The Drawl - Southern Miss Alumni Association

Walt e r Wa s h i n g t o n ’70
Walter Washington, a retired Alcorn State University president,
was the first African-American to receive a doctorate in
Mississippi. Prior to his death, he was considered a role model
in Mississippi higher education and nationally in black higher
education and was listed as one of the “100 Most Influential Black
Americans” in Ebony magazine. With his 37 years of continuous
service, Washington was among the longest serving college
presidents in Mississippi and in the nation.
Cla r e n c e We at h e r s p o o n ’93
Clarence Weatherspoon enjoyed a 13-year NBA career, during
which he played for the Houston Rockets, the Philadelphia
76ers, the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat, the Cleveland
Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. A three-time Metro
Conference Player of the Year at Southern Miss, Weatherspoon
leads the University career lists in rebounds and blocks and is
second in scoring.
Nei l Wi l l i a m s ’75
Neil Williams serves as chief financial officer and senior vice
president of Intuit, Inc., which produces financial and tax
preparation products like Quicken, Quickbooks and Turbo
Tax. Williams was previously the executive vice president and
chief financial officer for Visa U.S.A., Inc., the leading payments
company in the United States.
Sam m y Wi n d e r ’83
Sammy Winder played in three Super Bowls and is a former All-
Pro running back with the Denver Broncos. Additionally, Winder
was the NCAA scoring champion as a Southern Miss running
back in 1980 and still holds the third-highest career rushing
total in school history. Currently Winder is the owner of Winder
Construction Company in Jackson.
Trivia Quiz
Answers
1 The University’s motto is “Southern Miss to the Top!” It represents our
desire for the best for the University's constituency, whether in the classroom,
on the playing field or in the community. (page 5)
2 The earliest nickname for the University’s athletic teams was Tigers, but
early teams were also referred to as Normalites. (page 11)
3 On February 27, 1962, Gov. Ross Barnett signed the bill that made
Mississippi Southern College a university: The University of Southern
Mississippi. (page 30)
4 The institution’s first name was Mississippi Normal College. (page 27)
5 In September 1965, Southern Miss enrolled its first African-American
students, Raylawni Branch and Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong. (page 34)
6 Golden Eagle was chosen over Raiders, War Lords, Timber Wolves and
Southerners. (page 11)
7 The Honor House was originally called “The Industrial Cottage” and was
designed to provide a laboratory setting for girls to “learn practical homekeeping
in all its phases.” Girls who resided there did all their own work
and were compensated by a reduction in their school expenses. (page 35)
8 Carlisle-Faulkner Field was constructed in 1932 by unemployed men of
Hattiesburg. The field is named in honor of Louis Edward “L.E.”
Faulkner, chairman of Hattiesburg’s Committee on Unemployment Relief,
and Southern Miss alumnus Gene Carlisle. (page 40)
9 The University was founded March 30, 1910. (page 27)
10 In 1914, the school’s yearbook made its
debut as the Neka Camon, a Native
American term meaning “The
New Spirit.” (page 44)
Scoring
0-3 Maybe you should have gone
to Ole Miss.
4-6 What? Are your parents
Mississippi State alumni?
7-10 You’re a true Golden Eagle.
58 The Drawl – Centennial Edition w w w . s o u t h e r n m i s s a l u m n i . c o m 59