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Ļć½¶Ö±²„names Parker National Alumnus of the Year

Contact: Shun Pounds

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”Mississippi State is honoring Hal Parker with its highest alumni honor. In a campus ceremony on May 30, the Mississippi native will be recognized formally as the universityā€™s 2025 National Alumnus of the Year.

A 1969 graduate of MSUā€™s College of Business, Parker has built a distinguished career marked by 50 years of entrepreneurial success and leadership. He began working with Sears after graduation and eventually became a partner in Climate Masters, Inc. In 1982, he founded Sunbelt Wholesale Supply Co., a regional distributor of fiberglass insulation and residential roofing products based in Pearl. The company became an integral part of Service Partners, LLC, the largest distributor of fiberglass insulation in the U.S.

Parker later became a partner in Mississippi Roofing Supply and served the company until its sale in 2006. Today, he continues to serve as a general partner in Parker Land, LLC, and president of Parker CDJR Auto in Starkville.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Parker has been a stalwart supporter of his alma mater and Mississippiā€™s higher education system. He served four terms on the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Foundation Board and led the Bulldog Club as president for two terms. His commitment to advancing educational opportunities within the state is further exemplified by his current tenure on the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, where he previously served as president.

The Pike County native, now residing in Bolton, has been involved with many beneficial community organizations over the years, serving on the boards of the Hinds Community College Foundation, Rankin Health Foundation, Rankin First and BankPlus.

Along with his wife Linda, who currently serves as a member of the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Foundation board, Parker has generously supported MSU, namely through investments in Bulldog athletics and endowed scholarships. The Bolton coupleā€™s earlier contribution to the development of the Hunter Henry Centerā€”former home of MSUā€™s Division of Development and Alumniā€” established the Hal and Linda Parker Ballroom within the facility.

ā€œWe are proud to celebrate Hal Parker on behalf of Ļć½¶Ö±²„ for his remarkable professional accomplishments and ongoing commitment to his alma mater. Among more than 166,000 living alumni, Hal exemplifies the spirit of the Bulldog community, and his exceptional achievements, both professional and personal, showcase the dedication Ļć½¶Ö±²„encourages in all its graduates,ā€ said Jeff Davis, executive director of the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Alumni Association.

Along with Parker, a host of other outstanding alumni will be recognized by the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Alumni Association at the annual awards event. Individual academic college selections for Alumni of the Year for 2025 include (by city of residence):

BOCA RATON, Floridaā€”Kenneth B. ā€œKenā€ Robinson, College of Business. A 1977 Ļć½¶Ö±²„graduate with a Bachelor of Science in banking and finance, the now-retired Eupora native held senior executive finance roles at Procter & Gamble and Exelon Corporation, where he played a pivotal role in strategic financial planning and corporate governance. He continues to shape the business world as an independent corporate board member, providing strategic insights and financial expertise.

CHICAGO, Illinoisā€”Frank Swayze Brumfield, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. After graduating cum laude in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics, the Inverness native pursued opportunities at the Chicago Board of Trade, where he spent years mastering the financial markets. In 2006, he founded FSB Companies, a private investment firm specializing in real estate, private equity, agriculture and strategic lending.

²Ń“”¶Ł±õ³§°æ±·ā€”Lavon Fluker-Reed, College of Education. A two-time Ļć½¶Ö±²„graduate earning a Master of Education in 1976 and an Educational Specialist degree in 1983, the Meridian native began her journey with a work-study program at Meridian Community College that sparked her passion for special education. Retiring in 2007 as superintendent of the Aberdeen School District, she guided the district to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation, ensuring excellence in curriculum, instruction and operations.

NASHVILLE, Tennesseeā€”Brandy Sobley Abruzzo, NCIDQ, College of Architecture, Art and Design. A 1997 Ļć½¶Ö±²„graduate with a Bachelor of Science in human sciences, the Columbus native is a certified interior designer licensed in seven states. Abruzzo is a principal at Studio 121 Inc., a nationally recognized interior design firm specializing in senior living, where she oversees all design and furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) phases.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisianaā€”W. David Purvis, James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. A summa cum laude Bachelor of Science graduate of MSUā€™s chemical engineering program in 1983, the Russell/Toomsuba native discovered his passion for petroleum engineering during an internship with Shell. Over his career at Shell, he refined his skills in reservoir engineering and optimizing oil and gas field performance before moving into leadership and executive roles in the U.S. and overseas. After retiring, he joined The Alternative Board New Orleans as a partner, where he now coaches small and mid-sized business owners to help them achieve strategic growth.

NEW ROADS, Louisianaā€”Dr. Bonnie Boudreaux, College of Veterinary Medicine. A two-time Mississippi State graduate, she earned her Bachelor of Science in biological sciences in 2002, graduating summa cum laude, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Currently serving as the senior associate dean for student success at Louisiana State Universityā€™s School of Veterinary Medicine, the Mandeville, Louisiana, native leads a 14-person team that oversees student-related initiatives, the development of a competency-based veterinary education curriculum, and a new veterinary technician program.

³§°Õ“”øé°­³Õ±õ³¢³¢·”ā€”Douglas Anthony Crawford, College of Arts and Sciences. The Warren, Ohio, native earned a Master of Science in chemistry from Ļć½¶Ö±²„ in 1968. His professional career as an analytical chemist spanned more than 50 years, including lengthy tenures at the State Chemical Lab at Ļć½¶Ö±²„and Southern Ionics in Columbus.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabamaā€”Stephen W. ā€œBillyā€ May III, College of Forest Resources. After serving in the U.S. Army Security Agency, including multiple Vietnam campaigns, the Hale County, Alabama, native pursued his passion for forestry and earned a Bachelor of Science in forest resources from Ļć½¶Ö±²„in 1977. Mayā€™s career spans decades of leadership in both the public and private forestry sectors, including roles as vice president, chief forester for Delaney Development and Springdale Land Management, and fire division director for the Alabama Forestry Commission.

More details on the awards ceremony and honorees will be available in the coming weeks. For more on the association, visit alumni.msstate.edu.

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