The Co-Lin Foundation feted its donors and paid special tribute to its Patron, Visionary, Ambassador and Benefactor supporters who contribute in excess of $10,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 for college scholarships, physical plant improvements and other projects at its Hall of Fame banquet last month.
More than 100 persons enjoyed a fish dinner at the affair, and Foundation recognized eight new donor Hall of Famers -- seven at Patron and one at Visionary giving levels -- and two existing donors who have reached new giving levels -- one as a Visionary and one as a Benefactor.
The Foundation is the official fundraising arm of Co-Lin that serves as a clearinghouse for private sector monies given to the college. A 22-member board of community volunteers guides the non-profit incorporated in 1981 to establish an infrastructure of reliability and credibility on which donors can be assured that their gifts are invested soundly, managed wisely and used for the purposes specifically designated.
At the banquet, Foundation Director Angela Furr recognized current Hall of Famers Mary Jane James and Barbara Richardson whose donations have reached the Visionary and Benefactor giving levels.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame for the first time were:
Patron Dr. Stephanie and Brent Duguid, who established the Marjorie Aiken Rector Memorial Scholarship in memory of Stephanie’s mother, a Texas teacher for more than 40 years, chaplain in hospitals and Habitat for Humanity volunteer and supporter who lost her life in 2001 automobile accident. Dr. Duguid is a speaker and professional development specialist who focuses on elevating the impact of women in educational leadership and her husband is a partner in Grace Foam Solutions, a Wesson company.
Patron Chris and Morgan Dunn, who have supported Co-Lin’s Back the Pack capital campaign for athletics. Chris Dunn, who is a Co-Lin Sports Hall of Fame member recognized for his baseball achievements at the college, is Senior Lending Officer for Peoples Bank in Magee, Mississippi.
A Co-Lin graduate, he earned a BS in finance and economics and MBA at William Carey University and completed studies at the Mississippi School of Banking at the University of Mississippi, the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending at Vanderbilt University, the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University and National Commercial Lending School at Southern Methodist University. In 2012, Mississippi Business Journal named him to its Top 40 Under 40. He has been a member of the Magee Chamber of Commerce, Future Leaders of Simpson County, the Co-Lin Board of Trustees, Simpson County Economic Development Foundation and Simpson County Academy School Board.
Morgan Dunn owns Vestra, LLC, a Magee healthcare company, and, with her husband, owns Zip’s Restaurant, which has been in their family for more than 60 years.
Patron Gene and Marie Farmer, Co-Lin graduates who established a scholarship in their name. He received an degree in engineering at Mississippi State University, worked in three different research groups for Caterpillar, and conducted the first air conditioner test for the company’s machines. A pre-school teacher for ten years, she also attended Mississippi College for Women and earned a degree in home economics at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. In retirement, they have raised cattle and grown pine trees, and he is a member and past president of the Boggan Ridge Water Association.
Patron Pam Jones Reid and Susie Jones Patrick, who established the Tommie and Mary Ellen Jones Memorial Scholarship in memory of their parents. Reid taught humanities at Co-Lin and was division chair, and Patrick was navigator for the college. Reid and her husband, Terry, live in Wesson, and Patrick and her husband, Stan, live in Hattiesburg.
Patron Leisa Stuart McElreath, who established the Ellis A. Stuart, Sr., and Myrtis W. Stuart Scholarship. She graduated from both Co-Lin High School and the college, Phillips Junior College and the University of Mississippi, is completing graduate work at Delta State University, has worked professionally in cosmetology as a salon owner and educator with licenses in Mississippi and Tennessee and is active in community affairs.
She currently serves as chair of the Mississippi Crime Stoppers Advisory Council and Armed Services Committee of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women, and is also a member of the Lafayette County Crime Stoppers Board, Co-Lin Alumni Association, Lafayette and Rankin County Republican Women. She is strong advocate of increasing opportunities for achievement and advancement of young women. McElreath and her husband, Dr. David H. McElreath, a professor at the University of Mississippi, live in Oxford, Mississippi.
Patron Mary Primos, who supports the Foundation’s annual fund. A graduate of Co-Lin, she earned a BS in education at Mississippi College, pursued a career in radio, marketing and advertising; and, in retirement, teaches Reformer Pilates and enjoys gardening, cooking, horseback riding, traveling and elk hunting. She was the 2013 Co-Lin Alumna of the Year. She and her husband, Will, live in Madison, Mississippi.
Visionary Rex Lumber, which established the Robert and Kathryn McRae/Rex Lumber Annual Scholarship. The McRae family started Rex Lumber as a cypress sawmill at Graceville, Florida, in 1926, and sold it to Southwest Forest Industries in 1980 after it had become an oak flooring manufacturer and expansion in the 1970s with a Southern Yellow Pine sawmill, Stone Container and U.S. Forest Industries were subsequent owners, but the McRae Family repurchased the Graceville mill in 2001 in bankruptcy action, modernized and renamed it Rex Lumber after 20 years and started successful operations again as a high volume Southern Yellow Pine sawmill in March 2003. In 2009, Rex Lumber purchased the Southern Yellow Pine sawmill that it has upgraded and continues to operate in Brookhaven.
Patron Richard Womack Construction, LLC, which established the Donald Womack Legacy Scholarship, Richard Womack’s father, who was a member of the Simpson County Board of Supervisors from 1996-2003 and played an integral role in establishing Co-Lin’s Simpson County Center. Richard Womack founded his construction company in 2006, and its projects include the 2019 addition to the Co-Lin Simpson County Center. A committed Christian, he assisted in planting Overflow Church and Embrace Church in Magee and Forest, Mississippi, and started One:Ten Vision, which planted 26 churches in Peru, Kenya and Uganda, and established an orphanage in Kenya that provide a home for up to 34 children.