to begin in 2007.

Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas
Campaign Co-Chair

"The Ogletree House is one of USM’s campus landmarks. It has served our University well as a home for five presidents and for 35 years as the location of our Alumni Association. It is time for us to restore and enlarge it and prepare it for a useful future. I am deeply honored to be a part of a campaign to make these improvements a reality. In so doing, we will honor all Southern Miss alumni, including one of this University’s most faithful sons, Powell Ogletree."

-Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas

Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas is President Emeritus and Professor of Higher Education at The University of Southern Mississippi, where he served for twenty-two years as President. He had previously served as President of Delta State University for four years.

He earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from USM and received his Ph.D. degree from Florida State University. Mississippi College honored him with an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters.

Prior to becoming a university president, he served as an instructor at Hinds Community College; Director of Admissions, Registrar, Professor of Higher Education, and Dean of the Graduate School at USM.

He has served as a consultant to other colleges and universities and as president of state, regional, and national organizations. Several years ago he was selected by college and university presidents of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities to be chairman of that organization. He has been inducted into many honor societies and fraternities. He is a tree farmer and is retired from the Board of Directors of Mississippi Power Company.

Dr. Lucas is active in civic and charitable organizations as well as in the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the Lay Leader for the Mississippi Conference and has served on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. He now serves on the Board of Directors of Africa University in Zimbabwe. He has served as Chair of the Center for Ministry at Millsaps College.

Dr. Lucas served as Chair of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art Board of Trustees Chair of the Hattiesburg Salvation Army Advisory Board, Chair of the Mississippi Arts Commission; Chair of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters; and has served on the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Dr. Lucas is a native of State Line, Mississippi, and he and his wife, Ella, have four children and eight grandchildren.

Ms. Lou Ann Poynter
Campaign Co-Chair

"I am honored to serve with Dr. Lucas as co-chair of this most worthwhile campaign to restore the Ogletree House, one of our University’s real treasures. With its rich history and prominent location on campus, the Ogletree house is the perfect home for our Alumni Association. This campaign will not only provide funds for much-needed repairs to preserve the original building but will also allow us to add more functional space to meet the growing needs of the Association. I am excited to be part of a project to preserve such an important part of our University’s heritage and hope that all our alumni will join us in this endeavor."

                                   -Ms. Lou Ann Poynter

Lou Ann Poynter served as Senior Executive Vice President and head of the Mortgage Banking Division of Union Planters Bank, N.A. prior to her retirement in July 2004. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Regions Financial Corporation, Birmingham, Alabama.

She was President and CEO of Magnolia Federal Bank for Savings prior to the merger of Magnolia Federal with Union Planters Bank on November 1, 1997.

Ms. Poynter is a certified public accountant (retired).

During her career, she was active in the Mississippi Bankers Association and served on the Board of Directors of the America's Community Bankers and the Financial Managers Society, Inc.

Ms. Poynter received her B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1969 and M.S. degree in accounting in 1970 from The University of Southern Mississippi.

Active in university and community affairs, Ms. Poynter is a member of the USM Alumni Hall of Fame, past president of the USM Foundation and currently is a member of the College of Business Advisory Council.

She has served on the Executive Committees of the Area Development Partnership for Forrest and Lamar Counties, the Public Education Forum of Mississippi and the Mississippi Economic Council. She also served a five-year term through July 2004 as a commissioner on the Forrest County Industrial Park Commission.

Ms. Poynter is married to Louis Poynter, a USM graduate who was an appraiser in Hattiesburg prior to his retirement. They have one daughter, Melissa, who graduated from USM in 2002 and now attends law school at the University of Mississippi.

The Campaign Committee
Mr. Mark Cumbest
Dr. Lamar Gillespie
Mr. Curt Hebert
Mr. Rex Kelly
Mr. Bob Mixon
Mr. Jeffrey O’Keefe
Dr. Eugene Owens
Ms. Liz Payne
Ms. Susan Riley
Mr. Ken Shearer
Mr. Ralph Simmons
Ms. Bonnie Warren

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