Lee Retiring as MSU President

BY ANDY KANENGISER
Daily Journal

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State University President Charles Lee announced his retirement Monday, and the search is on to pick his successor.

In a memo to MSU supporters, the 67-year-old Lee said he plans to retire at the end of the academic year. His contract expires in June.

“I will continue to devote my full energy to seeking the resources the university needs during the upcoming legislative session and to continuing our focus on institutional priorities,’’ Lee said. “We still have much work to do.’’

Some supporters were hoping Lee would stay a while longer as leader of the state’s largest university. Last week, Lee told College Board members privately of his decision and made it public Monday.

Lee and his wife, Pat, “have been personally engaged on so many fronts to advance MSU and the state of Mississippi,’’ said former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough Jr., a 1977 MSU grad. “History will reflect he provided strong leadership.’’


In service to the university

A major accomplishment is Lee’s push for a $400 million fundraising campaign that’s more than half complete, he said.

“I’m sorry to see him go – they will have a national search, I’m sure,’’ said Sen. Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, an MSU alumnus who joined other lawmakers in lobbying for Lee’s selection by the state College Board four years ago when he was interim president.

Under Lee’s tenure, MSU also received national accolades for hiring Sylvester Croom as the first black head football coach in the history of the Southeastern Conference. This fall, MSU opened its first new Starkville campus residence hall, Roy Ruby Hall, in more than 35 years.

Edward Sanders, a senior political science major and president of MSU’s Stennis-Montgomery Association, said he met Lee and his wife, Pat, about five years ago at a MSU Scholarship Banquet in Washington County. Lee has been a personable president to students.

“He’s done a good job and I wish him the best,” Sanders said.

Lee and his wife drew praise for helping with MSU’s response to Hurricane Katrina, with thousands of MSU supporters pitching in to assist victims on the Gulf Coast. The university also opened its doors to Katrina evacuees.

Some are mentioning potential prospects for the job, such as Mark Keenum, a former MSU professor and alum who is U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s chief of staff. Keenum was in the running last time.

“Dr. Keenum is well-liked and well thought of’’ among MSU faithful and on the national level, said Tupelo businessman Paul “Buzzy’’ Mize, a 1978 MSU graduate.

Millsaps College President Frances Lucas, a State graduate and ex-MSU staff member, said Lee has done a fine job. But as for a possible bid for the presidency there, Lucas said, “I’m enjoying every minute of my presidency at Millsaps. I’m happy where I am.’’

Lee’s state salary is $200,000 and he receives another $200,000 annually from the MSU Foundation, a private group of MSU supporters. At $400,000 per year, he is Mississippi’s highest-paid university president.