Lifetime Recognition
Legacy of Leadership
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Old Main Society
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Legacy of Leadership
Legacy Wall
The major giving society for Mississippi State University, known as Legacy of Leadership, honors the legacies of many of the university’s past presidents and significant contributors. Membership in the Legacy of Leadership is based on the donor’s cumulative lifetime giving to Mississippi State including corporate matching gifts.
This program recognizes those generous donors who assist Mississippi State in fulfilling its mission of providing the highest level of excellence in academic, research and service programs. Mississippi State salutes these donors each year with the Legacy of Leadership Celebration event.
The Legacy of Leadership consists of seven levels, and donors are recognized at their highest membership level. The honor roll for all Legacy of Leadership members is housed in the rotunda of the Hunter Henry Center known as Legacy Hall. The seven levels within the Legacy of Leadership are:
Donald W. Zacharias Roundtable
The Donald W. Zacharias Roundtable was established in 2000 in honor of Mississippi
State's 15th president, Donald W. Zacharias, who served from 1985-1997. Dr. Zacharias served as university president during
Mississippi State's first-ever major gifts campaign, so it is fitting that the top level of giving at MSU honors him and his
forward thinking. The Zacharias Roundtable recognizes lifetime gift support of $25 million and above.
James D. McComas Benefactors
The McComas Benefactors recognizes lifetime gift support from $10,000,000 to $24,999,999. The giving level honors Mississippi State’s 14th president, James
D. McComas, who served from 1975-1985.
William L. Giles Partners
The William L. Giles Partners honors Mississippi State's 13th president, William L. Giles, who served from 1966-1976. The Giles Partners recognizes lifetime
gift support from $5,000,000 to $9,999,999.
Dean W. Colvard Founders
The Dean W. Colvard Founders honors Mississippi State's 12th president, Dean W. Colvard, who served from 1960-1966. Dr. Colvard was a guiding force in
helping establish the MSU Foundation in 1962. The Colvard Founders recognizes lifetime gift support from $1,000,000 to $4,999,999.
Stephen D. Lee Society
The Stephen D. Lee Society originally was established as Mississippi State's highest-level donor club in 1990. Stephen
D. Lee was the first president of Mississippi State, and the Lee Society recognizes lifetime gift support from $500,000 to $999,999.
J. Charles Lee Associates
The J. Charles Lee Associates
was established in 2008 and honors Mississippi State's 17th president, J. Charles Lee, who served from 2002-2006. The J. Charles Lee Associates recognizes lifetime
gift support from $250,000 to $499,999.
Eugene Butler Fellows
The MSU Foundation created the Eugene Butler Fellows in honor of Eugene Butler, a 1913 graduate of Mississippi State University. Mr. Butler demonstrated
his love and support for his alma mater by contributing generously to various programs and projects. The Butler Fellows recognizes lifetime gift support from $249,999
to $499,999.
Ben F. Hilbun Torchbearers
This level was established as the Torchbearers in 1994 in recognition of the “Keep the Flame Burning” theme of Mississippi State University's first-ever major
gifts campaign. The level was renamed for Mississippi State's 11th president, Ben F. Hilbun, who served from 1953-1960. The Hilbun Torchbearers recognizes lifetime
gift support from $50,000 to $99,999.
Old Main Society
Old Main Wall
The Old Main Society honors those generous donors who have included Mississippi State as a beneficiary in their wills or have made other planned gifts, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance policies and qualified IRAs/retirement plans. Donors in this society have provided the MSU Foundation with documentation of their gifts.
Giving levels within the Old Main Society are based on the donor’s cumulative lifetime giving and correspond with the giving levels within the Legacy of Leadership recognition levels. Donors making planned gifts of less than $50,000, or those with undisclosed amounts, are recognized at the Old Main Society member level.
Each year, the names of donors within the Old Main Society are published in the MSU Foundation’s Annual Report. They are honored guests at the Legacy of Leadership Celebration, hosted by the president of Mississippi State University in conjunction with the MSU Foundation. Donor names are also featured on a special Old Main Wall in the Legacy Hall rotunda of the Hunter Henry Center.
Old Main: Images of a Legend
Members of the Old Main Society receive a special commemorative copy of Old Main: Images of a Legend, a hardbound history of the grand old dorm by MSU history professors Charles Lowery and Roy Scott.
