SOUTHERN MISS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES
2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        HATTIESURG -- The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association executive committee and new members of the board of directors took their posts July 1. Board members serve a three-year term, and terms vary for executive committee members.
The executive committee's membership includes the following:

  Rex Kelly '80, new president

        Rex Kelly is the director of corporate communications for Mississippi Power, headquartered in Gulfport. Kelly is responsible for the company's advertising, external communications, media relations, employee communications, video production, corporate services, community affairs, creative services, charitable and education foundations, and public relations program. Under his direction, Mississippi Power's Communication Department has been named Communicator of the Year six times by Utility Communicators International and a Top 10 Communicator for more than 15 years.
        Kelly and his wife, Becky, have two children and four grandchildren. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Gulfport, where he serves as a deacon and an adult Sunday school teacher.

Danny Mitchell '70, '71, vice president

        Danny Mitchell, a highly regarded public relations practitioner, received his bachelor's degree from Southern Miss in 1970 and his master's degree in public relations in 1971. Mitchell is currently the chairman and chief executive officer of GodwinGroup in Jackson.
        Mitchell has worked as a public relations and communications officer for the Jackson Municipal Separate School District; was a managing partner for WSDL-AM and WVSL-FM in Slidell, La.; served as assistant director of public relations for Mississippi University for Women; and was a public relations consultant for Wilson/Mitchell Public Relations in Columbus.

  

  Rosemary Aultman '73

        Rosemary Aultman, a Tupelo native, received her bachelor's degree from Mississippi University for Women and her master's degree from Southern Miss. A former first-grade teacher, Aultman has long been a proponent of strong public schools. After her tenure in teaching, she served 10 years on the Clinton school board, serving as president twice.
        Aultman was elected as mayor of the city of Clinton in 1993 and is now in her third term. She has set an aggressive agenda for the city: Clinton has twice been chosen a Mississippi Most Livable City and has garnered five Making Mississippi Move Awards from the Mississippi Municipal League.
        Aultman and her husband, Les, have two daughters and two granddaughters. They are active members of First Baptist Church in Clinton.

Mark Jackson '81, '83

        A native of Hattiesburg, Mark Jackson received both his undergraduate degree in accounting and his master's degree in professional accountancy from Southern Miss. In 1983, he began his career at First Mississippi National Bank and was promoted to chief investment officer three years later. He also served as the treasury division manager for a major Mississippi bank. Jackson is currently employed with A.G. Edwards as its senior financial consultant.
        Jackson and his wife, Olga, own Bright Child Doll and Toy Store in Hattiesburg. They have one son, Mark.

  Eugene Owens '73, '84, past president

      Eugene Owens, who resides in Laurel, received his master's degree and a doctorate in education from Southern Miss and his bachelor's degree from Jackson State University. Owens began his teaching career with the Holmes County School District, later moving on to teach for the Laurel School District. During his time with the Laurel School District, he served in several capacities, including principal, director of elementary schools, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He is currently an assistant professor of education at William Carey College in Hattiesburg.
        He and his wife, Carolyn Phillips-Owens, have two children, Tonya and Toffler, and one grandchild, Brittany. The Owenses attend St. Paul United Methodist Church of Laurel.

  Thomas C. Anderson '91

        Thomas C. Anderson received his bachelor's degree in political science from Southern Miss in 1991 and his law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1993. He is currently a partner with Balch and Bingham LLP. He practices in the firm's litigation section and is a member of the Mississippi, Alabama and American Bar associations.
        Anderson served as the past president of the South Central alumni chapter and was named the Outstanding Young Alumnus in 2003. He is also a lifetime member of the Southern Miss Alumni Association and is a member of the Eagle Club.
        Anderson and his wife, Shelley, reside in Long Beach with their son, William.

  Olivia Condia '84

        Libby Condia received her bachelor's degree in paralegal studies from Southern Miss. Following graduation, she worked for several Jackson-area law firms before starting a freelance paralegal business, Paralegal Services Inc., in 1996.
        Since graduating from Southern Miss, Condia has remained active with her alma mater. She served as secretary of the Jackson Metro Central Mississippi alumni chapter from 1999-2002 and served as president of the chapter in 2003. Condia also co-chaired the Jackson All-Star Party for the past four years. A native of the Jackson area, Condia now resides in Hattiesburg.

  Patricia "Pat" Cruise '63       

         After receiving a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1963, Pat Cruise devoted her professional life to teaching. She was employed by the Biloxi and Mobile public school systems before teaching for 32 years in the Jones County Public School System. Additionally, she was a charter member of the Jones County American Federation of Teachers, serving as the organization's treasurer for 20 years. Cruise also received many teaching awards, among them the Award for Excellence and the Golden Apple Award presented by WDAM-TV and Alfa Insurance Agency for excellence in teaching.
        Cruise and her husband have one son, Scott, and two grandchildren, Parker, 5, and Marley, 4.

  Harry Goff '89

        Harry Goff received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Miss in 1989. A resident of Pascagoula, he served for more than 30 years as a systems analyst for Chevron/Texaco. He is now project manager for marine accounting and real-time process monitoring system projects for the company.
        Goff is married to the former Marcia Fields of Moss Point. They have two daughters, Amie Goff Harris,'99, '00, and Harriett. The Goffs are active members of Caswell Springs United Methodist Church.

Rickey Jones '92   

          Rickey Jones currently serves as the branch manager for Trustmark Bank in Hattiesburg. He received his bachelor's degree in sports management and then went on to the University of Mississippi School of Banking. The Jackson native serves as an ambassador with the Area Development Partnership and is an active member with the United Way. He is a member of the Eagle Club and serves on the Athletic Council for Southern Miss. Jones also serves as treasurer and trustee at Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church.

Judie Clark Kochenower '93

        A native of Texas, Judie Kochenower is an active member of the Southern Miss community, having served as the Southern Miss Alumni Association's Houston chapter president and vice president. She has also received the Outstanding Service Award and the Scott Caldwell Chapter President of the Year Award. She also served as the Eagle Club district director and chair of the Southern Miss Alumni Cookbook Committee. Kochenhower currently serves as senior accountant at Corner Stone Services Group Inc. 

Anthony J. "Tony" Palazzo II '91

        Palazzo is the chief financial officer for North Mississippi Medical Clinics Inc., a hospital system-owned physician practice network. The network owns and operates 34 clinics and employs more than 100 physicians. Palazzo serves as the outreach chairman for the Mississippi chapter of the Medical Group Member Association, and he is also a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the Mississippi Society of CPAs. He and his wife, Amy, and their children, Madison and Joseph, are members of St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo.