Thomas J. “Sparky” Reardon served the University of Mississippi in several positions within the area of student affairs. Most notably, he served as the Dean of Students from 2000 until 2014. Prior to that he served as coordinator of Pre-Admissions, assistant director of Student Activities, associate director of Student Services, and associate dean of students. Reardon received his BAE from Ole Miss in 1972 and his Ph.D. in 2000. Additionally, he earned an M.Ed. From Delta State University in 1976. He retired from the University in 2014.
As an undergraduate, Reardon served as sports editor and managing editor of the Daily Mississippian, vice President of the senior class, and president of the Order of Omega.
Sparky has spoken to thousands of students at numerous universities, conferences, and conventions. Reardon received the Bob Schaeffer Award for long-term outstanding service to fraternities and was named the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference Advisor of the Year. He has received the Kappa Alpha Order Interfraternal Accolade and the Phi Kappa Psi Ralph E. “Dud” Daniel Award. In 2008, Phi Delta Theta inducted him into the Legion of Honor and presently serves as a member of the General Council of Phi Delta Theta. He was featured in the History Channel’s “History of Fraternities.”
Reardon initiated the adoption of the Ole Miss Creed in 2000 and served as co-chair of the Creed Committee. He received the initial Thomas Frist Award for Outstanding Service to Students and was honored by the Class of 2008 with a scholarship in his name.
Reardon resides in Taylor, Mississippi and serves on several local, regional and national boards.
Created in 1974, the Hall of Fame honors select alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their country, state or the University of Mississippi through good deeds, services or contributions that have perpetuated the good name of Ole Miss.
Inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame for 2016 are: David E. Brevard (BA 78) of Tupelo; James L. Cox, M.D. (63) of Atlanta; Thomas C. Meredith (EDD 71) of Oxford; Thomas J. “Sparky” Reardon (BAEd 72, PhD 00) of Oxford; and Constance Slaughter-Harvey (JD 70) of Forest.
T. Michael Glenn (BBA 77) of Memphis will receive the Alumni Service Award for service to the University and the Alumni Association over an extended period. Patrick Woodyard (BA 10) of Nashville, Tennessee, will receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have shown exemplary leadership throughout their first 15 years of alumni status in both their careers and dedication to Ole Miss.