That's so sad. SBelle, did you hear anything else on this?

My sympathies to the USM family on the loss of Mr. Plye.  My sympathies go out also to his family.

Oh, no! I worked with Wayne back in the 90s when I was recruiting for the Honors College...he was such a good guy and loved USM.

My condolences to his family,

Truth/Andrea

http://www.usm.edu/pr/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=2

USM PR


Richard Wayne Pyle, Former Director of Admissions at Southern Miss, Dies



Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Contact David Tisdale - 601.266.4499

Hattiesburg -- Richard Wayne Pyle, former director of the University of Southern Mississippi Office of Admissions, died Monday. He was 58.

Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.

Pyle, a native of Birmingham, Ala. joined the Southern Miss staff in 1979 as a researcher with the university’s Mississippi Oral History program. He received his undergraduate degree in history from Belhaven College in Jackson

After his stint with Oral History, Pyle went to work with the Southern Miss Office of Admissions as assistant director in 1982. He became director of admissions in 1988 and, after retiring from the university in 2003, he returned to Southern Miss to work part-time.

Linda Reyer, who worked 20 years for Pyle in the Office of Admissions, said he “knew his job and was good at it.”

“He was also a good friend, not just a good boss,” Reyer said. “He was easy to work with - just a wonderful person.”

Helen Rassier also worked with Pyle at Southern Miss Admissions and said he was a big Southern Miss sports fan who went to as many games as he could. “He and I used to always talk about Southern Miss basketball and football,” she said.

Southern Miss Dean of Students Dr. Eddie Holloway said he often sought Pyle’s advice on matters concerning admission policies and described him as someone who could always be counted on for help.

“Wayne Pyle was a good man,” said Holloway. “He was always helpful and dedicated to his work, a real ‘got-to guy.’ I wish his family, co-workers and friends well.”