Trustees Chairman Roy Ward Receives Mississippi College Award of Excellence

Roy Ward

A Jackson businessman with a heart for community service and years of dedicated service to Mississippi College, Roy Ward is the recipient of MC’s award of excellence this fall.

Ward will be among the award winners honored at an October 21 dinner on the Clinton campus during the 2011 Homecoming weekend. The program begins at 6 p.m. at Anderson Hall.

MC leaders believe Ward was an excellent choice for one of the Christian university’s major awards.

“Roy Ward has given generously of his time and expertise as Chairman of our Board of Trustees during two different terms of services,” said MC trustee Andy Taggart, a Ridgeland attorney. “The entire MC community owes a great debt of gratitude for his careful leadership in that capacity.”

Ron Howard, vice president for academic affairs, echoes those sentiments.

Ward’s “devotion to MC and Christian higher education has expressed itself in many ways,” Howard said. “Mr. Ward has been a stalwart on the Board of Trustees and now leads that body.”

Ward has served as chairman emeritus of HORNE LLP in the capital city. The University of Southern Mississippi graduate joined the firm in 1966 and became a partner in 1971. He rose up the ranks to become president from 1977 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2002 served as the CEO of HORNE LLP.

His involvement to serve his community is truly extraordinary. He’s served Junior Achievement of Mississippi as chairman and chairman of the Business Hall of Fame. Goodwill Industries named Ward its Volunteer of the Year in 2000. Ward served as chairman of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. He’s been active as a board member of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Ward served as president of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants in 1999-2000.

His stellar career has also caught the eye of the University of Southern Mississippi. USM’s College of Business Grand Hall was named in honor of Roy and Mary Evelyn Ward following donations made by HORNE LLP employees and friends. He’s been an active member of First Baptist Church Jackson and served as a delegate to the Southern Baptist Convention. He’s worked as a unit chairman of United Way.

Ward’s two terms as chairman of the Mississippi College Board of Trustees have happened during critical junctures in the history of the Baptist-affiliated university founded in 1826. President Lee Royce and the Board of Trustees are overseeing MC’s $80 million “Growing the Vision” campaign to enhance academic programs, facilities, scholarships, the endowment and other needs. The successful five-year campaign is winding up this fall.

When Ward first took the gavel as board chairman in January 2008, trustee Wayne Parker predicted good things ahead. “I think he (Ward) will do an excellent job. He’s very resourceful,” said Parker, chairman of the Lifeshare Foundation in Jackson. “He knows how to get things done.”

School of Education Dean Don Locke agrees. “When I think of how a strong trustee would be defined, I think of Roy Ward,” Locke said. “His presence at events and his support of MC in so many ways is obvious to faculty, staff, students and administration and we are glad he is one of us.”

Ward has other strong Mississippi College ties. His son, Dr. Rob Ward, is an MC graduate and psychology professor on the Clinton campus.