By Jim Urbanek
The Ole Miss Alumni Association recognized eight distinguished alumni with its highest annual awards on Thursday, Oct. 9, as part of Homecoming 2025.
Inductees into the 2025 University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame included: John Louis Black Jr. (BA 61, MBA 62), of Madison; Chip Crunk (BBA 87), of Brentwood, Tennessee; Albert L. Hilliard (BSCS 83), of Spring, Texas; Sam Lane (BA 76), of Jackson; and John Stroud (BSHPE 82, MEd 86), of New Albany.
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 philanthropies that have perpetuated the good name of Ole Miss.
Mary Susan Gallien Clinton (83), of Naples, Florida, received the Alumni Service Award for service to the university and the Alumni Association over an extended period.
Alexa Lampkin Minor (BA 13, DMD 17), of Ridgeland, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which honors alumni who have shown exemplary leadership throughout their first 15 years of alumni status in both their careers and dedication to Ole Miss.
Morgan Freeman, of Charleston, received the Honorary Alumni Award. This award recognizes outstanding individuals who, though not graduates of the University of Mississippi, have consistently demonstrated over an extended period extraordinary commitment, moral and/or financial support, dedication, loyalty, leadership or service that has enriched the substance and contributed to the advancement of the university’s or Alumni Association’s missions, reputation or prestige.
“It was a great evening celebrating some of our university’s most successful and notable alumni, as well as our honorary alumnus,” said Ole Miss Alumni Association CEO Kirk Purdom (BA 93). “These inductees stand out both with their career accomplishments and with their service to Ole Miss and their communities.”
See full pre-induction story here.
